10 Little Secrets Tag.....

1. What is one product that makes you feel like a million dollars?

Hmmm for a girl from Portsmouth probably a ‘million dollars’ is a stretch too far. Not going to happen. However, I will settle for feeling like a tenner. That’s a lot of money dannn the back streets of Pompey don’t cha know.

The thing that makes me feel best is probably lipstick. Especially red. And especially matte. My two ultimate faves have to be Mac Ruby Woo and Revlon Strawberry Suede. I know the quintessentially ‘glamourous’ way to wear red would be to hark back to the 50’s. But there’s nothing more modern than a throwaway red lip. That’s why I like matte. Yes it takes a little prep work, but once it’s on, it’s on. It lights up the face and you look all (well in my head this is how it is, but probably in real life I look like a hooker with lipstick on my teeth) ‘Try hard? Yea- I just threw this on.’

MAC Ruby Woo...an artistic pic. Blame the wine.

Revlon Strawberry Suede....applied excellently as you can see.....

2. What is your skincare secret? / A passed down skin care tip

I don’t feel like I’m old or wise enough to have a skincare secret. Maybe when (if) I get to like 60 and for some crazy (never going to happen) reason I have good skin….maybe then I’ll have some pearls of wisdom for you.

But for now, my number one tip is- prevention is better than cure.

Right now I’m all about the double cleanse……cleansing….more cleansing. A dab of exfoliation. Regular masks. Eating right. SPF. Eye cream. Vitamins.

I would probably never tell her this because, no offence, she’s got a big head and she’d rate herself 10/ 10 every day, but my nan is probably a great skin care example to me. She’s 72 and she’s not very wrinkly. I don’t think I’ve inherited those genes, unfort. So my best bet is probably to get really really fat and have a big smooth round face J

3. Share your hair care secret?

Hahaha erm…..waking up with five minutes to get ready, pulling out my hair tie and maybe if there’s time giving it a brush?

No, in general I’m quite lucky with my hair. It’s very thick and in quite good condition on its own. So round of applause for my hair. I often neglect you and yet you put up a good fight.

LOL I’m joshin’ with you (……sort of).My number one secret, like with skincare, is look after. I use a lot of conditioning products and masques and I’ve got in to the habit *mental pat on the back* of using heat protectant every time I blow dry or use appliances on my hair.

I do dye my hair which will probably mean I’ll be a bald old woman, does leave my hair in good condition for a little while after it’s been freshly done.

Upkeep is a really big job tbh. And right now (gulp) it’s not exactly the colour I want, so I’m working on that. Which means a lot of extra time shampooing. So if you wondered what I was doing in there, I’m not up anything dodge don’t worry.

 4. What is your biggest diet rule?

I’m actually planning a post on this very issue, so I won’t go in to too much detail now.  As it will bore you. And you will want to cry. I’ve recently gone on a bit of a get-healthy mission.  My weight and I have always had a bit of a strained relationship. Like a cousin that you know is a bitch but you have to put on a brave face and deal with her because she’s your cousin, you know?

So my biggest diet rule is probably don’t ‘diet’. It’s all about a healthy lifestyle. For life. More on this later.

5. Any workout tips?

Never thought I would say this. But I love running. To anyone that knew me up until like two months ago, that’s right- SURPRISE- something’s happened to me and I don’t know how or when it did, but it has. And now. I. Am. A. Runner.

Biggest workout tip? Simple- work out. It’s the best natural high you’re going to get, it relieves stress, it makes you horny….what’s not to love.

6. Which perfume is your secret weapon?

My favourite is Chanel Coco Madmoiselle.

But my secret weapon is Armani Code. Love it. Love it. LOVE. ITTTTTTTTTT.

7. Show us a clothing item of yours which always turns heads

PAHAHAHA for all the wrong reasons.

8. What is your most treasured piece of jewellery?

Okay, prepared to be amazed. This necklace was a Christmas present from my mum a couple of years ago. It’s Accessorize and I lusted after it for a ridiculous amount of time.

Also love this other Accessorize necklace which again, I lusted over. And then got it for £4 in the sale. BAM.

9. Who is your style crush?

OMG so many women, so little time. Style inspiration is everywhere. Blogs, magazines, films, in the supermarket……

I can’t just name one person because if I see, for example, Rihanna, in one outfit- I’m like ‘nice.’ The next minute, she’s looking all trailer trash.

10. Tell us something we don't know about you

I LIKE WINE.

NO, I MEAN I LIKE WINE.

Fruit....for the face

Now't I love more than a bargain. And now't I hate more than having crappy skin. Apart from mean dictators, non-alcoholic alcohol and Samantha Brick's latest article about how great she is, obvs.

I think, my friends, I've found and absolute GEM of a range and guess what?! IT DOESN'T BREAK THE HUMBLE TRAINEE REPORTER'S BUDGET! Hooray!

If you're a beauty product junkie like me (you're reading this, so duh) then you definitely would have seen the Boots Cucumber range as you've taken a meander through the Aisles of Promises.

Let's face it, we're all a little dubious when we see the signs 'Skincare: £1.52', aren't we?

But I LOVE this range. You can pick up your whole skincare regime for like, a tenner.

So far, I've tried the face wash, moisturising cream, face scrub and eye make up remover pads.

....But my fave product has to be their three minute face mask. The first thing I love is the smell. So fresh. The second thing is that although the bottle is relatively small, the product lasts ages. And the third thing I love is that after it's washed away, your face genuinely looks clearer!

True, if you have problem skin like me, the effects are only temporary- but at only £1.52 it's not as if you can't afford to use it again!



WHAT'S THE DEAL? with nude lipsticks...

Anaemic.

Not really a look I would call 'desirable'.

But apparently- apparently I'm wrong?

It's an issue I've debated in my mind like, so many times that I'm slightly pathetic- but where did this obsession with the nude lip come from?

Don't get me wrong- I do have a couple of light lipsticks in my collection. But the ones that make you look like a ghost? Come on gals, we can do better than that!

So today I'm going to swatch the ones in my collection I can accept.
I'm not the prettiest spade in the tool shed, god knows I don't need to make myself look worse.

Numero Uno

First up, is this Modelsown lipgloss, free with Diet Coke in Boots a couple of months ago. Coke + Boots +lipgloss+ ideal. I actually chose this because of the colour- a nice light pink is pretty flattering for spring.

But unfortunately, I don't really feel like the colour conveys to the lips, so I end up slapping like...loads on....with no real result, only that my mouth is practically glued together and I can hardly speak.

Given these circumstances, it's pretty lucky they give you a generous-sized tube.

Numbero Two & Threeee *said in Numbero Uno accent*

These two cuties are from MUA, a quid each what an absolute STEAL. Again, I'm not really a huge fan of 'nudes' so I do prefer their pink & red colours, but as far as 'nudes' go, these are two of my faves...

Shade 13

Shade 7

Basically, they're the same- except one is the bronze version of the pink.
When I swatched them, I couldn't really see much difference.
The one thing I don't really like about these lipsticks is how shiny they are. I'm a lover of matt.

WHY IS WHY....

this is probably my favourite, and simplest nude....(no it's not a photo of me naked...)

It's

Natural Collection Lip Lines in...okay, it doesn't have a name or number you'll be able to tell which one it is if you go to Boots.
This costs around £1.40 and, despite the fact I use it under almost every lipstick (bar reds), it's last for a very long time. I didn't really believe in the whole 'my lips but better' idea before I met this little baby. I feel like you can just throw it on without being to precise and it gives a really nice, natural 'pick me up' to yor face.
It's also great paired with a smokey or coloured eye.

Compared to A LOT of bloggers, I have a really small collection of 'nudes', some would probably scoff at that. But whilst they're scoffing, picking up the same old shade every day, I'm shining the beacon for ridiculously bright lips. BOOM.

NAKED!....nails

I think I posted about this Nails Inc nail polish in Camel a long time ago, having got it free with some diet coke. Anyway, it was long thrown in a drawer whilst I splashed more cash on my ridiculous ambition of collecting every shade known to man.

But I saw this smiling at me in my polish drawer the other night and I decided to give it a chance.

And I like.

No More Acne!

 I've got a punnet of grapes right here next to me and unless I keep my fingers busy, those delicious little beads of nutrients (...and *cough* sugar) will be gone. And then what sweet snack will I have tomorrow? YOU SEE MY DILEMMA HERE!
So that's why I am writing a blog post today. Blame yourselves for making me a social outcast. If I had somewhere to be right now, I would.

Shit, I just ate like three more grapes.

I'm going to tell you my skin story. It sounds like the autobiography of a really pathetic z-lister who's OD'd on botox.

The reason I'm going to tell you this story is because there are a few products (few and far between) on my sad budget that have really helped me with the problem of...DUN DUN DUN.....Adult Acne.

So, we begin.

Once upon a time there was a reasonable looking girl with okay skin.

Then she got to 18....and her skin started getting a bit too pussed-up for her liking.

And it just continued from there, really.

Under the mountainous layers of foundation, I do have acne scarring. It's mainly on my cheeks and at times, even now when I'm almost 23, I get flare-ups.

I don't know if I'll ever completely shake this thing off. I'l be a wrinkly old cow with spots.

 But you know, that's life.

I'm not ashamed to talk about it because it might just help one person going through the same 'JESUS, what is wrong with your skin?' horror.

Over the years, I have tried a PLETHORA of products. I've even used Freederm, prescription creams and dare I say it, nappy rash cream (which actually, does get rid of some redness).

There are a couple of products that DO give a little improvement. Clearasil, for example, will leave you spot free....it will also leave you unable to move your face under a layer of dry skin.

I like facial soaps, thye give a good cleanse.
But again, these can be a little drying. Tesco do a good cleansing bar that's pretty damn cheap so I'll review that at some point for you.

But nevertheless, I thought I would never find ANYTHING that would make me pass for an acne-free person...

..................then low and behold....in walked Cetaphil.

I knew instantly that I had found THE ONE. The love that all of the greats talk about.
Shiiitttttt I am literally eating ALL the grapes.

And Cetaphil does a lot for me, but unfortunately, grabbing food out of my hands, it does not.

What does it do?

Put simply- it clears up my skin.

When I first tried this cleanser, I just cOUld NoT belIEve It.

I'd heard it was really good but I was like....yea okayyy then...sure .......*as I typed my card details in to the online pharmacy to buy it*

I first used it last Summer and within like, a couple of weeks, my skin was clear.

I can't tell you why- there's nothing fancy in this un-fancy looking bottle. There are no harsh ingredients, no latest 'must-haves'....I'm no scientist, I can't tell you why it works for me, it just does.

OH MY GOD NEARLY ALL OF THE GRAPES ARE GONE.

Now they stock it in Boots, and that's where I picked up my latest supply. I bought it on Boxing Day and I use it almost every day and night and I'm still good for it.

It's £8 something I think, but don't quote me on it.

In my humble opinion (which probably don't count for jack)- it is the best £8 something I've ever spent.

Apart from that one time I got really depressed and spent a shit load of money on chocolate...now THAT was a good way to blow some hard-earned cash.