NOTW: Gold

I have been loving this beautiful gold polish by Maybelline this week. Its not too glittery which is great which means that when it comes to it, taking the polish off wont be too much of a chore, (if you've ever worn glitter varnish, you'll know what I mean). I recently wore this polish to a party and got loads of compliments. I think it looks great with the beige's, brown's and burgundy's of autumn/winter.

What's your favourite colour of the season?

 

Jenna x

OOTN: Black & White Party

Lips - Natural Collection Crimson

Top - Primark

Skirt with belt- River Island

Watch - Micheal Kors (John Lewis)

 

Jenna x

Small Haul: Beauty & Fashion

 Superdrug

 (L-R)£3.99, £2.95, £3.99

 (Clockwise) £4.00, £3.99, £5.00

Lush

 £5.25

H&M

 (T-B) £1.99, £14.99

River Island

 £25.00

 

In my River Island bag I got this leaflet saying that stores nationwide are 20% off on Thursday 4th October! Cant Wait!

Do you like blog posts like this? Let me know in the comments or @JennaDoesBeauty

Jenna x

Review: James Brown London Conditioner

Recently, I ran out all my hair conditioners all at once and wasn't sure if I should repurchase my favourites or try something new. I tweeted asking my followers for a great hair conditioner that's not too pricey. A fellow blogger (www.e-ddoesit.com) and tweeter (@emmaddoesit) recommended a conditioner by James Brown London. She claimed that is was a great conditioner and wasn't too heavy on her hair.

The next day I visited my local boots and snapped up the James Brown London Richly Moisturising Conditioner for Dry Hair for around £6. I felt a little reluctant at first that it wouldn't be a good as my Lush American Cream but I was pleasantly surprised at how similar it was. The consistency of the conditioner is thick but not too thick that its sticky, as I have found with other conditioners. I don't need a lot of product because it spreads nicely through the ends of my hair. It rinses out easily and leaves my hair feeling smooth and detangled whilst in the shower. Once out of the shower, I have to admit that my hair still felt a little knotted but I'm unsure if that's because of the product, my towel turban or my formally bleached ends. After blow drying my hair, I found the product has increased shine and decreased any fluffiness or sticky-out ends. Also, not only is the product great, it comes in a large 250ml tube so you can squeeze out every inch of conditioner.

All in all, I'm really pleased that Emma recommended this product because I love trying new things, especially when they are worth the money.

What's your favourite conditioner?

Jenna x

Wednesday Wishlist #3

On today's Wednesday Wishlist is Lady Gaga's Fame perfume. I love the look of the bottle because it's a bit more edgy that your typical perfume bottle. Apparently, this perfume is the first perfume that has a black liquid, which I think is really cool and different.

 

What's on your wishlist? What do you think about Lady Gaga's perfume?

Jenna x



NOTW: Grey

This weeks NOTW is Barry M's Grey nail varnish. I love this dark grey colour because it's really great for this season. I have to admit Barry M's polishes are by far my favourite! The colour range, brushes and formula's are amazing!

What's your favourite Barry M polish? Let me know in the comments or on twitter @JennaDoesBeauty.

Jenna x

Gifts For Girls #1

Today's blog post is going to be a helpful hand for ideas on what to get any female in your life whether its your Nan, Mum, Auntie, Sister, Best friend or Girlfriend! I hope it helps anyone that's pondering on ideas for presents for Birthdays, Anniversary's and Christmas (remember its only 3 months away!).

At the beginning of September it was my mums birthday and buying a present for her was easy as I know she loves Sanctuary products. Straight away I headed for Boots and picked up this Youth Boosting Facial In-A-Box for around about £16. As you can see below, the packaging is really pretty and was one of the things that helped me decide on this item. On the front it describes the set as "A 30 minute step by step pampering treatment for skin that looks and feels visibly firmed and plumped" and it contains 5 products inside.

 

Inside the box is (Below from L-R) The Time Reversal Face Mask, Firming Youth Serum, Stop the Clock Moisturiser with SPF 15, Warming Micro Brasion Polish and Lift and Brighten Eye Complex.





 

What's really great about this product is even if you have no experience with facials it gives you all the information and steps on a card slotted underneath the product tray which makes this product a great gift idea! You can either just give this as a present or you can perform the facial on the lucky receiver!

My mum was really happy with this present and it's definitely something I'll keep in mind for future presents.

 

What do you think are great gifts for the women in your life?

 

Jenna x

 



Wednesday Wishlist #2

Today's Wednesday Wishlist is cut into four sections, Fashion, Beauty/make up, Polish and my random wishlist.

My fashion wishlist is this beautiful River Island jumper. I've been really feeling the autumn cold this week and have been craving a baggy jumper to snuggle into. I love the colour and design of this jumper and I think it'll look great with a pair of coloured skinny jeans and some lovely warm boots!

 

My beauty/make up wishlist is this Mua Undressed eyeshadow palette. I have been reading a lot of blog post reviews recently about this palette and I would love to try it! It's meant to be a great dupe for Urban Decays Naked palette which is a whopping £36 which is ginormous compared to the measly £4 of this Mua palette. I'm really looking forward to trying this out!

On my polish wishlist this week is gorgeous dark green by Essie called Stylenomics and is part of Essie's fall collection. Last winter I was on the hunt for a dark emerald green but couldn't find one anywhere so this winter I've made it my mission to find one! This polish look great so I'm sure I'll be buying this soon!



 

 

Finally, my very random item on my wishlist today is a very tasty Belgium bun! Ive been craving one of these all week ever since i drove passed a Greggs last Thursday. Sadly, I've still not satisfied this craving so you might keep seeing it on my wishlist until i get one! Just looking at this picture if making me drool!

 





Jenna x

Favourite Natural Collection Make up

 

Natural Collection is a brand that I don't tend to go straight to when walking into my local Boots. But as I mooch around the counters I am always enticed in by the price of their products. These super cheap cosmetics are truly under-rated because they are great!

 

One of my favourite products from the Natural Collection line is the Dusky Pink blusher. It's a really beautiful shade that will be great for the colder months. It is the darkest shade of the four that this brand sells but isn't too dark for fair skin like mine. I find that it gives a really natural look and is so easy to apply. This blusher also blends easily and doesn't look patchy. Also, the blusher has a screw top lid so you don't have to deal with broken hinges. All in all, its a great buy at a great price.

 

 

My other favourite is Natural Collection moisture shine lipstick in pink mallow. This is a beautiful colour that not too bright but not too sheer. The lipstick is really nourishing so there is no need to apply lip balm before using this lipstick. The pigment is great but you'll need to reapply more frequently than other lipsticks. I don't know whether that's down to the fact that its a cheaper brand or because its branded as a moisture shine. I would recommend these lipsticks to a friend, because lets be honest, with the price of these products you cant go wrong!

 

 

What do you think of cheaper brands like Natural Collection? Do you steer clear? Let me know in the comments or send me a tweet @JennaDoesBeauty :)

Jenna x

NOTW: Raspberry

This weeks NOTW is Barry M's Raspberry! I think this is a really great colour for autumn/winter because dark berry colours like this are going to be really in! Love it!

What's your favourite Barry M polish? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @JennaDoesBeauty :)

Jenna x

What's in my make up bag?

Make up bag - River Island

 

Top left:

Collection 2000 lasting perfection ultimate wear powder in fair

Collection 2000 shimmer shades blusher in Blushalicious

Collection 2000 mosaic glow shimmering glow powder

Top right:

Garnier skin naturals roll on

Collection 2000 lasting perfection ultimate wear foundation in ivory

Collection 2000 lasting perfection ultimate wear concealer

Bottom left:

Soap & Glory thick and fast mascara

Benefit they're real mascara

Urban Decay lush lash mascara

Bottom right:

Benefit girl meets pearl

The Body Shop brow definer in dark brown

Urban decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil

 

 

What's in your make up bag?

 

 

Jenna x



Products I Regret Buying ...

Buying a benefit product is rare for me because of the price tag. I bought Benefits Porefessional to minimise the appearance of the pores around my nose but after using it before applying my make up, I've found no difference in the size of my pores. I was really disappointed with this product because I've heard such great things about it. Sadly, it just does nothing for my skin.

What do you think about Porefessional?

Jenna x

Get To Know Me!

1. Is your hair naturally straight or curly?

My hair is naturally straight so I'm lucky that I don't have to straighten it all the time but sometimes it can be a bit fluffy so i use hair straighteners to smooth it out.

2. What is your natural hair colour?
My natural hair colour is a mousey brown colour but it gets lighter or darker depending on the time of the year.

3. Do you dye your hair yourself or go to the salon?
At the moment I'm trying to keep my hair as healthy as possible so I'm not dying it. But previously I have both had my hair dyed in a salon and by myself.

4. How ofter do you wash your hair?
I am currently washing my hair every two days as it gets greasy quite easily. Usually on the second day I use dry shampoo to keep it looking clean.

5. Do you wear the same hairstyle everyday or do you change it?
I change my hairstyle up pretty often, whether its straight, curly, in a top bun etc. I usually wear it straight with a centre parting.

6. Do you own your own mani/pedi or go to the salon?
As i am a qualified beautician i perform my own manicures and pedicures. Although sometimes its great to have someone else do it.

7. How often do you change your nail polish?
Usually around every 5 days.

8. Do you paint your toenails in the winter as well as the summer?
My toenails are painted all year round. There is nothing worse that unpainted toes!

9. How long does it take you to do your make up?
I am a great lover of sleep so on week days when I have to get up early I get it done in around 20 minutes so I can stay in bed as long as possible! Cheeky! But if I've got all the time in the world it usually takes around 45 minutes.

10. What do you do first, face or eyes?
Face, always.

11. Do you "collect" make up or just buy it when you need it?
Usually I just buy make up when I need it but if I've got some extra money, it will more than likely go on beauty products and make up.

12. How often do you wear fake eyelashes?
Hardly ever! They are too fiddly for me but i think they look great. I don't have the patience.

13. Do you wear a full face of make up everyday?
Not everyday. Mainly when I'm leaving the house or having people over.

14. Do you wear make up when your home alone?
No. I use this time to keep my face cleansed.

15. Will you ever leave the house without make up?
Yes but not very often. My skin isn't great so I'd rather wear make up when going out.

16. How many high end products do you have?
Not a lot. I'm a bargain lover if I do say so myself!

17. How often do you wash your make up brushes?
I'm super lazy about washing my brushes so i hardly ever clean them. Oops.

18. Do you plan your OOTD the night before or decide in the morning when getting dressed?
I usually decide my outfits in the morning but if it a special occasion then I'm usually well prepared a few days in advance.

19. How often do you change your handbag?
About every 6 months.

20. What time do you get up and go to sleep?
Weekdays i usually get up at 7:30am and go to sleep at around 11pm. Weekends are a different matter completely!

21. How often and when do you workout?
Not very often but i go through random health weeks where I eat more healthy.

22. Left or right handed?
Right.

23. How tall are you?
5"10 ... Too tall for my liking!

24. Do you speak any foreign languages?
Nope.

25. How many pets do you have?
Sadly none but I'm determined to get a dog at some point!

26. How often are you on blogger?
Too often!

27. Do you read the comments posted on your blog?
Of course, although I haven't had many :(

28. Do you keep a list of products to try that you've seen on other blogs?
More of a mental note.

29. How did you come up with your blog name?
Well, my name is Jenna and i do beauty so ... Jenna Does Beauty :)

30. What is your favourite beauty/fashion magazine?
Look magazine.

Jenna x

My Favourite Hand Cream is ...

... Hand Food by Soap and Glory!

If you've read my blog before you will see that I love the Soap and Glory brand. Their packaging is classic, cute and quirky and their products are great! I own the 50ml tube of this hand cream which is the perfect size for a handbag. Hand food contains Shea Butter, Macadamia Oil and Marshmallow which is great for the skin. The cream has a subtle perfumed scent that isn't over-powering. The formula is great as its non-greasy so I'm not left with a film of grease or oil over my hands which I consider the worst thing ever! The cream is really moisturising which is great for a beautician like me whose constantly using hand sanitiser which dries out my hands. Maybe the only negative I have about this product is that although its moisturising, its not necessarily nourishing which means my hands don't stay smooth and soft for long.

Overall, this is a really great product that I really love and would definitely repurchase. It's a great mini for my bag and gets a lot of use.

Do you use Hand Food? What do you think of this hand cream? What hand cream do you use? Let me know in the comments below.

Jenna x

Wednesday Wishlist #1

Today's first ever Wednesday Wishlist is this beautiful pair of khaki jeggings. I love the colour of these jeggings as they are a great autumn/winter colour that are really on trend for this season. I also love the fact they are jeggings because they are much softer and easier to wear. This pair of jeggings was found on the River Island website for £35, a really great investment if you ask me!

 



 

Jenna x

Lush New Shampoo Bar Review

The relationship I have with my hair is a strained one. Most of the time it doesn't do what I want it to do and my scalp screamed back with pain back when I used to bleach it. So I hate it, and it hates me. Until ...!

Around about July time I was walking through town with a friend and we walked passed Lush and of course the amazing aroma's emitting from the store enticed me in. After looking around the shop and all the amazing colours, shapes and smells, I came across the New Shampoo Bar and remembered a friend recommending it to me a few weeks earlier. I excitedly purchased the shampoo and pretty much rushed home to my shower to try it out.

New Shampoo Bar helps promote hair growth, making your hair grow faster and thicker, and creates a lovely, healthy looking shine. Before using this product my hair with dull from bleaching and had a really unhealthy look and I was a bit apprehensive about the bar. Would it create a good enough lather? Would it really be the secret to rapid and healthy hair growth?...

...Yes, is the answer to both of these questions. It lathered up beautifully and left my hair feeling squeaky clean and after just over a month of using this shampoo bar I noticed my hair didn't just look healthy, it WAS healthy and I noticed a big increase of the length and thickness of my hair.

The above picture shows what my bar looks like now. When purchasing it, it was much thicker. I am really pleased with the amount of usage I've got out of the bar. I really love this shampoo and its done absolute wonders for my hair! I would recommend this product ten times over and I am most definitely repurchasing!

Have you used Lush's New Shampoo Bar? Tell me what you think.

Jenna x

Coming Soon...

I am super excited about the release of these new Barry M Gelly Hi Shine nail varnishs! I'm truely addicted to Barry M's nail varnish and a new selection of colours put the widest grin on my face! Eek! Cant wait!

Jenna x

NOTW: Black Nails

 

This weeks NOTW is black nails. I'm loving black nails at the moment because its a really classic colour and I think its great for the transition into the autumn/winter months.

 

 

Let me know what you think about black nails and what your favourite a/w nail colour is :)

 

 

Jenna x

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

My favourite concealer at the moment has to be my Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer. I love this product because it's great for covering skin problems like pesky pimples, unwanted pigmentation and dark circles. This concealer is really thick and has great staying power.

Since using this product i have found that i much prefer liquid concealers rather than stick/solid concealers as they are easier to apply (especially with the sponge-on-a-stick applicator) and easier to blend in. Although, annoyingly, when I've come to the end of the product its hard to scoop up the remanence of the concealer left in the tube which means throwing it away with product still inside. I've found that I'm constantly having to repurchase this product because of this reason.

But all in all, I love this product and I will definitely keep repurchasing it until I've found something just as good but longer lasting.

Jenna x

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes Review

I have been using Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes for over 2 years now and I love them so much that I haven't purchased any other facial cleansing wipes since first using them. I use these wipes for removing make up including waterproof mascara and they've never let me down.

Previous to buying these Simple wipes I was tired of using facial wipes that burnt my skin and eyes and had a strong smell of alcohol. Simple wipes contain NO alcohol, NO oils, NO perfumes and NO colourings. So when I first used these wipes I loved how they made me skin feel clean and fresh rather than sore and tight. My only negative is that there are only 25 wipes in a packet. Not to be picky but 30 would be great (1 wipe for each day of the month, give or take).

As well as using only 1 wipe to remove all my facial make up, plus my eye make up, I am amazed that it is still capable of removing my waterproof mascara without suffering with stinging eyes. I honestly don't see myself buying any other cleansing wipes, these wipes are truly the holy grail of cleansing wipes!! LOVE THEM!

Jenna x

Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Mascara Review

 

For the past couple of days I've been testing out my new mascara by Soap & Glory called Thick and Fast Super Volume Mascara. And after a week of using this mascara I have to admit that it is most definitely my new favourite mascara! I am absolutely loving it.

Soap & Glory is a really fun brand that's products are amazing! Their packaging is beautiful, covered in pale pink, gold and black and white 1950's pictures of beautiful women and that's something that really made me want to try out the product.

The wand brush is quite large so be careful when applying. Every now and again I miss my eyelashes completely and get it all over my eyelid but once it's dried I simply wipe it away with a damp cotton bud. The formula is great! It doesn't flake or smudge but its really easy to get off with a make up wipe.

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Essie 'Not Just A Pretty Face' Review

I am loving my new Essie polish in Not Just A Pretty Face! It's a great colour for the coming autumn. This polish is a nudey-pink colour and it's GORGEOUS!

I also love the big, nail-sized brush the polish comes with. This makes applying the polish super easy and quick. Another thing I love about this polish is that it's really sheer (some might think I'm mad) so it can be used in a french manicure. The above look took 3 coats of the varnish but thankfully it didn't get gloopy.

The stay power so far is great! There has been no chipping or fading at the tip. Overall a great varnish. Completely in love!

Jenna x

Pocket Manicure Kit



 

Being a beauty girl I want to make sure my nails look their best at ALL times! Carrying round a pocket sized manicure kit in my bag enables me to ensure my nails are perfectly shaped whether I'm relaxing at home or shopping around town as it fits in my handbag without taking up too much valuable space.

 

And this cute little kit isn't just for nail grooming. It contains a pair of tweezers for that stray eyebrow hair or a sneaky splinter. It also contains a pair of nails scissors that can have a number of uses. 

 

What I love about manicure kits is that you can get many kinds of cute cases. My case is a metallic purple with a crocodile type pattern. Guaranteed you'll find just the kind of pattern you want! Manicure kits are always a great idea for a cheap birthday gift or Christmas stocking filler.

 

 

My manicure kit includes (from left to right) a cuticle cutter, tweezers, mini nail file, nail clippers, nail scissors and an angled nail clipper.

 

Do you carry round a pocket sized manicure kit? What's your favourite manicure kit pattern?

 

Jenna x



Barry M Indigo Review

My new favourite nail polish is Indigo by Barry M! It's a really beautiful shade of bluey-purple that's really in trend this season. Guaranteed you've seen this shade on many celebs recently like the Kardashian sisters, Cheryl Cole and Beyonce.

This nail varnish is relatively opaque with one coat but ideally two coats are best. This varnish takes around 10 minutes to dry completely (which can be even longer if your applications are thick). The finished product is beautiful but after 5 long days of wearing it the varnish has started to fade at the tip, BUT good news! No chipping!

Considering the formula, application and finished product I give this nail varnish 7/10.

Jenna x