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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions
To enter please follow the Rafflecopter instructions. The competition will run from midnight on 30th September 2016 to midnight on 30th October 2016. If the winner does not respond to the winning email within 2 weeks I have the right to choose another winner.

20 date night ideas

Wherever you are in your relationship- whether you're in the first flushes of love or you've been together for years - date night should always be a priority. Doing the same thing over and over again can cause things to get stale and boring. There are plenty of ways to spice up your date night with a little imagination. Here's some tips to get you started.

Go for a (mini) road trip
Find a destination that's relatively close to you (around a hour away) that you've both never tried before and go there. It could be a restaurant, tourist attraction or even a country walk. The experience will bind you together and you'll have fun trying something new.

Look for photobooths
I don't know about you but I love getting photo souvenirs from places I go to. Photobooths are the best, especially those you get at weddings with all the props. Why not spend a evening looking for photobooths and see what adventures you have along the way. You'll also get to keep the funny photos!

Make your own pizza
It's not just for kids, making a homemade pizza is fun and you can really go crazy with toppings! Whether you want a pepperoni pizza with ham and pineapple or barbeque pork with pineapple the worlds your oyster.

Do karaoke
When you sing your heart out you think you sound great and look like a superstar. You probably sound more like a cat screeching down a local alley but hey it's bonding time right?

Catch some stars
I love watching the stars, there's just something so peaceful and magical about them. When you spot lots of stars in the sky head out and do a little stargazing with your beau. You can download 'The night sky app' so you're not just absently staring at the sky.

Work out together
You know how exercise creates endorphins and that happy feeling? Well if you exercise with your partner you'll feel happy getting fit together and this can only bring you closer together.

Go camping
Get away from the stresses of daily life and detach yourself from your smartphone, TV and computer to really experience life in its true rawness. With nothing to distract each other you can rediscover what you fell in love with. Crack open a tin of beans, roast some marshmallows and tell ghost stories for real camping fun.

Recreate your first date
Forgotten what attracted you to your partner in the first place? By revisiting where you went on your first date you'll invoke nostalgia and see your beau in a whole new light.

Create a fantasy
If you're struggling to incite passion in your life why not create a bit of a fantasy. Go to a different bar/pub each night (or every week depending on your schedule) and dress up as someone else. You get the excitement of having an affair without the upset and betrayal involved.

Surprise them
This may be more of an expensive date depending on what your partner has always wanted to do, but a great idea is to surprise them with something they've always wanted. Whether it's a trip to the West End or driving a jeep buy them a treat and watch their eyes light up.

Go berry picking
You can have hours of fun picking the best strawberries you can find. With just a load of plants and your partner for company there's plenty of opportunity to chat without the distraction of a phone or TV.

Skip straight to dessert
Get your mind out the gutter, there's nothing dirty about this date idea. Instead of heading out for dinner why not go straight to dessert. There's lots of restaurants out there dedicated purely to provide fabulous desserts including sundaes, waffles and more. Creams is one of my favourites.

Have a game night
Get all your favourite board games out and play each other all night. Monopoly marathon anyone?

Go for a date in the skies
Instead of going for a drive why not explore the skies in a hot air balloon? You might have to share the basket with others but you'll still have a special unique experience together up in the clouds.

A zoo trip for two
Whether you like poking fun at the monkeys or trying to catch the lions in action, the zoo makes a fun visit that's different every time. A lot of zoos nowadays offer annual passes where you pay once and get to visit the rest of the year for free.

Get baking
The best thing about baking is of course eating the hot cakes straight out the oven. Why not get creative and bake some cakes, cookies, bread or other baked goodness that you can then enjoy together for dessert.

Go for a trip down memory lane
If you and your partner didn't know each other as kids why not head to each others hometown and do some exploring. Take him to where you  used to go to school, where you used to play, your old house and other favourite haunts. You'll learn more about each others childhood and this will help you bond.

Go bowling
Think you're good at bowling? Why not challenge your partner to a duel and see who's the best. A little friendly competitiveness never hurt anyone.

Relax in front of Netflix
My favourite kind of date involves snuggling on the sofa in front of a good box set or movie. Netflix is full of the latest dramas and thrillers that you'll want to watch again and again. Grab some popcorn, snuggle down and chill.

Watch the sunrise
This involves waking up early so if you're not a early bird you may want to avoid (or perhaps wait till Winter when the sun rises later).  Sunrises are as beautiful as sunsets and will give you some peaceful time with your partner.

Whatever you choose to do on your date night have fun and enjoy it!

Max Factor Smoky Eye Drama Kit Sumptuous Gold review

What the brand says
Whether your eyes are blue or brown Max Factor Smoky Eye drama kits are designed specifically to flatter each unique eye colour. There is currently 6 shades available which add the perfect finish to your look.

The Lowdown

When I first swatched this I was so excited by how velvety soft the eyeshadows felt. The shades literally felt like butter as I swept some colour onto my skin. A sucker for gold palettes the sparkle of this kit lured me in straight away. Despite Max Factor claiming Sumptuous Gold has been designed to flatter brown eyes I feel this is more of a universal shade and went fine with my blue eyes. The centrepiece of the palette is the light gold  shade, which is accompanied by a sultry bronze gold and light brown eyeshadow. There is also a deep brown powder for your eyebrows. The eyeshadows look really shimmery in the palette but when swatched they're not quite as intense. There is one exception however as the bronze gold shade has quite intense pigmentation.

I used all the shades in the palette to create a gorgeous sultry gold look. Here's how to recreate it:
1. First I applied the light gold in the inner corner of my eye blending slightly outwards
2. I blended the bronze gold into where the light gold tapers off and blended towards the outer lashes
3. Finally I applied the dark  brown on top of the  bronze gold and slowly blended them together to create a dark gold smokey eye.

The shades work really well together and were really easy to blend. Whilst the light gold looks really faint in the picture it does look a light brighter in reality and the finished look is really shimmery and pigmented. There is pretty much no fall out when applying and several hours later a small amount of glitter on the inner corner of my eye appeared to be the only issue. I think the brow powder was a bit too dark for my colouring but it did seem to add a nice bit of shape to my eyebrows.

A lovely highly pigmented eyeshadow that is perfect for adding some sparkle to a night out.

I give it 4/5

Get it for £8.99 at Superdrug

Advantages

• A gorgeous shimmery palette
• The shades blend really well together
• Nicely pigmented
• Comes with a brow powder so you get a little bit extra for your money

Disadvantages

• A small amount of glitter shed over the period that I was wearing it

10 ways to destress

Often life can tick along just fine then something that can happen that can change everything. Whether you're understaffed at work or your cars broken down it's so easy for minor stress levels to escalate and become a major issue. Long term stress can have a detrimental effect on your physical and mental health. If left untreated it can lead to  digestive problems, weight fluctuation, heart disease, depression and other problems. If you feel you're stress levels are too high here's 10 useful tips that will help you get things back on the straight and narrow.

Identify what makes you stress
Before you can work towards resolving your stress levels you need to identify what causes it in the first place. Write a list when you identify that you're starting to feel worked up and see what caused it and your reaction.

Don't forget to exercise
Exercising is fantastic for helping you to take your mind off things and learn to relax. If you exercise a lot you'll generally feel a lot healthier and this will help you to feel more energised and able to cope with lifes stresses. You don't need to be the next Mo Farrah, simply moving your body every day is enough.

Find your inner peace
If you've ever met someone who regularly meditates you probably noticed how at peace they are. Meditation is a great tool for counteracting stress and releasing any negativity. It helps by releasing stress and reversing your fight or flight response - which least be honest you don't really need anymore.

Eat your greens
Your mum wanted you to eat lots of fruit and vegetables for a good reason - it gives you the right level of energy to tackle whatever life might throw at you. Whilst everyone is different and has different nutritional requirements, you should plan your diet according to your body type. Some of the best stress busting foods include turkey, green vegetables, oatmeal and yoghurt amongst others.

Take a holiday
No matter how busy you all you should always make time to take a break - go on holiday - simply get away from life's stresses. It doesn't matter whether you can only afford Butlins, anything is better than hiding away at home.

Learn to appreciate life more
When you feel satisfied that life is going okay you generally feel happier and more able to face what life throws at you. If you learn to be thankful for what you have including your family, house, pets etc you can build on your happiness and improve your overall emotional well being. This in turn will help to reduce your stress levels as you focus on other things.

Get some ZzZ
People who don't get enough sleep are extremely cranky and unhappy. Sleep is your body's time to regenerate and if you aren't getting enough of it your body will start to feel the pressure. Make your bedroom your zone out room, so eliminate any TVs, phones or other distractions - including ensuring you have a good mattress and pillow to get the best quality sleep you can have.

Keep smiling
Even if you don't feel like it try smiling and see how it makes you feel. Perhap even a fake smile will start to fool your mind into finding that happy place.

Plan your day out
If your schedule is jam packed with meetings, work, lunch dates with friends, dance classes and more you're probably struggling to find the time to do each task without rushing. Too much on your plate can lead to stress especially if you're always jumping from point a to point b. If you know you've got to get to work for 9am then make sure you leave more time then you need so if you get stuck in traffic you won't feel so stressed.

Shoulda-woulda-coulda
Is your life full of 'I should do this', and 'I should do that'? If it is do you actually want to do any of them? Whilst some things are a necessity not everything you put on your to do list is. Instead of saying 'should I work extra hours at work to complete my daily tasks' think what can I change in my day to complete things without having to work overtime.

If you work these tips into your daily routine you should be able to combat any major worries that are starting to affect your body and mental health.

My latest shopping and beauty haul

It has been so long since I've had a major shopping haul. My recent trip to Bluewater really hit the spot and I had fun treating myself to lots of new makeup, clothes and even a cheeky KFC (yum!)

I love the Kiko Milano lipstick and the dress from Miss Selfridge. Is there anything you like the look of?

    

Have you found any goodies you can't put down recently? I love watching hauls and I'd love to see what treats you've picked up!

Rimmel Fresher Skin Foundation review

What the brand says
Get your skin looking and feeling fresh with Rimmel's brand new Fresher Skin foundation. Enriched with SPF 15 the foundation is designed with a light, breathable formula for a natural finish. It claims not to clog pores and leaves skin shine free.

There are currently 6 shades available in the range.

The Lowdown
I didn't really need a new foundation but when I saw Rimmel had a new one out I had to try it. It was part of a 2 for £10 offer in Superdrug so I got a bit extra value for my money.

When I first swatched the foundation I was surprised by how high a water content it had. The consistency of the foundation is very watery but at the same time it doesn't slide all over the place like you might expect. I also love the smell which is really fresh and fruity.

The foundation felt very light on my skin and was able to cover some of my blemishes, although not completely. As it's not full coverage you will still need to use concealer if you need it. As the consistency is so wet it does take a little time to work into your skin but once it's blended you do get good coverage. It did leave a few obvious foundation  marks that needed to be buffed in more the normal but it doesn't take too long. With a good primer it does stay on pretty much most of the day but you would still need to touch it up to get perfect coverage.

Overall a really nice foundation that feels great on the skin, isn't heavy and goes some way in covering your blemishes. I love the fresh dewy look it gives my skin.

I give it 4/5

Grab yours for £5.99 at Boots

Advantages

• Feels really light on the skin
• Gives medium coverage
• Lasts most of the day with a good primer
• Smells great
• SPF of 15

Disadvantages

• The high water content makes it a little harder to blend in 
• After applying you get small tide marks that you need to buff in more than usual

Lush Pop in the Bath Bubble Bar review

What the brand says
Make your bath a citrus sensation with the Pop In the Bath Bubble Bars. These little colourful balls of fun are perfect for adding colour and a touch of relaxation to your bath time.

There are currently two colour combinations to enjoy; a bright blue base with a pink top flower and a bright pink base with a blue top flower.

The Lowdown
Can you believe this is one of my first ever Lush shops? you probably think that's crazy but I've never had the urge to buy anything till now. Pop In The Bath Bubble Bar is super cute and reminds me of a cake pop. I picked up the bar with a pink base and a blue flower on top.

Unlike a lot of Lush products the Bubble Bar is designed to create a bubble bath which both scents and colours the water. To use I crumbled the bar under the running water which quickly created lots of bubbles like you can see in the photo. The bar can be used twice for extra use but it's a bit fiddly and a lot of crumbs ended up on the floor. Whilst I thought all of the bar had dissolved I found lots of crumbs in the bath when I got in so you really need to work the bar to make sure everything is used up. It has a lovely perfumed zesty scent which is a combination of bergamot, lemon and mandarin oils. My bath water felt a lot more silky and luxurious than normal and it had a lovely pink shade to it. Who doesn't love pink water!

I give it 3/5

Get yours for £3.65 at Lush online or instore

Advantages

• Smells fabulous
• Livens up your bath
• Gives you lots of lovely bubles
• Can be used twice so you get more value for money
• Leaves the water feeling really silky

Disadvantages

• Quite crumbly and prone to going everywhere if you're not careful

10 reasons why you should love Autumn

Can you believe it's officially Autumn? With the fabulous summer weather we've been having it's hard to believe. Despite the weather getting a little confused there's no doubt Autumn is well on its way. So with the shorter days and dark mornings is there really anything to look forward to? Every season brings a new set of  activities and  Autumn is jam packed with things that will brighten up your days. Here's 10 reasons why you should look forward to Autumn.

1. Feeling like a child as you bounce through the crunchy Autumn leaves that have fallen
2. Picking your own pumpkin from the massive pumpkin field
3. Getting to snuggle up in the biggest cosiest jumper you can find.
4. Cuddling up close with someone special and not feeling hot or sweaty
5. Watching the fireworks on Guy Fawkes night - at an event or even from your house as you watch your neighbours firework displays
6. Getting to drink lots of hot drinks and not feeling bad for it
7. Snuggling up under your massive duvet at night time
8. Getting spooked on Halloween at a scary event
9. The nights are dark enough to stay in watching Netflix without feeling like you have to be out enjoying the sunshine
10. Getting to enjoy hearty favourites like chicken hotpot or cottage pie without having to worry too much about your figure!

What's your favourite thing about Autumn?

Vatika Naturals Egg Protein Deep Conditioning Hair Mask review

What the brand says
Vatika Naturals Egg Protein Deep Conditioning hair mask is designed to transform your hair with a unique combination of egg, honey and other powerful natural ingredients. Specially formulated for dry, damaged hair with split ends this intensive conditioner claims to be better than the rest.

The Lowdown
Vatika was one of the brands who attended The Bloggers Ball, which due to major car issues I unfortunately couldn't make. However one of the representatives contacted me after to offer me a chance to try one of their products. I had read rave reviews about the egg mask so I was keen on trying it to see what it could do for me. I was a little worried that it would stink of egg but of course it didn't, there was quite a nice pleasant (but quite strong)floral smell.

First I washed my hair with shampoo and conditioner and then I applied the hair mask. It says to leave it on for 15 minutes but I was in a rush to watch Eastenders so I only left it on for around 10 minutes.

When I went to style my hair after drying it seemed a little more knotty than normal which I thought was a bit odd. My hair did seem quite streamlined and there weren't any noticeable split ends. I couldn't see that it was any shiner than a normal wash however it may have more of an effect over time.

The egg mask is a nice product but I couldn't really see any major effects initially so this may be more of a slow burner.

I give it 2/5

Get it for £6.00 at Tesco

Advantages

• Smells nice
• Hair looks streamlined and split ends aren't very noticeable

Disadvantages

• My hair seemed a little more knotty than normal when it came to styling
• I didn't really notice any extra shine

Michael Buble By Invitation Perfume Review

What the brand says
Mr Christmas Micheal Buble has sent a wave of excitement amongst all those hopeless romantics out there with his new perfume By Invitation. The new prestige fragrance has been created by both Buble and a number of fragrance experts as a love letter to his fans.

The Lowdown
Unlike a lot of celebrity perfumes Michael Buble's seems a lot more sophisticated and upmarket. It comes in a beautiful stylish glass bottle with gold bracelet accent. Just like perfumes of yesterday it has a pull off cap design to invoke nostalgia.

By Invitation is a unique scent encompassing both floral and oriental notes to represent the flowers of love. It has top notes of red fruits and bergamot followed by central notes of lily of the valley, wild jasmine and spicy peony. These central notes are supported by a warm base of sandalwood musk and gorgeous inviting vanilla.

When I first received the perfume I could smell it through the bag. The scent is very strong and powerful and literally lasts all day and night. It is simply gorgeous and whilst it is strong it's not one of those potent perfumes that you wrinkle your nose at.

This is one celebrity perfume I would highly recommend if you want to smell like a princess!

You can get the fragrance in 100ml (rrp £55.00), 50ml (rrp £39.00), 30ml (rrp £29.00). It's also available as a luxury body lotion (rrp £14.00) and a shower gel (rrp £12.00). It will be on sale shortly.

Primark PS...Strobing Highlighter Cream Review

What the brand says
Primark's Strobing highlighters have been designed to help you keep up with the strobing trend. At just £2 they're a lot cheaper than the majority of other brands but promise to give the same effect. The cream highlighters are currently available in two shades.

The Lowdown
The packaging of this highlighter looks almost identical to Makeup Revolution's primer.The two however are of course very different products. For the review I am testing Oyster Pink, a very light sheer pink shade. It's really creamy so I wouldn't advise to apply too much, after all a little goes a long way. When swatched the highlighter dries to a pearly white shimmer.

When first applied the highlighter has a very subtle light shimmer. I applied a little more than normal to get more of a effect but it's not too visible in the photo when I applied it to my face. In terms of longevity the highlighter does tend to fade although remnants of glitter do remain. On one side of my face I noticed it seemed to clump my foundation which was a bit annoying and didn't look too good!

I can't say this was the best highlighter I've ever tried. It does look fairly natural for a highlighter initially which is good if you don't want anything too heavy but the effect does tend to fade. If you're looking for a really good highlighter I would probably recommend the Sleek Solstice palette.

I give it 2/5

Advantages

• Only £2!
• Fairly natural highlight

Disadvantages

• Some of the highlighter clumps with my foundation which looks a bit messy

Tips to make your makeup last longer

So you've applied your makeup and you look fabulous...for about a hour that is. There's nothing more frustrating than spending ages perfecting your makeup just for the weather or the air conditioning to ruin it. Whilst you can't keep your makeup looking exactly as it was when you applied it there's tricks will certainly help you keep it in check.

Say goodbye to dead skin
Did you know dead skin cells can actually play havoc with your makeup? Dead skin cells can leave the surface uneven which could result in blotchy uneven makeup. By exfoliating regularly your skin will be a lot smoother and give your makeup a better surface to settle on which should increase the longevity.

Primer comes first
Primers are great for sealing in moisturiser and giving your makeup a smooth, even surface to apply makeup. They work by preventing your makeup being absorbed which helps to keep your makeup fresh for much longer.

Moisturisers can keep your makeup in check
With today's technology it's actually possible for certain moisturisers to keep your makeup fresh. Levels of hydration and sebum can fluctuate in the skin over the course of the day which can cause your makeup to start to collect in fine lines and creases. By using a 'smart' moisturiser you will combat this as the moisturiser responds to over ageing to stop the creasing occurring. Try Vichy Liftactiv (£15.40 at Feel Unique) to start off with.

Layer your makeup
There's nothing that looks worse then a big heavy application of makeup. When you apply your makeup in heavy layers the makeup is more likely to slip off and disappear. By applying in light layers and blending regularly your makeup will look a lot more natural and will last longer.  

Wear longwear makeup
There are some makeup products that are formulated specifically to last longer than traditional products. Longwear makeup covers everything from eyeliners to mascara and can stay put for hours without shifting.

Set your makeup
Using powder is great for setting your makeup as it can help to seal the products in. Sweep powder all over your face for the best results.

Keep your lipstick in check
The trick to keeping your lipstick looking amazing is to build up the colour in a number of layers. Use a lip liner to frame your lips which helps to give structure and grip for your lipstick. Use a brush to apply your lipstick slowly building it up in light layers. Finally finish by going over your lipstick with a pencil to set the colour.

Don't touch!
We're all guilty of touching our faces after applying makeup but this is actually the  number one reason for causing your makeup to fade. If half your makeup ends up on your fingers then this is one habit you need to stop. After all not only are you ruining your makeup you're spreading germs, viruses and bacteria from your fingers to your face. Try finding something else to occupy your time like squeezing a stress ball.

Blotting is best
If your makeup starts to fade during the day it's very tempting to want to top it up. Whilst there's nothing wrong with a quick touch up, if you go too heavy with the foundation or mascara it can start to look cakey which can increase the size of your pores.

Don't forget to set your makeup!
Once all is done you're probably keen to get out the door but it's important you don't forget your setting spray. Setting sprays are designed to stop your makeup melting so you can keep it looking fresh day and night.

I hope these tips will help you to keep your makeup looking fresh and fabulous. Do let me know how you get on.      

Primark PS... Nudes Eyeshadow Palette Review

What the brand says
Primark's Ps Nudes eyeshadow palette is one of the latest releases in their eyeshadow range. Priced at just £4 this palette has 8 shimmer and matte nude shades.

The Lowdown
You know what this palette reminds me of - Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette. As one of the most popular palettes on the market it's no surprise every brand wants to imitate its winning formula.

The palette only has 8 shades compared to 12 in the Naked 2 palette and the colours are slightly similar but not identical. It has a full length mirror and a double ended bristle brush which seems a little more high end then the typical sponge brush. The majority of the palette is made up of 6 shimmer shades with 2 matte browns. When swatched the shades all appear very soft with a lovely shimmer running through all but one shade (number 5). The shimmery shades were easy to apply without too much resistance. The matte shades were a different story and appeared a little stiff with uneven application in places. My favourites are probably 3, 4 and 6 as these are the prettiest of the shades.

As always I'm going to choose a select few shades to see what they look like on and their longevity. To recreate this look simply apply as follows:

1. Firstly I applied number 6 in the inner eye area and blended slightly outwards
2. Next I  applied number 8 on the middle of the eye towards the outer edge and blending the two shades together
3. Finally I used number 5 on top of number 8 to get a smokey effect

When I applied the eyeshadow I was actually really impressed with how pigmented it was. It was very soft in the swatch but when actually on the eye the colour is more intense. The shades blend really nicely together although there was a small amount of fall out.

A nice palette with a decent selection of shades. I like how pigmented the shades are which is good considering the price of the palette.

I give it 4/5

Have you tried this palette? What do you think of the shades?

Advantages

• Only £4 so a bargain buy
• Comes with a mirror and double ended bristle brush so you can apply wherever you are
• Lovely shimmery shades
• Shades are really pigmented when applied to the eye

Disadvantages

• The matte shades are quite difficult to work with and take a lot of effort to get a good colour pay off 

August monthly favourites

Last month was a bit quiet when it came to discovering new beauty gems but there  were 3 products that really stood out. Here's a quick insight into what they are and what they can do for you.


Primark False Lash mascara

When you think of a cheap mascara you probably imagine it to have a poor quality formula with minimal results. Primark really pulled it out the bag with their False Lash mascara that costs only £2.50. It has a perfect formula that curls, volumises and lengthens lashes and lasts all day without flaking. I can't recommend it enough. Check out my video review to see what it looks like on.
Get it for £2.50 in all good Primark stores.

Sleek Solstice Highlighting Palette
A favourite amongst bloggers and women everywhere and it's one of the best highlighting palettes I've tried. It has a variety of pearlescent, cream and powder shades in a number of different colours. All of the shades last all day and they have such a gorgeous finish. Check out the full review here.
Get it for £9.99 at Boots


Primark PS Pro Lipstick in Hollywood Red
Part of the new PS Pro collection from Primark, this little gem gives great colour pay off and is really comfortable to wear. With such a deep colour it's perfect to give a bit of glamour on a night out with the girls or even date night with your man. Even better it only costs £3! Bargain!
Get it for £3.00 in all good Primark stores.



Are there any products you're loving this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Meet Tara my new kitten!

This is a bit of an unusual post but it's certainly going to be a cute one. On Sunday I got a new kitten a ragdoll/maine coon cross. She has the most gorgeous colours, a mix of silver, caramel and white and is extremely affectionate and very loud. She took a few hours to settle in but is now eating well (she's quite greedy) and doing well.

It's been five year since I last had a cat so it's nice to have a pet again and someone to cuddle!

Isn't she cute!

Primark PS Pro Lipstick Hollywood Red review

What the brand says
Primark Beauty has expanded its range with its new PS Pro line. PS Pro is set to add a little luxury to Primark's current collection by offering premium products at a fraction of the price. Every product in the range is under £5. The new set of PS Pro rich colour lipsticks have a gorgeous creamy texture that is enriched with Vitamin C. There are currently 5 shades available.

The Lowdown
A quick visit to Lakeside last weekend led to the discovery of the new PS Pro range. They didn't have a huge amount of the range to be honest but I did find some of the lovely lipsticks. For the review I'm testing Hollywood Red a gorgeous bright bold red lipstick.

I was quite impressed with the packaging which kind of reminds me of Kiko Milano. It's a lot more premium looking then its normal range and comes in a fancy silver tube with a push up bottom. Despite being the more 'higher end' range the lipstick is still really reasonably priced at just £3.

The lipstick is super creamy and simply glides on without any resistance. It is very pigmented and is quite a vibrant shade. I wouldn't say the finish was overly shimmery but it wasn't completely matte either. I found it was really long lasting and the longevity is only affected if you're drinking or eating which is to be expected. It feels really comfortable to wear and leaves my lips feeling moisturised.

A really nice lipstick that looks good, feels good and is a real bargain at just £3!

You can get it in all good Primark stores.

Advantages

• Intense colour
• At just £3 this is great value despite being a 'premium' product
• Really comfortable to wear and leaves lips feeling moisturised
• Lasts a good few hours

Disadvantages

• Nothing that I can see

My top 6 favourite mobile apps

My Iphone is a big part of my life and its paramount for helping me stave off boredom when i'm on breaks at work. I have a wide selection of apps from social media to money making but here's 6 of my favourite apps.

KFC Colonel's Club
If you love chicken then this is the perfect app for you. The idea is that you sign up the club and for every 3 chicken tokens you get you can get a treat. You can get tokens simply by submitting your receipts to the app. I love being rewarded for eating or doing things I enjoy so this app is fabulous.


Snapchat
I love snapchat simply for its novelty value. I got it a while ago but never really used it until I discovered the stickers you can use to transform your photo. I don't know about you but turning yourself into a dog, wizard or Mona Lisa never gets old. You can also use the app to share photos with friends and followers. The photos often have a really short shelf life of about a minute so it's good at giving quick sneak peeks into what you're up to.

Receipt Hog
When you go shopping what do you end up doing with your receipts?  I imagine they probably get screwed into your pocket or put in a box somewhere. Receipt Hog allows you to upload your receipts and earn points for them. Over time you'll accumulate points which you can put towards high street vouchers. You can submit receipts for stores like Boots and Primark in addition to big stores like Asda and Sainsbury's. Occasionally you'll also be rewarded free goes on the slot machine which will earn you more points.


WeQ4u
When I have to phone premium rate numbers from my mobile I dread seeing my phone bill when it arrives. WeQ4u is a fantastic app that takes the pain and expense out of phoning premium rate numbers. Once you're put into a queue you simply dial *9 and WeQ4U will do the queuing for you. You simply leave the app open and it will queue in the background but the call won't be live at any point. Once you reach the front of the queue the call will reconnect and voila you've saved yourself lots of money and time. I've already saved £18.50 in the few times I've used the app.


Boots
For the Boots app you will need to have a Advantage card but it's completely free to sign up. Essentially the app is a extension of the card and gives you the latest offers exclusive to you, best offers at Boots and news and events. As a member of the Advantage Card you get a number of vouchers through the door every three months but the app gives you extra offers you wouldn't get otherwise. For example you can get extra 300 points when you spent £30 and so on. You simply click the offer and it loads itself to your card and is activated once you're in store. It's so easy to use and you can earn yourself so many extra points.


FreePrints
If you're anything like me I bet your Iphone (or android phone) is full to the brim with photos. Often a lot of us don't get around to printing our photos and that's a shame. FreePrints is a amazing app that lets you print 45 photos a month COMPLETELY free! There's no catch whatsoever you simply pay for postage. When I discovered this I was sceptical and thought there'd be a catch but there really isn't. Perfect for printing those special photos you capture each month.




I love all these apps for different reasons and they all add a little something to my life. Have you tried any of these apps? What do you think of them?

Elie Saab Rose Couture Perfume review

What the brand says
Elie Saab is famed for his beautiful couture fashion. Flowers are a real inspiration to the designer and his gowns are often adorned with roses.  His new perfume Rose Couture brings his designs to life   with a scent that has been composed by Francis Kurkdijan.

The Lowdown
From the start it is clear that this is a very feminine and delicate perfume. The powder pink box is embossed with Elie Saab's signature flowers and this really makes it stand out. It comes encased in a gorgeous baby pink jewel like bottle. It has top notes of orange flower and jasmine with the addition of rose, sandalwood and patchouli notes.

When I first tried the perfume it was clear that the rose notes were quite a significant and strong part of the perfume. This slowly dies down and the other notes start to appear. Once the perfume has settled it turns into a fruity/floral sensation that is perfect for the girly girl in you. It's not too sweet and it's not too musky so it's quite a good mix.

A great perfume for date night or a special occasion.

The perfume is available in 30ml for £34.00, 50ml for £52.00 and 90ml for £70.00 at House of Fraser.

Five reasons why you should never share your makeup

We’ve all likely done it at one time or another, borrow some mascara from a friend for a quick touch up, share some concealer with a family member or dab on some lip gloss from a co-worker while we’re at lunch. While you may have been performing these perilous practices without incident, you’re still putting yourself at risk for spreading things like pink eye or even herpes. Here’s a host of five other reasons you shouldn’t be sharing cosmetics with friends and family.

The Eyes Have It

A dark, gooey mascara tube is the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish along with plastic and glass cosmetic cases that are touched by human hands, one of the biggest ways that germs travel from person to person. These little buggers can cause a number of different eye conditions that are often caused by bacterial infection.

Dermatologists recommend discarding eye makeup after three months and if you are the victim of some kind of virus or bacterial infection of the eyes, get rid of all your eye makeup immediately after you’ve recovered and replace them with new products. The same is true for all cosmetics, although they don’t have a “date code,” they should still be ditched after a few months.

Kissing A Fool

People can carry the cold sore virus without showing any signs or outward symptoms of this nasty infection. Sharing lipstick and gloss is practically the same as kissing someone from a bacterial standpoint so you should keep these products to yourself at all times.

Makeup and Staph

Given the right conditions, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, commonly known as staph, can be lurking in some of your makeup products or your friend’s cosmetics. Most of the time, staph only causes minor skin infections, but they can turn deadly if the bacteria invades other areas by entering into your bloodstream and causing damage to joints, bones, lungs or your heart.

Attacking Acne

Suffering through acne is difficult enough, but adding someone else's infected skin oils and other bacteria is a recipe for disaster on your face. While you may never apply concealer with your fingers and diligently clean your brushes, you can be sure your friend does the same.

Anytime, Anywhere

Where is the majority of makeup stored and applied - many would say the loo - which is the worst place to store and put on cosmetics. Think of uncapped lipstick or open container of concealer sitting on a bathroom counter just feet from the toilet and sink. Add sharing into this equation and the possible exposure to fungus and bacteria boggles the mind. Perhaps storing and applying them in your bedroom would be a better idea.

Why risk your health, the cost and purity of your beauty products? Keep tabs and a close eye on your cosmetics and don’t share them with anyone, even family. And most importantly, resist the temptation to try testers at stores or getting one of those free makeovers that could be ripe with infections and bacteria.  

Guest post by Mark Kirkpatrick

How to create a gorgeous summer glow

So it's September now and it's all down hill to Winter. However whilst we've still got the warm weather I thought I'd make the most of it. I created this Summer glow tutorial using just Poundland's Makeup Gallery products. The range is great value and whilst not every product is perfect, some of the products like the eyeshadows are so blendable and have amazing coverage.

Check out the video and find out how to create a budget summer glow.
    
What do you think of Makeup Gallery? Are they yay or nay? Let me know in the comments what you think!

You can get Makeup Gallery in all good Poundland stores or online. 

How to make friends once you've left school with Huggle

When you're at school it's so easy to meet new people and make friends. With mixed classes, school trips and new students there were so many opportunities to meet your new bbf.

Once you leave school however things start to change. Despite your best efforts to stay in touch, you and your friends may lose interest in each other and go your separate ways as you head off to work and university.

When I was at school I had a good circle of close friends that I used to hang out with. Once I left we kept in touch and when I went to university. I met a few more, although as I commuted I can't say we were that close. Over time my friends met their partners, got married or had children and I was left still single with no kids. They don't have much time anymore and I have plenty. It's hard to meet up and frustrating as it's so hard to meet new friends once you've left school.

Huggle is an app that's set to change your social life through the use of digital networking. The app is very much like Tinder or Happn where people who are in the same place as you pop up and you can begin to connect. Whether you do a lot of shopping, you're always down the gym or even getting a quick coffee you're bound to find like minded souls in the same place as you. After all if you've already got one thing in common then it shouldn't be too difficult to strike up a conversation.

When I tried it for the first time I signed up with Facebook and logged in. It asked me to find my places with Foursquare or Instagram so I can start to find new people. One of the security features about Huggle is that you can only message people if you've been in the same place so if the leisure centre is near you but you've never been there those visitors are literally 'out of bounds'. This is a great way of stopping 'anyone' messaging you based on what you look like. Another key feature of Huggle is that even if you didn't speak to the person you've connected with at the location, the details are saved so you can message them when you access the app at a later date.

My one reservation about the app is that people will just see it as another dating app and think you're trying it on if you message them. Hopefully that isn't the case but I'm looking forward to trying it out more.

You can get Huggle for free on the App store/Google Play and Windows Store. 

How to stay motivated when you've lost your mojo

No matter how determined we are in life to achieve that must have promotion, a step onto the housing ladder or even getting hold of that limited edition perfume sometimes life can get in the way and we can lose our motivation. No matter what the setback may be we can achieve anything if we really want to. Here's a few tips to inspire you to keep motivated so you can reach that goal.

Stay in high spirits
At the start of your journey note down what your goal is and how you're going to achieve it. Break it down into smaller short term goals which will help you achieve your major long term goal. Keep track of where you are and this will keep you motivated to succeed.

Checkpoint!
When setting your goals try to set up a checkpoint every week so you can see if you've hit the spot or not. If you have hit your checkpoint or even excelled it you'll feel super motivated, and if you haven't you can reassess and see what you need to do to get there next week.

Get rewarded
Just like dogs we like to get a little treat after doing well at something. Allow yourself a treat if you've hit your target, for example that DVD you really wanted or a bowl of Ben and Jerry's. This way you'll align success with reward and you'll want to keep it up.

Don't burn yourself out
Whilst you should most definitely work hard to achieve your goals, you shouldn't burn yourself out to get there. If your goal is to get that dream house and you're working three jobs you may want to reassess if the stress on you is worth it in the long run. You could perhaps go down to two jobs and then you'll have more time to care for yourself and stay healthy. It's important to give yourself a break in any situation, even if you're just studying for your latest exams.

Don't be your own worst enemy
If you don't hit your target for whatever reason it can be very easy to criticise yourself. There's often a good reason that you didn't meet your target and that reason is something you can learn from. Try and complete your next target ahead of time so you're not to off schedule and move on.

Watch motivational material
It probably sounds cheesy but watching a motivating film or TV program can really fill you with determination to succeed. Whether it's a famous figure in history like Nelson Mandela or a rags to riches story a rise to success can be so inspiring.

Avoid distractions
No matter how determined you are it can be easy to have your head turned by distractions. Whether it's a cream cake that will ruin your diet or a pair of trousers you want but don't really need you can avoid it by reminding yourself of your goals. Move away from the distraction and refocus on what you're trying to achieve.

Do some exercise
You've probably heard countless times of the benefits of exercising. It's true however that a certain amount of light exercise can make us feel happier,and more exhilarated due to the endorphins created by physical activity. This will improve your mood and keep you on the right track to hit your goals.

Spice it up a little
If things are monotonous you may get a little bored and lose motivation. You can break this monotony by doing something different like a lunch date or creating an exciting new look.

I hope this helps you to keep your motivation and achieve that must have dream. I'd love to know if it helps!