New year resolutions

It has become somewhat of a tradition for me  to do this every year on my blog, and who am I to argue with  tradition? I love making new year resolutions, the feeling of hope they give you but yet somehow I never end up sticking to them.......oh well, that's life isn't it?

I had plenty of beauty, fashion and life related ones last year and some of the ones i'm about to mention may have been mentioned last year too if 1) I did a bad job of sticking to them or 2) they are really good ones. 

1) I think this is not going to come as a shock to most of you, and it's the most boring resolution ever but here it goes: lose weight. Those of you who read my blog and watch my videos often will already know I have lost most of the weight I wanted to, but as always I have gained some after xmas and really need to get back on track, my goal is to lose another stone  (or 2) in the new year, and keep it off for good.

2) Fake tan more! i'm not sure if it was just me being lazy or just embracing the plae look but during this winter I have not been tanning much, and while it looks good on my face,on  my body.......not so much, My body looks so much better with a tan so ideally I would like to tan at least once a week.

3) Lay off the laptop. This may not come as a shock to many of you but i'm an internet addict, as i'm sure so many of us are these days. But I would like to cut down on the amount of time i'm on the computer so I can spend time with people properly, rather than talking to then with my head in the laptop or on my phone so i'm going to try and not use the internet in the evening.

4)Keep up the daily workout because it was really helping me feel better about my body.

5) In terms of fashion I think i'm stuck in a bit of a rut, due to the fact it's been so cold and let's not forget, my body issues I have been stuck in big jumpers, jeans and boots and while I do love the look I need to branch out a little and wear cloths that are a little more fitted, and wear more dresses and skirts!

6)Get back to daily body brushing! this is a big one because I have not been doing it for the past few weeks as im away and forgot to bring my brush and I can really see and notice a diffrence in my skin, everything just feels less firm and smooth.

7) Use a cellulite treatmeant daily, again because this makes me feel better.

8) Last but not least, be less negative. I'm a very negative all the time and it's not my best qulity, so must try and work on that!

So that's it, those are all my reslutions......what are yours? I hope you all have a fab new year's eve and wishing you all the best in 2013!

-Thesparkleicious-

Christmas Party Look & VPONSALE Dress GIVEWAY!

Hey everyone!

Just a little reminder about my giveway on here too, do make sure you read all the details carefully first.

Good luck! 

Dr Darren Mckeown AHA active radiance cleanser

In my opinion nothing beats AHA'S to brighten and smooth out your skin, and as I have mentioned before such products can be very hard to come across on the high street, so when browsing the skin care shelves in superdrug I was intrigued by this cleanser, and the brand in general seemed very "active" if that makes sense. 

The AHA active cleanser claims that AHA'S are the key for getting luminous skin as they prompt cell renewal,help sweep away dull skin, excess oil and even makeup due to the apple AHA which is a complex of glycolic,malic and lactic acids. It's also sulfate free so there is a lesser chance of causing the skin any kind of irritation, it's a thick gel cleanser that I use an night on damp skin and then remove with my clarisonic.

I had really high expectations for this cleanser because I was expecting instant results, and while it is a nice product, i'm not sure if it's right for my skin, it just seems too gentle. It's claims to reveal brighter looking skin, and while my skin does always feel very soft after using it, I have to say I don't find it as smoothing as the sop & glory peaches and clean cleanser.I do love the packaging on this cleanser, it's very simple and clinical looking and the fact it has a pump dispenser is always a plus in my books, and one and half pumps are just right for my face. 

This cleanser is usually £12.99 per 150ml, which to me seems a little steep for a gel cleanser, but it has been on offer on the superdrug website for a while now, so if you do want to try it now would be the time. I have also seen this in my local TK MAXX for £5.99, so that's even better! Overall, I think this is a nice product and I do want to try more products from this brand, it's just this this was not hard core enough for me.

Available here   http://www.superdrug.com/face/dr-darren-aha-active-radiance-cleanser/invt/266154/&bklist=

-Thesparkleicious-

VICHY Idealia Pro dark spot corrector

Despite that fact I wear sunscreen daily I have somehow managed to get sun spot on my face, mainly around my cheek area and I suffer from dark patches and just general uneven skin tone. I had been looking around for the most effective products to help combat this and had seen many glowing reviews for the  VICHY Idealia Pro dark spot corrector.

I have such faith in french skin care brands as I love how scientific they are. This dark spot corrector claims to be the "ideal perfector uniform complexion" and targets brown spots,sun spots,age spots, blemish marks and blotchiness. It's suitable for even sensitive skin and is paraben-free. Vichy claim you will see a visible result in 4 weeks, your skin will appear more even looking and luminous.

I had been using this daily for over 4 weeks and at first, I did notice a little change, my dark spots did look slightly lighter, but i'm pretty sure it was just an initial result as I have not seen a huge difference since then. In terms of texture, it has a light texture, somewhere between a serum and a light moisturizer and has a light fresh scent. The packaging of this product is lovely, a pale pink and silver tube that comes with a pump dispenser (one pump is enough to cover my hole face)  and it sinks in to the skin very fast. I'm pretty sure it broke me out a little at first, but it could have been other things I had been testing out so I will let it off.

At £29.00 per 30ml it's not cheap, and I will continue using it, but I don't think I would repurchase as I need something a little more brightening, but if all you have a very light pigmentation this would be a good option and it's hard to come across good products for dark spots on the high street, although I have heard good things about the Garnier one...

Available here  http://www.boots.com/en/Vichy-Idealia-Pro-Dark-Spot-Corrector_1277148/

-Thesparkleicious-     

PR smaple

Boot Botanics All bright cleansing toner

I'm a huge sucker for any product that claims to be brightening, i'm not sure why really as my skin is not super dull, but I think I just love the fresh, bright healthy glow, which brings me to my next point, as many of you may know, products that contain AHA's are amazing for brightening up your complexion, and any drugstore products that contain them, well, i'm all over them.

I'm someone who falls in and out of love with using a toner, but I know my skin loves it when I do, so I tend to always have a few on the go. This one by boots own brand Botanics really is a fantastic product, at least as fantastic as a toner can be anyway. It contains natural AHA's that help to brighten up your skin and tighten your pores, and just leaves your skin feeling clean, fresh and feeling smooth.I use it every night after cleansing, on a cotton pad all over my face, and then follow it up with my serum and night cream. Toners can't really be expected to dramatically change your skin, but if your just looking for one to freshen and brighten your face, this really is a great choice, and one I have re-purchased again and again. (and that's saying something coming from me as I rarely buy the same thing twice, too many great products to try!)  

Botanics have recently re-done their packaging and also changed some of the product formulations and the ingredients, but I have used both the old and new versions of this and it seems to be exactly the same.The all bright cleansing toner is available in boots and is usually a very affordable £3.99 per 250ml, but it's an even more affordable £2.66 at the moment, so all the more reason for you to give it a try!


Available here

-Thesparkleicious-

Organic surge daily care face wash

I must admit that organic surge was a brand I would always look at with interest, but having oily skin made me think the products would just not be very effective for me and I never purchased anything. Organic surge's ethos is to create organic skin care that contains no SLS or parabens at an affordable price, and are very kind to the skin.

I'm a huge believer in deep cleansing at night, so in the morning I like to use a light face wash to just cleanse my skin and freshen it up, and this works perfectly. It's a light foaming cleanser that cleanses your skin without over-drying it, something that's super important during the winter time. It contains natural aloe vera and organic oils in it to help brighten up your dull winter skin, something I always need in the morning! 

It's suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin, but is pretty strongly scented, it has a very natural, herbal scent (which I love) but it may not be everyone's taste. The packaging of this face wash is really nice too, as it comes with a pump dispenser so you get exactly the right amount of gel out for each use. I use it in the shower, I wet my face with warm water, then use one pump and massage it all over my skin, then rinse it off and continue with the rest of my morning skincare routine.

Organic skincare can be pricey, but at £5.19 this is super affordable and you can buy it at most health food stores, waitrose, John Lewis, fresh and wild, wholefoods and ocado, as well as independent pharmacies. 

I have a few more organic surge products i'm loving at the moment (reviews to come) but I would love to know what organic surge products you love!

-Thesparkleicious-

*PR  Sample

Healthy diet changes!

So some of you may know (or may not, that's ok too) that i'm trying to get back to my normal weight, and get my eating habits back on track, so by making a few simple changes  to my diet I have managed to lose some weight (not enough yet, but it's a grate start!) and i'm feeling so much more in control of what i'm eating.

Here are a few simple changes you can make to your diet that will help you feel better, and lose a few pounds!

*Go for low-fat when it comes to things like dairy and mayonnaise. Choosing low-fat milk, cheese and yogurts will save you so many calories and you won't really miss the flavor. I don't eat hard cheese such as Cheddar very often as even the lower-fat versions are pretty high in calories, but when it comes to milk and soft cheese, it's low-fat all the way. Another thing is mayo, now this may sound odd, but I adore it, I would put it on pretty much anything and it's so high in fat! I now eat the light version (they do an extra light, and even lighter than light version, but I don't like them very much as they taste more like salad cream rather than mayo) and it saves so many unnecessary calories.

*Think brown when it comes to carbs. Carbs are my weakness. Give me things like bread, pasta, pizza and potatoes and i'm happy, and while they are an important part of a healthy diet, I was eating way too much of them. Now I try and limit my carb intake by only eating hole-grain versions. So only brown bread, hole grain cereal, holewheat couscous and wholewheat pasta. I also try to not eat cabs at night because i'm not burning them off, but if I do I have very small portions.

*Eat more fruit and veg! This is a no-brainer, but i'm eating fruit on a daily basis and getting lots of veg in my soups.

*Pick healthy snacks over high fat ones. I use to snack on this like chocolate and biscuits, and they are all pretty high in fat and calories. 

*Be calorie aware. I'm not saying count every calorie that goes in to your mouth, but just be aware of what your eating and how much it all adds up to.

*Ditch the fatty crisps. Crisps are another one of my weaknesses, I just love them but rather than eating the ones that are high in fat (pringles anyone?) I now eat the baked versions, which are a little better for you and don't contain as much fat.

I hope these tips help those of you who are struggling with your weight, but once you get in to it, it's so easy and really will change you, and your body.

-Thesparkleicious-

NIVEA express hydration primer

As modern women, we are bombarded on a daily basis with new amazing products that promise to make us more beautiful and save us some precious morning time. The problem is, with so many 2 in 1 products on the market, how do we know what is an absolute must and what’s just a nice addition?

It seems to me that the beauty world is somewhat undecided when it comes to primer, and it’s a step so many women tend to just overlook because it’s yet another time consuming step in their skin care routine. One might wonder “why do I even need a primer? Isn't moisturizing the same?” and while moisturizing is essential, using a primer helps to smooth out any fine lines and minimize the appearance pores, creates a smooth canvas for your makeup helping it apply better, and keeps your makeup in place all day long, so you don’t need to worry about makeup meltdown on those super busy days.

That’s why NIVEA have come up with the idea to combine a moisturizer and a primer in one product, so that you get the best of both worlds. The express hydration primer contains glycerin, which is a common ingredient in most skin care products because of its fabulous moisturizing properties. But it also has a lightweight texture that sinks in to the skin easily, so your skin won’t look greasy and you can apply your makeup right away.

 

Those of you who have very dry skin or very oily skin may be a little apprehensive, but fear not because this product comes in two different skin type variations so you can tailor it to your skins specific needs. If like me your skin is slightly on the oilier side, then the normal to combination formula with lotus extract will be perfect for you because it keeps the skin looking fresh. If dry skin is your main concern, which can be tricky as most primers tend to be quite mattifying, the dry and sensitive formula is just what you’re looking for because it contains natural almond oil and calendula to help moisturize and calm the skin. It’s just as easy to apply as your regular moisturizer so after cleansing and toning, apply the express hydration primer in circular motions all over the skin, and then go ahead and apply your foundation. You can also use it to give your skin a little boost after a long day, As demonstrated here by the lovely fleur from fleurdeforce.

 

The NIVEA express hydration primer comes in at £4.99 so it’s super affordable and budget friendly for those of us who are running late for a morning class and are on a student budget because you are essentially getting two products for the price of one. But best of all, your helping your skin and makeup look great all day long because this time saving 2in1 step means you can get a few extra minutes of beauty sleep every Morning, and let’s face it, that’s the best beauty trick in the book!

For more information click here

* Sponsored post  

ROMWE Autumn Kick off sale!

So I wanted to come on here and give all you lovely ladies a little heads up about one of my top online stores fabulous sale. I wear romwe cloths all the time so I can 100% vouch for how nice they are, and they have got some amazing pieces in atm that would be perfect for fall.

So to help us all look chic this autumn, romwe are having a 3 days sale that ends on the 14th of October in which they are offering up to 50% off best selling and new items, and have very kindly created some discount codes for my lovely readers:

Code 1- oct15 (this will save you 15% on orders over $80)
Code 2- oct25 (this will save you 25% on orders over $115)
Code 3- oct35 (this will save you 35% on orders over $155)

These codes are valid till the 15/10/2012 and you can use only one code per order.

So what are you waiting for? get shopping!

-Thesparkleicious-

Murad oil-control mattifier SPF 15 review!

If like me you suffer from oily skin, finding the right sunscreen can be incredibly difficult as they tend to be very oily and heavy on the skin, and don't make an ideal base for your makeup. Sunscreen is one of the most important steps in ones skin care routine, but also one that most women tend to neglect, but really shouldn't as it helps protect skin from ageing and more importantly, skin cancer.

This Murad wonder really is something else. Not only does it provide an SPF of 15, but it also delivers both UVA and UVB sun protection which are often over looked in your average daily moisturizer so this really is the serious sun protection that we all need, even in our not-so sunny climate. Murad claim that this product will keep your skin matte for up to 8 hours, so that's a pretty bold claim as nothing seems to keep the oil away from my skin for more than a few hours.

This product does have a very classic sunscreen texture because it's pretty thick, but the difference is it's also dry texture, unlike most greasy sunscreens and it leaves your skin feeling matte, in the same way a primer would. Which brings me to my next point, how is it under makeup? I have tested this out by applying it, letting it sink in for a few minutes and then going right ahead and applying my foundation. It does make your makeup stay matte for a good 5 hours or so, which is big for me, but I would suggest you don't wear this under a very thick foundation as it could end up feeling a little heavy on your skin.

The only downside for me with this product is the price. At £37 per 50ml it is very pricey, but it  also is a one of a kind product. It comes in a fresh looking white tube so it's easy to apply and more sanitary than a pot of moisturizer that would require you to dip your fingers in and out.......not a fan of that! I genuinely feel like this moisturizer is one of those "next generation"  oil-control products that unlike what we would use in our teens, has much more science behind it and protects our skin from the number one skin enemy.

For those of you who are interested in reading all about how it works and where you can buy it, be sure to visit the Murad website here http://www.murad.co.uk/oil-control-mattifier-spf-15 and if you have tried any other Murad products, let me know what you like as this has sparked an interest for me...........  

-Thesparkleicious-

*PR sample

Weight loss update!

About a month or so ago I posted a blog post about the start of my weight loss plan, so I think it's time I updated you on how i'm doing.

I'm not on any particular plan, i'm just doing what works for me (on that note, I am posting weight loss related videos on my channel, such as tips and what I eat so take a look if your interested) and it is really working for me, I'm not weighing myself because I can get a little obsessed, plus my scales are broken so for the first time in my life, i'm going by how my cloths are fitting and how i'm feeling, which did feel rather strange at first, but I do think it has made me have a much more relaxed attitude towards weight loss. For the first time in my life i'm not obsessing about numbers and i'm working out 5 days a week, and having a treat day on the weekend (I'm going to Jamie's Italian for a friends birthday on Sunday and am fully planing on having some of their amazing tiramisu) and am fitting in my "skinny jeans" again, but they could be a little looser....

I'm starting to notice my body shape if coming back, and my face is getting slimmer which i'm super happy about because it was getting a little pudgy.  While getting changed the other day I caught sight of myself in my underwear and I was almost pleasantly surprised. My saddle bags are long handles are still there don't get me wrong, but my shape is back and my waist is smaller and tummy is flatter, and getting dressed in the morning is becoming more of a joy than before because I actually feel nice in my cloths!

Overall, i'm not at my target weight yet, but i'm getting there and i'm feeling very calm and positive about that, and that means more to me than the size of my ass!

-Thesparkleicious-

Do you know what body shape you are?

Dressing the right way for your body is something that can take years to learn and even longer to perfect. The first step is to actually decide what is your body shape, and while the fashion world tends to categorize our bodies in to the 4 main shapes (Apple, pear, hourglass and boyish in case you were wondering) I personally think there is a little more to it than that, and that's the reason women find it so hard to figure out what figure they actually have.

I believe that each main body shape has a few different "grey areas" within it, which can complicate things. These things are generally your height, frame and proportions, but can also be down to things like your posture! (that's right ladies, stand up straight!) over the next few weeks i'm going to be doing s few videos and posts all about body shapes, and how to dress my body shape which is petite (5ft 1), curvy and pear-shaped. The reason I will be mainly talking about these types of body shapes is not due to my imaginary "dislike" of skinny women as some people like to believe, and more to do with the fact that I can't really talk about how to dress an apple shape because that's not what I have got, and I always like to come from a place of personal experience.

My natural body shape is pear shaped, meaning I carry most of my weight in my lower half, ie my hips, thighs and bum area. My tummy is reasonably flat (not as flat as I would like it to be, but hey ho) and my shoulders are pretty narrow (although not totally out of proportion to my hips) and my bust is not large. I also think that my height actually makes me seem smaller than I am if that makes sense, because i'm on the smaller side of curvy. My personal top style tip is to try and make my body seem more hourglass shaped rather than pear by attempting to balance out my  top and bottom half, and hide the parts of my body that i'm not too keen on (yes arms, i'm talking to you!)

So what body shape are you? do you think it's not as easy to just decide what shape you are because of other factors? Do share!

-Thesparkleicious-   

Simple Natalie Portman Makeup Tutorial

To create this look you will need:

MURAD skin perfecting primer
BOURJOIS healthy mix foundation
*VICHY dermablend concealer in shade 15
Laura Mercier secret concealer in shade 3
RIMMEL Silky loose powder
BENEFIT high beam
Essence eyebrow stylist set
URBAN DECAY e/s in foxy, tease and blackout
Fashionista blush in cinnamon 
BOURJOIS blush in 34 rose tentation
Essence lip liner in 11 in the nude
Loreal lipstick in 257 sunset blush
MAC viva glam Cyndi
Brushes used:
*Sigma f80 brush
Blush professional brushes
Urban decay naked 2 e/s brush
Maybelline eyeliner brush

-Thesparkleicious-

Best Budget Beauty Buys- Makeup!

Products mentioned:

Foundations- REVLON Colorstay, No7 beautifully matte foundation, BOURJOIS healthy mix foundation (read my review here http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bourjois-healthy-mix-foundation-review.html)
Drugstore foundation video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_CDIwQwXu0
My top drugstore blushes video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLyMvde2p8
Collection lasting perfection concealer
BOURJOIS healthy mix concealer 
RIMMER silky loose powder and stay matte powder
MUA bronzer in shade 3
Loreal glam bronze bronzer in universal sun
SLEEK face contour kit (Want to see how to contour? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Oi7zM6t6P0)
No7 soothing eye base
Maybelline color 24hr tattoo in on and on bronze
Natural collection e/s in milk chocolate and crushed walnut.
MUA clear mascara
Loreal volume million lashes
Maybelline illegal length
Collection cream puff
No 17 mirror shine lipsticks
Rimmel lipsticks
REVLON lipgloss
REVLON just bitten kissable balm stain (review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IjHQt5EVuI)

-Thesparkleicious-

My Top Lip Products For Autumn/ Winter

Products mentioned:
NUXE lip balm
MAC miss marble lipglass
Topshop lip stick in coy
FACEOFAUSTRALIA sheer gloss lip crayon in shades cupcake,sundae and macaron.
*Accessotize love sick 
Loreal sunset blush
NYX tea rose
YSL ROUGE PUR in 67
MAC viva glam Cyndi

-Thesparkleicious-

Shopping My Stash

Products mentioned:

MAC sable e/s
CLINIQUE e/s cobo in almost peach and bewitched
Urban decay e/s in blackout
MAC  eyeliner in I get no kicks
Loreal volume million lashes
MAC bare study paintpot
Mac lipsticks in angel and way to love
YSL rouge volupte no 13
MAC lipgloss in miss marble
Loreal lipstick in sunset blush
MUF matt velvet plus foundation
No7 beautifuly matt foundation
Loreal glam bronze bronzer in univrsal sun

-Thesparkleicious-

Shopping My Stash

Products mentioned:

MAC sable e/s
CLINIQUE e/s cobo in almost peach and bewitched
Urban decay e/s in blackout
MAC  eyeliner in I get no kicks
Loreal volume million lashes
MAC bare study paintpot
Mac lipsticks in angel and way to love
YSL rouge volupte no 13
MAC lipgloss in miss marble
Loreal lipstick in sunset blush
MUF matt velvet plus foundation
No7 beautifuly matt foundation
Loreal glam bronze bronzer in univrsal sun

-Thesparkleicious-

Clearasil ultra over night serum review

When one thinks of Clearasil one tends to think "spotty teen" don't they? that was at least my initial thought. My skin isn't super sensitive but  I've always felt that products such as this were not really targeted at my skin type, and the only reason I picked this up was it because I saw it in my local pound shop (now now ladies, no snobbery here!) and liked the concept of a spot fighting serum.

I didn't really have very high expectations for this product to be honest, but boy was I wrong. It claims to help clear up acne over night, visibly reduce redness and the size of the spot over night which i'm not the best example for as I don't tend to get acne, but what this does do is really help to refine your skin.

After the first application, my skin looked clearer and my pores looked smoothed out, if not smaller. It's not your typical serum consistency, it's more of a runny liquid that blends in to the skin beautifully, leaving a grate base for makeup. But the true test of how much I like this product shows in the fact that I have re-purchased it over 3 times. That may not seen like a big deal, but your talking to someone who's house is full of cosmetics and who never really buys anything more than once, so it does mean it really works for me.  

It's not the most amazing packaging and I do feel that the pump action stops me for getting the last bits of product put, but for £1 per 15ml what more can you ask? it's the true meaning of a bargain gem! 

-Thesparkleicious-

ROMWE Back to school giveaway!

So i'm back to tell you about another fab romwe giveway! For a chance to win a schoolbag and over $200 dollars worth of secret romwe stuff (one winner per day)  all you need to do is click here  to read the contest rules and join  http://www.facebook.com/Romwe.Fashion/app_200328890006489

This giveway end on the 18th of September, so hurry up!

ROMWE Leggings!

So i'm sure you all know by now that I adore ROMWE clothing, and I have got something fab to share with you today about their super funky leggings collection.  These are so fun and a grate transition piece from summer to Autumn as the are not too warm but still have fun print, so take a look here;

http://www.romwe.com/ROMWE-LEGGING-COLLECTION-c-161.html

My personal favorites are the feather print leggings, they are so pretty! Also, I have got a grate discount for you if you want 5% off orders over $60, just put the coupon leggin5 in  the checkout box before the 20th of September and enjoy!

I would love to know what your top picks are for these leggings, are you a fun color lover or a more modest black and white lover? Do share!

-Thesparkleicious-   

My Top Drugstore Blushers!

Blushers mentioned:

Bourjois blush in 16 rose
MUA blushe in no 4
Famous by sue moxley bronze pot in shade 4 bail 
Natural collection bluh in pink cloud
Sleek blush in flamingo
Hard candy blushes in smooth talker and skinny dipping
Topshop blush in pop
Me me me blush in coral

On my lips I’m wearing Accessorize lipstick in shade 2, love sick with urban decay lip junkie in naked. 

-Thesparkleicious-

How I Straighten My Curly Hair-Part One!

Products mentioned:

John Frieda luxurious volume blow dry lotion
GHD thermal protector and shining serum
*Fro her aloe and honey haze hair mist
GHD wide irons
Cloud nine wide iron (review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO6StdSXp6w)
The big round brush was from Vidal Sassoon.

-Thesparkleicious-

NOTD-CIAT'E Jelly Bean

First of all I want to just say that this is a stunning shade, it's really is. Jelly Bean is a lovely, bright pink with a hint of blue shimmer in it (the most tiny amount of shimmer, more of a blue sheen really).

The only thing I have to mention is for a higher-end nail polish, it's not much longer lasting on the nails than the likes of Barry M, nor does it apply any better, just something to bare in mind. 


Have a fab weekend everyone!

-Thesparkleicious-

Accessorize Color Intense Lipsticks

You can imagine my excitement when these beautiful lipsticks came in my post a few weeks ago. I was very kindly sent these by Accessorize and as shallow as it seems, could we just take a moment to adore the beautiful packaging? So girly and cute!

These color intense lipsticks are their latest addition and as the name suggests, they are super pigmented and incredibly long lasting, which unfortunately means they are also a tad drying, but nothing a good lip balm can't fix.

The shades:

Smitten (No 5)- This shade screams me! it's a beautiful true peach color that I find so flattering on my coloring, and the perfect daytime "pop" of color.

Love struck (No 8)- This is a very "brave" shade. It's an absolutely stunning, bright, deep blue-toned pink, the type of shade you wear to be noticed. While it is a stunning color, I have yet to find an occasion to which i'm brave enough to wear it to, and it's not the most flattering if you have any red tones in your skin, but it is a beauty.

Love sick (No2)- This shade is a very deep brown-toned plum shade that will look amazing in winter. It's not the type of shade I would really go for as it's so deep, but it is a very flattering shade that would look amazing with pale skin and winged liner.

These are available in superdrug for the bargain price of £4.95, and while they may not be the most glamours or moisturizing lipsticks, everything about them for the colors, the packaging and even the names of the shades are just so fun, bright and girly that you just can't resist. 

Have you tried these? what other items do you love from the Accessorize makeup line? do share!

-Thesparkleicious-  

August Favorites

Products mentioned:
ST MORIZ self tanning mousse (review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fECMV70UP9Y)
*S&G sit tight intense xs
*Neal’s yard bee lovely hand cream (Be sure to sign the petition to help save the bees here  http://www.facebook.com/NealsYardRemediesOfficial/app_300271273338164)
Cowshed moisturising hand cream
*CINQ MONDES roses petal rain
Botanics body brush
Loreal renewal lash serum
NUXE reve de miel lip balm
Bourjois healthy mix foundation in shade 54
REVLON lip butter in sweet tart
MAC lipsticks in viva glam gaga and impassioned
*Accessorize lipstick in smitten
Maxfactor lipstick in 825 pink brandy (and yes, it’s the same as the new one! So weird!)
Nail inc basil street
Sex and the city in charlotte
Maybelline 24hr color tattoo in on and on bronze
MAC eyeliner in I get no kick
Jemma Kidd define eyeliner in copper
Benefit eye bright
Bourjois sharpener
BE SURE TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY BEFORE THE 4TH OF SEPTEMBER! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9HOv1jePDU

Products marken with a * are a PR sample.

-Thesparkleicious-

My weight loss progress!

Weight loss. diet. Why are these words enough to fill 90% of us with dread? 

Your probably wondering why i'm talking about weight loss when I talk about being happy with your body all the time and the truth is, while most of the time i'm OK with my body atm, I know I could be happier with it.I won't get it to things I have already talked about before, but as I have said I don't believe in attempting to lose weight unless your "feeling it". In my book, feeling it simply means you are feeling ready and motivated, even slightly excited about getting healthy and losing weight, as appose to the idea of no more pizza making you want to cry. 

My weight has crept up over the past year, and while i'm not going to talk numbers here, not because i'm ashamed but because I think it prevents people from focusing on what this is about and I also don't want to encourage anyone to start thinking about their own weight in in comparison....not  good idea. Anyway, I think my weight gain was due to a few factors such as my birth control and the  boyfriend nights in which involve me cooking yummy and fattening meals for him, and them eating them myself (And then there is my crisp addiction, and my late night ice cream eating...but we won't go there.)And I have ended up gaining a pretty hefty amount of weight for my 5ft1 frame.

The majority of the cloths in my wardrobe don't fit me (none of my jeans) and it was starting to get me down because deep down inside me I knew my body, I know i'm NEVER going to be one of those girls who can eat whatever they like and stay slim, i'm just not. I knew I couldn't go on the way I was going, and that something needed to be done. I also find that working towards something is super helpful, and i'm going to a wedding in 2 weeks and I want to look good, and rock my size 10 dress. I have also spoken about this before but I find a looking at a photo of me when I was slimmer because I know it's something achievable to work towards. This is my photo of choice, this is what I want to get back too....

I have been on a "diet" as such, for just over a week now and on the first day I felt awful, but after I got past that part, I felt grate! I don't know how much I have lost because my scales are broken because they say that my 14 year old sister who is around 50kg weights 80kg but I can feel and see that I have lost it around my belly area (On a side note: Why does it always go off your belly and boobs? my belly is always semi-flat anyway, why does it not go from my arms and face?) I will film a video about what I have been eating but I have generally been sticking to cereal in the morning, brown bread with low fat cheese and salad for lunch, and home-made soup for dinner, and drinking plenty of water and green tea. I also been working out everyday, and feel much better for it.

I will keep you updated on here and be sure to watch out for my "what I eat" video if you like these kinds of posts.

-Thesparkleicious-

The Best Cleanser For Your Skin Type

Dry skin:
*S&G fab pore hot cloth cleanser (Review here http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/review-time-sopa-fab-pore-hot-cloth.html)
Liz Earle cleanse & polish hot cloth cleanser
Boots botanics organic cleansing balm

Combination skin:
S&G peaches and clean cleanser (review here http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/review-time-soap-peaches-deep-cleansing.html)
Balance me pure skin face wash
No7 beautiful skin hot cloth cleanser (review here http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/review-time-no7-beautiful-skin-hot.html)

Oily skin:
Yes to tomatoes trouble free facial wash
Visably clear 2in1 wash and mask

Products marked with a * were a PR sample.

-Thesparkleicious-

My Top Body Products!

Products mentioned:

The body shop brazil nut body butter
DOVE  supreme body silk beauty body cream
Vaseline aloe fresh light feeling lotion
*Good things soothing body lotion
Garnier bodytonic firming lotion 
Bio oil
Juicy summer fruit oil 
*S&G sit tight intense xs (Read my review here http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/review-time-soap-sit-tight-intense-xs.html)
SPA find sculpted silhouette inchwrap super cellulite cream (Review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXYQoTs7mo)
*Good things soothing exfoliating scrub
*S&G pulp fiction foamy body scrub
DOVE summer glow

-thesparkleicious-

My Top Face Brushes!

Brushes mentioned:

QVS stippling brush (Available in store in superdrug but not on the website) I seem to think it was £7.99. (Watch me using it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szNdIHwgkbI)

Real techniques buffing brush and contour brush http://www.boots.com/en/Real-Techniques-Core-Collection-1403_1252038/ (My review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL0yVJ83NTY)

MAC 182 http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/146/1344/182-Buffer-Brush/index.tmpl

Blush professional brushes are available here http://www.blushcosmetics.com/tools-accessories/make-up-brushes/blush-professional-ultimate-makeup-brush-set-30-piece
(My review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwahRBUsRQg)

The ASDA blusher brush (video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P-FD_n8uVA)

-Thesparkleicious-

ROMWE summer clearance sale reminder!

So as you guys know I adore ROMWE cloths, they are chic and super affordable. With summer coming to and end I had already given you the heads up about the grate summer sale that will end on the 31st this month, but I suggest you hurry up so you can snap up all the good stuff first!

To get your mouths watering, here are a few of ROMWE'S best selling items......

How cute is that little black dress? I love it!

-Thesparkleicious-

Face Masks Overview!

Products mentioned:
The sanctuary 5 minute thermal detox mask 
Soap &Glory fab pore facial feel
*ARK  purifying mask (Read my review here- http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/ark-age-prepare-review.html)
*dermalogica multivitamin power recovery masque
Eve Lom rescue mask
Neutrogena visibly clear 2 in 1 wash and mask
Soap & Glory peaches and clean cleanser (review here- http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/review-time-soap-peaches-deep-cleansing.html)
*Dirty works blemish buster 2 in 1 scrub and mask

On my nails, REVLON cloud.

-Thesparkleicious-

ROMWE Summer clearance!

This is just a little post to give you the heads up about a fabulous clearance sale that ROMWE are holding from the 24th of august till the 31st. As you know, I have worn some of their lovely cloths in my videos (like this one for example    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyQSDUjYNLY) and they are truly grate.

This clearance will offer you grate discounts ranging form 5% to 60% off, and if you reach 70 dollars in your final payment, you will get an extra 15% discount by entering the promo code: clearance 15%  so you can end up saving up to 75% off your order!

I strongly advise you to get ready to order some beautiful summer cloths before the stock runs out, or your size is sold out because that is how sales work isn't it? so jump in there!

This the ROMWE website, be sure to take a look....
http://www.romwe.com/

-Thesparkleicious-

Back To School Makeup Tutorial

What I used to create this look:

*Liz Earle skin repair light moisturiser
Bourjois healthy mix foundation in the shade 54 (Read my review here http://thesparkleicious.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bourjois-healthy-mix-foundation-review.html)
Rimmel silky loose powderCollection lasting perfection concealer in shade 3
MUA brozer in shade no 3
Natural collection e/s in crushed walnut
ME ME ME blush in coral
MUA  clear mascara
Maybelline 24hr color tattoo in 35-on and on bronze
Maybelline illegal length mascara
17 Mirrior shine lipstick in bee-hive

Other products mentioned:
*Ginvera green tea nude cover BB cream
No triple protection tinted moisturiser 

On my nails I’m wearing REVLON’S nail polish in cloud.

-Thesparkleicious-

BOURJOIS Healthy Mix Foundation- Review!

When it comes to foundation, i'm always on the look out for the perfect one. Sure, there are ones I love, but they are never 100% perfect. Healthy mix is one of those YouTube cult classic products that everyone seems to love, And i'm no exception.

I've got very oily skin, but I also happen to be a fan of the dewy look, I just feel like it's much more natural. In terms of coverage, My skin is pretty clear but I do suffer from dark patches on my skin and sun damage, so I want my foundation to look natural, perfect and cover all the bad parts, not too much to ask right?

BOURJOIS describe it as a foundation that provides 16 hours of perfectly glowing and toned skin and contains fruit extracts such as apple and melon to provide ani-oxidants and hydration, which i'm not sure how effective they actually are, but at least it makes it smell nice and fruity. I love applying this with a buffing brush as it gives a beautiful finish, and it blends so easily. 

This is what it looks like on the skin

  
I really like the packaging of this foundation as it comes with the ever-so-handy pump action dispenser which means  it's mess free and easy to get just the right amount out. The only downside for me is it's a little oily for my skin.....my skin gets shiny after a few hours, especially in warmer weather like we are having at the moment, but it's something i'm willing to overlook due to the lovely finish this foundation. It's pretty long lasting on my skin, so on dryer skins it would be the perfect long lasting foundation. I wear it in shade 54 which is a perfect match for me now as i'm pale, but with a tan I wear shade 56. In terms of price, at £9.99 is super affordable and widely available in most Boots and Superdrug stores, and even a few supermarkets.

Have you used this? what did you think?   

-Thesparkleicious-

Are we obsessed with hair removal?

It has to be said, I'm a little OCD when it comes to hair removal. I can vividly remember at the age of 11 thinking "I don't like this" and taking my dad's razor and well, hacking it all off! The older (and wiser in this case I might add) I got, the more savvy I became when it came to hair removal.

I think most of us girls start off shaving when we are teens, than dabble in the odd smelly hair removal cream application before we start thinking of better options such a waxing and epilating. That was the case for me anyhow, I am an avid epilator on my legs, and I would never dream of using any other method of hair removal apart from waxing on my bikini area. The only  area I have shaved in years has been under my arms because I just find it so easy to do everyday,which bring me to the topic of this post. I think i'm a little obsessed when it comes to hair removal......

I can't handle having body hair. there, I 've said it . The slightest sight of fuzz sends me reaching for my epilator (Of course sometime I have no choice, like bikini waxing for example, you have to let the hair grow in order it wax it) and I have to make sure my legs, under arms and bikini area are hair free at all times. I'm not the most hairy person in the world, but i'm not one of those lucky women who can shave their legs  once a week and can get away with it. I think in today's world, zero body hair is considered the ideal and that's the reason so many of us are obsessed with it. If you look at the older generation of women  (Late 40's to 60's in my opinion) they always seem to be much more at ease with body hair, not minding a little bit of leg fuzz or under arm hair.........So i'm asking, when and why did be become obsessed with being smooth?

Is it just force of habit or is because I always feel much more sexy when i'm smooth, and I would never even thinking about letting my boyfriend touch me if I had body hair, despite the fact that I feel super comfortable with him  and have been with him for almost 4 years, and to be honest I don't think he would even notice! at the moment i'm shaving all areas because i'm using an at home laser hair removal device that requires you to only shave, and I absolutely hate shaving!

So, is it just me who is obsessed or is it all of us? are men to blame? or is the constant quest for perfection that is to blame? Do tell!  

-Thesparkleicious-

Best & Worst Of The Drugstore-foundation!

Foundations mentioned:

The worst:
l'oreal infallible foundation RRP £12.29
Miss Sporty so matte foundation RRP £3.49
maybelline pure mineral powder foundation RRP £6.99

The best:
Bourjois healthy mix foundation RRP £9.99
No7 beautifully matte foundation RRP 13.50 (Review and demo video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuiECxzih5M)
REVLON colorstay foundation RRP £12.49

The best foundations for your skin type video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R60TBT66UQo

*My jumper is from http://www.romwe.com/

-Thesparkleicious-

Most Worn TAG- Summer Edition!

Products mentioned:
Nails- ESSIE cute as a button, Sally Hansen runway red-ey.
Lips- MAXFACTOR pink brandy, MAC Vegas volt.
Blush- Fashionista blush in 07 flush.
Eyes- MAC all that glitters e/s, Benefit there real mascara.

What am I wearing?
Top- ZARA
Scarf- H&M
Watch- New Look
Earrings- TOPSHOP
My nails- Sally Hansen runway read-ey
My lips- MAC Vegas volt lipstick  and REVLON lipgloss in coral reef.

-Thesparkleicious-