NOTD: Rimmel Starlet

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all had a good week and have some nice plans for the weekend.

Been looking for a polish like this for ages, somthing glittery but still subtle and "grown-up" enough for work. Don't be fooled by my nails - mine are currently bitten down to the quick so these are Elegant Touch Totally Bare in short length.

with flash

Really love this. One coat would have been ok but I used two. I'm sure I've said it before but I'm a huge fan of Rimmel polishes, the staying power is great and the "Xpress Brush" makes application dead easy!

Have a great weekend!

ssparkle

xo

Recent Purchases

Hi girlies!

Long time no blog. Things have been a bit mental for me recently but instead of boring you with the details I'm gonna crack on with some recent purchases and rest assured normal service will resume soon!


Ok so for the last few weeks Boots has been doing 3 for 2 on most make up items. I had managed to resist the temptation thus far but I spied a couple nail polishes the other night and as my other half was picking up a new shaver I thought it would be rude to leave him lonely at the checkout!!

17 Mirror Shine in Beehive, Rimmel 60 Second in Starlet and Rose Libertine

Hoping this will help settle my current breakout

 This stuff smells amazing!

Superdrug are doing "buy one get one free" on Elvive so I got this shampoo and conditioner. My hair is really thick and usually does shed quite a lot, but recently it's been shedding way more than normal. I don't have any bald patches or anything but it's a lot thinner than it was. I'm hoping these products might help.

Have you experienced unusual shedding and if so, do you have any advice to stop it?

I'll get a NOTD on soon to show off the polishes!

ssparkle

xo

NOTD: No7 Foxglove

Hi Pals!

Hope we're all good this week.

I picked up this polish a couple weeks ago with one of the Boots vouchers for £5 off No7. As I'm such a cheap ass I usually use them to buy make up brushes or muslin cloths but I had seen some reviews of the "Pigment Rich Colour" so headed for the nail polish counter. With the voucher it only cost £2.

I needed to apply 3 coats for a decent finish :(  But it dried quickly and I love the colour.

As much as I like the £5 off No7 vouchers, I do think they are a bit of a con. I mean this polish is nice, but I would never pay £7 for it. No way is it worth that, in my opinion! I think a lot of the No7 products are priced around the vouchers, like the No7 Facial Wipes for example at £7. Are you having a laugh Boots?!

What do you usually use the No7 vouchers for? Do you think the polishes are worth full price?

ssparkle

xo

Review: Andrew Barton S.O.S Help Me! Conditioner

This is the first product review on my blog and I couldn’t think of a better product to start with.

I wouldn’t say my hair is in bad condition, but every now and then it starts to look dull and the ends become a bit dry and brittle.

I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way about their hair, especially all the straightener addicts out there like me!

The Twice a Week Conditioning is part of Andrew Barton’s S.O.S range and it describes itself as … “The superstar of hair treatments. For when hair needs S.O.S repair. Gorgeous Shea Butter helps to gently mend all the cracks, smoothes the hair cuticles and adds supercharged shine.”

I usually scoop out a dessert spoon sized blob, comb it through the ends of my hair and leave for a few minutes while I wash my face. It smells absolutely divine, think toffee vanilla cookies! It rinses out feeling clean and once my hair is blow dried or left to dry naturally it is back to its good old soft, shiney and manageable self!

For the £4 price tag, this stuff is awesome. Ideal when your hair needs a wee pick me up! Just try and resist temptation to eat it!

I believe the Andrew Barton range is exclusive to Asda and they do a “two for £6” offer on the whole range. Of course it would’ve been rude to only buy one and my review of the equally as good Big Hair Lifting Juice will follow soon.

Have you tried any of the Andrew Barton range? What did you think?

P.S. In other news…I purchased the New Look blouse today as pictured in my last post (squee!) and I ordered these amazing shoes from Next. I’ll let you know what they are like in the flesh when they arrive!

ssparkle

xo

Week in Pictures

Happy Friday!!

Here are some pics from my phone this week. Warning: I am completely uncool so don't be expecting any fancy photos of anything interesting ;)

Birthday pressies and cocktails. Looks like the cocktail has bug in, but I think it was basil and fennel!

Let's Do Lunch with Gino and Mel! I've been missing Gino and Mel this week, had to watch old episodes online instead.  I'm in love with Gino D'Acampo! I think ITV should have this on permanently instead of Loose Women!

 

My sister brought me back some nice (smelly) French Camembert from her camping trip in France. Lovely on toast with homemade plum chutney!

 

Subway is my weakness. It wouldn't be so bad if I could stop at 6". So good tho.

More French goodies. These aren't like the Monster Munch we have, they are a bit like Pom-Bears and have become my new favourite crisps! Probably just as well you can't get them here.

Thought I'd get back on MFP this week, it's difficult at the moment as I'm not in my usual routine but I'm determined to shed a few pounds.

I went shopping this week but ended up having one of those "I really should wait til I get paid" moments. Just wait pretty blouse - soon you will be mine!

Mr SS has left me in charge of a couple of DIY tasks this week. I think I did ok! Manicure went out the window though!

Have a great weekend!

ssparkle

xo

P.S. You know I'm still new to this and I really appreciate your feedback and love getting comments from you guys. So if this is this the least interesting post you've ever seen, please tell me!

NOTD: NYC Permanent Pink

Hey guys!

Hope you are all having a great week. Friday is just around the corner so we're on the home straight, the weekend will be here before we know it!

I'm trying to squeeze every last drop out of summer at the moment so trying to make the most of my more summery nail polishes.

Permanent Pink from NYC looks like a pinky coral in the bottle but looks more like a pinky cherry red on the nails.

I also used a coat of Sally Hansen Mega shine over the top to give some added glossiness and shine. Really like this as a top coat by the way, does exactly what it says on the tin!

The only downside of this NYC polish is that it's a three coater. After one or two coats it's still a bit streaky, but perfect after three. This isn't really a downside is it, I'm probably just a bit impatient!

What do you think? Do you like it? Do you have the patience for more than two coats?!

ssparkle

xo

Birthday Treats!

As I mentioned last week it was my birthday on Friday (thanks for the birthday wishes everyone) and I had a lovely weekend celebrating.

Some of my presents… (bearing in mind Mr SS and I had agreed no presents!)

I have to admit that I am a complete candle junkie so I was pleased as punch to unwrap the large Yankee jar in “Fuffy Towels”. I had it burning last night, it’s really lovely. Reminds me of that clean laundry smell when you have a nice smelling fabric softener!

My other half knows I love Benefit and he surprised me with the Smokin Eyes kit, which he picked himself. Little did he know I have been after it for a long time! After all the carry on with the fake Benefit I received recently (see this post) It was so nice to get my hands on the real deal. I used it on Saturday and I’ll be putting up a review after I’ve used it a couple more times.

He also got me the Viva La Juicy perfume from Juicy Couture. It’s been on my list since I tried a tester on holiday, so I was glad he’d remembered. I would describe this scent as sweet but not sickly, girly but sophisticated, floral and clean. If you like Vera Wang Princess and Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb, it’s along the same lines.

On Saturday we went into town for some lunch and shopping. I got a wee bonus present in Boux Avenue. This is a lovely new underwear shop and they were doing a special offer of free knickers with any bra so I couldn’t resist!

Although the plan was just lunch and shopping, day turned to night and we ended up getting the last train home after numerous cocktails! My favourite kind of day :)

Hope you all had a great weekend too!

ssparkle

xo