Little Black Books

 

 

 

H E L L O !

 

We are eternally sorry for the complete lack of posts! I wish we could give you this fantastical story of adventure and distraction but unfortunately we are lazy. Typical of our age, if we have more than one thing happening then it is too much to handle and we have to sleep for three days.

 

We decided that as a classic new years resolution (that we can't promise we will keep but we will promise that we will do our best to try) we will try and post at least once a fortnight! It might not seem like much but with everything that is happening it is better than nothing-haha!

 

It has been an interesting term starting A Levels and has been difficult for us to be going to different schools. However slowly we have started to adjust! Not seeing each other everyday is the weirdest thing because you don't have those spontaneous and random thought conversations that would sound totally mental to anyone listening but to you the other person is a total genius and you can't understand why you aren't comedians!!

 

So, to combat this, we have decided to purchase little notebooks and we write down every couple of days ,or more, in them with our thoughts/things that have happened/ feelings etc. etc. You could only imagine the weird crap we have written in it! We swap these books every time we see each0other (when we remember to bring them that is, *cough* Isabelle *cough*) Then we read through and have a giggle and then reply to what the other has written and then write about our days.

It probably sounds boring but it means that we can still keep in tough properly and it gives us an extra excuse to see each other! It feels as though because we haven't been seeing each other everyday our friendship group meets up *out of sixth form* more than it used too now we have the motivation. As a result we have been making some brilliant memories and have already been planning some stuff for April half term and the summer holidays after our AS exams!!

 

The point is, we're excited for what is a head of us and although the next two years will be challenging and need a lot of work, we have no idea what is going to happen and that is pretty awesome. We aren't going to let something like being in different schools separate us and there is no way in hell we will be able to get rid of each other any time soon! You CAN NOT have one of us without the other! We are using these books as a fun way to stick together.

  

Toodle-oo

❣
Izzy and Isabelle

 "The best prize in life is working hard at work worth doing"

 

No7 lip product review

Hello! We are back after a month of waiting. Our exams still don't finish for 3 weeks but it is half term so we have time to make up for the lack of posts.

Two weeks ago I (isabelle) went into my local Boots drug store and at the till, they were selling a No7 lip brush, lip stick and lip gloss all for only £5. Yes, £5. There was nothing wrong with them it was just a fantastic thing they happened to be selling that day. So obviously I could not resist the temptation to have a cheeky purchase and I went for it.

First off, I am going to talk about the lip gloss. The one I have is a High shine, although it doesnt seem to be very shiny. It is in a beautiful, natural shade called smile. It has a very minimal amount of shimmer to it and adds more of a healthy glow to my lips, rather than making me look like I've covered my lips in vasaline. However it does leave my lips feeling moisturised as if I've used vasaline. The consistency is not at all thick, gooey or sticky and it has an SPF of 15. I am in love with it and will definitely buy it again, at the original price of £9.

The next thing I will talk about is my Stay Perfect lipstick. Mine is in the shade classic rose. I thought that this colour was more of a natural do-you-have-lipstick-on-or-not kind of shade however it turns out that it is rather bold. For a more natural look I prefer to just dab it on over a bit of moisturiser, as it isnt very moisturising on its own. It stays on for such a long time and even when i try to take it off, i can't! I love the packaging its come in because its just so small and simple, a perfect size to fit in your handbag or school bag. I will buy a No7 lipstick again but possibly in a different shade. The original price is £9.75.

Finally is the No7 lip brush. As I never really use a brush to apply lipsticks, I don't know what to expect from them. I don't really like to use brushes because I find that they store most of the lipstick in the brush rather than on your lips! However I do find that if you want to tone down the strength of your lipstick a bit, then a brush is the way to go. As expected from No7, the brush is super soft. The brush applies the lipstick easily to my lips with one sweep. I think if I lost my brush, I wouldn't repurchase as I feel I have no need for a brush. The original price however is £7.00.

This was a brilliant deal as the normal overall cost of these three items would be £25.75!! The next thing I will be buying from No7 is their foundation, so I will definitely do a review on that.

Isabelle

Toodle-oo

❣

Quick Note From Us

Hello! 

To anyone reading this; due to massive amounts of revision (and a new found Game of Thrones addiction) we are unable to post throughout the week. We plan to post on the weekends when we can but we have around 19/20 exams in the next few months. They start on the 7th and it's a stressful time haha. 

We love this blog and appreciate any views it gets. I hope you don't mind and continue to enjoy and share our posts! 

 Lots of love as always 

Toodle-oo

Isabelle and Izzy

❣

Barry M Reviews

Many of us know and love the glorious brand that has graced the shelves for many years. They have a wide range of products to suit all types of tastes and styles. I fear I have only dipped my toe into the pool of Barry M.

I know I'm slightly exaggerating as there are of course superior brands but then you do pay the superior price.

For a few pounds a pop I feel you can't go wrong with completing your summer look with a Barry M nail polish or lipstick. I don't have a single complaint about their products and would highly recommend them. A few of their products are definitely going in my summer ESSENTIALS.

 

I shall begin with Nail Polish. There are so many that I have bookmarked from their website that I am super excited to try as soon as I can get my hands on them!

The first set is from their Gelly-Hi Shine. I bought these on a day out with Isabelle and we were both very happy with them. They are definitely more durable than most varnishes I have tried however I did need to reapply on small chips after 3 or 4 days-this could be because we are on full revision mode so chipping is a bit more common.

I have 4 of these at the moment in a dark purple 'PLUM 325' ; in a nice bright orange 'PAPAYA 343' ;also in a pastel blue 'BLUEBERRY 338' ; then lastly in a nude colour 'LYCHEE 349' this is by far my favourite it goes with everything and is just so easy to wear. They were around £3 or £4 but I can't quite remember but for the quality you get either way is a total bargin.

 

 The other two I have is just from the original Nail Paint collection. These are very good. They were about £2.99 which is amazing. Just like the Hi Shine they are of a very high standard. I would recommend a base coat with these just to give them a little boost. I would definitely call these a summer must as they are little bottles so perfect for travelling or for a touch-up down the beach if needs be. I got a fairly bright pink 'STRAWBERRY 309' but it does come out a lot more neutral. I do like this as it is perfect as a base for some 'nail arty' things but also with a Matte Top Coat to finish them off. I also got a white as I have seen this around a lot and hadn't yet joined the hype. I think this will be nice in the summer when I've got a bit of a tan going to really make it stand out. Like the pink it is perfect as a base for any cute summer patters. It is 'MATT WHITE 66'. This is a really nice matte colour. I might try it with a glossy top coat to give it a bit of variation but so far so good.

I'm really excited to try their new Silk Nail Effects Nail Paint they have lovely pearly colours. You can check them out and let us know what you think? http://www.barrym.com/products/nails/effects/silk-nail-paint.html

 

Of course the last 2 things are lipstick. My favourite things in the world.

One of these I saw in a video by Carrie Fletcher (ItsWayPastMyBedtime) and I had to try it. Isabelle will tell you how OBSESSED I have become with this lipstick. Initially it is green 'TMLP'. I know-I know. I love to whip that out and watch peoples reactions as they think I'm actually going to give myself green lips. I mean that would be a step too far don't you think? Anyway...It actually changes depending on your PH balance. It only differentiates from person to person it wont be a totally different colour each time you use it. Isabelle glories in telling me each time how much it HASN'T changed(Isn't she funny). There, obviously, isn't a dramatic change between each person but it truly is a lovely colour. It is a deep pink colour and its so cute. I have to say it is THE most long lasting lipstick I have ever had(they both are) and it isn't even in their specification. I have found myself forgetting to take it off and then looking in the mirror the next morning AFTER a shower and it still have bits their. It may not be much but enough.

 The next one is a dark red with pink-y undertones. It is lovely. It is more wintery but I'll find a way to make it work through spring and summer. There is not much to say about it since I wittered away so much about the other one. Again I am very impressed and will definitely buy from their range again. I think the lipsticks were around £3.99? Something like that but that is seriously good value for money!

I hope you liked this post. If you have any suggestions let us know and don't forget to follow us to be updated on when we next post and share our posts around if you enjoyed them.

Lots of Love as always

Toodle-oo

Izzy

❣

my Simple skincare routine

Last weekend I went on a skincare haul and picked up a few things from Simple. So this past week while I have been trying out these products i have developed into a routine which I thought I would share. I am unsure of prices as the receipt is long gone and I have the memory of a fish but I think it is all around £3.99.

Every night I begin by using my cleansing facial wipes. I just use these on my eye make up. These are a life saver as I find it hard to find face wipes don't don't give me an allergic reactoon. I don't know what it is in face wipes that makes me go red faced and puffy but so far only simple face wipes and some of Johnsons face wipes do me good. So if you have sensitive skin I highly recommend it.

I then use my purifying cleansing lotion. I squeeze a generous amount onto a cotton pad and use up and out light sweeping movements over my face. Don't pull downwards as it stretches the skin, meaning you'll suffer when you're older! This takes off the majority of my face make up.

Then i close my pours with with my soothing facial toner. I once again pour a good amount over a cotten pad (even though it says to use cotten wool). I repeat by just doing soft sweeps over my face and neck. 

I finish off with my hydrating light moisturiser. I squeeze it onto my finger and place a dot in the centre of my cheeks, chin, nose and forehead before smoothing it out. Once again, don't press to hard or downwards. I also use this in the morning after washing my face. 

I did also buy the deep cleansing face mask but haven't yet used it. I am excited to though as it is supposed to remove deep dirt and eliminate dead cells, which should hopefuly leave me spot free after a few uses. I will review it after I have used it. 

I absolutely love Simple and definitely recommend it. I have really sensitive skin and a lot of products I have tried in the past haven't reacted well with my face. Simple is designed for sensitive skin so nothing I have ever used from then has reacted badly with my skin. 

Isabelle

Toodle-oo

❣

Pamper night

After a long and difficult few weeks we knew we needed a relaxing weekend to unwind and enjoy ourselves. We ate good food (Isabelle's mums homemade pizza is insane!) listened to our favourite music and relaxed. Best weekend for a long time! On top of that we watched 3 good chick flicks (read further down to find out our favourites).

The first thing we did (after the pizza) was to make our very own face masks. Despite the look of them they really did work. We basically mixed about 5 recipes to get as much out if it as we possible could! 

First we cut up 2 bananas. These have brilliant nutrients for all skin types. 

Then added 2 sachets of Oh So Easy Oats original .  This thickens the mixture up and makes it much more substantial. 

We then mixed in 4 Table Spoons of Honey and 2 Table Spoons of Granulated sugar. Sugar is a brilliant exfoliator and honey helps to keep your skin exceedingly smooth. 

After that we mixed in 1 Table Spoon of Salt. This adds to the exfoliating and helps to unblock pores and blackheads. 

We also added brown sugar. This again helps with exfoliating and also makes it thicker. It also made it a much nicer colour.

Don't forget to properly mush up the bananas and mix everything together. 

It was a really nice mask, it took a while to dry and we had a lot of fun trying to put it on. We cried with laughter! I think we might use a food colouring next time to make it look a bit more appetising. Our skin was so nice afterwards. It felt really refreshed and reduced redness around problem areas of our faces. 

You can check online for other good recipes but if you want a bit of everything then definitely give ours a go. Add a bit of lemon if you want to use it before you go out. It will really brighten up your skin. 

We then filled a bath with warm shallow water, just deep enough for our feet and filled it with a mixture of these three bath foams. We don't know where they are from as I (Isabelle) got them for Christmas but all of them smell amazing! While we sat on the edge of the bath in our comfy PJs we put on the face masks. We didn't have any candles but you could always light some scented candles to set the atmosphere. 

The consistency of the facemasks wasn't the greatest and we struggled to get it to stay on our faces but we managed. We waited about 10 minutes before washing it all off with a tea tree foaming face wash from superdrug.

We then we used the simple toner and I used this simple moisturiser.

After we had cleaned up our faces we filled up the kettle ready to boil and chose some films to watch. These were: Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, a Cinderella Story and yes, He's Just Not That Into You, all typical chick-flick rom-coms. Of course there are plenty of others like; The Notebook, 500 Days of Summer, Mean Girls or even Charlie St. Cloud. The choices are endless. We then poured our matching mugs with half milk, half water and two teaspoons of m&s hot chocolate powder, before putting it into the microwave for 2 minutes and adding a lot (I mean a lot) of cream and marshmallows.

We then snuggled down and enjoyed our hot chocolate and movie, with a fresh feeling face and soft feet!

How do you and your friends relax? Let us know in the comments!
 

Toodle-oo

Isabelle and Izzy

❣

Ted Baker body care

For my birthday last year, Izzy bought me four items from Ted Baker which came in a really sweet, clear Ted Baker bag. As they were a present, prices can't be told. It included a body foam, body wash, body moisturiser and body spray. Yes, I have only just started using the body wash and body foam 8 months after Izzy gave it too me (sorry Izzy). So here is a quick review on these four products. Also sorry in advance for the poor quality photos! 

As I hardly ever have baths (haha) I have only used the body foam once but I did like it and think I might squeeze a little into the bottom of my shower before I go in as the smell is Amazing. It doesn't irritate my skin which is a bonus as I find a lot of other body foams make my sensitive skin go all red and itchy. As I don't have baths often I doubt I will buy this again but for all you bath lovers, i do recommend it. 

Next up is the moistiriser. This I finished about 2 months after Izz gave it too me and have still kept the pot to remined me to buy it again! I found it was non-greasy and moisturising. And once again, the smell is so good! I occasionally have to just smell the pot as each product smells slightly different. 

Talking about smells leads on to the next product. The body spray. Now this is a life saver for when you have those days were you just feel a little dull and need a spritz. It is also the perfect size to carry around in your school bag or handbag and perfect to use after P.E! I will definetaly buy it again as it does smell amazing.

Finally, the body wash. Not only does it make the whole bathroom smell amazing after being used but it makes you smell amazing as well! It smells just like the body spray which is great and leaves you feeling refreshed. However, I think I may be slightly allergic to it as it does make me go a bit pink. I recon I would buy this again but maybe not right after I have finished. 

If you have tried any of the products let us know in the comments as we'd love to hear what you think about them :)

Isabelle

Toodle-oo

❣

A Little Update

Hello, it's the end of the month and we are doing our little favourites...together! 
 

First of all for me. I (Izzy) did finally take the plunge and gave into getting a Topshop Lipstick and I have to say I have not been disappointed. I got it in Beatnik it is a darker neutral shade of pink. It is a very creamy texture but without being heavy and sticky. Being 16 this is a pricier Lipstick at around £7.00 however I do have my eye on some more for summer especially the cute pale pinks. They are very pigmented and I have definitely found that my lips feel in a better condition as they are very moisturising. 

I do have to say that for the amount I've paid (as I ordered it) I was expecting more, there is a very small amount of product. Due to the long lasting effects of the Lipstick and the durability of the colour it is easy to over look this. 

As always the Topshop packaging is very cute and still practical. Overall I would definitely recommended them and I have to say I do understand the hype! 

In a weird way it also smells and tastes yummy, it is quite sweet and just makes it even better.  

In preparation for summer I have been trying to take better care of my hair. I, unlike Isabelle, have always had short and thin hair. So I have been searching the internet in search of an affordable shampoo and treatment that would make a difference to the condition of my hair. 

I discovered the Lee Stafford Hair Growth Protein Shampoo and Treatment. I went through 114 reviews and none had a bad word to day. 

The first thing I noticed when opening the product was the smell. It is fruity but not overpowering and it makes your hair smell fresh and sweet. It's a lovely to have fresh smelling and smooth hair and that is something that both these products provide. 

I have only been using it for a few weeks but my hair has felt softer and stronger from the first wash. I am not expecting miracles and am giving it at least a month to see any major changes. I am already so pleased as my hair just feels so much nicer and stronger. It may not be something I will re-purchase too often for the simple fact of price. The shampoo was £6.99 and the 5 minute rinse treatment was £7.99 they are both reasonable prices but I will need to make sure it is worth it of course. That is definitely something I will write about again. 

This month both of us discovered the band American Authors. I would say that they are in the indie category and are similar to Kodaline, Imagine Dragons and possibly even The 1975. There full album is being released in June but the 5 songs they have released are a very good listen!

Everyone loves a good perfume and I have fallen in love! Alien by Thierry Mugler is my definite favourite! Not only does it smell incredible it has adorable packaging. It could easily fit in a handbag without loosing the amount of product in it. It is a light smell but without being sweet or fruity. It could almost be musky but they tend to be heavier. It is hard to describe but it reminds me of a Burberry perfume. It is perfect for all occasions and works through summer and winter. I cannot get over how much I love it but I cannot describe the smell. Obviously rest it out first but I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a subtle but not understated scent for Spring. 

Whereas the perfume I (Isabelle) have been loving is the Our Moment perfume by One Direction. I didn't get this perfume just because it is by One Direction but instead for the smell. I enjoy a really sweet flowery scent that is strong but not too strong, and I have found these qualities in this perfume. Not only that but the bottle the perfume is in is really cute as well. So even if you hate One Direction, you can get the perfume and just burn the packaging!

Hope you enjoyed! Let us know what your favourites are?

Toodle-oo
Isabelle and Izzy

❣

The Tangle Teezer

Hello,

It's only a short one this week as it is half term and I am heading out to Centre Parcs for most of it. Although I wont be able to see or speak to Isabelle for 5 days which is a record  for us! By the time this is up I'll be there, yay! But...I COULDN'T not write about this! 

I'm sure you have seen these weird looking [ergonomically designed apparently] hairbrushes in a few beauty guru vlogs in the last few months. 

They are amazing.



They are called 'Tangle Teezers' and have been designed with plastic bristles that are painless to use, they also limit the damage done to hair whilst wet and stop them from being pulled straight out. 

(WARNING: Obviously as it is plastic do not use it whilst blow drying as you do run the risk of damging the brush or, if you have long hair and take longer than usual, even melting parts of it!)  

They can be used for wet and dry hair, this is a god send as I have always been told to NEVER brush wet hair but this is perfect. 

If you are unlucky and have fine hair like me then your hair will get knotty near enough straight after brushing it. I have found this problem has been totally eliminated and my hair feels so soft all day! 

The design is made to be handheld without limiting the bristles on the brush, the shape, although odd looking, means there is no problem of dropping it and damaging it. 

They have been developed to have 'memory flex' technolodgy so that you can have results that are specific to you. 

They also come in a variety of colours from Tangerine, blue with pink teeth and green.

I got mine from Boots and I think it was about £10.95 although this is a bit pricier it is definatley worth it, I would suggest it for all hair types and lengths. Enjoy! 

If you have any tips and treats for your hair let us know! 

Toodle-oo
Izzy

❣

Beginners Luck

HAPPY FEBRUARY!
 I just want to start off by saying that what matters is the type of person you are, no amount of makeup can change you're personality and you don't need to do it to impress others. True friends will love you for who you are. I think until your are at least 13 makeup is pointless really, but it's whatever makes you comfortable.

I think over the last 2 years I have felt very lost when it comes to makeup. I felt that I had no idea where to start or what I needed. After watching and reading many blogs, vlogs and tutorials I have finally got to grips with it. I hope this helps anyone else that felt as stuck as I did.

Starters:

>Primer

>Foundation/Base 

>Concealer 

>Blusher/Bronzer 

>Powder 

> Mascara 

>Lipstick

>Eye shadow

>Brushes and blending sponge(make sure to wash every week or every 3 uses)

 

 

So...if you have clear skin, accept for a few spots and blemishes, you DO NOT need a full blown foundation, My suggestion would be to purchase a Tinted Moisturiser or BB Cream, this gives a light moisturising coverage without clogging up your skin. I would suggest Garnier or No7. Also a bit of concealer goes a long way.  I have found that the Rimmel London Wake Me Up foundation is the best, it gives brilliant coverage and is not too expensive. I also add the True Matte Perfection Mouse Foundation in my oily t-zone as it helps to keep it under control. 

In my experience powder blush is better than cream blush as I have combination to oily skin. However if you struggle with dry skin, cream blusher is perfect! 

Corals and darker pinks are best in summer and lighter pinks in winter to give a natural glow. 

I find that a small bit of bronzer goes a long way as you do not want streaks on your cheeks and to just define your cheekbones you want it to be natural. I have only tried the MUA mosaic bronzer as it was only a few pounds however I am definitely keen to try the Sleek blusher and contour kit. 

I find that pressed powder, when over foundation, sticks in areas and I will only wear it as a light cover in summer. 

However I like to set my makeup with lose translucent powder over the top and the rest of the time just to stop shine and to make sure it stays a little more. This is just to help the primer set. If you have oily skin I would definitely recommend it as I have found it a godsend, also if you are prone to shine you may as well give it a go. 

When it comes to lipstick you do not need a lot of them-not that that has stopped me. 

If you have dry lips then obviously a moisturising balm lipstick is the way to go and maybe just stick to actual lip balms for a while. If not a matte look is always classy for a day out. I find they tend to last longer too. Corals and bright pinks and reds (much like blusher) are great for summer and darker reds and plums work well during the winter.

 

A neutral eye shadow palette is not essential but is always nice to have for an extra smoky eye. Personally, I'm not very adventurous with eye shadows and just stick with simple (and cheap) combinations. Isabelle got me a super cute eye shadow palette for my birthday from H&M and I'm very impressed! 

I do believe, however, that mascara is as essential as it gets. Without it I literally look like I'm from The Walking Dead. It opens up your eyes and makes them pop. If you want a natural look then I suggest a brown but if not then you can stick to black (or super black is you think it makes a difference). Mascara can be expensive. This is true across the board. I have tried most high-street brands and although they good they are not true to all their promises. I have found however that the MUA mascaras are much better and are only £2 or £3 which is insane value for money! 

When it comes to brushes I do not know much. I was given a Fraulin*38 set for Christmas a few years ago and they do the job. For a starter they are perfect. I do use the Primark powder brush for blusher, it has a really nice feel and is really easy to apply. There are obvious recommendations for brushes like MAC and Tom Ford but they are much more expensive. The best blending sponge is by far the Real Techniques Miracle  Complexion Sponge. It honestly does live up to the hype. 
For the basics I think all you need is a powder brush, blush brush, contour brush for bronzer, blending eye shadow brush and a blending sponge to stop steaks and patchy foundation. All depending on what you use and how often you use it, this will determine how much you are willing to pay but, as with everything, the pricier ones are of better quality.

I hope this has helped you to find cheaper alternatives for the basics. If you have any other substitutes please let us know in the comments. We all love a good bargain! 

Toodle-oo

Izzy

❣

REMEMBER: You are beautiful just as you are, makeup is supposed to enhance your features NOT cover them up :)