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

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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

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Bath and Body...

Hello! 

My most recent obsession (second to lipsticks of course-have more on the way) has been digging out my unloved bath and body bits from Christmases and birthdays past. There is nothing quite like soaking in the bath with bubbles candles around you. Its the best cure after a long day. The Yankee Candle Company have many scents to suit anyone and everyone.

Firstly I have fallen deeply in love with the Soap and Glory Rich and Foamous shower gel. Both Isabelle and I have raved to everyone that will listen about our love of soap and glory. That you can also read about here in Isabelle's post a few weeks back. 

When it comes to things like this I am super fussy, like you wouldn't believe, so for me to love it as much as I do is probably a first. It is a gorgeous almond smell and it makes your skin so silky and smooth. It's not the type of smell that hangs around and is overpowering. It is light and refreshing. As it is so foamy you only have to use a little at a time. This is why I was willing to pay a little extra for it as I know it'll keep me going for a long time. I got the large one from Boots at £6.50 but I think there are smaller ones available online. 

 

My next two items are body shop. Everyone knows their products are of a brilliant standard and for this you do pay a little extra. The first one is an Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream. It does exactly what it says on the tin and I love it. As you can see I have used it ALOT! It smells amazing and I am one of the unlucky ones with very dry hands. This stuff has completely stopped this. I will never stop buying this and I cannot wait to try the other scents. You can't not trust the ingredients The Body Shop uses as they have an all natural guarantee with most of their products.

The next Body Shop item is a body wash. It is a lovely scent 'White Musk' It always reminded me of rose. It is your average body wash but the smell meant I couldn't not suggest it, well there whole body wash line in general.

I am also Love Love Loving the tea tree range at Superdrug. All the products are cheaper and aimed at teenage blemish-prone skin. I know these don't really count but I wanted to suggest them any way. The foaming wash and cleanser are very refreshing and they help to keep down shine and the cleanser is fantastic to minimise pores and blackheads. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that doesn't want to spend loads of money or buy lots of different products. The products are a few pounds each. I don't know if they are available in the US however Tea Tree products in general are a brilliant solution to spot and shine prone skin. The tea tree moisturisers are perfect for dry to combination skin too.

A few other things are;

This cute 'Black Sheep' foaming soap;

Elizabeth Arden Exfoliating Scrub, that I have managed to get paint or makeup on; 

Also this really sweet mini Spa Treatment Shower Cream by Champneys; 

Let us know what products help you to relax after a long week.

Toodle-oo

Izzy
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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

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Natural Collection

I have purchased many products from the Natural Collection so I thought I'd share my experiences. All of the products are £1.99 and can only be bought from the drug store Boots.

First of, are there concelers, both of mine in the shade fair. I use the liquid one for the summer as it is a darker shade and quicker to put on when I'm rushing down the beach, and the stick one for the rest of the year. I find that both do the job and even mange to cover my under eye darkness as well as any blemeshis or redness. For the price that they are, I will continue to buy them as they satisfy my face just fine and don't proceed to make my spots worse.

Next up is the pressed powder, which i have in the shade warm. As you can tell from the picture below, it has been well used. I put it on after my conceler or tinted moisturiser to set my make-up and matte my face. However, it doesn't stay on for a very long time. I don't know if I will buy it again in the future but I think once its gone I will go for something more expensive.

This leads on to my tinted moisturiser, in the shade natural. I havent used it since the summer as the shade is too dark for me and makes me look extremely orange, so I'm going to have to go with what I can remember. Consistency is what you'd expect, its lighter then a BB cream and very runny. However it does its job and does cover up a lot and some days, I didn't even need to put on my conceler. It did make my face shiny though so I had to use a power after. I might buy this again once it runs out depending on whether I would rather go for a foundation.

I don't have much to say on the lipstick (shade sweet pea) as I never wear it purely because the colour makes my lips look silver. I do find that it stays on for a long time and is very moisturising. I will buy their lipsticks again but in a different shade.

The pigment of the eyeshadow duo did surprise me (shades mocha/latte). The dark brown stays on all day as does the white. They aren't shimmery which is just what I wanted as my No7 duo (in similar colours) is too shimmery for school. I will buy their eye shadows again.

Next is the blusher in the shade peach Melba. Both me and Izzy have them in the same colours and both agree we will buy them again. I don't wear mine much as I do have naturally flushed cheeks. There isn't much in the pot but for the price I didn't really expect much more. The colour is perfect for spring/summer seasons as it adds a natural glow.

None of these products have given me spots which is great as that is the only thing which puts me off wanting to wear make-up. I will continue to buy from Boots Natural Collection as I think most of the products are up to the same standards as other high street brands.

Isabelle

Toodle-oo

❣

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

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

  

January Favourites

It's nearing the end of the month so we thought we would do a post, at the end of each month, together reviewing the things we have loved! It can be anything from beauty to music. 

First it is BEAUTY!

I have purchased the Wake Me Up Rimmel Foundation in True Ivory 103.

I was a bit worried as it looks orange in the bottle but it is a perfect match. I have medium skin with rosy patches and it covers really well. If you are prone too oily skin then make sure to cleanse and moisturise your face to first or it will gather around those areas and leave shiny and orange patches.  It has SPF 15 and is very light weight so for days out in spring and summer it will be perfect. 

It is very long lasting and for £6.99 from Boots it is a massive bargain!

I also decided to try the Bourjois Paris Colour Boost chubby crayon. It claims to be waterproof and that it will last up to 10 hours. I'm not sure that is 100% true but it definitely lasts a lot longer than my other lipsticks. The colour is so vibrant but without being too in-your-face. I got 2 quite summery colours but they are still good for winter as they are very moisturising. This is perfect as I suffer with very bad dry lips. I got 04 Peach On The Beach, this is a light baby pink. I couldn't resist trying the coral Orange Punch it isn't too bright but is definitely going to be perfect for summer! They are on special offer at Boots so go get them whilst you can as they are a bit more expensive at around £7.50.

When it comes to hair care Isabelle and I are very fussy. We struggle to get our hair properly volume-ed.  Most products leave my hair feeling all knotty and powered. I decided to purchase the Lóréal Paris Studio Line Txt Volumizing Super Spray. It was only like £3.00 in Superdrug and oh my what a bargain. It does everything it claims too. It leaves my hair properly volumised without having to back-comb it which is not good for it at all. The can is so big i've had it for over a month now, using it nearly every day, and I am no where near finished. If you worry about flat hair then you definitely need this product in your life!

*Passes laptop to Isabelle*

My top favourite  is the Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner, which i personally think is amazing. When i use it i can actually feel it healing my lips and it smells amazing. It gives your lips a really great cool, tingling feeling when you put it on. It also works great anywhere on my face if i have dry patches, making them feel a lot smoother just overnight. Priced at £2.99 from Boots it is quite pricey for the size of the tub, but definitely worth it.

Next up is my Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail paint in the shade Blueberry. I first thought that i would try them out as i had seen them recommended on YouTube, saying that they lasted a lot longer than normal nail paint. I then took it to the test but didn't find it that amazing. I guess that it did last a few days longer but you definitely need to put a base coat on underneath. I mainly like it so much because it is the perfect colour for this winter-y season. And from Superdrug it is a great price of  £3.99. 

BODY BUTTERS!

The Soap and Glory Righteous Butter is my [Isabelle] all time favourite moisturiser. It's non-greasy, moisturising and smells so good! Unlike some other Soap and Glory products, I find it is really non-greasy which is really good as it means i don't have to worry about my skin being greasy. It also lasts a really long time. Just one splodge can last the whole leg. The smell is so amazing, even Izzy agrees! For the 50ml tub it is £2.50, and it lasts for a long time, so it's not a bad price.

In my stocking this year I [Izzy] got the yummiest body butter! It is the Pink Macaroon Body Butter from H&M. I don't know how much it was as Santa doesn't leave prices on things, obviously. It can leave your skin a little greasy if you use too much. The packaging is so cute and there is a lot in there, especially since you don't need much! It smells incredible. Neither me or Isabelle can work out what it smells like; it is a kind of fresh fruity smell without being too overpowering or strong. 

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

Toodle-oo
Isabelle and Izzy

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