NARS Cheery Popping Time : NARS Laguna

Firstly, please let me apologise for the quality of these photos, they were taken on my iPhone at night so they aren't the best (maybe I'll update them when I have a proper camera to hand but I just wanted to write this post!). 

A couple of months ago I popped my Nars cherry which seems a pretty momentous thing in the blogging world...and boy did it feel good! I thought I'd better go for Laguna as it has got to be one of the most talked about products out there.  I first heard about it when Millie Mackintosh from Made In Chelsea said this was her favourite bronzer and I thought I've got to have it (because who doesn't want to have her golden glow?!) but I put it off and put it off because I was happy with my Benefit Hoola and didn't NEED it.  Blogging has blown the entire concept of needing something out of the water however.  Whereas before I was so good and stuck to one product until it ran out, I now find myself conducting snatch and grab cosmetic shopping sprees here there and everywhere all in the name of blogging, and so seeing as every person in the beauty blogging world seems to own this bronzer I thought it was about time I joined the gang.

I love the packaging, but it does already look like I've had it about a year (which is typical of Nars). I am weary of the dreaded smash happening though because Tanya Burr (pixi2woo on YouTube) said hers smashed really easily so I am loath to use this as my 'on the go' bronzer incase it can't hack the travel! 

This product is so finely milled that it applies like an absolute dream and gives a really beautiful finish.  Having said that, I do find that when you sweep your brush over it you get a lot of powder flying everywhere which seems like such a waste of product! Is this because it is so finely milled? Whatever the reason I'm not a fan of it, it's like you can literally see your money going up in a golden smoke! 

I've decided to be a good girl and finish Hoola before I go on to using this as my everyday bronzer but I'm looking forward to enhancing my summer glow with this product! I usually like a matte bronzer but I am ready to embrace a bit of shimmer I think, and this is a nice introduction because it's not really shimmery it just gives an extra dimension! 


This isn't a cheap product, at £25 for 8g (cue choking fit) but this 8g really should last a long long time so hopefully it will be worth the investment, and 8g is the new weight of Benefit Hoola (the naughty people at Benefit made their boxed powders smaller) so really if you fancy a bit of golden shimmer in your bronzer it might be worth the extra couple of pounds.  I got mine at John Lewis so you can head to a NARS counter or pop online. 

Have you tried this bronzer? What are your thoughts on it? Which is your weapon of choice for sun kissed skin?

xxx

A serious moment.

This week has been pretty monumental, bizarre and emotional.  On Tuesday two of my housemates (and dear dear friends) handed in their last ever pieces of academic work: their degrees are finito, gone, done, complete.  On the very same day one of these dear friends also found out that she had got her ideal job (I didn't doubt for a second that she wouldn't), so really this week has been full of celebration.  Many tears have been shed (mostly tears of joy and pride, but some because we're coming to the end of an era).  I really am so so proud of them for achieving what they set out to do what seems like a life time ago three years ago, but I'm also sad, because that's what I set out to do as well.  I came to university to get a degree and instead I will be leaving in a huge amount of debt, without a degree, with a gaping hole in my CV and depression.  It's not really what I set out for (obviously) but life really does take you on one hell of a journey.  And I think I am being honest when I say that I genuinely wouldn't have wanted to forsake this experience for anything, had I not embarked on the journey of life at university I would not have realised I am smart enough to get a first in the things I completed, I wouldn't have made such incredible friends, I wouldn't have known I was capable of not going to bed before 3 ever for an entire year yet still be able to be up at 7, I wouldn't feel comfortable going for a poo when other people are in the house, and I wouldn't have realised just how much I am capable of.  Yes, I feel sad, and like I've failed and regressed to being 16 instead of 22 but I wouldn't sacrifice the friends I've made for the sake of my mental health, I feel like I've gained new members of my family and that feels pretty remarkable.

Please don't think that I have written this for sympathy or because I feel sorry for myself, I don't, I just really felt like I wanted to express some of what I've been feeling.

xxx

Garnier Intensive 7 Days

Garnier Body : Intensive 7 Days Hydrating Lotion with L-Bifidus 

I'm not going to lie and say that I bought this because I've heard great things or that I was drawn to it because of it's amazing claims - quite simply, I bought it because it was on offer in Boots, and I can't refuse a bargain.  I was after a nice everyday moitsuriser and this fitted the bill.

It makes some pretty impressive claims, I don't think I've come across a product that tries to sell you seven days worth of soft skin (although if you read the small print this is after four weeks of application morning and night) and although I've not been using it for long enough to truly put it to the test I really like it so far.  It has a really luxurious thick gel-like formula and it smoothes into the skin like a dream, and is quickly absorbed.  It smells delicious as well, I can't tell you what it smells of exactly but the scent lingers and I've been complimented on my scent and it's all been down to this (which I always think it the telling sign of a good moisturiser).  And now to the really important part - does it do the job? Yes, yes it does! My skin feels like silk all day long, so much so that I caught myself stroking my arms randomly throughout the day (thankfully I was alone as doing this in public might lead to social expulsion!).  Like I said, I haven't given this a proper trial in terms of morning and evening use for four weeks to see if it really does live up to its claim, but really I don't need something that will moisturise me for that long, I'm happy to use it once daily (or whenever I can be bothered more like) and let it work its magic for me then.  I'm also not going to pretend I was wowed by the fact it's got L-Bifidus in it, if I'm honest I haven't got a clue what it is even though I read the back of the bottle...if it's what makes this moisturiser lovely then thank you little L-Bifidus but to be honest I don't care what it is that's done the trick, as long as it can do it! 

So all in all, a lovely product that also had a lovely price tag thanks to the offer here, but even without a pound off it's only £2.99 which I thinks a very reasonable price.  Garnier always seems to have some kind of offer on so I would really recommend checking this product out if you fancy something that feels and smells luxurious and makes you silky smooth but doesn't carry a hefty price tag!  

What do you think's important in a moisturiser? Is it the packaging? The smell? How quickly it absorbs? Or how long the effects seem to last? What's your favourite lotion to slather yourself in?


As always the background that this product was photographed on is a beautiful blanket by the amazing Gabrielle Vary, check her stuff out here, she is so talented and creates some amazing pieces...I want it all! 

xxx

Easily Pleased

I really am so easily pleased...I've seen this sign (down in Padstow) every time I have fish and chips (Rick Stein's, and undoubtedly the best fish and chips EVER) and sit on the harbour edge and it never fails to tickle me. I wonder if the people responsible for this sign mind that it's not entirely in its original form?  But I guess the meaning remains the same; I'm not a fisherman but I'm guessing scrap net makes for a pretty crap net too!

Sat in a bean can

Today has been spent traveling via a multitude of very unexciting modes of transport - namely my feet (for a very long sweaty walk), two trains, a sick inducing bus and then a car - how can it be that an entire day has been taken up getting from Cardiff to Cornwall!? It also happened to be that this is the only sunny day we have had in weeks and I spent the whole of it in some form of moving baked bean can!  On the final leg of the journey though we drove past the pub and as chance would have it some of my friends were having a drink outside, so I had a pint of lime and soda sat in the glorious sunshine (in the freezing wind) looking out over the most beautiful vista.  I didn't take any photos because my phone was in the car but I just had to write about it because it was lovely, and it has restored my faith in the fact that it might be possible for us to have a summer! 

Beauty posts to come very soon! 

xxx