Used up or given up on | November 2013

Sometimes it feels like it takes forever to get to the bottom of a product. I've had some items for years. 

I thought I'd start noting what I use up on a monthly basis, so here are November's empties. 

Used up

Firstly, it's my Loreal EverPure Shampoo and Conditioner. Usually, my conditioner lasts longer than my shampoo but this month they've emptied at the same rate. A friend mentioned to me that she avoids sulphates in products, especially hair, as they can strip it. I have to admit I never usually check the ingredients but I spotted these in Superdrug and gave them ago. I was worried they wouldn't later up, but the consistency was good and my hair felt clean and healthy afterwards. I've repurchased the shampoo, but I have a couple of other conditioners in the cupboard so I'm using them next. 

Dove purely pampering cream oil body wash. I'm not loyal to my shower gels and get a different one each time (I usually go for what's on offer). I enjoyed using the Dove, especially as my skin gets dry now we've got the heating on at home. I'm not consistent at applying moisturer, and my skin isn't dry so it's also a thumbs up. 

Given up

Sometimes you just need to call a day on products that don't work for you. This month I've decided to give up on my Wilkinson Sword Quatro razor.  It has protector bars across the razor but I find it just doesn't work well or remove my hair effectively. So although I'd bought the additional cartridges, I've decided to bin it. 

Second is a sample I got in a Glossybox a couple of months ago. Its a cleansing bar by Gamila Secret. Basically it's a posh bar of soap, and that was my issue with it. I used it a couple of times, and although it cleansed by face effectively, I just have no way of storing a bar of soap in my bathroom. I tried putting it back in the box, but this just made it soggy and left stains on my sink.  It also reminds me of my Gramdma and I just don't want to feel that old just yet. So, that has made it to my bin as well. 

See you in December (oh, just realised we are in December now! Eek better start Xmas shopping!)

Suzanne

X 

My everyday make up brushes

While I was on maternity leave, I treated myself to some new make up brushes from Real Techniques, Nanshy and Sigma.  My old brushes had seen better days and weren't making it easy for me to apply my make up easily or quickly. 

Here is a sneaky look at the brushes I use every day. 

I keep my everyday brushes in a glass jam jar on my dressing table, so they are easily accessible. I have more brushes which I store separately in an old Glossybox box. 

For my face I mainly use Real Techniques brushes. These are the best brushes I've ever used and I wish I had more! In fact I think Samantha Chapman has just brought out a new limited edition set called Sam's picks which I think I'll be adding to my Christmas wish list. 

From right to left

Expert face brush (£9.99) - I use this to apply my foundation (currently Bourjois Healthy mix)

Powder brush (£12.99) - funnily enough I use this with my powder (Rimmel stay matte) and bronzer (Too Faced bronzer)

Blush brush (£9.99) - I'm currently using a Sleek blush from a contouring palette

I bought the Real Techniques brushes from Superdrug. 

I bought the Nanshy brushes before the Real Techniques. If I had my time over again, I'd just head straight for Real Techniques. The Nanshy ones aren't bad, they just aren't as good. 

However, I do use the Flat Top Buffer brush occasionally for my foundation, the Angled Brush for contouring and the Pointed Foundation brush for highlighting. 

I bought the Nanyshy brushes from Beautystore4u.co.uk

I don't wear eye shadow every day, but when I do I use these brushes from Sigma.  I bought the Sigma Beauty Eyes kit from Cloud 10 beauty via Amazon for £53.95. 

From front to back

E05 - eyeliner brush

E65 - small angled (I use this for my brows)

E30 - pencil

E60 - large shader

E40 - tapered blending

P88 -precision flat angled (I bought this separately but have been disappointed with it.  I mainly use it to work in concealer but my fingers do a better job)

I curl my eyelashes every day.  I am currently using the Emite eyelash curler I received in a Glossybox. It does the job but I'm not fussy on my brand of eyelash curler. 

I hope you enjoyed the look into my make up brush collection. 

Suzanne x

Toe nail art, Sally Hansen Crackle

I think a lot (rather too much) about my finger nails, which I paint maybe once every two weeks. However, my toe nails are painted 365 days a year. I have this weird thing whereby I feel 'wrong' if my toe nails are bare. 

I rarely branch out from reds and pinks, but today I thought I'd give them some love and a festive feel. 

Apologies, if toes gross you out. Don't look down if you don't want to see.  I know they aren't the most attractive thing to look at! 

I went for Essie Good as Gold which I got last week for a bargain £2 from the Original Factory Outlet store in Nailsea, with Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat in the colour Ink Splatter 08 over the top. 

The black and gold feels festive and I like the look.  I think I'm going to be more creative with my toes in future. 

Sick baby, NHS 111 experience

This week has been really tough. My son got sticky eyes and a sickness bug last weekend, and after projectile vomiting on the rug twice, in his room and down me he finally stopped being sick by Tuesday. Wednesday night he was coughing quite a lot, but I put it down to a cold as he was able to sleep through it. Everyone seems to have a cold at the moment. So, Thursday he was back in nursery.  However when I picked him up he'd had a temperature and they had given him calpol. He was also coughing significantly more. He'd lost his appetite from the sickness bug, and it had never really picked back up again. Poor thing was really not very well. 

Thursday night was awful, he couldn't sleep.  He was constantly coughing and every time he did fall asleep he'd manage about 10 minutes before the cough woke him up. My husband tried walking him in the pushchair, as we thought a more unpright position might help. But again, every time he fell asleep he just woke up coughing. 

It was 12.30am by this point and Reuben was just so tired but constantly moaning with pain. We called  NHS 111 as he just wasn't right. The lady asked us lots of questions and decided he needed to see a doctor. She made us an appointment at a health centre about 5 miles away, and by 1.30am Reuben was being checked over by the doctor. 

He gave him a thorough examination, temperature, breathing rate, oxygen in blood, capillary test and listened to his chest. He diagnosed viral bronchiolitis. Unfortunately as it's a virus all we can do is wait for his immune system to fight it. The doctor did give us a salbutamol inhaler to help with Reuben's wheezing. 

We had never used the 111 number before, but we were so grateful to the quick way we got to see a doctor and the friendliness and professionalism of the doctor at 1.30am.

Our friends have been great offering lots of advice. I didn't realise warm, humid air helped but a friend just dropped over a humidifier for Reuben's room. 

Reuben is on the mend. He still isn't eating much and wants lots of cuddles but this morning he started pulling things out the the kitchen cupboards, his favourite game, which is a sure sign he is feeling better. 

Me, Roo and Panda having a duvet day on Friday. 

Moving from Apple to Android

So, I'm making to move to Android. I've had my iPhone 4 for over 3 years, it's been my best friend and companion since the day we met. I can't remember my life without it (or how I coped!). But, after years of good service, it has now seen better days. It crashes a lot, sometimes doesn't turn on, the home button doesn't work and well, IOS 7 the least said about this the better. 

I realise the market has moved on somewhat in 3 years and the alternatives to iPhones look just as good, if not better. I couldn't face parting with £629 for the 32gb iPhone 5s so I started to do some research. YouTube is my go to research tool and I saw a lot of new posts on the Google Nexus 5, which was launched on the 1st November. The reviews were very good, and I have a friend who has the Nexus 4 and loves it, so I was sold. At £339 for the 32gb, it seems like a no brainer against the iPhone 5s (I always go sim only). 

I got onto the Google play store but it was not available until the 22nd November. I carried on and ordered and I've just had an email to say it has been dispatched. I'm so excited! 

Don't get me wrong, I love Apple and I'm currently writing this post on my iPad but I'm excited to try something different. I'm hoping I won't regret it and my favourite apps will be available. 

Can you be both an Apple AND Android lover or do you have to choose? 

I'll let you know how I get on with my Nexus 5. 

Panasonic nanoe hair dryer review

I bought the Panasonic nanoe about a month ago and I've been using ever since. I'd had my old dryer for donkeys years, it was noisy and heavy so I thought I'd treat myself to a new one. I wanted one with either ceramic, tourmaline or nanoe technology. I'm not sure why, as I don't really know what they do, but they sound impressive.

I narrowed it down to either the Valera Professional Nano Dryer, Parlux 3800 Eco Friendly Ionic & Ceramic hair dryer and the Panasonic Nanoe. I got the Panasonic as it happened to be in offer in boots and I had an impulse moment!

So, what is nanoe?
Ok, so I've read the manual and I'm still not sure what nanoe is!  Something to do with water particles and electricity. I think your hair naturally becomes positively charged with electricity, this attracts the negative nanoe ions from the hairdryer which allows the particles to penetrate the hair with water.  Which seems a bit weird as you are drying your hair, why would you want to add water? I don't know, but it works!

What does it claim to do?
By adding moisture to the hair and scalp, it claims to prevent dryness and help to maintain smooth, shiny hair.

What do you get in the box?
A stylish black and pink hair dryer, with three heat and speed settings and a cold blast button. A 2.7m cord (which unfortunately does not swivel).  Three attachments, a quick drying nozzle,  diffuser and set nozzle.  The quick dry nozzle, enables the air flow to switch between strong and weak, which separates out your hair strands to dry your hair quicker.

You need to put the quick dryer nozzle horizontally as you look at the dryer.  This is in the small print in the instructions and could easily be missed.  Who reads instructions for a hair dryer?!

What do I think?
It's pretty good. It definitely drys my hair quicker than my old one. Which is good when I sometimes only have 5mins for hair and make up! 

I've recently started highlighting my hair and was worried about damaged.  My hair feels soft and smooth after using the dryer and I think it has made a difference. 

Another plus point is that it is so much quieter than my old dryer. I often get ready when Reuben is napping, so I try not make too much noise. This hair dryer is quiet and it doesn't make me worry about waking him up.

It's not all that light but I've built up my biceps carrying Reuben for a year, so it's not a problem. It also doesn't have a swivel cord, but I don't do a lot of fancy blow drying so that's not an issue for me.

Where can you get one?

I got mine from boots. It is currently on offer with £40 off and is £69.99.  I also had some advantage point offers so I got it a little cheaper.
http://www.boots.com/en/Panasonic-Nanoe-Hairdryer-EH-NA65-K895_1362787/

Do you have this hair dryer? What do you think? 

CND Vinylux review...5 days later

Wow, a normal style nail varnish that has lasted 5 days.  I applied two coats of colour and one coat of top coat on Monday. It's now Saturday and I have one chip on my left index finger and a bit of wear at the end of both middle fingers. 

They are not as shiny as they were, but I'm very impressed with how long they have lasted. 

Vinylux removes with normal nail varnish remover.  You don't need to use pure acetone or do any soaking. This is a real positive over Shellac, as I find the removal of Shellac at home difficult and damaging to my nails. 

So, which colour do I get next? Have you tried CND Vinylux? What do you think? Any colour recommendations for me? 

I bought my polish from Amazon, it was £5.48 for the polish plus £1.95 postage. The top coat was the same price. 

Check out my review on YouTube using the YouTube button on the right hand side of this page. 

Professional baby photos...how can you resist?

A professional photographer came to my toddler group last month.  I've never had any professional photos taken before, and i thought it would be a bit of fun.  

So, we got dressed up in our smartest 'casual' clothes and put on our best smile.  There was no obligation to buy the photos but when the proofs came through, how could i resist?

Here are a few of the photos. 

The photos were taken by Rebecca Wingrave, www.rebeccawingrave.com

November Glossybox

So it's Glossybox time again. I love it when my little surprise box arrives. Unfortunately, I'm so impatient that I've usually found out via blogs or YouTube what is in the box but sometimes you don't get exactly the same things. 

Here is my November box

This month I got...

Vichy - Idealia Life Serum. To improve appearance of skin. Apply morning or evening under moisturiser. Full size £29.50 for 30ml. I like trying new skincare products and don't have anything from Vichy. I've got a trip away next month so I think these will be good for travel. 

Emote make up - micronised eyeshadow. Free from oil, nickel, parabens (what are they?) and perfume, the pigment is micronised (what does that mean?) for a lasting result. Good for sensitive eyes. £16.80 for 1.48g.  This makes a good highlighter and I will definitely use it. Good size for travel as well so I think this will also be coming with me next month.

Yves Rocher - hand cream.  Cocoa smell and moisturising formula. £1.95 for 75ml. I love having hand creams in all my bags, at work, by my bed etc so getting another one is good for me. My hands get really dry being a mom.  I seem to be constantly washing them between nappy changes, preparing food, trips out and all that baby stuff. I'm going to keep this one by my bed, and maybe it will help me dream of chocolate! 

Elegant touch - rapid dry for nails. For busy a women on the go (that's me), dries nail polish in 60 seconds with added vitamin E it also conditions cuticles. £3 for 125ml. If you've read my previous post on CND Vinylux you'll know I'm always on the look out for nail products. I recently purchased the Seche Vite top cost and I'm wondering if this will work with that? I'm going to give it a go anyway. Christmas party season is on its way so I'm going to crack open the reds and sparkle. 

Scholl - dry skin exfoliation. To remove rough, hard skin and promote natural cell renewal to leave your feet feeling soft, smooth and conditioned. £4.49 for 60ml. I don't really get dry skin on my feet so I'm going to give this once to my husband to try. 

I'm happy with this month's box and there are lots of products which I will use. I also got the box for 'free' as I'd collected 1000 Glossydots. I have enough Glossydots for one more box then I'm not sure if to try Birchbox or You Beauty Discovery box. What do you think is the best beauty box? 

CND Vinylux nails...can they last a week?

As a mom, I'm constantly washing my hands and as a consequence my nail varnish chips within a day. I do shellac nails at home for special occasions, and although the last I find them quite damaging to my nails.

I recently heard about a new product from CND called Vinylux. It claims to last a week, but you don't need the uv lamp like shellac and you can also remove them with normal nail varnish remover. Sounded good to me, so I got onto Amazon and ordered one. 

It arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to apply. So, while Reuben was napping on it went. You don't need a base coat, just apply two coats of the colour to your natural nails. I went for the colour 'married to mauve'

It was easy to apply but did take a little while to dry. You then apply one coat of the special top coat which gives a high shine and cures your nails with natural light. 

I'm now on day two nails and so far no chips.  

I'll wait and see before I give my full opinion, but I feel another visit to Amazon coming on! 

Have you tried Vinylux, what do you think?