LOVE ME // TIGI BED HEAD MAKEOVER

My Festival Skin Routine + GIVEAWAY

As you guys know I'm very into my festivals so thought it would be fun to film my festival skincare routine as I haven't seen many around, and I suffer with oily/blemish prone skin so wanted to share my tips in case any of you have the same.  Hope you enjoy the video, and don't forget to enter the giveaway after the jump!

My Journey to Clearer Skin

2 Grunge Looks: Day To Night #BeLegendary

Not Another Salon Makeover!

  

If you follow my Instagram you may have seen my magnificent new hair by Not Another Salon - a big change for me as I've been just pink for like 3 years, but a change was so much fun - see my transformation journey after the jump!

Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani Palette

UD X GWEN STEFANI PALETTE* // £40

Love Me Beauty Box Review

 
   

Despite beauty boxes being a huge trend over the past couple of years, I've never actually got one for myself - so when Love Me Beauty got in touch, of course I had to try one out! I don't know much about what other 'box' companies offer, but I've not heard of a personalised experience before, which is what Love Me Beauty offer; you answer a series of questions about your skin type and personality, and they'll tailor the box to your preferences.  After this, you can either leave it up to the experts to choose for you, or you can pick exactly what you want - perfect if you're fussy like me!

Shien Lipstick
I was very chuffed to receive two lipsticks from Shien; Red Lantern, a bold red, and Shanghai Rose, a dusky pink nude.  I wore the latter in my make-up look and it has a lovely creamy texture, great for every day wear, or with a smoked up eye look, like I did.  Shien products are infused with all sorts of vitamins to nourish your lips, are free of parabens and are against animal testing, so I'm definitely a fan! RRP £11.50

Nails Inc Gel Nail Polish
This was the item I was probably the most excited about in the box, as I absolutely adore the colour - 'Corville Mews' is the perfect light nude (plus isn't the packaging gorge?). I'd have put it on straight away, but I have acrylic nails with a glitter polish at the moment which is a nightmare to remove, so I'll leave it to the salon!  RRP £15

BelláPierre Eyeshadow
I created a gorgeous smoky eye with these; I used the warm golden colour, Lava, all over the lid and smoked it out with Diligence, a darker brown/purple shade.  As it's loose powder you get excellent colour payoff, but I'd advise using it before applying foundation, so as to avoid drop-down.  The shadows are made entirely of mineral powders and are hypoallergenic, so perfect for sensitive eyes!  RRP £12.99

Neal & Wolf Hair Protection Spray
This arrived at the perfect time, as I've recently run out of hair protection spray!  I try to stay away from heat-styling products, but I just love my hair with a curl to it!  This contains ingredients to lock in moisture, for a healthy finish, and protects hair against heat up to 220°C.  This misted easily over the hair and wasn't sticky or heavy, plus is smells gorge!  RRP £11.50

Nuxe Prodigieuse Oil

Festivals really dry out my skin and hair, so this little bottle of nourishment will be perfect to take along with me.  It's so convenient that it's multi-purpose, and I've heard oil works miracles on oily skin - guess I'll have to find out!  RRP £6.99

Nuxe Creme Fraiche Hydrating Mask
As mentioned above, my skin really suffers from festivals, so this is a great post-festival pick-me-up.  It's super soothing on the skin and reduces any irritation or redness instantly - the formula is non-oily so you can apply make-up straight after.  I only have masks to invigorate and draw out impurities, so I'm happy to add a gentler one to my collection!  RRP £18.50

Altogether, this box was worth a total of over £100, but the Love Me Beauty boxes are just £10 per month, so it's an incredible saving, and you get to try out up-and-coming brands for a snip of the price!  Would you try Love Me Beauty?

Get 20% off Love Me Beauty with code 'amy20'!

AMY X

Post in collaboration with Love Me Beauty, all opinions my own.

A New Skincare Favourite // Magnitone Lucid Review

CLEANSING BRUSH* // MAGNITONE
DEEP CLEANSING FACE WASH* // NSPA

You guys might not know this about me as it's really the 'done thing' to post about your flaws on the Internet (sad, but true), but I have pretty bad skin.  I'm not talking about the occasional spot; I have blemish prone, oily skin, and have had for years.  I'm very lucky to not be at the extreme end of the scale with acne, but it still grinds at me every day, and something I'm pretty self-concious about.  I'm lucky to have a Mother who is diligent in looking after your skin, and have had a proper routine since I was about 13, she has definitely taught me a lot about skincare.  You only get one face, so look after it!

Unfortunately I'm not here to preach about a new cure to spots, as much as I wish that I'd found one already, but I hope to help others deal with problem skin, as I know the toll it can take on your confidence.  I was very lucky to get sent a Magnitone to try out back in December (yes, this post is way overdue!) and was excited to try it, especially as they promise improved skin in 7 days, at this point I'm willing to try anything to help out my skin!

The first time I used the Magnitone it felt a little weird, in that you actually brush your face!  It has a timer for one minute, and you cleanse different zones of your face, according to when it beeps.  It also has a sensitive mode, for a gentler cleanse.  I noticed my skin felt softer after just one use, and I have used it twice a day ever since.  You can use any cleanser you want, but I use the NSPA Deep Cleansing Face Wash, as my Clinique Cleansing Foam ran out and I didn't feel like splurging on a new one!  I really get on with products from the NSPA range, they have a huge variety of products, and it's super affordable from ASDA!

Magnitone do warn about a skin 'purge' when you first use the Magnitone, and I did experience it, but it's nothing to worry about, as it does clear up.  The brush is designed with electromagnetic technology with 10,000 pulsed oscillations per minute, which brings any impurities to the surface, hence the purge.  As I'm used to blemishes, it wasn't too much a problem for me, and it does still happen, but I know it's better to bring out any dirt straight away, rather than let it build up to eventually become a big angry spot.  The brush also exfoliates, so I have cut out any harsh products, as apparently they can cause micro-lacerations and an in-balance in your skin, which can cause it to become more oily.  When I feel I need an exfoliation boost I use the NSPA Skin Renewal Gel, which uses fruit acids to dissolve dry skin, so less harsh than grains.  It also removes any make-up you might have missed (and it's a lot more than you'd think!)

I really am so happy with my Magnitone, I still use it every day and honestly don't feel properly cleansed when I skip it.  It's perfect to travel with, and you can buy different heads, according to your skin type.  Aside from the unavoidable hormonal spots, I have really noticed a reduction in blemishes since using the Magnitone, and I definitely recommend it, especially as it's a lot more affordable than many cleansing brushes on the market!

If you have any questions on my skincare routine or my Magnitone experience feel free to tweet me or leave a comment below, and do let me know if this has been helpful to you, and if you'd like me to cover any other products/topics!  Also while you're here, why not check out the video of my day with Magnitone, where I got to do the TMI tag with Pixie Lott!

AMY X

REVIEW // Bee Good 3-in-1 Cleansing Water

Bee Good Cleansing Water* // £10

Ooh another attempt at a beauty post, look at me go!

This product I actually got a while ago so I've had a good amount of time to review it, and I must say I'm really impressed with it.  Before I get into anything, here's a little information about the brand & product.

Bee Good was created by a husband & wife, combining Simon's beekeeping hobby with Caroline's love of skincare, so all products use beeswax and honey from British bees.

"This 3-in-1 cleansing water dissolves make-up, cleanses and tones the skin - no water needed!  Gentle enough to use on the delicate eye area, it leaves skin bee-autifully clean, toned and refreshed.  The active ingredients include moisturising British wild flower honey, brightening red algae and refreshing wild water mint."

Firstly, I'm surprised at how long the product has lasted me; I didn't think 100ml would go that far, but I got it in July and after using it every other day or so there's just under half left (I'd say).  I usually use it after taking heavier make-up off with my Body Shop Camomile eye makeup remover but have used for a full face of makeup before and this product works better than my Garnier Micellar Water with removing eye make-up.  I need to use 4 cotton pads for my full face, but always double cleanse as I have blemish prone skin and want to make sure my face is completely clean.  It's also very delicately scented, which I don't mind as you hardly notice it.  I have sensitive skin and this has caused no problems, it doesn't sting the eyes and leaves skin feeling fresh and not sticky.  I think I will go back and repurchase this product, however I am interested in trying out different brands and have heard good things about the NSPA Micellar Water, so would like to try that next!

Also how could I go without mentioning the packaging it came in?  I'm a big fan of when people put a lot of effort into that kind of thing, as it just makes it so much more exciting to receive.  One thing I've never seen before is what they've done with the tag with my name on it; it's made of recycled paper with seeds in it with instructions to tear it up, put it in soil and water regularly.  From the seeds, wild flowers will grow to become a source of nectar for the honeybees, such a great idea and means I can do my part to save the bees!

I'm definitely a fan of both the products and general values/ethos of the brand, and Bee Good are now stocked in some Waitrose stores, so I may have to pop in and try their other products!  Have you tried any Bee Good products?
AMY X
NOTE: This is not a paid review - the item was sent to me for consideration and all thoughts are my own.

Aurelia Refine & Polish Miracle Balm Review

Aurelia Refine & Polish Miracle Balm* // £58

I would say it's blindingly clear that my little space on the internet is definitely more fashion focused, simply because it's what I know and love, but you cannot ignore that beauty plays a large role in the fashion industry.  I have particularly problematic skin, so I'm always searching for something new to improve it, now I'm no professional beauty blogger so I can't word as eloquently specific but of course I will try my hardest!

When the lovely people from Aurelia got into contact, asking if I'd like to review their Refine & Polish Miracle Balm I was very intrigued - anything with the word 'miracle' in it automatically triggers my curiosity, so I thought I'd do a little reading about it first.

Aurelia uses probiotics in their skincare, which means that it balances and protects your skin, and this particular mask uses fruit enzymes to deeply exfoliate skin, leaving it brightened and soft.  The scent is floral without being too powdery and it's generally quite high-end 'expensive' smelling.  The product itself is smooth with tiny exfoliating beads and feels luxurious on your skin - you can use it both as an instant exfoliant and as a mask and I do both.  I use it as a mask once a week and an exfoliator twice a week.  When you apply the product as a mask you feel a slight warming sensation, which I love because it feels like the product is really working, anything that reacts on the skin I'm a fan of.  In contact with water the mask dissolves into an oil and leaves your skin feeling smooth and moisturised and plump rather than dry and tight, which I find a lot of exfoliators do.  One thing I do notice is that the tiny beads take a little while to be completely rid of your face, so I usually wash it off when I shower.

I feel as if I've been rambling on for ages now - I hope this makes sense!  To sum up, this product has really impressed me, it states that it is suitable for any skin type, including sensitive skin, but I feel it would work best for people with dry skin.  I have rather oily skin prone to breakouts and feel a skin-clearing type product would be better suited.  As for results, I can't judge too much as I've been using it on and off due to me being away from home a lot, but it definitely helps balance out my skin, meaning I get less oily throughout the day and after returning from festival season with clogged up, dull skin, I now have a nice little glow going on after a quick mask, so lets hope it stays this way!

AMY X

Treat Yourself on Valentine's Day

Valentine's day kit* // Claire's
Candle* // Flamingo Candles
Ring* // Rings & Tings
Brooch* // Jodie Loves

So this year on Valentine's day I am joining the single club despite having a boyfriend, as Alex is abandoning my all on my owney and jetting off on a skiing holiday!  So this post is dedicated to all you single ladies out there, Valentine's is the perfect night to pamper yourself and even better if you have some single friends to join you.  I (obviously) invited Polly round and we got our beautifying on with this awesome kit that Claire's put together.

1. Facemasks
Polly opted for the peel off mask and I the chocolate (both of which smelled amazing) and obviously I had to give myself a chocolate beard before covering my face.  You can also indulge on mini creme eggs whilst waiting to wash/peel the masks off.  Montagne Jeunesse are always my first stop for face masks and are a steal at just £1.50!

2. Nails
Sitting and doing your nails can sometimes feel like a chore so it's nice to do them with a friend whilst catching up on your YouTube favourites, especially after browsing Pinterest to give you some ideas and with an assortment of pretty nail art which can be found in abundance at any Claire's - Polly opted for glitter while I went for nude with simple studs. (berry set, nail studs)

3. Dinner
Despite having the M&S gift card we opted for a Dominos pizza for dinner, so bought ice cream & wine with it instead!  Not the healthiest option but you're allowed to be naughty once in a while amIright?!  We then bummed out on the sofas while watching We're the Millers, which neither of us had actually seen so we were both pretty chuffed with the DVD choice (hilarious movie btw!).

4. Unwind time
The best part about being with your girlfriends is of course, catching up and having a good chat so going to bed with a nice cup of tea is a great way to end the day.  I also lit my special Love Potion candle from Flamingo Candles which smells incredible, like candy mixed with vanilla and the wax goes hot pink and super glittery when it burns which unfortunately doesn't show up properly in the photo!  I'm so happy with it as I've wanted a Flamingo Candle for a while now and it's so good I'll definitely have to pick up some more.

I hope you enjoyed my post and it gave you some ideas for Valentine's day, I had so much fun and will definitely be having round some girlfriends when next friday comes round!
love amy x

Casual Curls Tutorial // Toni & Guy Hourglass Wand

As it's one of my new favourite things I really wanted to do a tutorial video with the Toni & Guy hourglass wand!  I created my version of a casual curly style and am actually really surprised with how well it turned out, I was half expecting it to all go wrong and for me to have to film it like 5 times over!  I really hope you all like the video and let me know what you think below!
love amy x

SCRATCH Nails Neon Speckle Nail Wraps

Speckle Nail Wraps* // SCRATCH Nails
Rings // The Bohemian Co*, Zara Taylor*, market

For a short period of time not long ago I was stupidly obsessed with nail art, trying marbling, nail art pens and even nail wraps, but I just don't have the time anymore!  I was recently contacted by SCRATCH Nails about some nail wraps and thought I'd give it a go as they do some absolutely gorgeous designs, and every month they feature a different artists designs.  They have some seriously cool wraps at the moment designed by Britney Tokyo, the Shibuya Fresh being my favourite!

As I said above, I have tried nail wraps before from Nail Rock and they actually turned out terribly - bubbles everywhere and they just didn't stay flat, and seeing as I get acrylic overlays I didn't think these would work.  As you can see they went on absolutely fine and I'm so happy with how they turned out, it took half an hour ish to do while watching the Great British Bakeoff finale and the best part - no waiting for your nails to dry!  I love the designs and I can't wait to try out my other wraps, I'll be sure to keep you guys updated!
love amy x

REVIEW // Seventeen Lasting Fix Lipstick in New Black

Seventeen Lasting Fix Lipstick in New Black // Boots £4.29

I popped into Boots the other day and thought that as I am trying to build a lipstick collection I'd have a browse of the different brands.  Recently I've been lusting after a deep purple toned red but couldn't find one to fit my taste.  I asked the shop assistant who said she's been looking for the same and recommended this 17 lipstick 'New Black'.  I had already swatched and considered it so thought 'what the hell' and bought it.

Enough of my boring anecdote - I am actually here to attempt a lipstick review (yet again).  I'm going to start with the colour.  I'd say this is a brown toned red rather than purple, which is what I was trying to find, but as you blot it off it becomes more of a very dark cherry red.  You need a few coats for opaque coverage but it applies well and gives a very dark colour - one that I actually really like!  I wanted black lipstick for a long while when it was 'in' but was never confident enough to wear it, plus a good one is hard to find on the cheap!  As the name suggests this is the 'New Black' - nearly there but not as harsh, as the warmer tones suit your skin better.  It certainly is a very dramatic colour for me so won't be much of an every day colour, but with minimal eye makeup it could complete the perfect vampy makeup look.  Unfortunately the staying power of this lipstick isn't something I can compliment, it lasts around 2-3 hours and when it starts to come off it looks a bit like red wine lips..in a bad way, but that's just what I found, others have said that the staying power lasts 4-5 hours so don't take my word for it!

In conclusion, despite the slightly unfulfilling staying power, it is a colour that I really like and I look forward to going out of my comfort zone - plus it was under a fiver so I can't complain!  Do any of you guys own this lipstick?  Also if any of you have any recommendations for a deep purple lipstick I'd love to know some suggestions!
love amy x

VIDEO // 3 Minute Makeup Challenge

A fairly short video for my channel seeing as I usually post hauls, and yes I have posted 2 makeup videos in a row, but I edited this last week so thought I'd post it today!  Let me know what you think of my attempt at the 3 Minute Makeup Challenge and feel free to leave your own video as a response!
love amy x

REVIEW // Mac Asian Flower Sheen Supreme Lipstick

Mac Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Asian Flower - £15.50

My dad took a trip to New York the other week and was so kind as to bring me back a little treat!  I did originally ask for the Violetta lipstick but it wasn't in stock in any of the 3 Mac stores in NY - instead the shop assistant recommended a lighter lipstick with a lavender tint in the form of this Sheen Supreme lipstick in the shade Asian Flower.  It is very different to Violetta but in a good way, I have the Lime Crime lipstick in D'Lilac which I wear sometimes for outfit posts but feel it's a little too 'out there' to wear out, and new additions to my lipstick collection are always welcome because I don't really own very many!

The Mac website describes the Sheen Supreme lipsticks as 'The colour impact of a lipstick with the shine sheen of a lipglass' and I'm inclined to agree.  As much as I love a matt lipstick, glossy lips also look great and I found this to be non-sticky and easy to apply with a smooth consistency.  A few reviews said that they found the formula to be drying but I haven't experienced this, and I wore it to work today and would say it lasts around 4 hours until another application is needed.  I don't know if it's a bit of an odd thing to say, but it fades away nicely, in that a lot of lipsticks I own tend to disappear from the inside out, leaving me looking like I'm just wearing lipliner (which is not a good look!).  Because of the sheer yet pigmented nature of the product I feel the lipstick would be very buildable depending on how much colour you'd like on your lips - one quick sweep and you can have a coloured gloss but add a couple more layers and you get an opaque finish.  In the photo above I have two coats on and did not prime my lips beforehand and the colour is strong, but if you look at other reviews the colour can get even stronger!  As I mentioned before, the colour is a light pink meets lavender and a couple of bloggers say that it is very similar to Lime Crime's Airbourne Unicorn with a little less purple and I can definitely see it.

Anyway it seems I've run out of lipstick qualities to babble about - I can't believe I just wrote a fat paragraph about a makeup product, I guess I'm not as bad a beauty blogger as I thought..either that or I am and I've just talked a load of rubbish!  I hope you guys enjoyed reading this and congrats on making it this far - I'd definitely purchase another Sheen Supreme lipstick and this has made me want to expand my lipstick collection, if you have any 'holy grail' lipsticks I'd love some suggestions!
love amy x