Monday Night Maintenance

It's Monday evening and I'm tired, but I am also well aware of the fact that I've neglected my skin/nails/hair etc for too long now so it's time to get my act together (but quickly - and without too much effort, because like I said, I'm tired!)

Step 1 - Skin

I whipped on my favourite face mask of the moment - The Five Minute Thermal Detox Mask by the Sanctuary (full post on it here), then donned my brothers nice big old school headphones and proceeded to shut my eyes and chill out to a bit of Bob Marley, some Rudimental, Awolnation, and Van Morrison...bit of a mixture I know!  I've just washed it off, and slathered my newly smooth skin with Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair and a good layer of my Liz Earle moisturiser and now my skin feels better than it has in a while and it's nice and clean ready for bed! 

Step 2 - Nails

I wanted to give myself a full mani and pedi this evening but I'm bloody knackered that the extent of my nail tlc has been a good massage of cuticle oil (Jessica Phenomen Oil) and a nice thick layer of hand cream will be coming my way before I drop off to sleep (not applied it now as nobody wants a sticky hand cream keyboard!)

Step 3 - Hair

I just can't let go of the Olympics so this evening I will be going to bed in my own version of the swimming cap...that's right ladies, I'm going to wrap my head in cling film before I go to sleep.  No, it's not a crazy fetish, I'm going to melt down some trusty coconut oil and coat my hair in it before wrapping it up to keep it warm - this way it can do it's magic over night and I'll be left looking like something out of a L'Oreal advert (this has never happened before but I refuse to give up!)  A full post on my beloved coconut oil swimming hat combo coming soon - bet you can't wait you lucky things! 

And that's it - minimal effort, but hopefully it's enough to keep me from the edge of looking like a deranged crazy lady!! 

Review: Bdellium Tools Smoky Eyes Brush Set

As promised, here is my review of the Bdellium Tools "Smoky Eyes" 5pc. Brush Set.  I've got the Mineral Set ad the Foundation one too but I thought one set at a time was the best way to do these reviews.

I'm an idiot and didn't notice that an extra brush had slipped in - there are only 5 in the set  just to clarify.

It's been a while!

Holy cow I haven't blogged for ages and I've been oh so aware of it - I've really missed it - but I have been ridiculously busy over the past week and a bit with numerous visitors coming to stay (with small children and tiny babies that need entertaining and cuddles), I also travelled a casual 500 miles to get to Brighton to essentially sign my name and hand over money in order to enroll at college, and then we were inundated by more guests and spent yesterday baking and celebrating my dad's 56th birthday and of course watching the closing ceremony for the Olympics.  Phew that took a while to write!! 

I have been absolutely loving the Olympics, I've been soaring on a constant feeling of national pride over the past two weeks.  I am in love with Great Britain and so inspired and in awe of all that we have achieved, and I can't wait to see even more from the ParaOlympics! As a host nation I think we did incredibly well and I'm so proud that we managed to pull it off and show all those that doubted the capability of all those involved, that we can do it, and do it exceptionally well! 

I've cried quite a lot while watching The Games; there are so many raw emotions, from elation and relief, to bitter disappointment and pain, and I have genuinely felt like I've been a part of it, and have felt a sliver of it all.  I've got to say that I think the BBC's coverage was brilliant and they did a great job of keeping us informed and involved throughout! 

I could keep on gushing about my love of the Olympics but I feel I ought to stop now - I think you all get a taste of just how proud and inspired I feel! 

In other news...

As I mentioned before, I have officially enrolled at City College Brighton and Hove to study Beauty Therapy - money has left my account and I feel like there is no going back! I'm both daunted and excited by the prospect of this new start and I can't wait to keep you all updated as I move through this new stage of my life - eek!! I can't wait to be submerged in the culture of Brighton, and to find myself once more back home in the loving embrace of my massive and gorgeous family - I'm a lucky lady!! 

I've also weakened - I've read Fifty Shades of Grey, and what's more, I'm now reading the next one Fifty Shades of Darker! I could go on for a while about these books as I have opinions on everything from the quality of the writing to the way it portrays women and everything in-between but I won't do it here (let me know if you'd like a post on my thoughts?!)

The famous Fifty Shades!
I've also raved about the Making of Us here

I've really missed blogging, and communicating with everyone through it and all I can say is that I've got one hell of a lot of blog reading and commenting to do as well as writing a shed load of posts for you all!! 

I hope you're all well! 

x

Lemon Sugar and Kiss Me On My Tulips

The sun is out, and so the sun shall shine on my nails! On my fingers I've gone for Lemon Sugar by Avon.  It's part of the nailwear pro+ line, and it applies like a dream, it took three coats to achieve a streak free opacity (damn you pale yellows!) but I really love the finish!  It's a beautiful bright milky yellow and I don't own anything else like it.  I've never really thought that a yellow polish would suit me, and I still believe I wouldn't be able to pull off a bright sunflower yellow, but I think Lemon Sugar suits my skin tone and sits nicely on my nails (feel free to let me know if I'm way off!).  My one big gripe with this polish is believe it or not, the lid/brush; it's a square lid and the brush on mine was set off centre if you can picture it, so you have to hold it on the corners rather than on the flat to get the right angel of the brush on your nails, and although it doesn't make application impossible it does just make it a bit more of a challenge! 

I wore this to the pub last night, and as I was sat staring at a fantastic sunset sipping my coke I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of my nails and grinning at their lemon meringue-y goodness! 

To compliment this, on my toes I've gone for OPI Kiss Me On My Tulips which is a lovely bright fuschia - a bright bubblegum which looks so lovely with the slight tan on my feet! 

I'm hoping that these bright colours will encourage the sun to burn off these intermittent clouds and bring that heat wave back! 

What are your favourite summer nail colours? 

x

July Favourites!

I know that everyone says this but I really cannot believe that we are in August already! July has been incredibly busy for me and it seems to have flown by but I can't believe how much I have crammed into one month; I've completed the prestigious Pixiwoo Makeup Course, I've had several interviews and landed myself places at two colleges in Brighton, and I've spent a week caring for my granny! 

Anyway, enough about how I've filled my month, and more about my favourites! 

I've got to start with a non beauty favourite really, which is my Moleskine Diary! I love it! And considering how crazy this month has been I don't know where I would be without it! 

Clarins Color Quench Lip Balm see my full review here

This has been my lip gloss of choice this month, and I've found this to be the only gloss I've reached for so it's got to be a winner! I adore the scent, and miraculously it isn't sticky at all so you barely know you're wearing it other than the delicious smell!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

I'm yet to do a full review of this foundation but I promise there will be one soon. 

This has been the only thing I've been using if I've wanted to wear a foundation, it's lightweight but gives a lovely buildable coverage and it feels like you're applying silk to your skin!

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

I've been using this to apply my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and I find it helps it to glide on like a dream.  I've also been using this on the days when I've favoured just a bit of concealer (I couldn't handle a full face of makeup in the heat!) and I've simply buffed the concealer in with this to give some coverage where I need it (which realistically is in quite a lot of places!)

Benefit Hoola 

This has been my favourite bronzing powder for the past two years so it's only fair it gets a mention! It really is the perfect bronzer; it's matte, it doesn't make me look orange, it is a great contour colour as well as for creating an all over sun-kissed glow - can you tell I love it?! 

Estee Lauder Peach Nuance

Just like Hoola, this has been a firm favourite for what seems like an eternity and I really don't know what I'd do without it, it's the perfect peach in my humble opinion and it adds a natural summery flush to the cheeks all year round! 

Avene Thermal Water Spray

Yes I am probably an idiot for paying £6 for water in a can but to be perfectly honest I don't care! In the hot weather (which I have LOVED) this has been my saviour - I've just been spritzing this on my face (legs, arms, chest, feet...you get the drift) to instantly refresh myself and try to prevent myself from melting! 

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr in On and On Bronze

I've been wearing pretty low key makeup for most of the month (my skin needed it after the pasting it took on the makeup course) and I've been loving just smudging a bit of this onto my lids to give a hint of something with minimal effort! 

Garnier Intensive 7 Days Hydrating Lotion
For my full review click here
I love this moisturiser, and it has been particularly amazing in the hot weather because it cools your skin as it glides on, and it feels slightly like a gel rather than a lotion at times, which is great because it doesn't feel at all heavy or sticky on the skin (nothing worse on a hot night!).  After a day in the sun you can really feel this sinking in to leave you lusciously moisturised still in the morning! A summer time delight! 

And now, for another non beauty favourite - I give you the one and only Percy Pig
On his first taste of a Percy Pig my rather intoxicated cousin described them as such 

"the texture!  It's incredible, easy going yet resistant!" 

 

Do you have any favourites that I ought to check out? Please let me know if you do! 


And I'd love to hear from you on twitter @martinalice22
and my instagram is alicemagints - I really want to try to post more photos on there!!




xxx