Clinique Strawberry Fudge Holiday Palette

I think I've mentioned before that I'm a huge fan of Clinique eyeshadows.  I think they're often overlooked in the blogging world, and as they're such good quality, I'm thinking of starting a one-woman mission to promote them!

Anyway, I had £20 worth of Debenhams Beauty Points just before Christmas so I decided to treat myself to either the Clinique Strawberry Fudge Holiday Palette, or the Lancome L'Wren Scott Palette.  The L'Wren Scott Palette was sold out, so I went for the Clinique one, and I'm so glad I did.

The palette contains a pink blush and three eyeshadow shades.  There's a light pink, a darker berry pink and an unusual brown colour, with a hint of pink in it.  In the pan, the eyeshadow shades look pretty, but nothing special.  But when swatched and on the eye, they transform into the most gorgeous colours.  In particular, the lighter pink colour is shot through with a golden shimmer which adds a new dimension to the eyes. I've included a few pictures of the swatches in different lights so you can see the golden shimmer effect.

I've been using the lighter pink over the lid, the darker berry pink in the crease and the brown for eyeliner and even for my brows.  The colours are so easy to use and very wearable, despite the shimmer - I've been using this almost everyday since I bought it and did my Christmas day eyes with it.

I'm not that impressed by the blusher, but I'm not a fan of Clinique blushers generally, so I didn't expect to be.  It's a perfectly useful pink blush, but it doesn't wow me.  The palette is beautifully and solidly packaged and comes with a reasonable couple of brushes (fine for travelling) and a decent mirror.

At £25, this may be a little steep, but if you have £20 of points sloshing around, it's a bargain!  If you can still get your hands on it, I'd highly recommend it.  I did end up getting the  L'Wren Scott palette as well (that was with Advantage Points and before my beauty diet) and I'm less impressed with it.  I'll review it separately later, but in my opinion, the Clinique palette is far better value, better quality and my top pick!

Thanks for reading!  xx

Beach Bum and Bikini Count Down

OK, so I was going to go on a post-Christmas diet anyway, but now I've booked my holiday, the diet is now urgent!

We were planning to go to America for two weeks in March and go to the New Orelans Mardi Gras and then to Austin for a music festival.  Once we started looking to book it properly, the prices were getting ridiculous, so we had a bit of a rethink.  In the end we settled for booking an all inclusive holiday at a 4* beach resort in Cuba - a completely different type of holiday, but actually less than half the price of visiting the states (and much less hassle as well - I was not looking forward to going through customs). 

I'm actually looking forward to going to Cuba more than I was to going to America - now it's booked I can't wait!

However, as it's a beach resort, this gives me just under 9 weeks to get bikini ready - aggghhh!  I'm sure I've put back on all the weight I lost in the weight loss challenge over the Christmas period!  I'm also going to have to spend some of the money I've saved (and will continue to save by doing my Beauty Diet and Project 15 Pan) to buy some bikinis.  I own only one black tankini thing, and it's 5 years old - I don't really do beach holidays.  Also, as I am rather blessed in the boob department, I have to buy bikinis at Bravissimo or expensive department stores, so they're not the cheapest either.

Anyway, once I've weighed myself tomorrow morning, I'm starting a new diet and exercise challenge.  The thought of spending two weeks in bikinis is shocking me into getting on with it!  I'm planning to lose a stone in the 9 weeks I have left.  I'm not going to run a challenge like I did  before Christmas, but I know a lot of you are also kick-starting the diet, so good luck to you all!

I'm going to do some posts on my weight loss progress in case you're interested.  It's back to Weight Watchers for me!

Are you also on a post-Christmas diet?  What are your goals?

Thanks for reading!  xx

The Beauty Diet Reboot Part Two - Makeup, Project 15 Pan

Yesterday I embarked on a new Beauty Diet for a new year and focussed on my toiletries.  Today I'm going to address my makeup items, which are spiralling out of control. 

I’ve decided that I have so much makeup, I’m going to do take up the Project 10 Pan idea.  Only I’m going to expand it a bit to Project 15 Pan and I’m going to totally finish all the products included before buying anymore.  Some of them have already hit pan, but there’s still loads left, so I’m not going to waste them!

The products included are:

Mac Prep + Prime face primer

No 7 Organza eye palette

A random No 7 eye shadow sample

A Clinique blusher with a broken case

Rimmel kohl eyeliner

Chanel Inimitable Intense mascara

Elf minty lipgloss in Boston

Elf eyelid primer

No 7 liplicious lipgloss

Rimmel pressed powder

Revlon Photoready Foundation

Elf concealer palette

NYC Perfect and Reflect concealer palette

No 7 Intelligent Colour Foundation

No 7 Colour Calming Makeup Base

I find it really hard to use up certain makeup products.  I don’t remember the last time I used up a lipstick, I hardly ever finish an eyeshadow and I rarely make a dent into my blushers.  Foundations, concealers and powders I tend to get through fairly quickly, so I’m confident that I’ll finish these soon.

I’ve put all the products included in this challenge in their own makeup bag that will become my bag of choice.  There are some new products coming out later in the spring that I really want.  However, I’m not buying them until the Project 15 Pan is completed and I will be strict with myself.  I won’t be buying any more makeup products until this is completed, and that includes my major weakness, nail polishes.  I certainly don’t need any more of them!

I will be updating regularly with how my challenge is progressing.  Are you thinking of doing something similar?

Thanks for reading! xx

Sample Sunday - Chanel Hydramax + Active Serum

I received this sample in the summer from Chanel when I joined in the mad rush to purchase Paradoxal, but I'd not tried it out until this week.  I've been using it for a few days now, but it is Sunday, and it was a sample, so I think it qualifies for my Sample Sunday review.

According to the Boots website:

"An ultra-hydrating serum for dry or very dry skin goes to the source of skin's hydration needs. At the heart of the formula: CERATONIA PFA* powerfully stimulates hydration; a Hydrabarrier System™ locks it in, resulting in healthy-looking, smooth, supple skin. Enriched with Aquaperfyl™, a complex of moisture-boosting components, this silky serum sinks in on contact for immediate dry-skin relief."

 

 By the way, the Chanel website says pretty much the same thing.  

I thought that this would be an excellent winter serum, a little treat for me with the cold weather currently playing havoc with my skin.  However, so far, I've not been very impressed with this at all.  I generally find that posh serums can usually be used very sparingly.  That's not the case with this serum - I need about the same amount to thoroughly moisturise my face as I do with my usual No 7 Protect and Perfect serum.  I've nearly finished the 5ml tube having only used it about 4 times, whereas I got nearly a month's worth of application from the Murad serum sample I tried last year.

 

The Hydramax Active Serum is a slightly medicinal blue colour (and inoffensive chemically smell) and it also slightly stings my face when I apply it, although not as badly as the Murad serum did.  It sinks in pretty well, but it doesn't make my skin feel particularly well moisturised; infact, on the moisturising front, I'm disappointed with this serum.  It doesn't make much difference at all.  I'd rather be using a cheaper and better moisturiser rather than this expensive one which doesn't seem to do much at all.  My skin feels no better and there are no visible anti-aging benefits I've noticed.

If you clicked through to the Boots website, you'll have seen the price of a 50ml bottle.  Yes, it's a gobsmackingly expensive £70!!!  That's a huge price for a product which I think is distinctly average. 

So I'm sorry Chanel, but this gets a Bristol Beauty Blog thumbs down.  It's too expensive, doesn't go a long way, doesn't suit my skin and isn't very moisturising.

Thanks for reading!  xx

The Beauty Diet Reboot for 2011 – Part One, Toiletries

You may remember that last year I tried to use up lots of beauty products I had kicking around in an attempt to save money and to rid myself of lots of half empty bottles and make some space in my cupboards.  It was all going so well... I made big inroads into my moisturiser stash (which was once at an overwhelming 38 moisturisers), I finally used up one of my evil exfoliators, and I didn’t buy myself a single shower gel for the whole of 2010 (I’m just using up the very last mini bottle of shower gel from last year).  Woohoo, I had some space in my cupboard and was feeling cleansed. 

But then I started to slip a bit... I just ignored my restriction on buying makeup, splashed out at Origins one day, and began to buy more bits.  I realised I had four different face washes on the go, three exfoliators (and I only really like one of them), two face masques, and a load of half used body lotions floating around.

These are just shower gels/bubble baths

These are all my body lotions, butters, foot and hand creams

And then the Christmas smellies haul came.  At first I thought that it hadn’t been a good Christmas for beauty bits.  But I tried to put them all away in my cupboards (and the Christmas smellies were swelled with some bargain sale gift sets by this time, with more on order as I type this), I realised that I was back to square one.  A quick tot up reveals the following stash, some of which I already had:

11 shower gels/bubble baths (same difference as I use bubble bath in the shower)

4  body scrubs

4 bath puff thingies and 1 sponge (I did need a new bath puff anyway)

8 soaps and 1 liquid soap

11 body lotions *

4 body butters *

4 hand creams *

2 foot creams *

4 face washes on the go

3 facial scrubs on the go

One shampoo and conditioner on the go, two conditioners in reserve, and a further shampoo and conditioner set

A whole load of half used haircare products (some of which should really go in the bin)

A whole load of half used moisturisers, serums, oils and random samples

Two half used gradual self tanners and one full sized fake tan

I also have loads of samples of eyemakeup remover as well as two full sized bottles

Sample stash – ever growing again, despite my Sample Sunday efforts last year.

* These are unused lotions, butters and creams – I have more on the go as well.

I’ve managed to fit most of these in my cupboards, just about.  All my body creams have been relegated to a (large) box somewhere else as they simply wouldn’t fit it!  I’m feeling slightly overwhelmed by them all again, so I thought I’d restart the Beauty Diet to challenge myself to get through them all and stop buying any new things unless I need them.  So here are my challenges for the upcoming months:

Shower gels – Use up all the ones I have and not buy any new ones for another whole year!  This is a very tough challenge, but there are some very large bottles there, so I hope to meet it.  I also know I’ll acquire various shower gels over the year from hotels I stay in and maybe for my birthday, so it may be possible.

Body scrubs – actually get into the habit of using these regularly and use them up.

Body creams/lotions – continue with my daily moisturising to reduce the huge stash I have.  I want to get to as near as zero as possible by the end of the year.

Face washes – I’ve got 4 on the go, although not much of any of them left.  I need to actually use these up before buying any more.  I’m hoping that what I have left will last me until the end of February before buying any more.

Facial scrubs – With three on the go, I need to actually use them up.  One is meh, one is OK and the other is a dermabrasion scrub that I only use occasionally.  So I hope the meh and OK one will last me to the end of February before I need to buy any more.

Shampoo and conditioner – I think I’ve got enough shampoo to last me until the end of February (but possibly not), so I’m going to try to stretch it to then.  I reckon I’ve got enough conditioner until the end of April, so I’m not buying any more until then.

Facial Moisturiser etc – I’m not going to be super-strict with moisturisers as I do have sensitive skin and certain things react badly to me.  Also I change products dependent on the weather.  However, I think I have enough products to last me until the end of March, when I’ll probably be looking for a lighter moisturiser anyway by then. 

Eyeshadow remover – I think I’ve enough of this to last me until the end of March.

Haircare products – I’m going to sort these out, bin any horrible products (and actually do it), and use up the ones I currently have.  I’m nearly out of Moroccan Oil, but I’m not going to buy anymore until I’ve used everything else up, so if I want it, I’ll have to ration it!  I’ve got some pricey L’Oreal Professional bits that I haven’t even used, so I will use these first.

Fake tanners – In 2010 I didn’t use any fake tan at all.  I know I should probably chuck out the fake tans I do have, but I’m tempted to see if they are OK still.  It might be my New Year’s resolution to be tanned and gorgeous! 

Samples – Yes Sample Sunday is back on... starting today!  A post will follow shortly.

So there are my challenges for the year for toiletries.  You probably all have the same problems as me, keeping on top of your stash, and I know that some of you are also challenging yourself to a similar challenge – good luck if you are!  For me, I have such limited space in the flat and I’m a bit of a neat freak, so I do get a bit anxious if my products are spilling out everywhere – it unsettles me! 

I also need to save some money.  We’re planning a big and expensive holiday to America at the beginning of March, so I need to save the pennies for the trip.  You will see that many of my challenges end around then, so hopefully I won’t need to buy any more products until I’ve saved for the holiday.  So this challenge is tied in with not spending any money until March. I’m also planning a clothes shopping ban until then, a book shopping ban (well maybe not, I have some Amazon vouchers still), a buying lunch from a shop ban, a buying nice coffee ban, and a makeup ban.  But I’ll take about my makeup plans in a separate post to come...

For things I do need, I have £18 worth of Boots points on my card.  I did have £75 worth of points, but I spent most of that treating myself over Christmas.  I reckon this will cover essentials for the next couple of months.  If I need something, I’ll buy it, but I won’t be randomly spending.

I intend to update this challenge weekly so that I stay on track.  I will be confessing any occasions I fall off the wagon!

Have you had a good Christmas haul of smellies?  Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount you have as well?  Let me know if you’re contemplating a similar challenge!

Thanks for reading (my very rambling) post!  xx

NYE Nails of the Day - Accessorize Shade 38

I picked up this Accessorize nail polish whilst out shopping the other day.  It's shade 38 and it cost a very reasonable £4 for such a gorgeous colour.  It's like a glittery peacock, combining green, purple and blue shades, like the colours of petrol mixed in water.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be my New Year Eve nail polish.

I must say that I don't like the application at all.  The brush is too stubby and difficult to work with and it's really hard to apply.  I also hate the quality of the polish.  Within a few hours of application, I had a horrible chip on my other hand and have since developed a few more, despite using a good quality top coat.  I've also found that another shade of Accessorize polish I have chips really badly (which is why I haven't bothered doing a NOTD on it yet).

Saying that, my left hand has remained intact for photography purposes and still looks pretty good.  I used a ridge filler as a base coat, two coats of Shade 38 and a top coat.  Drying time was ages as well.

So, on the plus side, I love the colour (and there is a good range of other unusual colours), but I hate the application and the quality is awful.  For £4, there are much better quality polishes out there, but if you fall in love with one of the colours, it's not too much to pay for a cheap polish that'll just about last 24 hours.

Have you tried these polishes yet?  Have you had better experiences than me?

Thanks for reading!  xx

NYE Hair and Makeup

Happy 2011 everybody!  Here’s a peak at my hair and face of the day for NYE.

Face

Lancome Teint Miracle foundation

Concealer and highlight palette

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

Prestige baked blusher in pink

Elf bronzer in warm for a contour

Eyes

UDPP

Shroom by Mac over the lids and as a highlight

Beautiful Iris by Mac as a crease colour

Nocturnelle by Mac in the outer V

Eyeko Line and Shine Pencil in Electric Purple as an under the eye liner

Glitter liner from Primark on top of the Eyeko pencil

Smoulder by Mac on the waterline

Blacktrack Fluidline by Mac on the upper lash line and wings

Inimitable Intense mascara by Chanel

Shu Uemura false eyelashes

Hair

I curled my hair with tongs and pinned it to one side.

I took these photos before I’d done my lipstick or put my earrings on.  But I am wearing my white gold dress. I’d slimmed down so I could wear the dress, and I was planning to wear it to parties before Christmas, but unfortunately I was ill, and then the snow prevented me from getting to another party, so I couldn’t wear it then.  I decided to wear it with thick tights and flat boots for New Year, as there was a bit of walking around involved, and we were only going to the pub. I love the dress, but it is hard to accessorise, as gold looks brassy and silver also doesn't work with the white gold colour.  In the end, I chose antique silver coloured jewellery to go with it.

I ended up having a fab new year, with the DJ in the pub playing lots of cheesy 90s dance classics.  Yes, I was strutting my stuff to Betty Boo at 10 past midnight!  We didn’t stay out too late and I didn’t drink too much either, so I’m quite fresh today!  I hope you all had a great night, whatever you did!

Thanks for reading, happy 2011!  xx