Nail Design: Polkadot Rhinestones



Essie - Not just a pretty face
NYC - String of pearls


Pastel colours have most definitely made a comeback this summer after being all the rage last year. I couldn't get enough of the mint greens and pale pink colours. This week I'm wearing Essie's Not Just A Pretty Face and NYC's String of Pearls to create this cute polkadot design. I added some small silver rhinestone's to give a pop of elegance. I think this look is quite a muted look for summer, as I prefer brighter colours, but would be great if you were going to a more formal occasion like a wedding or christening.

I would love to know what you think about this nail art design and if you would like to see some kind of tutorial on how to recreate this look.

Sleek MakeUP Review: True Colour Lipsticks



Ever since discovering Sleek MakeUP I have well and truly been in love with the brand and all their products. I am yet to try out a product that I don't like. Recently I found myself trawling the Internet and ended up slap bang in the middle of the True Colour Lipstick section of Sleek MakeUP's website, how I ended up there I will never know. But anyway, I was immediately drawn towards the beautiful shades of 'Loved Up' and 'Tangerine Scream' at £4.99 each. I bought them and twiddled my thumbs for a couple of days until they arrived at my door.

 

'Loved Up' is a beautiful pink shade with a blue undertone. It applies gorgeously as the formula for this lipstick is really creamy. The colour is so pigmented and leaves a lovely sheen on the lips. I find that when applying this lipstick, using a lip brush is wise and you should always blot with a tissue. I find that I have to reapply 'Loved Up' around about every hour but I'm a reapplication addict, I reckon that this lipstick could last more like 5-6 hours before the colour fades completely, if not a bit longer. I put this down to how pigmented the colour is. For removal, I just wipe over my lips with a wipe and it tends to remove most of the colour from my lips but I do find that it stains a little.

 

'Tangerine Scream', I'm sure you can guess, is a bright orange colour. The formula for this lipstick is the same as 'Loved Up' so I would recommend applying it with a lip brush and blotting afterwards. I find that this colour doesn't stain my lips as much as the other one but it is just as pigmented. I also love the packaging of the lipsticks by Sleek MakeUP. They come in their own individual box with a swatch of the colour on the front. The lipsticks packaging itself is lovely with a matt black background and contrasting shiny, black imprint of the brand name. This brand is worth all the hype that their products get and I look forward to getting my hands on more of their products.

 

Left: Loved Up
Right: Tangerine Scream

 

Sleek MakeUp Rose Gold Blush Review

For absolutely ages now I've been trying to get my hands on Sleek MakeUp's Rose Gold blush but every time I've gone into my local Superdrug it's been out of stock, which has just confirmed to me that this was a blush that I had to have in my life.

I have a couple of Sleek MakeUp products in my collection but honestly this is a brand that I hadn't really heard of until late last year but I'm delighted that I have. You can check out my review of my first product from Sleek MakeUp in my Lipsticks of the Moment post.

Anyway, back to the blush. Rose Gold is a colour that has been really popular recently in the fashion world, with rose gold jewellery being everywhere it was merely a matter of time before the make up industry jumped on board. This gorgeous blush is a beautiful shade of rose pink with delicate specks of golden shimmer which leaves a beautiful finish to my everyday make up look. It is definitely my go to blush at the moment. This blush is beautiful all year round but I feel like it would look lovely in the warmer months with the sun reflecting of the golden shimmer.

Another thing I love about this blush is that the packaging is divine and without sounding cliche, it's very sleek. It very much reminds me of the Nars' packaging which I love. I would recommend this product a million times over and really look forward to trying more of this brands products.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick Review

After picking this lipstick up on a whim solely on the colour of the sticker at the bottom of the tube, I was a little disappointed. I hear you ask "well why didn't you test it?" and my answer to that is that there were no testers and there was a big bar code sticker preventing me for opening it. So when I got home and opened the tube, I wasn't too impressed with the colour. It looks very pinky but has quite strong orange tones which don't really go with my skin tone. Also, I found that the lipstick is a bit drying and didn't apply very well to my lips. This is a lipstick that will most definitely collect dust in a corner of my make up collection but it hasn't put me off trying other Rimmel lipsticks, especially in the newer Kate collection as I've heard that they are great.

The Chapped Lips Rescue Team



After writing a post yesterday about Pearl Drops Hollywood Smile I noticed in some of the pictures I took just how chapped my lips were. This inspired me to look through my beauty collection and hunt down a chapped lip rescue team! 

 



Vaseline Lip Therapy Chapstick with Cocoa Butter
This super nourishing stick is great for banishing chapped lips. Containing Cocoa butter and Shea butter means it helps soften lips from first application. I don't have to apply much to my lips for the Vaseline to do it's job. It feels quite thin on my lips and feels really rich. The chapstick smells amazing which I put down to the cocoa butter. This chapstick is great as it means you don't have to delve into a tin with your finger to apply. The stick itself is white so can make your lips look a little pale and it doesn't taste very nice as it leaves a weird after taste in my throat.

Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Tin

This old school Vasaline tin is the original super hero when it comes to solving pesky dry lips. If you have never tried it, then where have you been?! I tend to use this Vasaline product more in the evening and wear it to bed as I always manage to get it all around my face. It doesn't really have a scent and doesn't leave a awful after taste in the back of my throat which is why I like it so much. It applies to my lips really easily and I don't have to use much to cover my lips.

 

Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm

This lip balm is my favourite of the four to wear out. The pink balm gives my lips a hint of rose pink and helps keep them nourished and smooth. It smells a little bit like play dough but that doesn't bother me. The packaging is really pretty which is another reason why I like it so much. I wouldn't say this is the balm to grab for when your lips are really chapped as the colour can stick to the chapped parts of your lips leaving them looking a bit patchy but this lip balm is great to help maintain soft lips.

 

Body Shop Born Lippy in Watermelon

This is the nicest smelling lip balm of the four. It smells just like watermelon and it definitely smells good enough to eat. Sadly, I wouldn't recommend eating it because as soon as I apply it my lips, I get that horrible after taste in the back of my throat. It's definitely the worst tasting. The packaging of this balm is really cute and I love it's name as it gives it a bit of attitude. It isn't the easiest to apply because the pot is quite small which means I get it all up my nail which I hate. It's quite hard as well so you have to apply more than usual to cover your lips. This isn't the best balm for getting rid of chapped lips but like the Nivea Soft Balm it helps maintain soft lips.

 

 

Have any of you used lip scrubs? I'd love to read a review on them so link your post below :)

 



 



September Favourites

Welcome to my September Favourites!

CK One Shock For Her - This travel safe perfume has made it into my September favourites this month because it smells delicious and it fits perfectly into my bag and I don't have to worry about carrying a heavy glass bottle. If you ask me, it's a great invention!
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel - I got this moisturiser as part of a set along with a cleanser and toner. I don't use the cleanser or toner much but I love this moisturiser as its not too thick and is quite refreshing. It's also really good for oily t-zones.
Barry M Base Coat, Top Coat and Nail Hardener - I get through base and top coats like nobodies business and even though its really annoying, it means that I get to try lots of different ones. As you may know, I am truly in love with Barry M so I thought I'd give this polish a go. Its great because its quick drying and really helps harden my nails!
Natural Collection Lipstick in Pink Mallow - I loved this lipstick last month. Its a really natural pink and really moisturising!
Umberto Giannini Intense Beauty Conditioner - Last month I managed to run out of all my conditioners all at once and was left with this Umberto Giannini Conditioner that I got in a pack for my birthday. I was surprisingly happy with the results and even though it's a very small bottle it lasted me until I got my new conditioner.
River Island Rose Gold Heart Ring - I have been wearing this ring a lot last month and I am loving it. Its quite small and simple but that's what I love about it.
Bourjois Paris Eyeshadow in 08 - Another favourite is this beautiful eyeshadow which I use as a highlighter. Its a beautiful colour and I am loving it.
New Look Studded Dolly Shoes - I have been wearing these shoes a lot this month. I haven't had them for very long but I tried to make the most of them whilst the weather was relatively warm.

I hope you've enjoyed my first Month Favourites. I would love to see yours so leave a link to you post so I can check it out!

Jenna x

NOTW: Hot Pink

Loving this hot pink polish by No7! Application is easy and the colour is amazing! The weather has been so grim recently, and this polish has cheered me up and reminded me of all the great times I had in the summer.

Jenna

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

 



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

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

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