Essie Nail Polish - Fragrance Direct

I may have made a small order to Fragrance Direct I couldn't resist any longer! At £1.99, I knew it wasn't going to long to be honest. I thought I'd show you which ones I picked up. 

Mademoiselle, Cascade Cool, Bikini So Teeny, Lights, Off The Shoulder

Aren't they pretty, with delivery I think I paid £11. For 5 Essie nail varnishes, that is ridiculous! 
Essie polishes are long lasting and chip-free for about 4/5 days (even more with a top coat), with the lovely paddle style brush, it is so quick and easy to apply. I know I picked up the more summery colours, but I have tried all of these out and I am really happy with my choices and quality. Except for Mademoiselle which I expected to have a more pinky tone for manicures, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

The swatches on the website aren't brilliant so what I do is quickly Google the shades I think I might like, to see what they look like on the nail. The shades change around every now and again so if there isn't a colour you particularly like, check back a couple of weeks later, which is what I did, and there should be a different selection. 
The reason behind them being so cheap is that according to the website Fragrance Direct pass on their wholesale price to the customer.  I was dubious as to whether they were the real deal, but as far as I can see they are the exact same as my other Essie polishes that I have bought from Boots and Superdrug. Win, win! I will definitely be checking back on a regular basis.

Glossybox - January

These boxes are definitely coming around far too quick for my liking. It only seems like yesterday I was opening my Sleek palette from the December box. I think the Detox theme this month is very fitting as I know that a lot of people are doing Dryathlon, starting diets and trying to get healthy, for as long as possible.

At first I wasn't sure about this month's choices but as I actually got the products out and read about them a little bit more I think that there are some really lovely products that I want to try out.

Duck Island Limited - Body Lotion

This little bottle is so cute, I really like the packaging. This natural body lotion is meant to help you relax after a shower or bath. I like the texture, it melts into the skin beautifully and feels luxurious, but I haven't tried it properly yet to give a full review.

Elemis Fresh Skin - Skin Glow Facial Exfoliator

I have wanted to try something from the Elemis brand for quite a while now but didn't really know what to go for. This is a really nice starting point I think. This exfoliator is aimed at younger people who want to prevent their skin from ageing as well as enhancing radiance.

Jason Lips Bee Healthier

The only full sized product this month which retails for under £2, was the product I was most disappointed with. Not due to the retail price, but just because I thought a lip balm was a bit boring, and to some level I do still think that.  Now, I've only tried this out a couple of times but I already love it. I haven't tried the Burts Bees range (or something like that) but I can imagine it to be similar to that brand's lip balm as it contains natural ingredients including beeswax. I've already put it in my handbag so that I can use it throughout the day.

Monu - Aromatic Mask

I love a good mask and think this is the perfect product for the theme, I think Glossybox has learnt their lesson after the 'relaxation' month (or whatever that was supposed to be). This is a clay mask so has to be washed off with water and not just pealed like some others. I personally prefer the peal off ones but I'm not complaining, I think I will enjoy getting in the bath and putting this bad boy on.

Premae Skincare - Balance Rescue Face Tonique

Probably the product I am most excited to try out, this toner mattifies combination skin as well as hydrating it. I have a little bit of an oily t-zone so if this works I will definitely be adding it to my evening makeup routine.

Glossybox Sleep Mask

I actually enjoy looking forward to the crazy extras that Glossybox have started to include every now and again. I think this is really cute and adds that finishing touch to this month's box.

I've noticed that there is a mix of products this month, so if you have different products let me know, I would love to see what everyone else received.

Click to sign up for Glossybox.  Please note I am not affiliated with the company and I have purchased the subscription with my own money. 

No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser

2012 was the year of the Hot Cloth Cleanser, Liz Earle being the main favourite. I didn't dive head first in to this craze as I wanted to test the water and see whether I liked the idea of the product.  This product comes with a muslin cloth and can be used on all skin types and is hypo-allergenic.

With the No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser you massage a pump full on to dry skin. Sometimes I would have already removed my makeup and want to use it just to cleanse the skin, but sometimes I will use it to remove my makeup especially my eye makeup. It is really gentle and has never irritated my eyes which I was so impressed with as even some products that are made for eyes can sting and make my eyes red and sore. Once I have massaged it all in, sometimes I will add an extra half a pump depending on if I feel like I need it, I soak the muslin cloth in hot water, rinse out the excess and lay the cloth over my face. These are the directions on the bottle and I actually really like doing this as it relaxes me, so would be brilliant to use in the bath. I repeat this about 3 times so my face really gets the most from the steaming process. I then use the muslin cloth in circular motions to remove the product from my face. 

I don't use this everyday as I can be quite lazy and by using other makeup removers on a cotton pad it is a lot quicker. So around 3 times a week I get this out and have a mini facial in the evening, because I do like to massage my skin a lot with the muslin cloth to help exfoliate my skin, it can leave my face red, but I do have sensitive skin so that is something to think about if you wanted to use this in the morning. I really like the thickness of the product. but it is light almost a mousse texture, making it really nice to massage in and you really don't need a lot. I also like that you can see how much is left in the bottle, you can't really see from the photograph as this was taken after I had used it only twice. There 50ml product and retails £10, as it is No7 there are always deals and money off vouchers that you can get so I think I actually paid £5 which I think is fantastic. 
I would like to try a couple of other versions after I finish this one, but I will definitely be coming back to this one and not to Liz Earle if none of them live up to this one. 

Soap & Glory - Best of All

Everyone knows that come December 26th, everything that you bought before gets discounted so when you walk into a shop you can see that the £40 jumper you bought your Dad for Christmas is now £20. I refuse to go Boxing Day shopping for this reason, bitter in my old age. 

However, this year I decided that I would venture into Boots and check out the gift sets that were now half price off. 

This is one that I've seen many Youtubers pick up over the last couples of weeks since Christmas, dear Lord time has flown by quickly. However, I'm going to go through the products that I bought in the Best of All gift set by Soap & Glory - The Ultimate Head-to-Toe Indulgence Kit.

If I had bought this on December 24th I would have handed over £60 for this beauty, but being the tight fisted, but lovable, girl that I am I only paid £27.  Bargain!

Includes 9 full sized products worth £64.50 and the weekend travel bag so I am really happy with this deal.

Clean on Me 500ml

Smoothie Star 500ml

The Righteous Butter 300ml

Sugar Crush 300ml

Hand Food 125ml

Heel Genius 125ml

Peaches and Clean 200ml

Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss

Thick & Fast Mascara

Obviously because the sets are already made, if like me you've owned Soap & Glory products before there is a chance that you are going to get duplicates. Luckily I love The Righteous Butter and Clean on Me shower gel which I've previously purchased so it means I'm all stocked up. If you would prefer to try other products than the ones in this set, there are various other sets available including travel size products, full size products and skincare products.

I've seen in all the bigger sized Boots that these kits are still floating around so the offer is currently still running.

New York Goodies

As you might have seen, I was lucky enough to go to New York for 5 nights, and I absolutely loved it. To be honest I preferred the tourist sight seeing activities that we did, to the shopping side.  However, I thought I would share some of the products that I bought over there. 

I'm going to start off with the best bargain place, ever! I got this little lot from a shop called the Cosmetic Market. It is an actual shop, it's not New York's version of Dagenham market of anything. You will fall off your chair when I tell you that I paid about $40 for these products which is under £25. I can't remember the individual prices for everything but a couple of products still have the price on them.

Bobbi Brown Face Touch up Palette - $10

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara - $4 (the extra one is for my mum)

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick - $4

Sally Hansen Double Duty Base and Top Coat

Stila Glaze Lip Liner

Bourjois 3D Effect Lipgloss

Essie Nail Polish

When we arrived in the Hotel we weren't allowed to check in for another few hours so we left our bags in the cloakroom facility and headed off to Time's Square. Amongst all the hustle and bustle of the centre of New York, there stood proud, was a lovely little MAC store. I couldn't resist, so within an hour of the taxi dropping us off at our hotel, I was the proud owner of two beautiful lipsticks. Successful first day I would say.

MAC Lipstick - $15

I took a couple of trips to Walgreens I actually wanted some teeth whitening strips but they didn't have the ones that I wanted so I picked up some makeup instead. As you do.  The weird thing about American drugstores is that you can't swatch anything, there are no testers at all.  I would have bought some other bits if I could have seen the colour on my skin.

Crest 3D White Luxe Toothpaste (so exciting)

Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara - $7

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer

Maybelline Fit Me Blush

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick

L'Oreal Inflallible Lipstick

Milani Baked Blush

I had to visit Sephora as we don't have one here, it's actually really different to the European ones that I've been in.  Anyway I went in the big one on Time's Square and it was so packed so I didn't get the Nars foundation that I wanted as there wasn't anyone free to colour match me. So that was sad. 

Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask (I wanted the overnight one but I couldn't see it)

Benefit PoreFessional Face Primer

Sephora Blush

On one of the days we were out there we went to this outlet centre which is about an hour away from New York, and we expected great things but we didn't really see why people had actually brought suitcases with them to fill up. And trust me they filled them! So I wasn't really that impressed but I don't know if that was just a one off bad season or something. Anyway I did find a couple of gems there. 

Elizabeth Arden Eight hour Cream for the Face - $30

Yankee Candle - $11

YES you read that correctly. These are the large 2 wick candles.

Duty Free. Just because you have to really. I was disappointed that in our terminal there wasn't many other shops apart from the main duty free shop. I wanted to say my final goodbyes to MAC and benefit but oh well.

Thierry Mugler Alien - $48

I really loved New York and would recommend anyone to go there. Even my boyfriend that doesn't like big cities enjoyed it. Not only shopaholics would love it, there is so much more to do.  

Winter Nails

The days get darker quicker and the nights are colder in the Winter, even though I do like a bright nail colour, I love to wear dark colours too. These are the shades I have been mainly wearing.

From Left to Right

Barry M - Raspberry sometimes paired with Barry M - Hologram

L.A Colors - Merlot

L.A Colors - Blue Lagoon (only 99p!)

Mabelline Forever Strong Pro - Extreme Blackcurrent (great for toes)

Barry M - Cappucino

Doing this post has made me realise how odd my nail varnish collection is.  Without knowing I tend to buy colours according to the brand. For example, my winter nails are Barry M and L.A Colors so darker shades.  My Models Own are all pastel shades and my Essie are all bright.  I need to get more variety in there I think.  Any recommendations for shades, let me know.

Best and Worst of ELF

Eyes Lips Face, or ELF is a predominately American online brand.  ELF started in America with their $1 range and since then has continuously grown into a brand with some fantastic products.  This is where my love of make up came from, being able to purchase good quality, cheap makeup allowed me to experiment and find the obsession that I now have.  For that, like other young girls, I will always have a soft spot for ELF and do still repurchase from their website.  

Firstly, the products that I love and would gladly repurchase, some of these actually are repurchases. 

Blush and Bronzer Compact

Golden Bronzer

Translucent HD Powder

Nail Varnish

Mineralise Eyeshadow Primer

Mineral Lipsticks

Studio Blush

Blush Brush

I also love the completion brush

However, like any brand there are products that don't work for everyone and these are the ones that I really didn't like. 

Studio Makeup Mist and Set 

This is just too wet, it's like spraying a hose in your face. It has even made my mascara run. As you can see I have used this and tried it many times but every time I feel like it ruins my makeup.

Mineral Foundation

I did used to really like this and repurchased this a couple of times. As my first mineral product I didn't realise just how bad it was until I tried others from different brands. This doesn't actually do anything, it's more like a setting powder rather than a foundation.

Mineral Lipstick in Natural Nymph 

I love all the other shades I have and actually think they are very good lipsticks. But please do not buy this shade!  It is concealer in a bullet. I always come back to this because I want to make it work but it is just awful and I don't think it would work with any skin tones at all.

Tone Correcting Concealer 

This just does not have any staying power. It looks nice when you apply it and doesn't look cakey or anything. But it lasts an hour maximum, I have used it on myself and about 4 other friends, all having the same problem.

Stipple Brush

I heard such good things about this brush and actually made a whole order just because I wanted this brush. I can't use it. If the bristles were half the size or if they were much denser then I think this would be brilliant.  It is really hard to work with and I found it doesn't place the product evenly onto the skin so can create patchiness. 

This is the 'Brilliant for Anyone Getting into Makeup' Category. 

The Beauty Encyclopedia 

This product has actually changed a little bit now to the Beauty Book which doesn't include the cream eyeshadows any more, which to be honest is the best decision that ELF has ever made. It now includes a handy mirror. The reason I have made a whole new category for this one product is because the colours are beautiful. There are three Beauty Books which contain different shades but all of them I think are lovely. The problem is that the eyeshadows are very chalky and don't last very well on the lid.  However, this palette also includes a handy step by step guide on how to apply the eyeshadows and where to place them. Therefore, I think this would be perfect for any girl that wants to experiment with different colours but won't need the staying power as they won't be allowed to wear it at school and hopefully won't be going on any nights out.

If you follow me on Twitter you will have seen that I made a sneaky ELF order the other day which was the reason I decided to do this post.  There is 25% discount on everything at the moment when you spend a certain amount. I think it ends today though so hurry up if you want to place an order.

L'Oreal Free Box of Goodies

Last month I went into Boots to replace a 17 lipstick that I had lost, and before I knew it I was over at the L'Oreal stand and was swatching L'Oreal lipsticks left, right and centre. The events that happened afterwards are by no means my fault, or previously come to think of it.  A very helpful assistant came over to me to let me know that there was an offer that you receive a free box of L'Oreal goodies when you spend £12. 

I lost all control of myself and my purse!

I ran round to the other side and picked up an illuminating primer that I had wanted to get for a while and then started swatching eyeshadows, to cut a long story short, I spent way more than the £12 needed.

However, here is what I received in the 'Dress up in Diamonds' box. 

Includes

Volume Million Lashes Diamonds Mascara

Color Riche Diamantissime Lipstick - 325 Feeric Fuschia

Color Riche Nail Topcoat - 820 Crystalissme

Revitalift 10 Hour Total Repair 5ml

True Match Foundation Sachet

Nude Magique Sachet

£2 Coupon off True Match Foundation

If you saw my Christmas Makeup you may recognise this lipstick. I really love this shade, sadly my camera doesn't catch the shimmer that runs through the red, but I thought a close up of this lipstick was needed.  

I am really glad I got this as I love all the products that were included and considering there were 3 full sized products and a £2 off coupon, I thought this was a bargain.

This deal might not still be on as I got it before Christmas but I'm sure if some Boots still have them in stock you might be able to get a better deal as it is sale period. 

Twitter Love

I now have Twitter! YAY!

I know I am probably a little late on the whole Twitter bandwagon melarky but I'm finally on board. It is such a great way for everyone in the beauty/fashion community to talk and keep up to date on things alongside people's blogs.

So feel free to follow 

@secretofbeauty_

Get tweeting me any requests :)

Winter Lips

You can always tell when Winter is fast approaching, and not by the wet mornings and windy nights. Girls, I don't even think we mean to do it, but our instincts tell us to buy as many moisturising lipsticks, lip balms and scrubs as we can carry, until one unexpectedly drops and rolls under the counter never to be seen again. These are some of my favourite lip products I have been wearing throughout Winter.

 From Left to Right (above) From Top to Bottom (below)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Crush

17 Mirror Shine - Scrimptious (this looks the scariest but is actually probably my favourite day colour)

L'Oreal Cresse - Nude Ingenue

Natural Collection - Cranberry

As you can see I have been loving the berry look. What have you been wearing on your lips this season?

52 Things for 52 Weeks

As the title suggests these are aims and targets that I have set myself for the year of 2013!  I plan to do a monthly update on how I am getting on.  There is a mixture of blog / beauty / fitness / health and personal related things so hopefully most people will be able to relate to some aspect of my goals.

Beauty

Cleanse and tone every day for 2 weeks as part of a skin care routine

Use a teeth whitening product and stick to it throughout the course

Find the perfect everyday lipstick

Organise my nail varnishes

Get my Eyebrows done professionally

Do project 10 pan

Do not buy another eyeshadow throughout the year

Blogging

Have 10,000 page views

Have 200 Followers via Blogger/Hellocotton/Bloglovin

Complete 250 posts

Blog everyday for 2 weeks

Do a giveaway

Reach my blog year anniversary

Get my twitter account up and running

Finance

Save up £2000 in my car fund

Pay off my credit card and be out of my overdraft

Fill up a piggy bank of only pound coins

Do the 100 day spending ban challenge

Fitness

Exercise 3 times a week for at least a month

Complete the 30 day shred

Lose 20lbs and keep it off

Complete the couch to 5km programme

Learn how to do a push up

Health & Food

Cut out fast food for 2 weeks

Drink only water for 2 weeks

Get to sleep before 11pm for a week

Don't eat chocolate/biscuits/crisps for a month

Eat fish once a week for a month

Eat breakfast everyday for a month

Have 5 a day for 2 weeks

Have a signature dish and perfect it

Personal

Give blood

Give to charity

Throw away clothes/Ebay that I haven't worn in over 6 months

Go a week without napping

Print out pictures from the last 3 years and frame them

Say yes to something I would normally say no to

Learn to drive

Tidy my bedroom properly and keep it perfect for a week

Create a list of wedding songs

Relationship

Surprise my boyfriend once a month throughout the year

Spend a weekend away with my boyfriend

Book a holiday with boyfriend/friends

Go see friends that live over 2 hours away

Have a cocktail night with friends

Bake something for someone special

Travel & Activities

Read a ‘classic’ novel (Little Women)

Read the Hunger Games trilogy

Go to a theme park

Go on a cruise

Go to a casino

Go abroad

 Let me know if anyone is planning to do a similar post I would love to read them.

Life Through a Lens - New Yorker

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and brilliant New Years. In December I was so lucky to be able to spend nearly a week in New York. For me New York is the best city in the world so I though some people might be interested in some pictures that we took out there.

We went everywhere and loved doing all the sight seeing that there is. We went the week before Christmas so in true America style, there were lights and wreaths on every building. We even saw a Santa on a float pass by us.  

From left to right:

Christmas tree in the Trump Towers

Foyer of the Empire State Building

Ground Zero (Most amazing memorial I have ever seen)

Wreath in Trump Towers

Baubles down 8th avenue

Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park

View during the day from the top of the Empire State building

New York taxis everywhere

The big piano in FAO Schwarz

View at night from top of the Rockefeller

We saw the Broadway musical ELF

The tree at the Rockefeller

The M&M store

Hard Rock Cafe 

I am also thinking of doing a small haul of some things that I picked up over there, so if you are interested then let me know.