Where have I been & Boots haul!

Well hi there, welcome back!

Realising I havent blogged in about 4 weeks is pretty poor on my behalf however I have had such a busy time! So where exactly have I been do I hear you ask?

Well....

After handing in 23 assignments, completing 5 presentations and taking my final exam on the 7th of May I finally finished my second year at university! The last month was so stressful trying to fit in working at my normal job, revising for my exam and fitting in the last few pieces of work, I felt I had no time for myself, let alone my blog but now Im done, So no more work or revision for me until mid September (which is the best feeling ever!?) 

That enough about where I've been, lets get on to what this post is really about! I am one of the biggest fans of Boots ever, I literally could spend all day in the shop and this week I went on a bit of a spree!  

So what did I get?   

Revlon Photo Ready Make up in Nude £12.99

Maybelline Colour Show  in Coral Heat £3.99

Umberto Giannini Silky Curls Smoothing Balm £4.99

Umberto Giannini Silky Curls Intensive Mask £5.99

Vo5 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder £4.19

Schwartzkopf Got2be Glued Hairspray £4.07

Schwartzkopf Got2be Guardian Angel Heat spray £4.07

Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Split End Serum £9.99

Johnsons Baby Oil £2.60                                                                                                                                   

So, Im not one to buy foundations that aren't MAC, Estee or NARS but as my NARS Santa Fe is currently out of stock until the end of the month and I've scraped out all my old foundation bottle I thought I might give this a go as I had heard a couple of good reviews! sO after two days using it I can tell the difference between this and my Santa Fe, but for the price (which is well over half of my NARS Sheer Glow) its a nice foundation. It gives me a good coverage but after about 2-3 hours it goes a little patchy (and thats with my MAC Pro Powder which I can normally get away with one application of foundation and this powder on top lasting 10+ hours) so its not ideal. However it has got a lovely fresh faced look to it when you first apply it and does make my skin look even cancelling out my red patches on my cheeks! Would I buy it again? Probably, but only as a back up.

 I am totally obsessed with the Maybelline Color Show nail varnishes! The colours are amazing and the varnish actually stays on really well for the price! I totally fell for this colour in the shop as its perfect for summer. although I was put off by the 'bleached neon' label, once I actually tried it Im super pleased and this will definitely be a regular polish for me! Would I recommend this colour? Definitely

A couple of years ago I used to love the Umberto Giannini products (the backcomb in a bottle is so good for heavy thick hair), but after I found the John Frieda products I sort of left them behind. However, since last summer when I had almost white hair, my ends have been so dry no matter what I put on them! I have naturally pretty curly hair so after hearing some good recommendations about this from my super curly haired friend, I thought I would try it, and Im so glad I did! It smells beautiful, which is always a bonus. One thing I loved about this product is the fact it only takes 3 minutes to work which is perfect time when your in the shower (Ive had some products that are between 6-10 minutes which is just too long). It makes your hair really soft and gives you a great silky look as well as being super shiny! Definitely recommend this product for anyone who is in desperate need of some moisture or just  weekly boost! With the 3for2 offer on these products I bought the Silky Curls balm too, which again smells amazing (actually smells like the mens John Paul Gautier aftershave?!). Although it doesn't do very much it does calm my curls and makes them manageable without having to spend hours brushing them. It also makes my hair look super silky which is great for anyone like me, who has a lot of fly aways!
I probably would definitely buy both of these prodcts again without hesitation, especially with the 3for2 offers!

 Let me start of by saying this stuff is absolutely amazing! I used to ruin my hair with backcombing and hairspray but my hair has been in so much better condition since I got this stuff! It makes your hair stay put (especially mixed with the got2be hairspray down below) I mean I can literally use these products the night I go out and ale up the next morning and my hair will still be near enough perfect! You don't have to use a lot of this product in order to make a good impact, I use it on my friends, who's hair doesn't hold backcombing for more than about 5 minutes before going flat, and it gives her volume all night! Its worth trying this product a couple of times in order to get used to it and make it work for you!
Would I buy it again? no question!






Ive already done a review on this product Here
but just a little idea of it, this hairspray is my favourite spray ever and everyone should try it if they want to have big hair!

Ive literally tried every type of heat protection sprays, gels and balms that I can get and non of them have ever really seemed to do anything other than this one. It smells amazing and makes my hair feels in much better condition after I use it. it also helps to keep my hair looking long and shiny- ideal for anyone wanting to grow their hair! Definitely recommend this heat spray!

 

 Like I mentioned previously, my hair used to be in seriously bad condition for dying it so light, but this stuff really does  help. Its not the best thing in the world at preventing split ends but in regards to making them look reduced and seeming to keep them at bay, it definitely works on that front! My only problem is with this is that I find it makes my hair look slightly greasy and sometimes my hair doesn't dry that well with it. I would probably buy this product again but only until I find something a bit better!









Ive never really used baby oil as a moisturiser before but I got told by a friend that if I use it combined talk it makes for super soft skin. So I tried it and to be honest, it did make my legs supersoft, but only for a couple of hours and after that my skin felt really quite dry so I ended up putting my normal moisturiser on anyway. So I probably wouldn't buy this baby oil again as the combination didn't work that well for my skin type!

I hope you've all enjoyed this little read and take something useful from it! 

Lots of love xx

My Favourite Workout: Blogilates

Well good morning everyone! 

This is just a happy sunshiny morning workout blog post that I thought might be of benefit to you all :) 

As I previously mentioned in my first post, Im trying to loose weight and get some amazing abs, but I never mentioned how Im working towards it. This is what this post is about! 

Unfortunately Im not a massive fan of the gym, last year I was going 5 days a week but hated it 4 of those 5 days because I got sooooooo bored of doing the same things over and over again! So I quit the gym and started researching other ways of trying to loose weight. I tried running, but I got bored of that, I tried swimming but found I didn't have the time to do it enough to make an impact and I tried insanity but after 2 weeks I was so fed up of it I dreaded seeing Shaun T's face! so I started to give up and thought about rejoining the gym until I found BLOGILATES on YouTube! 

Blogilates by Cassey Ho is one of the best workout Ive ever done. Cassey is so energetic and has a 'real woman' body. Don't get me wrong she is slim and toned but she is not so overly muscular you think you'll never get to how she looks. Unlike the majority of workout videos, it doesn't feel like a workout, more like having a gossip with your friend. Cassey involves you so much in her life and tells you about whats going on whilst doing the workout (which makes time go so much faster!). 

Boliglates is based around pilates workouts (Cassey is a qualified instructor) something I hadn't tried before and I absolutely love it. You feel like your working your entire body without having to kill yourself for hours at the gym. She even creates a monthly calendar matching videos up for you to get the best workout possible without having to think (how good is that?). I mean this girl covers EVERY area of your body in these videos that range from 4 minutes to 20 minutes and she gives a beginners and advance version of the moves! Her Pop Pilates challenges are great if you want to push yourself a little or you can even just do some cardio videos. This was the first challenge I ever did from Blogilates and I was hooked! 

It all sounds too good to be true right? but it gets better, she even does 'Cheap Clean Eats'. Showing us how to eat healthy on a budget whilst still being tasty (the flour less pizza is soooo good!). There is an online store to buy her workout clothes (some of the tank tops I'm desperate to buy) as well as an app and her blog to help you get the best from the workouts! 

If anyone is stuck on how to improve their workouts I would seriously recommend doing some blogilates, its fun, cheap and really does work! 

Let me know if any of you have tried it before, or if you try it after reading this post! (Do it, seriously you won't regret it! Well you might tomorrow when your aching but its so worth it!) 

Lots of love xx

My April Favourites!

        So I thought I would do an April favourites!

• Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Mascara in Black RRP £6.99

As much as I love my trusty Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara, when I saw this on offer in boots I couldn't resist trying it, and Im sooooo glad I did! Although the reviews on boots' website aren't that great, this mascara is so good for the price! It gives a full effect without looking overly done! It does go a little clumpy but its easily fixed with a bit of trying! Definitely recommend this mascara!

• Schwarzkopf got2b Glued Blasting Spray Hairspray £3.00

This has got to be the best hairspray I've ever used. My hair is stupidly thick (as in I need 3 lots of extensions to make my hair look real, yeah that thick!) and it doesn't move when I have this in! I literally loveeee this hairspray and I've tried a lot trust me!

• No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream for Dry/Normal Skin £12.50

I'm quite lucky in terms of my skin as I don't get overly greasy or overly dry patches, but I do still use a moisturiser under my primer everyday and it makes my make up look so much better! The No7 products are some of my favourite skin products ever simply because they are so gentle on your skin! The Beautiful Skin day cream is definitely worth the money and it lasts forever! Seriously I've had this pot about 5 weeks and I've used hardly any! Fabulousssssss

• Real Technique Powder Brush £12.99

I am a big fan of the Real Technique brushes but this one is a beauty! I know its meant to be for powder but I use it for my bronzer just because it gives such a good even cover! Its super soft and it looks really cute too! This is my 4th Real Technique brush and I would definitely recommend these brushes over MAC brushes (Forgive me! as the two I have had have both been pretty rubbish for the jobs I bought them for!) But these brushes are amazing! :)

• MAC Frost Lipstick in CB96 £15.00

I LOVE a good MAC Lipstick (Who doesn't?) but this one is BEAUUUUTIFUL! It's super shiny and has a tiny bit of glitter in it so when it catches the right light it looks so glamorous! This is just one of my many go to lipsticks as it goes with the majority of outfits and make up styles!


Have you guys used any of these products? Or can you recommend any others?
Lots of love xx

Liebster Award :)

Well good afternoon :) 

I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Sophie from what-sophie-says.blogspot.co.uk . The Liebster award is a great way to find and discover new and undiscovered blogs. 

For those of you who don't know these are the rules:
If you get nominated you must acknowledge the blogger who nominates you
You have to write 11 random facts about yourself
And answer the 11 questions that the blogger who nominated you asked
Then nominate 11 people who have less than 200 followers
Create 11 questions for them to answer
You must let the 11 nominees know that you are nominating them.

Here's my eleven random facts about myself: 

1) I hate snow with a passion and adore the sunshine

2) I always feel much better with a tan 

3) I'm working towards having proper abs! 

4) Everyday I wear : my 3 promise rings from Ben on my left hand, a purple diamond ring on the same finger on opposite hand from my parents, My Michael Kors watch, my pandora pink leather bracelet with a 'B' charm, and a string bracket with Bens name engraved on silver. If i don't wear them I feel totally naked! 

5) My nickname used to be 'Puffin' and I have no idea why?

6) I couldn't live without my Macbook

7) I have almost 90,000 photos on it 

8) My mum and sister are both beauty therapists and hair dressers (which is super handy as i never pay for any beauty treatments) 

9) Two of my best friends live over an hour away- one in Liverpool and my little cousin who lives in Birmingham

10) I live in an old 3 story house that used to be a school (and I'm pretty sure its haunted!) 

So here is my answers to Sophie's Liebster award Eleven Questions!

1)Where is your favourite place you have been?

Either Florida, or Pathos! 
2)How many Lipsticks do you own?

Oh dear? about 30+? 

3)What is your favourite colour?

Pink or yellow 

4)If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?

Cyprus or Florida haha! 

5)What's your speciality dish?

Im not a great cook but I make an amazing white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake

6)Do you love or hate carbs?

I love them until I weigh myself after them haha 

7)What is your go to make up item?
8)Are you a early bird or a night owl?

Depends on the day!? Im more productive in the morning mind! 

9)Eye liner or lip liner?

Eye Liner ;) 

10)What's your favourite make up brand?

I LOVE MAC Lipsticks, Nars for most things but I will use almost anything!

11)You have £100 to spend is it on make up or shoes?

£50 on each! you chose my two favourite things in the world! 

I nominate......

alessandralily.blogspot.co.uk

tiffanysbeautybox.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1
a-beautifulsecret.blogspot.co.uk

esttrill.co.uk

eternally-sassy.tumblr.com

victoriasmismatchedmusings.blogspot.co.uk

metalliccrayon.blogspot.com

hayleyjachz.blogspot.co.uk

holychicxox.blogspot.com

beasbeautyblog.com

teainthetub.blogspot.co.uk

So here are my questions

1) What's your favourite film?

2) Indian or Chinese takeaway?

3) Whats your staple perfume? 

4) Who's your celebrity crush? 

5) Whats currently in your handbag? 

6) Ever broke a bone? 

7) If you could only have one piece of make up for the rest of your life what would it be? (including brand) 

8) Whats your best quality?

9) Any annoying habits?

10) Are you a country or city person? 

11) Holiday or Festival? 

So that's my 11 questions for my nominees, please check out their blogs :)

Book Nerd

Something I forgot to put on my 'about me' post was my huge addiction to reading. I'm pretty nerdy when it comes to reading and I will and do read pretty much anything!

With travelling to University this year (1.5 hours there and 1.5 back 4 days a week) I get a lot of spare time to read. Although thinking about it I could probably spend this time doing something more productive like coursework or revision but who wants to do that at 7 am and 5pm everyday? Not me! 

To give you a little idea about how much I read- My kindle library on my iPad has 35 books on that I've read since Christmas 2013? When I put it like that it does sound quite a lot haha!

Well anyway I thought I would write about some of the books I have read recently!

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: This is easily one of the BEST books I have ever read and Im so glad they are turning it into a film! Although it started off a little slow, once it got going I couldn't put it down. There are so many twists and turns in the book I couldn't help myself from reading an extra twenty pages when I knew I needed to get to sleep. This isn't the normal type of book I tend to choose but I seriously can't put into words how much I LOVEDDD this book! I would recommend it to everyone and definitely read it before you watch the film! 

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

I've literally just finished this book and it was so good! The style is relaxed and conversational so its typically easy to read no matter what your doing (I'm getting good at reading whilst having screaming children next to me on the train!). Its definitely worth a read if you enjoy something a bit different to your typical love stories or thriller books! 

Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussman 

This book actually got referred to me from my best friend. It isn't something I would typically read but I completely fell in love with this book. The twists kept you interested and the different character voices made you have to keep reading. Its a bit more challenging to read in terms of it is set in American 1940's  and forward so the period detail is harder to grasp. However this book kept me hooked like nobodies business! As I was reading I began to felt I knew the characters!

Have you got any favourite books or have you read any of these? 

Sara Louise

Well hello there!

I guess I should take this opportunity to introduce myself, I'm Sara (said sar-ra, rather than Sarah). 

My Instagram 
Im a 20 year old business student from a small town in North Wales in the UK.
Im a part time achiever, full time dreamer aspiring millionaire.
I LOVE;
 my boyfriend                                                               my best friends 

my Kitten Minnie

 

Cocktails 

 & Make up

(Hence the name 'Lipsticks and Cocktails')

Ive never written a blog before but as I've got some spare time (and a lot to say), I thought it might be fun! Its basically going to be a little look into my life, some product reviews of my favourite things and anything I think about. 

Thanks for reading, Enjoy!
xx
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