Pretty new purchases

How cute are these sailor inspired flip flops! I love the pink and blue design and they even come with a boat and anchor charm. Like all things Primark, it's not the best quality, but as they were only £2.50, I won't be too upset if it breaks.

I struggle to find bracelets that fit my small wrists, however these are elasticated, so they actually stay on during the day and they were only £1.99 each.

Recently I've been wearing studs a lot more and these floral earrings were just too cute to resist, plus the peach colours will be perfect for summer.

Finally I brought a much needed new handbag from New Look. White isn't the most practial colour, but I love the spacious design and rose gold buckle, plus it was a bargain at £20 with student discount.

Do you also struggle with jewellery being too big or small? What have you been buying recently?

My Spring/Summer essentials

The weather's been so beautifully hot and sunny recently, and as a result, I've introduced a lot of new products into my routine, 3 of which have become firm favourites and will be getting a lot of use in the coming months:

He Shi dark foaming mousse
Like the original liquid fake tan, this is also tinted but it has the advantage of being a thicker texture, so it's a lot easier to apply. I'm quite lazy when it comes to fake tanning, so I like the fact that you apply this straight onto exfoliated skin, without needing to moisturise first.

It does have a faint biscuity smell, but when you wash it off, you're left with a beautifully even, natural looking tan which can be layered for a deeper colour and lasts for nearly a week before fading.

Click here for my review of the exfoliating bodywash and tanning mitt.

Herbalife radiant C face quencher
My combination skin can sometimes get dehydrated, and with extracts of apricot, apple, carrot and vitamin C this is great for adding some extra hydration without affecting my makeup.

I use this in the morning to set my make up and to take away that powdery look, plus it comes in a handy 50ml bottle, so it's great for popping into my handbag to help hydrate and refresh my face throughout the day.

Piz Buin ultralight sunspray
I must admit, I don't always use sunscreen when I should, but if I'm going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, then I'll use this instead of a body lotion.

It comes as a fluid spray, so it's a thinner formula, and although it takes a few minutes to get absorbed, there's no stickness or greasy afterfeel on the skin once it does. Most importantly, it comes in a range of spfs and they all have 4 star UVA protection to help keep skin ageing at bay.

Are you more careful about suscreen application? What are your Spring summer must-haves?

NOTD- Filthy gorgeous Posh frock

A glossy purple pink colour that comes in a really cute rock chick inspired bottle.

The only downside is that the lacy print on the lid isn't entirely transfer proof and does rub off a little onto my hands, however it washes off easily with soap and water.

Transfer aside, it's a good nail varnish - I found the brush easy to use, the nail varnish is super pigmented and because I only needed one coat, it dried very quickly.

Have you tried any of the Filthy Gorgeous nail varnishes? What colour did you wear over the bank holiday weekend?

A scent by Issey Miyake

When first sprayed, 'A scent' is very green, leafy and almost unisex in smell, however after 30minutes or so, the top notes of verbena, hyacinth and jasmine opens up on my skin, turning it into a beautiful floral scent that's a little bit sweet and ever so slightly powdery.

Like the Liz Earle perfume, this is also very natural and it reminds me of walking through a park with the flowers in full blossom.

I would say lasting power is average for an EDT- I usually reapply mid afternoon for a stronger scent. Packaging wise, it comes in a clear glass bottle with frosted sides and etched on writing, which I think is very simple for a female perfume, but the beautiful scent more than makes up for it.

Because it's so delicate and easy to wear, it's perfect as a daytime fragrance. With such a simple bottle, it's easy to overlook, but if you want something that's very natural, fresh and light, then definitely give this a try next time you go shopping.

Have you tried any of the Issey Miyake perfumes? What's your perfume of choice for Spring?

Currently on offer at escentuals.com

Browhaus lash curl up review

Having struggled with eyelash curlers on a near daily basis, I finally plucked up the courage and decided to take up the offer of getting my lashes permed at Browhaus in Covent Garden:

The procedure started with my therapist Ellie wiping my eyes to get rid of any oil. She then taped my bottom eyelashes, so they don't accidently get curled during the procedure.

Next a rod was placed above the upper lashline and my lashes individually stuck down.

She then applied the perming solution and left it on for 20mins, followed by a neutralizer for 10mins. During both of these, my eyes were covered with cling film and a mask to keep as much heat in as possible.

Finally, everything was gently peeled off, my eyes cleaned and I was handed a mirror so I could see the results for myself.

I found taping my bottom lashes uncomfortable, and my eyes did water, but after 10minutes or so, it settled down and was fine for the rest of the procedure. I had my eyes closed throughout, and although it was strange to have someone working on my eye area, it wasn't at all uncomfortable or painful.

(before and after using the same mascara)

Because my lashes are so straight, they didn't curl as much as I would have liked, however they are still noticably more lifted than before, and with mascara, there's a big difference!

Overall, I was really impressed with the service, my therapist Ellie was friendly, paid great attention to detail, and really made me feel at ease. If like me you have straight lashes, then it's definitely worth considering a lash perm, and I would highly recommend the 'lash curl up' from Browhaus.

Have you ever tried a lash perm before? What are your favourite products for curling lashes?

Asos/Groupon purchases

Like a lot of people, I took advantage of the Groupon deal last month, and received £20 worth of money to spend on Asos for only £9.

The plan was to spend the money on clothes, but the choice was just overwhelming and I wasn't sure about sizing, so inevitably I ended up browsing the beauty section.

I was tempted by the NARS and RMK blushers, but in the end, decided to try some skincare items from Neal's Yard and Nip+Fab, both of which I'd heard good things about.

Neal's yard Garden mint and bergamont hand lotion
I love that this comes with a pump and its my go to hand cream during the day. It's light yet moisturising and smells amazing! The combination of refreshing mint and zesty bergamont reminds me of sherbet and refresher sweets.

Nip+Fab Clean fix cleansing oil
Like all oil cleansers, this does a good job of removing make up, but it feels very light and non-greasy on the skin. Best of all, it emulsifies on contact with water and rinses off easily without leaving any residue on the skin.

Did you take advantage of the Groupon deal? What did you end up buying from Asos?

A Filthy Gorgeous NOTD

For their summer collection, Filthy gorgeous have 16 new shades, ranging from bright pinks to pretty pastels and cool blues, and I was able to get a reverse french tip and dotted design manicure using two of the colours- Rosey posey (a bright coral pink) and Twilight (a glossy black).

Both looks were surprising easy to create: for the french tip, simply run the brush over the tip of the nail and for the dots, put a blob of nail varnish onto a lid, dip a cuticle stick into the varnish and dot onto the nail. I love the concept of both designs and will definitely be having a go myself using different colour combinations.

I've also included a photo of some some of the designs Liza Smith created, to give you a few ideas if you wanted to have a go yourself.

Have you tried any of the Filthy gorgeous nail varnishes? Which one's your favourite design?

No 7 Poppy King lipstick in Intrugue

As you probably already know, lipstick legend Poppy King recently collorabated with No7 to create a range of lipsticks and I was kindly sent the shade 'Intrugue' to try out.

Texture wise, the lipstick is absoutely perfect for me, it applies very sheer and isn't at all drying so feels like a balm on the lips. This particular shade gives a lovely rosy sheen to the lips and is perfect for everyday wear.

I'm not too keen on the yellow polka dot box it comes in, but the actual casing is lovely. Lilac silver in colour, it looks sleek and expensive plus it closes with a satisfying click.

The lipstick looks smaller than usual, but at 3.5g, it's about the same weight as other No 7 and MAC lipsticks.

At £12, it is expensive for a high street lipstick, but No 7 are always doing £5 off vouchers, and at £7 this lipstick is definitely worth a try! For more information on the other shades, check out the promotional video below:

Have you tried any of the Poppy King lipsticks? What do you usually spend your voucher on?

Disclosure: Sponsored post, all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Liz Earle gentle face exfoliator review

Since I switched to hot cloth cleansers, I don't feel the need to exfoliate as much and find a lot of products too harsh for my face, but 'Liz Earle gentle face exfoliator' really does live up to it's name and it's quicky become a new skincare favourite.

I'd describe it as a light creamy consistency with tiny beads of jojoba seed. The seeds are nice and round, so they're super gentle and non scratchy, but at the same time effective enough that you can feel it working on the skin.

The product comes with a pump dispenser and like a lot of Liz Earle products, there's a distinctive essential oil scent. The exfoliator also contain cocoa butter so it's lightly moisturising and it rinse away easily with water.

Overall I'm very impressed with this exfoliator, it leaves my skin feeling cleansed and refreshed without being harsh or scratchy, and it's one of the few exfoliators that I find gentle enough to use more than once a week.

Have you tried this exfoliator? What do you use to keep your skin soft and smooth?

A belated 1000 followers giveaway

A few weeks ago, I reached 1000 followers on my blog, and as a way of saying thank you, I thought I'd hold a little giveaway, with some hair, face and make up products, so you can try some new looks for Spring :)

Giveaway prizes:

Redken thermal resist heat protection spray
Kerastase mini bain bio recharge shampoo
Wella high hair finishing spray
No 7 radiance revealed exfoliator
No 7 mini time resisting day cream
No 7 flawless finish sponges
Gosh natural blush in rose whisper
Marc Jacobs mini blush lipgloss
No 7 mini stay perfect eyeshadow in tender
Chanel mini inimitable mascara
Maybelline shine seduction lipgloss in mauve dream
Beauty UK nail polish in slate
Eyeko vintage polish
Eyeko petite polish
Eyeko nude polish

For your chance to win:
- Leave me a comment telling me what your must have
beauty product for Spring Summer is
- Be a follower of this blog
- Feel free to tweet or blog about this giveaway for extra entries
(let me know if you do either of the above)

The giveaway is open to both UK and international readers and
will close at 11.59pm UK time on 1st May.

Good luck!

Sleek make up new products for 2011 (part 2)

As well as the Mediterrean and Caribbean collections for SS11, Sleek make up have lots of other new products due for release in 2011:

The iDivine palette from the nude collection reminds me somewhat of their famous Storm palette, but the colours are more muted and mostly matte. There's also a chocolate blusher which doubles up as a bronzer and a peachy nude pout polish.

The 'oh so special' palette includes a selection of peachy shades, neutral browns and smokey greys and blacks. Again a mixture of matte and shimmery shades.

They've also extended the number of shades available for their new skin revive foundation. The range now has 30 shades, and they're hoping with such a varied range of colours, they'll be a shade for everyone!

Barely there and Peaches and cream (sheen), Amped and Stilletto (matte)

For the lips, they've added more colours to their range of true colour lipsticks. There are 2 finishes to choose from (sheen and matte), and my favourite colour is 'barely there', a really natural peachy pink shade for everyday lips.

Finally due for release in the summer, is their collection of lip paints. Similar to OCC lip tars, these lip products are super pigmented and come in a range of 10 colours (the actual product will be packaged in a tube).

At the event we were given the chance to mix our own unique shade, and I went for a bubblegum pink colour. The above photo shows one swipe, so you can see how pigmented the product is!

What do you think about their new launches? Any of the products catch your eye?

Sleek Destination S event and Spring summer collections

Last Friday, I was invited to Shoreditch studio for the Sleek Destination S event. To fit in with the holiday theme, the studio was set up like an airport terminal, with lots of stalls where we could try out the new products and get ourselves colour matched.

Like all terminals, there was also a chill out lounge and duty free shop, where we could use our 'sleek money' to buy a few items from their permanent range.

So for SS11, Sleek are bringing out 2 collections:

Mediterranean collection
Inspired by the bright sun and the blue seas of the Mediterranean, this range features an iDivine palette in Monaco, a bright pink blush in Santorini and a pink pout polish in Monte Carlo.

The eyeshadow palette has both matte and shimmery shades, and there's a good mix of bright and neutral colours. Santorini blush is very pigmented, so needs to be applied lightly. The pout polish on the other hand, is nice and sheer, and would be perfect for a hint of colour during the day.

Caribbean collection
Inspired by the rainforest, the iDivine palette has a much brighter range of aquatic and sunset colours, as well as an orange blusher and pout polish.

Unfortunately I didn't get to swatch this collection, so can't comment on the pigmention but I've included a close up of the products, so you can see the colours for yourself.

What do you think about the new products? Which is your favourite out of the two collections?

Current haircare routine

When it comes to haircare, I'm always chopping and changing products, but I thought I'd share with you my current haircare routine, as I've been really impressed with these 4 products:

Liz Earle Botanical shine shampoo
Out of all the SLS free shampoos I've tried, this is definitely my favourite one. It's got a lovely zesty citrus scent and foams up really well, so 50p size blob is more than enough for my hair.

Compared to A'kin shampoos, it is more moisturising, but as long as I have some Batiste to hand, I would still choose this over A'kin because of it's citrus scent and ability to foam up more.

Aussie lusciously light aussome volume conditioner
Like all Aussie products, this smells amazing! The conditioner is light yet creamy and rinses away easily, leaving me with gorgeously smooth shiny hair that's not weighed down. A great conditioner for every day use.

Herbal essences seductively straight intensive mask
This has a thicker texture and takes a bit longer to wash out, but it leaves my hair so soft and silky. I tend to use this once a week and even when I have loads of split ends, it still keeps my hair tangle free and manageable.

Batiste blush dry shampoo
A great product for refreshing and lightly volumising my hair between washes. I simply spray some onto my roots, wait for a minute, then rub into my hair to soak up any grease. Like all dry shampoos, it smells very powdery, but with a subtle floral edge, and it's my favourite Batiste scent to date.

Have you tried any of the above products? What are your current haircare favourites?

Boux Avenue

On wednesday, I was lucky enough to be invited to Sketch nightclub, for the launch party of Boux Avenue, an exciting new lingerie store brought to us by none other than Theo Paphitis!

Launching over the next few days, with 6 shops and an online store, Boux Avenue offers a beautiful range of underwear and an uncluttered boutique style shopping experience without the luxury price tag.

Vintage garden party
As the name suggests, this range is very feminine and pretty, with plenty of lace, floral embroidery and pastel shades, definitely my favourite of the 3.

Burlesque Bourdoir
A sultry glamorous range, with lots of black, silk and satin for a more seductive feel.

Body language
A simple collection of unfussy everyday underwear, in shades of black, white, nude, baby pink and grey.

As someone who struggles to find decent bras, this is a welcome addition to the high street. Price wise, bras start at £12, knickers at £5, which I think is comparable to the likes of M+S and La Senza.

Unfortunately my nearest store is Bluewater, so I'll have to stick with online shopping for now, but they plan to open another 30 stores in the next year, and I'm hoping that Westfield will be one of their first choices!

Which collection do you like best? What do you think of the range?