Haul #2 ¦ New Years Sale - Matalan Haul

Hello Bumbletons!

 

After work today I popped into Matalan to see if they had anything in their Half Price Sale.. I spent £33.50 and came home with some gorgeous bits, including a wool blend angora 'fair isle' style jumper that I had seen in the shop before Christmas. I had been crossing my fingers that it would appear in the sale and still be in stock in my size.. and it was! Woohoo!

 

 

1. These two gorgeous baskets were £5 each.. what a bargain! The print is reminiscent of these Cath Kidston cushions.

 

2. Cute gold sparkly earrings.. £1.50 (were £3.00)

 

3. Glass storage jar, £2.00. I have grand plans for this little jar... Mini Makeover project Coming Soon!

 

4. The comfiest slippers I have ever owned! £5.00 with a plush lining and adorned with the cutest little flowers, butterflies and buttons.

 

5. Long gold necklace - £3.00 (was £6.00). I hope to wear this to jazz up a couple of quite bland cream chiffon-y tops.

 

6. Angora blend Fair Isle Jumper - £9.00, (was £18.00) and I am totally in love. I am already planning how to style this to wear this weekend!

 

7. Beautiful silk blend tassled scarf. I have desperately wanted a silk blend scarf with gold thread sewn through and was thrilled to find this bargain for £3.00, (was £6.00!)

 

Hooray for Matalan - Beauty on a budget, who can complain?

 

What were your favourite sale purchases this year?

 

Ciao for now!

xx Bumble Bree xx

Review ¦ Lush "Catastrophe Cosmetic" Fresh Face Mask

Hello Bumbletons!

 

Now, I don't know about you guys but the whole holiday season really does not do wonders for my skin. A few far too many mince pies and chocolates; an evening Baileys becoming the norm; staying up late to catch up with friends and wrap presents; freezing-outdoors-to-central-heated-indoors temperature fluctuations; and the general stress and mayhem of preparing for Christmas does not bode well for my already tempermental skin!

 

So when a friend recommended the Lush Fresh Face Masks to me, I wanted to try one out for myself.

 

Lush Fresh Face Masks

 

Lush have a range of 9 different Fresh Face Masks, each designed for different skin types or to combat different problems. For example, BB Seaweed is designed to soften and cool skin, whilst reducing redness; Brazened Honey detoxes dull skin to restore radiance; And Oatfix is designed to brighten and nourish dry skin.

 

Seeing how my skin really was feeling catastrophic, I decided to give Catastrophe Cosmetic a try! It is sold as a deep cleansing mask, packed full of blueberrys (natural antioxidants) and oils (Rose absolute and chammomile to reduce redness) to help soothe whilst cleaning.

 

As soon as I smelled Catastrophe Cosmetic in the Lush store, I knew I was onto a winner - it smells divine and I couldn't wait to get home and smother my face with it... (Which got me thinking - when will it be socially acceptable to wear face masks shopping?)

 

Price - At £5.75 for a little 75g pot, these do feel like quite an expensive purchase to someone who has only ever used the occasional face mask. However, a little goes a long way - I got 7 applications out of my pot and certainly didn't skimp on product! This works out at 83p per application, which is 17% cheaper (for my budgeting brainy beauties!) than the "£1 a pack" facemasks you can buy and which ususally contain lots of excess chemicals.

 

Application - The soft, clay-like texture of the mask makes it really easy to apply and washes off of your hands with just warm water.

 

 

Wearing - The Fresh Face Masks are preservative free (hooray for natural products!) and have to be kept in the fridge - Thus, my puffy face felt instantly calmed and refreshed after applying. It starts to dry quite quickly and does become rather cakey - like most face masks makes your face feel quite taut - I found that talking whilst wearing the mask resulted in tiny blue/green flakes falling all over my bed linen oops!

 

Results - After 15 minutes, I used a flannel and some warm water to gently wipe away the dried mask and instantly my skin look radiant and more nourished!

 

Things to Note - When buying this mask the lovely customer assistant did warn me that the properties of the mask would bring out any blemishes to the skin and start drying them out, thus it was a good idea to use it regularly to see the most benefits and I have to agree - After the first couple of uses, my skin did break out quite a bit more than usual. However, every time since then my skin has just had a gorgeous glow to it and any occasional blemishes I do get seem to get dried out much more quickly after using the mask.

 

Rating / Will I re-purchase? - 7/10 (it would be 10/10 if it wasn't for the high price and blemish break outs!) and I have already repurchased!

 

So, have you tried any of the Lush Fresh Face Masks? Which one is your favourite?

 

Ciao for now!

xx Bumble Bree xx

 

PS - Lush are also super generous as well as organic, cruelty free and environmentally friendly... They will trade in 5 of your empty face mask pots for a brand new Fresh Face Mask - fabulous!

 

Wishlist ¦ January Pay Day

Good Evening my Beautiful Bumbletons!

 

Only 21 sleeps until my first Pay Day of 2013!!

 

Sadly, I didn't rack up any overtime in December, as I decided to take a month from working every possible hour to actually have a social life (ok, ok.. and sleep!), so I will hardly be buying out Tiffany's at the end of the month. However, there are a few things that I have been oggling since before Christmas that I have decided to treat myself to in a couple of weeks..

Hunter Wellies.. Original Tall boot in Navy... £79.00

 

Of course, I will need something cosy to keep my toes warm whilst wearing my Navy Hunters!...

Ivory Cable Cuff Sock, £28.00

 

After discovering the Real Techniques Makeup Brush range and buying myself the powder and blush brushes, I have been lusting over their two collection sets - The Core Collection and Starter Set:

Core collection, £21.99 at Boots.co.uk

 

The Core Collection includes four brushes specifically for applying foundation; buffing; contouring; and a detailer brush for concealer or lip products.

Starter Set, £21.99

 

 

The Starter Set comes with 5 brushes designed for perfectly applying eye makeup. Both collections come with a 2-in-one stand and carry case!

 

And finally, three slighty less pricey products that I am eager to try...

So, what are you beauties wishing for this month?

Ciao for now!

xx Bumble Bree xx

Top Tips ¦ Nails #3 - How to Store your Nail Varnishes!

Hello Bumbletons!

 

A super speedy Top Tip this evening...

 

Top Tip for Nails #3 - How to Store your Nail Varnishes...

 

 

I personally keep all of my bottles of nail varnish in a big box, making it difficult to see which bottle contains which shade at a glance. To solve this problem, everytime I purchase a new bottle, I cut a small square off of a standard white address label and dab a little of the nail colour onto it. Then, when dry, I peel off the sticker and put it on top of the bottle. Simples!

 

So, How do you store all of your nail colours? Let me know in the comments section below :)

 

Stay tuned for my Top Tip for Nails #4 tomorrow...

 

Ciao for now!

xx Bumble Bree xx

Top Tips ¦ Nails #2 - How to Fix Smudged Nail Polish

Hello Bumbletons!

Picture the scene...

You have carefully chosen the perfect shade of nail varnish to compliment your outfit. You lovingly paint each of your nails with a basecoat, two coats of your chosen lacquer and finally a top coat... and then you get a little bit impatient about wanting to pour yourself a glass of wine and suddenly DISASTER!

 

You've smudged one of your nails, and you really don't have the time to remove the smudged polish, re-paint the 4 layers and wait for each to dry inbetween!

Fear not - Here is Top Tip for Nails #2 - How to Fix Smudged Nail Polish

 

Option 1 - Lick the Smudge!

 

Yes it sounds crazy, but this works for base coat, second coat or top coat. Gently lick the smudge with the top side of your tounge (just be sensible and don't lick dripping wet nail varnish please - that won't taste too good!) until it disappears. Then carry on painting as normal if it was a bottom of middle coat.

 

Option 2 - Tap with a Finger Soaked in Nail Varnish Remover...

 

Wet the pad of your index finger on the opposite hand really thoroughly with nail varnish remover.. then gently TAP the smudge until invisible. Note the emphasis on the word *TAP* - lots of quick little dabs should smooth the smudge into oblivion.

 

Option 3 - Disguise!!

 

A bit of a stretch, some might say, but is it possible to cover the smudge with a little gemstone, a few sequins (or hexagonal "glequins"?) or a nail sticker? If right on the tip, could you just remove that little but of nail polish and create a half-and-half nail colour look?

 

Worst Case scenario, Option 4 - Repaint..

 

Okay, so not ideal, but if it's just the one nail you could quickly swipe off the nail colour, skip the base coat (naughty, I know) and slick the middle coat back on.

 

Or Alternatively... How to Prevent Smudged Nails...

 

Now, as we all know, prevention is better than cure. So, check out my Top Tip for Nails #1 - How To Check If Your Nail Varnish Is Dry... or alternatively, buy yourself a set of these crazy little nails guards...

https://www.nailsinmotion.com/

 

Before anyone asks, no I am not affiliated with 'Nails in Motion', nor do I actually own a set of these.. But I think they look like a hilarious, possibly even genius idea..

Let me know how you fix your nail smudges in the comments section below!

 

Stay tuned for Top Tip #3!

 

Ciao for now!

xx Bumble Bree xx

Top Tips ¦ Nails #1 - How to Check if your Nail Varnish is Dry!

Howdy-diddly Bumbletons!

 

How often have you seen a really good health or beauty tip and thought "Ohh, I MUST remember that..." and then filed it away into the wicker basket compartment of your mind... whereby it floats away, never to be remembered?.. Well, maybe that's just me!

Over the past few months I've been mentally hoarding lots of tips and tricks... so I thought I would start a little series here, just incase they are of use to anyone else!

 

Top Tip for Nails #1.... How to Check if your Nail Varnish is Dry.

 

On far more occasions than I care to remember, I've painstakingly painted my nails, waited for what I felt was a reasonable amount of time for them to dry.. and then managed to smudge them! It's infuriating! Especially if you're running late..

 

Well, fear not Bumbletons, I have found a quick and easy test that has never failed me:

 

 

1. Take one finger from each hand and tap the two nails GENTLY together (note the emphasis on the word *gently* guys and gals!).

 

2. repeat this finger by finger (i.e. pinky-nail to pinky-nail, etc, through to thumb-nail to thumb-nail)

 

Are my nails dry?!

 

IF you feel even the slightest little bit of tackiness or resistance, your nails are still ever so slightly wet, sorry! Your nails are DRY when there is no tackiness or resistence.

 

If you have any more tips for checking that nails are dry, please share away in the comments below :)

 

Stay tuned for Top Tip #2...

 

Ciao for now!

xx Bumble Bree xx

My 2013 "Resolutions"

Hello Bumbletons!

 

I saw the lovely Sasha over at 'Ramblings of a Beauty Bird' do a post a couple of days ago on her Beauty Resolutions for the upcoming year and it got me thinking about what I've achieved in 2012 and what I'd like to do over the next year.

 

(Source: E-renter.com)

 

Now, in all honesty, I'm not one to set "New Years Resolutions". As a teenager, I would write lists of them, pages long, mostly consisting of "Lose weight.. 2 stone by next week..." or "Get fit... run a marathon in February", all of which would be highly unrealistic, ultimately leading to failure and me feeling rubbish about myself!

 

So at the end of 2011, I decided to write a "To Do list" of things I'd like to do in 2012 instead... In case you're interested, they were:

• Join a gym - try to go at least once a week, to start with! - DONE - some weeks I even go twice... ;)
• Find a new job (I was a primary teacher and wanted to move into residential care) - DONE.. and I adore my new job!!
• Move out to my own place (I was living with my parents) - DONE - I moved 200 miles away and have two fab housemates.
• Go to a proper music festival - DONE - I went to Reading festival with one of my besties, we had a blast.
• Go to a 'gig' of a lesser known band - DONE - My friend bought me tickets to see "Walk Off The Earth" - they're amazing!
• Make more of an effort to stay in touch with friends abroad and family back home - ONGOING - I am in love with skype!!
• Try and work out which clothing styles and colours suit me - ONGOING - Hmm, still working on this, but better than I was.
• Don't sweat the small stuff! - ONGOING - I used to get really worked up over the smallest things.. that's a whole 'other post.
• Have another holiday abroad - This is the only one I didn't manage to achieve, I simply haven't had the time nor money, but not to worry.. it's been put onto my 2013 List!

So all in all, I feel pretty good about what I have achieved and experienced this year.. my 2012 To Do list, became my 2012 Ta-Da! List...

Source: http://timandolive.com/

 

So, here is my 'Ta-Da!' list for life and beauty in 2013:

Life:

• Go abroad - I need some summer sunshine in my life.
• See a comedian live - I am in LOVE with Michael McIntyre, he is hilarious.
• Sponsor a child's schooling - This will be for a child abroad. I believe every child had the right to education.
• Look into youth mentoring - I would like to support a child more locally as well.
• Go to the theatre more often - see another West End show (I would love to see Wicked!)
• Hit a few of Englands amusement parks - My housemates can't believe I've never been to Alton Towers!
• Complete the "London Monopoly Board" - visit each of the places on the Original monopoly board
• Continue working hard in my current job - explore other options within my work place for more responsibility

Beauty:

• Go to the gym a bit more often.. try to lose the pounds that have creeped on over the winter months
• Drink more WATER! I am so, so terrible at this - I know when I am dehydrated, my skin (and mood!) really suffers.
• Be more adventourous with my makeup - a red lipstick or smokey eye never killed anyone!
• Be brave.. and go to the hairdressers! (I am a total phobic after a terrible haircut when I was 14.)
• Do a wardrobe overhaul - cull the old, badly fitting items, and replace my "capsule wardrobe basics" with better quality items
• To remember that this is my body for life - to look after and LOVE it!

So, what are your resolutions, goals or "would like to do's" of 2013?

 

Ciao for now!

xx Bumble Bree xx