From Brunette to Red Head...

Well if you follow me on twitter it will come as no surprise when I say I decided to dye my hair over the weekend and the colour I went for was Fiery Red ♥


I've wanted to dye my hair for a while now and the two shades I've been considering are blonde and red. I've been blonde many times and thought red would be a nice change so I was very brave. This is the first time I've used a red dye so I couldn't believe the colour it looked when developing on the hair it was mega orange! I've washed my hair 3 times since and everytime I've washed my hair the water has been red but after tweeting about this a couple people tweeted me back and said this was normal.

In terms of how I feel about it now I would say I am slowly growing to really like it, when I first dyed it I loved it then the following day I hated it! I've had to re-educate myself with colours for makeup looks and today I wore Steamy eyeshadow by Mac on my lids which looked lovely!

I used the Deep Masque Hair Treatment by Macadamia Oil and my hair is super shiny and looks amazing the colour is even more vibrant since using the masque.

Here is the end result-

Have you dyed your hair recently? Which colour do you favour? I recently saw Avon have now launched their own line of hair dyes! Has anyone tried them yet?

Clarins Summer Makeup Collection 2011

Clarins New Summer Collection has recently launched and there are some stunning products you will not want to miss! Clarins have taken their inspiration from the beautiful deep sea and the intricate beauty of Mosaics.
I was very lucky to have the chance to try some of the products from the collection and share with you my thoughts. This post will be picture heavy because I wanted to show you how lovely this collection really is and I know you won't be disappointed ♥

The collection comprises of a Limited Edition bronzing compact, 3 Limited Edition Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balms and eight stunning Colour Quench Lip balms which are my favourite ♥

OK so without further a do feast your eyes on this stunning bronzing compact! The beautiful detailing which the compact expells really gives you the feeling of something special inside.

£26.00Are you swooning yet?

The detail is amazing and so pretty!

Mosaique Summer Bronzing Compact powder is very soft and melts on the skin giving you a matte healthy glow, I have been using this all over and then buffing this into the hollows of my cheek bones. I like how the colour is perfect and does not look patchy, some bronzers look patchy on the skin and the colour can be too orange looking. I was really impressed with the texture and how the powder felt on the skin, especially with me having dry skin this felt great. Clarins have been very clever and added Vitamin E to help the skin whilst also covering skin protection and adding a SPF 10.

I recently dyed my hair over the weekend and have had to re-educate myself with colours and looks and am so glad I have this to help give me a nice healthy glow! The size of the compact is impressive also and will certainly last longer than the summer.

Clarins instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balms make a return this summer so if you missed out on these then be quick or if you tried them and loved them then now is your chance to love them again! These are absolute genius, easy to apply like a lipstick thanks to the shape, a sheer hint of colour and the benefits of a lip balm. What's not to love?

There are three shades available Crystal Coral, Crystal and Crystal Red all Limited Edition.

£16.50

The magic behind these special balms are the formulations, the light smooth texture is made by replacing the normal waxes used for a lipstick for Gelled Oils which give that crystal balm appearance. Don't be put off by the deep red shade because these are so sheer and give a soft hint of colour on the lips.


Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm is a new lip balm which is very much like a gloss on the lips but has the benefits of a lip balm thanks to the 100% natural Polymer formulation which gives a non-sticky finish on the lips and delivers instant hydration because of the Mango Oil. Clarins claim that even after a few applications lips feel softer, smoother and more fuller. I totally agree lips feel softer and look more plump. The balms are Cherry scented which is lush for the summer but not an overwhelming scent.

£15.00

I'm glad to say these do not have a sponge tip or a brush applicator, I much prefer the plastic slanted shape which is so much easier to apply and easier to keep clean!

I wanted to share some recent photos showing you some of the products.

Products used-
*Mosaique Bronzing Powder all over and used for contouring.
*Blush Prodige Miami Pink on apples of cheeks.
*Colour Quench Lip Balm Peach Nectar on lips.

So are you running to your nearest Clarins counter yet?
Well hold on because Escentual.com have all the products mentioned above on special offer!
Saving you some pennies ♥

So which products stick out for you and will you be picking anything up?

These items where sent by PR which in no way affects my opinion, this is an honest review based on my own personal thoughts.

Liz Earle Superskin Body Cream

Superskin is a very luxurious range from Liz Earle, the range consists of a facial moisturiser, eye & lip treatment, bust treatment, concentrate and a body cream which I happen to be using.
I was lucky to sample some of the products mentioned above a little while ago and really enjoyed using the skincare as I have dry skin so the facial concentrate and the moisturiser was very much loved through the winter. You can check out that review here


The Superskin Body Cream is no exception and is packed full of magical ingredients which visibly pump and smooth the skin. I have been using this of an evening on my legs as I tend to get dry legs but also after spending a day in the sun this cream is a treat for my skin. I adore the aromatic scent which instantly calms the senses. The body cream is very rich in texture and is exactly what you would expect from a luxurious body cream. Check out the reviews on Liz Earles website.

* Shea Butter *
* Organic Rosehip Oil *
* Cranberry Seed Oil *
* Pomegranate Extract *
* Neroli Oil *

When I saw the rich yellow gold packaging I knew I had to take my photos in my garden amongst my yellow pansies ♥

If you would like to treat your body to a magical treatment then you can pick up a 50ml or a full sized 200ml which will set you back £28.10.

Have you tried anything from the Superskin range? If you suffer from very dry skin then I would recommend you try this range, the skincare is amazing!

 
This item where sent by PR which in no way affects my opinion, this is an honest review based on my own personal thoughts.

Be an Orly Artist

Following on from my Orly post I did a few weeks ago I was very kindly sent some more Orly Instant Nail Artist shades and could not wait to test them out!

I have got a few designs up my sleeves so this is only a super quick post showing you the shades and how they look together.
My husband and I was very lucky to go see Take That last week which might I add where AMAZING!!!!!!!
Anyway the sun was shining and so I reached for my favourite Tee and then thought OMG the colours reminded me of the Orly shades I was sent, so after the cogs were going round I thought I would have a quick play before we set off on our road trip!


Where do you find your nail inspiration? Sometimes designs and the use of colour is all around us, we just have to learn to tune in to our creative side!


I used a stunning Red Nail Polish by the brand Nailtiques ( review coming soon ) as the base colour and then used Orly Instant Nails in shades-

I took each of these shades on their own and painted on a fine brush stroke, the colours and strokes where random. Sometimes this type of technique works.

This was so easy to create anyone can do this, I was totally suprised at the finished look and was very happy. Sometimes just having a play around turns into something good!
My friend actually thought these were nail wraps which I had stuck on and didn't believe me when I told her I had painted the design on.

I am so impressed with the staying power of these polishes no chips or nothing a week later!
Check back soon to see more Nail Looks ♥

Love and Glamour by Jennifer Lopez

LIGHTS * CAMERA * PASSION

Love and Glamour is Jennifer Lopez's new fragrance, the visual is stunning as you can see below and conjures up Hollywood Glamour in an instance! The bottle is reminiscent of a woman's physique and the colours picked are very rich. A mix of soft gold and delicate rose work well together to capture the femininity of the bottle.

The box has an embossed layer of gold foil which gives the feeling of glamour, the bottle fits snugly in my hand which to be honest was a surprise. I'm not to sure about the cap, I like the delicate rose colour and the gold base but as for the shape and design I'm not to sure?

The fragrance is great for day wear because of the fruity floral notes, but for me this wouldn't be enough for evening wear as I like my fragrances quite heady and of course to last long.

* Top Notes *
Italian mandarin ♥ Guava ♥ Nectarine Pulp

* Heart Notes *
Waterlily ♥ Elegant Orchid ♥ Orange Flower Absolute

* Base Notes *

Sandalwood ♥ Sensual Musk ♥ Sleek Amber

This is a very generous 50ml which retails at £20 which is such good value for money and if you think this would make a great Birthday gift for someone then checkout the other sizes because a 30ml will only set you back £12.50 which is such a good price for a new fragrance.

If you would like to feel like a Hollywood Star then pop over to Escentual.com where you can purchase Love and Glamour.

Nailtiques Formula 2 *Week 1*

Hello my lovelies I'm a very happy chappy whilst I'm writing this post because the sun is finally shinning! Hip Hip Hooray :)

My nails have been in such bad condition which really bothers me, I try so hard to look after them even though it seems an endless battle to achieve lovely long talons. I have NEVER been a nail biter which I am proud to say but my nails are just weak. I can't blame it on my diet because I eat a nice lot of dairy products which contain calcium so unfortunately it's just me! So there are a few products which can help with nail growth one of which I have been testing out.

Nailtiques Formula 2 is for soft/peeling/thin nails, well check check and check again!

Nailtiques say-
Formula 2 - Treatment for Soft, Peeling, Bitten, Weak or Thin Nails Nailtiques Nail Protein formulas were created to treat different nail conditions. The salon-tested formulations offer special combinations of ingredients, including hydrolyzed keratin and protein in combination with gelatin and calcium to build a healthy nail foundation. The protein formulas bond the nail layers together building a strong nail foundation resistant to peeling, chipping and splitting.
Application-
Apply daily. As nails improve, decrease application. Formula 2 may be worn alone or with color polish.

♥ BEFORE ♥

As you can see from the photo above I have terrible soft peeling nails which just seem to be getting worse. I use my not so lovely yellow marigolds daily so I really don't know what I can do apart from maybe take a supplement for for my nails?

♥ 1 week after ♥

Ok so one week on and as you can see from the photos above there's not a great difference yet however I can notice a difference in thumb, ring and baby fingers. Those nails seem to harder but as for my middle and ring fingers my nails still feel the same, I guess these are the fingers which take the most wear? I am going to keep using this for another 3 more weeks so totaling in 4 wks worth of treatment.

Nailtiques have other Formulas:

Formula 1 - For maintaining Healthy/Flexible nails.
Formula 2- Soft/Peeling/Bitten/Weak/Thin nails.
Formula 2 Plus- Excessive Problem nails.
Formula 3- Hard/Brittle nails.

So which one are you? The majority of people are Formula 2 but if by any chance you are Formula 1 please tell me your secrets?

I will post another follow up photo each week whilst I am carrying out my treatment, so be sure to check back and see my progress.

You can view the Nailtiques full range at Escentual.com

*New* WITCH Concealer, 10 to Giveaway!!

Hello my Sugarsnaps I am very excited and pleased to say that the lovely people from Witch are offering 10 of my gorgeous readers the chance to win their *New* Concealer! This is exclusive as the concealer is not due to hit the shops till July so for your chance to win have a nosey at the rules below.

This multi-use concealer will help conceal those dark circles whilst helping to heal and conceal those naughty blemishes. With a brush-tip pens for easy, smooth application. Oil free and fragrance free. The concealer will retail at £6.99 and will be stocked at Boots and Boots.com.

Witch anti-blemish liquid concealer is mattifying and will be available in two shades:

01 Light can be used with light or medium tinted moisturiser.


02 Medium can be used with medium and dark tinted moisturiser.

♥ Rules ♥

1. You *MUST* be a follower of my blog to be counted, click on the Follow button at the top of my blog on the right side.

2. Please leave a comment telling me which shade you would be, 01 Light or 02 Medium.

3. For an extra point and more chance of winning you can earn yourself an extra 3 points for blogging about this or adding the Photo above with a link back to this post.

4. PLEASE remember to leave your email so I can contact you if you are a lucky ducky ♥

5. This giveaway is for UK only.
♥ Closing date will be 2 weeks from today being Wednesday 6th July ♥

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion

Soap & Glory is a brand that I'm familiar with and have tried a few of their body products but lately they have released quite a few new products one of which is their 'Righteous Butter Body Lotion'. This is a very generous *Jumbo* sized bottle which also has a good purse friendly price tag of £10 for 500ml.

I have tried the original 'The Righteous Butter' which was very pleasing on my dry skin, the smell is still the same distinctive Soap & Glory fragrance which is a favourite of mine.

I love the fact this lotion is in pump form which makes such a difference, not only is this more hygienic but so much easier to use. You can control how much you want to use rather than use your finger tips to keep scooping out the product.
I've found the lotion to be very moisturising and especially with me having dry skin I thought this wouldn't be 'enough' for my skin but boy was I wrong! The lotion absorbs nicely into the skin and feels great afterwards.

This lotion is packed full of skin smoothing fruit acids which are working overtime to nourish and hydrate the skin amongst other benefits. The fragrance lingers on the skin for a long time after so you can go to bed smelling sweet and then apply again in the morning after your shower and smell sweet all day long!
The fragrance is a mix of bergamot, strawberries and mandarin with a blend of floral and fruity mid notes such as musk, amber and warm vanilla notes on the bottom.

Have you tried Soap & Glory?
Have you tried this New Body product? I'm interested to try their facial products for reducing pores.

Mess vs tidy-Which are you?

Hello peeps, how are you all?

Well this post has been on my list of posts to do for weeks now and I finally took the time out to take some snap shots of my 'MESSY' stash!
I personally HATE mess and can never find products and what really bugs me is the fact I forget about products and then find them and think blimey I forgot I had this!
OK so now for the embarrassing photos!

This is where all my makeup & Fragrance is stored mainly in the units on top of my cabinet and then in the drawer below is boxes which are full of back ups and new products and samples.

I have acquired quite a lot of hair/body/nail products so I had to think up more storage quickly, luckily I had this open storage unit in my loft not being used. I have spare makeup bags in the top section, the second section has mix of products but mainly body and then the third section has products to review and then the bottom section has all hair products. I love this storage unit, I like how its open so products are easily spotted and easily accessible! The S&G hat box is full to the brim of nail polishes!

I don't have a bedside cabinet as such but do have a functional bedside storage area which doubles up as my bedside cabinet. Confused? Well good job I took a pic then ha ha ♥

As you can see this is what I call my soap & Glory bedside cabinet! ha ha ♥ Both boxes are full of products!

I need to have a good sort through and really get myself familiar with my products and start getting them used up and enjoy using them!

Who would like to do the Project 10 pan with me? We don't have to do 10 products we can pick the amount ourselves! Let me know if anyone is interested then we can set it up :)

Please leave a comment below, how are you storing your products? Any tips or advice is very much appreciated! ♥