The Good, The Bad and the Gullible...

I need help! I've sampled 3 new products this month and they really haven't set my world alight. I need suggestions and I need them now!! On the flip side I've also found 3 beauty products I will use forever and ever! Let's get started:

1) Umberto Giannini Incredible Body Shampoo & Conditioner

The ad campaign for the Incredible Body range was quite simply genius. Millie Macintosh, hunky man and an interactive comic book ad (which you HAVE to read - CLICK HERE) - it was all so perf. So obviously I bought it! 

I can't say my hair didn't fluff up a bit because actually it did! I went from flat and limp to big and bouncy in about 2 weeks but then my hair also went dry and...rather crazy! Despite using heaps of conditioner my hair was simply impossible to brush out post-shower which added at least 15 extra minutes to my morning! Also, I can't say much about the scent for this Shampoo and Conditioner: Bland is the only word to use  to describe how it smells wet and dry! I much prefer products that smell delicious not just mid-wash but afterwards too - Can anyone recommend their fave shampoos?! I'm running on empty and need suggestions!

2) Little Mix by Collection - Jesy's Full On Mascara

This is the promo pic of Jesy on the page where you can buy this mascara:

This is my sad, gullible little face when I tried out the mascara:

NO! Not really! But still I was rather upset! Basically, Little Mix have taken the advice of other such pop stars who have 'branched out' and sold their personalities to sell random low-quality products! Boo...hoo! Even after 3 coats of this mascara my lashes were still nowhere near my usual every day length never mind boasting a 'full on' look. Other than Natural Collection, what other fabulous, affordable mascaras can I try?! Tell me now!

3) Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

This powder actually isn't a terrible product! The only thing that got to me was the fact that all the powder bunched up together and I had to stab it into loose powder for it to be any good. Other than that it lasted a whole month and didn't wear off my skin for a good 5-6 hours! That is a decent no-shine time! The Natural Collection version never congealed like this one so I'm tempted to go back! What powder do you use? I need to know!

Ok... Never mind the bad products because I know someone will set me straight by Tweeting me at @sheldan2207 OR post me your pics on Instagram (ShelbyLT22)! I want to get to know some new products!

Let's move on to 3 fabu products that I now can't live without:

1) Palmer's Firming Cocoa Butter

I apply this to my legs, bum, boobs and tum every single night and have noticed a considerable difference to my skin. I have less cellulite on my bum and thighs, super smooth skin and also smell rather delicious in the morning! 

2) Boots Soft Cosmetic Sponges

I've recently learnt the importance of changing your cosmetic tools every week - and these are affordable at only £1.95 for four and they feel amazing on your skin. I've tried some Superdrug sponges before and they felt much rougher than these! For a smooth, even coverage these are the best.

3) OPI Princesses Rule!

Kim Kardashian has been sporting short, feminine, subtle nails recently so I have also sported short, feminine and subtle nails. It's that classic Mean Girls moment:

Instead of getting a set of long Acrylics, I opted for a grown up full set of Gels coloured with OPI's Princesses Rule! A beautiful shimmering pink, this polish is one of the only colours I will ever re-use. Kim will be so proud. Probably...

Tweet Me: @sheldan2207

Instagram: ShelbyLT22

Get in Touch!

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Photo & Shopping Links:

Umberto Giannini

Incredible Body

Jesy Mascara

Jesy

Crying Girl

Rimmel Powder

Firming Butter

Boots Sponges

OPI

Mean Girls

Kardashian Beauty Finally In The UK!

I feel a familiar tinge of excitement to the one I got when the Kardashian Kollection launched in Dorothy Perkins last year! The sad truth is that for us UK Kardashian fans the time delay of everything from the TV shows to the Beauty launch is really starting to get to us...and just when you think you're going to take the plunge and pay £50 for shipping costs, the UK catches up again!

 

Feel Unique are an online beauty and cosmetics retailer which stock everything from DIOR to Essie - and now Kardashian Beauty.

 

Of course, I feel it fit to produce a Lust List! Here it is:

 

 

 

Waterproof Bronzer in Cabana Bronze

Double Up Eyeshadow

Heavy Gaze Ultra-Full Lashes (Kim's Lashes)

Nail Lacquer in Flesh & Perfection

 

The three K sisters have been tweeting about their faves too:

 

"I'm all about the 5 minute make-up routine - my @kbeautyofficial Double Up shadow stick is a necessity" - Kourtney

 

"I'm rocking my fav red lip today, Joystick in Retro Red" - Khloe

 

"Oh oh oh Au Naturel! Love my @kbeautyofficial nude lip color" - Khloe

 

"Nude nails always a DO #cabanacollection" - Khloe

 

"Get the look by accentuating your lashes with this Kardashian Beauty Whip Lash Mascara. And for the perfect red lip, go with Kardashian Beauty's En-joy Stick in the Rose Parade color" - Kim

 

What are you going to be getting?!

 

Comment below/ Tweet me @sheldan2207

 

 

Barry M's Miracle Wink Liner!

It's not often that I come across a product that I'm absolutely fanatical about but Barry M has done the dam thing this time!!

The Barry M Wink Marker Pen is my best beauty buy since I discovered Lauren's Way fake tan last April, and here is why:

Designed to look and work like your everyday Sharpie, this eyeliner practically swipes up to 20 minutes off my daily beauty routine. As a massive fan of smoky, statement eyes (as seen all over the Chanel shows this season) the Wink Marker Pen practically eliminates the effort needed when applying liquid eyeliner.



Previously, my search for a decent liquid eyeliner took me far and wide and, surprisingly, ended up with me settling on the Claire's Accessories Liquid Eyeliner. The brush is very thin which although makes application accurate, it still didn't stop the inevitable lid-run and end-of-day panda eyes.

The Wink Marker Pen is not only quick and easy to use, clean AND accurate, it stays on all day: Yesterday was windy and rainy outside then hot and muggy inside, for example, I was also tired so probably rubbed my eyes subconsciously throughout work, too, BUT it was still in place smudge and crack-free when I got home from work at 1.30am!

This is all well and good but what tips it over to become the Miracle Marker is the price - it costs less than a fiver and lasts for ages! How can all of this be?!

If there was ever an excuse to go out and purchase something pretty then I'm sure 'spending an extra 20 minutes in bed and still looking fabu every morning' is perfect!



The Barry M Wink Marker Pen is only £4.59 on the official Barry M site - CLICK HERE TO BUY!

Calvin Klein Lipstick - #24 'Peony'

My quest to wear bolder lip shades begins with Calvin Klein #24! A wonderfully cheap eBay bargain at £1.49 (!) I thought this would be a great place to start...

 

Takes a couple of swipes of the lips to get a decent coverage but once it's on the colour is a perfect balance between not too bright and not too light.

I was hoping that opting for Calvin Klein would mean that it would last longer than those I could get for the same low price in the shops - probably Natural Collection or Collection 2000.

Unfortunately, I still got that annoying blotchy matte effect that everyone hates after about 30-40 minutes of wear! Not ideal!

But it does the job and has given me newfound confidence to go find some more colours and try some new lipsticks which is always fun and totally necessary!

;-)

 

 

Let's see who else is rockin' the kinky pink lip right now and get a quick fix of inspo...

 

 

Jessica Biel at the Dior Cruise Fashion Show on 1st June - [Daily Mail]

Jessica Alba at the 2013 Producers Guild Awards - [Hello!]

Tulisa at the NTAs this year - [Daily Mail]

Leigh-Ann Pinnock at last year's Jingle Bell Ball - [Capital FM]

 

What are the hottest colours right now? And who's the best brand for sustainable lippy??

Let an amateur know - it's payday Friday!

 

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Beauty Review: Anatomicals Deep Cleansing Mud Mask

For £3 and free delivery, ASOS really is a lifesaver a couple of days before payday!

 

I found myself totally out of cleansing lotion, toner and moisturiser, relying entirely on semi-dry face wipes to remove my make-up before bed when I stumbled across this 3-pack of face masks on ASOS.

 

Arriving within the same week I ordered them (the ASOS darlings could clearly sense the pimple outbreak from inside my laptop) I bust into the Deep Cleansing Mud Mask first.

 

The little sachet appeared to be so small I was wondering how I was going to cover my whole face, considering how large my forehead is...but I had plenty and even had enough to cleanse my neck.

 

Lathering my face in the nice-smelling goo I spent the next 15 minutes dancing around the bathroom pretending to be a cross between Beyoncé and Princess Fiona.

 

It may seem obvious but, for me, a good face mask is one that you can feel working. As the 15 minutes went on I could feel the mask tightening and my skin tingling ever so slightly as my pores were being wiped clean for a cool, fresh start.

 

Blasting my face with lukewarm water the Princess Fiona mask trickled down the drain with half of last week's foundation in-take!

 

My pores were visibly clearer if I pressed my nose up to the mirror and I was far less blotchy which, for £1, is more than I expected.

 

To buy the Anatomicals Face Mask 3-Pack

CLICK HERE

 

 

Top 10 Bargain Beauty Buys

When I'm reading other people's blogs I always get so jealous that they are reviewing or recommending products from MAC, Benefit or Clinique! These babies are not only wonderful but they also come with a price tag that I just can't condone splurging that much on such a small item! So, until I'm healthy-wealthy I will stick to spending less than £3 on each of my make-up bag items; I have all I need for all eventualities and all for under £30! Here are my Top 10 bargain beauty buys that I just can't live without:

 

Natural Collection Shine Away Foundation - £1.99 - Boots

Natural Collection Pressed Powder - £1.99 - Boots

Natural Collection Eye Liner - Not Available Online (Otherwise I use Rimmel Jet Black Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil - £2.99 - Boots)

Africa by W7 Bronzer - I got for £2 on a market stall in Watford but also available online at Amazon for £3.41

E.L.F Duo Eyeshadow Cream in Blueberry - £1.50 - E.L.F Cosmetics

Disney Eyeshadow Palette - £2.99 - H&M (Not now available but other palettes are - CLICK HERE)

Natural Collection Lash Build Mascara - £1.99 - Boots

True Colour Lipstick in Liqueur - £4.99 - Sleek Make-Up

Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil - £2.99 - Boots

Natural Collection Cover-Up Stick - £1.99 - Boots

 

Although cheap and cheerful this collection is all I need for everyday make-up, nights out, lunches with the girls, dinner with the boyf, everything!

50% of it is from Natural Collection - Boots' own range of cosmetics. I find that not only are the products excellent value for money they also rival their dearer competitors: I tried out the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara last month and found that not only did I pay over double for it but it lasted half as long as the Natural Collection mascara! It dried out in less than 2 weeks whereas NC Lash Build lasts me well over a month at a time.

 

NC Eyeliner does smudge throughout the day which is annoying. I'm considering trying out the Studio Makeup Mist & Set from E.L.F (£3.75) to see if it holds it in place!

Has anyone used this or have any other tips for smudgy eyeliner?!

 

The bronzer from W7 is one of my greatest ever beauty discoveries! Casually browsing a beauty stand in the Harlequin Centre in Watford I found this for about £2. It was one of those spur of the moment, 30-second purchases which I've grown to love! It's so much darker than all my other face shades which really accentuates my cheek bones and because of the multi-coloured blush and thick brush that comes with it, you get a pinky-tanned glisten perfectly wearable in the day and evening times.

 

The most expensive item in the collection is the Sleek lipstick. Luckily for me this was a Christmas gift but it has definitely got me hooked on the brand! Sleek is also available in Superdrug which is handy if you're out and about on the high-street. I have it in 'Liqueur' but am hoping to try something bolder next time like 'Loved Up' or 'Exxxagerate'.

 

For £25 I have basically stocked my make-up bag for at east 1-2 months with products that are reliable, cheap and look great! Who said being on a budget meant we had to suffer?!

 

What's in your make-up bag?? Tweet me @sheldan2207 or comment below

 

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Ebay APPrehension - iPad APP Review

Desirable of the week: The eBay iPad app.

Brilliant but concerning all at the same time: The utter tentativeness when I placed my first ever bid, then the sudden rush of hysteria when I am still the highest bidder when that little red time is ticking down from 10 seconds...

9...

8...

7...

6...

Why did no-one else bid this high? It's such a lovely blouse...ISN'T IT?!

5...

4...

OMG It's a scam, it's not really ASOS it's Primark!!!

3...

2...

1...

ENJOY YOUR NEW ASOS BLOUSE 12 BEIGE!

 

Panic spreads throughout my OCD mind like a crazed wildfire burning every inch of shopper's satisfaction and I start flicking through the pictures again. There are only two pictures - one of the blouse hanging on someone's bedroom door and one of the label...THE LABEL!! It clearly states ASOS and the size. Fine.

 

Continuous e-mails flood my inbox - PAY NOW, ENJOY, OTHER ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR YOU...

Where am I the casino?!

I'm exhausted and still have to work out how to use PayPal, leave me alone for one minute.

They have recommended a fabulous pair of jeans in my size though...

FOCUS.

 

PayPal is just something else isn't it. Somehow my credit card is already fixated onto the account but I can 'add funds' from another bank account if I register it. Ok, since my credit card is looking mightily full these days I'll add funds: Following the instructions on PayPal, I logged into my online banking account and transferred £2.50 into my PayPal account. I'm not tight or anything (I am) but even this had me worried. PayPal are definitely going to commit fraud or something.

 

Ok, paid for and confirmed - my lovely, silky, flowy blouse will be on the way soon.

Wildfire burnt out and shopper's satisfaction creeping back in, I had a quick look at those jeans...

And the River Island bralet, the Boohoo dress, the Calvin Klein bra, the MAC Lipstick...

 

It's done. I'm now part of the seedy world of eBay addiction. I've won a dress, skirt, bra, lipstick and a blouse and every time such a mix of emotions welled up inside me that, in the end, I just pretended not to notice.

 

Most of the decent stuff on eBay is usually sold for the shop price anyway (or for over a tenner which, to me, defeats the object of an online car boot sale) which has lead me to dislike the thing. But the app is still there, right in the middle of my iPad screen staring at me just to come and peep to see what I can find. I scroll through the Women's Clothing with such a stiff pokerface, refusing to bid on anything, but afraid of missing out on the world's biggest bargain.

 

So blogger friends, if you haven't succumbed to the eBay dragon yet - DON'T! It's a seedy market place where everyone stares at you like it's your first day at school: Evil eyes that seem friendly until you're attacked by a hungry pack of women all vying for the same vest top - However the smug sense of accomplishment when you win that vest top is of the same sort of pleasure as that of finally kicking your childhood bullies in the nuts!

 

ADDICTION: Doing something that you know impacts you in a negative way (rinsing funds from my bank account for used goods) but doing it anyway.

 

Happy Bidding x

Visit eBay (if you dare) - CLICK HERE

Lush Heart Of Gold - A (Very Relaxed) Review PT.1

Valentine's Day was well over a month ago, but I still haven't had a chance to review my wonderful selection of Lush bath delights my other half got for me!

For those who haven't had the joy of having Lush in their lives yet, I'll explain: In a nutshell Lush are a handmade cosmetics brand based in Poole in Dorset. Not only are they handmade and a UK delicacy, Lush products are made from "fresh organic fruit and veg, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics." Furthermore they only buy ingredients from companies who don't test on animals, use only vegetarian ingredients and "believe in happy people making happy soap" to make their mums proud.

Basically Lush products not only smell I N C R E D I B L E but can be enjoyed guilt-free, too.

In Part One of this Lush review I have tried out the insanely appeasing 'Comforter Bubble Bar'.

Opening the huge red love heart the goodies are buried in, the whole room is filled with fruity freshness; a heady mix of lavender, lemon and jasmine.

The Comforter Bubble Bar is rather large so I broke it in half to conserve the rest for another day. Forcing the taps into motion I threw the bar under the running hot water...
Ridiculous amounts of excitement consumed me when the bathtub filled with pink water and frothy bubbles! The bathroom was suddenly engulfed in a variety of girly scents - even the dog had to come and investigate at one point (probably because I was clapping like a seal and exaggerating my sniffs)!

Without a doubt, this was one hell of a bath. It's a weird thing to share with the world, when you have a good bath, but I did. It was 45 minutes of girly madness; my iPad served the next episode of Gossip Girl from where I left off, I was make-up free and the heating was on full blast...

And my bath was PINK.

Enough said.

Is it wrong to wish for another stressful week just so I can take an excuse for another Lush soaking??