Nail of the week...

   500  Peppermint from Rimmel Pro Professional Finish.

" Long lasting,  chip resistant and anti-fade colour...up to 10 days".

 

I LOVE this nail varnish. So far it has been on for four days and hasn't chipped, it is still just as colourful as before and I think it's a fabulous summer shade. I especially enjoyed the max brush, which made it really easy to apply. The only thing that I didn't like so much, was that it did take a couple of applications to get the desired colour, as the nail varnish appears quite watery perhaps, so the colour isn't quite the same as in the bottle when first applied.

Only £3.99 or bag yourself 3 for 2 at Superdrug.

Love, Sophie Olivia

x x

This is a bit good really.

I had visions of a really hot summer, and me being some bronzed, beach goddess....but then the English weather decided it wanted to play games with us, and turned the sun on and off like a light switch! I was faced with a very, and I mean very, pale, ill looking complexion. I won't use sunbeds, no, no, no...but I did use

Dove Summer Glow.

I wasn't sure about it really. It was very cheap (£2.99 in Superdrug and Savers), and I'll be honest, I can be a tanning snob at times...I seem to have it in my head that the more expensive the lotion, the better it will be, and we all know that isn't necessarily true.

 My mum had been using it and looking amazingly natural, so off I dashed to superdrug! So, the product is a"moisturiser with a subtle self-tanner to gradually build a beautiful tan"...and according to Dove, it is simply enhancing our natural skin colour.

So here is a rather nasty, pasty looking leg of mine, obviously before my tanning. May I add that those who are naturally pale look just lovely, but I actually always had olive skin which matched my hair and eyes, and then all of a sudden, I hit 16 and I went a very pale colour, and still am five years later...and it does not suit me...honestly.

As you can see, not very golden, bronzed or has any resemblance of a beach goddess. Anyway, the product initially smells beautiful. It's really difficult to describe, it's almost quite fruity. It has an added moisturiser which glides onto the skin and leaves it feeling lovely and soft.

 

The lovely smell does fade however, and sadly once applied everywhere and it begins to dry, it does smell like your usual "biscuit" smelling fake tan.

 However, after three days, the end product was fabulous, and I had lovely, golden legs!

 

The cons of this product however, are however:

• It can be quite patchy, which I found strange as it has an added moisturiser, which I usually put on before I use fake tan.
• It doesn't last long and washes off within a few days, however, some of you may find this a total pro.
• That nasty biscuit smell that is associated with fake tans.

However, at £2.99. I'm actually really impressed, and in all honesty, it does exactly what it says on the packet. Definitely a must have, and I think I'll be repurchasing this little treat again!

                         Love, Sophie Olivia x x 

I've got an addiction....

...to mascara and lipsticks. I really do. I buy a new lipstick every week, and a mascara pretty much every three weeks, even if I haven't finished the last one. It's becoming a major problem in my life when I have little money coming into my bank....queue selling my wardrobe on ebay!

So this week I purchased No 7 Extreme Length Sensitive Eyes in 01 black.

"A gentle mascara, for tear-free eyes, that grips and extends each lash for maximum length and definition". 

Pros

• It did give my lashes extra length.
• It didn't smudge and stayed perfect throughout the whole day.
• No flaky bits underneath my eyes, even when I spent the whole day baking and getting horribly hot!
• Lovely brush, allows good grip to each lash.
• Great colour...really black.

  Cons

• It didn't separate my lashes as expected, therefore they were left a little clumpy.
• It appeared to run out quickly. The tube became very dry after around two weeks.
• The price...I think it was £12.99 which I found expensive for a mascara that ran out so quickly.

                                                    You decide! 

           

But I didn't stop there, I also purchased two lipsticks, 17 Bee Hive....

And a Revlon lipstick in 002 matte Pink Pout...and it really is amazingly pink, which I don't think the photo quite shows. It's a real wow colour!

I didn't stop there, I bought another cheeky purchase of Ciate Paint Pots. I swear by these nail polishes because they look really expensive, and people always ask if I've just had my nails done, which I rarely get asked when I've just painted my nails to be honest!

I then followed my beauty trip with a naughty stop at Primark, where I purchased this fabulous ring for £2 and this lovely scarf for £4. A very successful shopping trip!

 

Love, Sophie Olivia x x

I've got a secret...shhhhh!

I love nothing more than hearing a new beauty tip...especially if it works! So when I purchased The Beauty Secrets Handbook, well, I was a little bit pleased, especially as nearly every tip is pretty much fabulous. 

Here are my top 10 favourites from the book...you may know some, but I do love a good, trustee beauty tip!

1. Blemishes? Well, obviously you need some carrots...apparently! "A carrot mask can work wonders for blemished skin. Use a small raw carrot mashed to a smooth paste, or boil one in a little water and mash it. Then pat the mask all over the blemished areas and leave on for 15-20 minutes" Yum.

2. Double chin, feeling a little wobbly there? "Get rid of your double chin by using a slightly darker shade of powder or foundation under your chin, which will make it appear to recede. Blend towards the back of the jawline to add definition".

3. What lovely brows you have. "To make brows appear higher and more defined, apply some highlighting powder or cream under the middle to outer edge of the eyebrow, which will add fullness to the eye area".

 This is my favourite, and you can get yourself a cheeky, free sample with this month Glamour magazine!

4. Fuller lips needed, please. "Create fullness with a spot of gloss in the middle of the mouth, particularly on the upper lips, which will appear fuller as a result.

5. Eye circles? "To draw attention from under-eye bags or circles, avoid applying eyeliner or mascara to lower lashes, which could draw attention downwards instead of upwards".

6. Drink more tea! "Tea contains polyphenols, which fight plaque-causing dental bacteria and ward off cavities, and makes it harder for bacteria to cling to your teeth. Green tea contains the highest amount, but you still get plenty from a cheap cup of standard tea!"

7. Teeth stained? "Whiten teeth naturally, by brushing lightly with grated lemon zest, a natural bleaching agent that will whiten teeth without damaging gums".

8. Hair nightmare? "Many commercially bought cholesterol hair conditioners contain alcohol, the very thing that dries out hair. Instead of using one of these, massage a handful of mayonnaise into dry hair and wrap in plastic food wrap for ten minutes to boost moisture". 

9. Cellulite? Me too. "Eat oranges! They have a high water content, which helps to plump skin. Also try apple, grapefruit and tropical fruits like mango and pineapple".

10. LOVE YOUR FACE! Learn to love your "imperfections". "They make you look special, freckles, nose shape and lip size etc all give you character and a unique look- just think how boring it would be if we were all perfect". This is so true. I hate my nose (it has a giant bump on it), and I'd been contemplating a nose job for years, believing I would be much happier. My friends, family and boyfriend hate the idea, and say "But then you wouldn't be you!", and it's true, nobody else has my nose and looks like me....and having Ashley Simpson's new nose wouldn't make me unique anymore. We can use make up and lovely lotions and potions to add to our natural beauty, but we shouldn't have to completely change what we were born with. Learn to love it ladies, you are you and that's pretty amazing! 

Love, Sophie Olivia x x