My Half Year Favourites

Bourjois Delice de Soleil Bronzer in 14 Tanned Skin - I brought this because I love the Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer but I hate the packaging because it doesn't have a mirror. So I brought this new one which has a 360 degree mirror and has a slight shimmer with the bronzer and I love it as it is great for on the go. 

Revlon Lip Butter in 095 Creme Brûlée - This is the second Revlon Lip Butter which I have and it is my favourite everyday one particularly for when I am working as it is such a nude colour and compliments my everyday make-up well. 

GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in 153 Flirty Orange - If you follow my blog or have seen any of my recent post and I love this lipstick. Not much I can say, I just love this colour. 

Fashionista Khol Eyeliner in 1 Erin - I found this right at the beginning of the year and it got lost in an old handbag but found it again about March time. It is the perfect Khol eyeliner as it is a rich black texture and doesn't smudge unless you smudge on application and it is pretty cheap too. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - I know there is a huge hype around this product and I am on my second one of the year after receiving one for Christmas last year. It has just transformed my skin. 

Lancome Tonique Douceur Toner - I never really used toner until this year where I wanted to make sure I had a full skincare routine. I used a couple of low end toners which dried my skin out. But I will be repurchasing this again and again. 

Paul Mitchell Super-Charged Moisturiser Hair Treatment - I have dry hair mixed with dyed blonde hair which equal super dry hair. This treatment is amazing... am currently on a hair "diet" from my hairdressers because of the peroxide disaster which I had last month. I leave this treatment on for a few hours and it works its magic on my mop and bang it's beaut. 

Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub - I think this is my third or fourth pot of this scrub and by gosh I think only this year I have realised why it is my favourite. I'm finishing up my numerous Body Shop scrubs which I own and whilst they are gorgeous, they don't have the thick abrasive texture that The Breakfast Scrub has. 

Garnier Summer Body Gradual Tanner - Deep Sun Kissed Look - Nearly finished this bottle and it is leaves my skin feel beautiful and it doesn't smell bad either. The moisture sinks in quickly but you don't know the effects until after a week, I think. Still it does the job and doesn't go patchy or streaky. 

Garnier Ambre Solaire Self-Tanning Dry Body Mist - Quick, easy and clean. I found that this was like giving myself a spray tan but for myself. I do get through this like water which is a pain but it isn't too expensive, I think around the £10 mark. And it doesn't come off in the shower, it fades but doesn't come off which is a bonus!

Lush Helping Hands Handcream - WOW. Smooth beautiful hands in one pump. I LOVE THIS :) 

I love reading other people's monthly favourites but I just find that this year is flying by and the next minute I know it will be christmas. Eeek that is such a scary thought. Anyway, basically what I am attempting to say is that I can't keep up with the monthly favourites. Thus now I am doing my half yearly favourites - yes we are half way through 2012. I don't know where it has gone. So I thought I would show you what I have been loving this year so far. 

Everyday Make Up #1

Face

Clinique Perfectly Real Foundation in Shade 10; 

The Body Shop Tinted Glow Enhancer; 

Soap & Glory Trick and Treatment Eye Concealer; 

The Body Shop Matte It Face and Lip Primer;

Collection 2000 Concealer Stick in Medium 3;

Collection 2000 Shine Away Compact Powder in Medium 2.

 Cheeks

Lancome Star Bronzer Intense in 02 (see post);

Bed Head Tigi Radiant Player Blush;

Me Me Me Blush Me Bronze.

Eyebrows

Bourjois Ombre Stretch in 04 Flexi Brown;

GOSH Long Lasting Brown Pen in 004 Wheat;

Benefit Speed Brow Gel.

Eyes

Rimmel Glam Eyes Mono Eyeshadow in 214 Jet Black;

Bed Head 4-Play Eyeshadow Palette;

Max Factor Kohl Pencil in 020 Black;

Lancome Hypnose Mascara in Black.

Lips

Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti.

This is my first everyday make up post, but when I say everyday I obviously don't mean I smoother my face with all of this on days when i'm bumming about the house or going to the gym. It is my staple 'face' look. It has been pretty much the same for about a month, I tend to go through phases of using liquid eyeliner and a kohl pencil. Also the orange lip look has been a new trend of mine for the last couple of weeks since I have brought this lip butter - it is my favourite and gives the best colour that I could find on the market. 

Soap & Glory Flake Away Vs Breakfast Scrub

VS.

This is a post that I have been wanting to do for a long while now. Meg and I were having a discussion on the difference between the two products. I am currently scrapping through the bottom of both pots at the moment, so they have been used on a frequent basis. 


The Stats:


The Breakfast Scrub


* It cost £9.50 for 300ml
* It contains oats, honey, almond, bananas and shea butter
* It is a sugar body smoother
* It has a more coarse texture




Flake Away 

* It cost £7 for 300ml

* It contains almond oil, peach seed powder, shea butter

* It is a sugar body polish

* It is a finer scrub that contains sea salt and sugar granules 

I personally prefer The Breakfast Scrub overall, I like the 'foodie' smell that it has and I think that Flake Away is too perfumed for me. I tend to go for natural smelling products. Flake Away is a smoother formula and it kinda of leaves an oily texture, I think it is great for legs but I don't like it on the rest of my body as I find if quite slimy (not sure if that is the right word). Whereas The Breakfast Scrub thicker and more coarse so feel that it gets into the nitty gritty of my pores and cleanses them. Plus afterwards I don't feel that there is a residue that Flake Away leaves.

Shopping Haul #2

 For everyone who follows me on Twitter (@LaceyNicola) will know that today I put down my dissertation book and went out shopping with my friend, Meg. I thought I would give you a little picture show of what I have brought (or what I wasted my money on... as my mum would say). Though in my favour, I did actually need all the hair products that I splurged on, due to a drama with my barnet at the moment. Over the next coming weeks I will review all of my Boots Haul.


My first haul was from Boots, I swear it is my favourite shop!! :)


Top picture is a summary of everything from Boots (& a sneaky Primark item)
 * 30x Blonde Blending Hair Grips @ £1.49
 * A Blonde Hair Doughnut (Primark) @ £1
 * Soap & Glory "Trick & Treatment" Under Eye Dark Circle Concealer @ £9
 * Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Soft Beige @ £5.99 (Norm. £8.99)
 * Barry M Intense Black Mascara 3 in 1 @ £6.19
 * Limited Edition Barry M Lip Gloss in Valentine @ £0 (free when you spend £6 or more on Barry M. Norm £4.49)
 * John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Conditioning Treatment 25ml @ £1.89
 * VO5 Hot Oil  Moisture Soak Elixir @ £4.07
 * Tres Semme Split Remedy Leave in Treatment @ £5.50
 * John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Miracle Treatment @ £5.59 (3for2)
 * Umberto Giannini Catwalk Beauty Hairspray @ £5.61 (3for2)
 * Umberto Giannini Spa Rituals Overnight Magic Hair Repair @ £5.61 (3for2) 


My second haul was from Select http://www.selectfashion.co.uk/
 * Grey Lace Back Shirt @ £6 (was £16)
 * Black Sequined Jumper @ £5 (was £16)
 * 2x Black Long Length Leggings @ £8 (or £5 each)


My last haul was from Primark
 * Skull vs Flower Black Scarf @ £4
 * Nude Matt Ballet Pumps @ £4
 * Leopard Quilted with Black Patent Trim Ballet Pumps @ £6
 * Daisy Hair Band @ £1.50

How anyone hit the high street recently?? 

Soap & Glory Sit Tight

What we have here is, what they call a ‘miracle’ product... for the simple reason that it is claiming to be able to do the impossible – which is firm up your thighs just by applying the cream and sitting down.

Now I know that this is a relatively odd product (as in I think it came out last the beginning of last year or possibly before that) but in the spirit of new year and all this trying to make ourselves looking better la-di-da I thought ‘hey if this cream means can turn my thunder thighs into those of Cameron Diaz then woo I’ll take 10!’ Okay that is a bit extreme but I did by one; it was from Boots and was around £14 and from the infamous Soap &Glory.

First off the packaging is inviting... it says “Just sit down to optimise! World Exclusive! Fabulous new double-action formulas works while you simple... ‘sit tight’ sit-activated special lower body firming formula” – now that to me just makes this an MUST BUY just by reading that. Though for me it gets spoiled by adding in a couple of jargon words “Pressocapsular-firm-system, Dextoxyboost and Puffdrain 82 (all tm) – however I do not have a clue what any of that means... and I don’t think their average buyer would either.

Now down to the nitty gritty... Does it really work??

Instructions: “Every morning, knead a generous layer of Sit Tight onto your bottom and thighs, to set-up the “Sit Tight pressocapsular-firm-system”. Allow it to absorb for at least 30-60 seconds before putting clothing overtop. (You may feel a heating sensation for several minutes but please note: Sit Tight’s active system is more effective when you sit down.”

 So I have used this product for 2 weeks now, everyday (yes I managed to keep to that too). To me my legs feel a little firm and smoother but I don’t know whether that is because I’m essentially moisturising them every day. Though in my wisdom I measured both thighs before and after – Before: 23inches After: Just under 22inches. It says it all there really.

I must admit it isn’t the most desirable smelling cream as it smells medicated, though it is easy to rub in and makes the skin feel good. However the “heating sensation” wasn’t the most comfortable – I’m not sure whether that was because my legs had a lot of fat to firm or I just wasn’t used to it. I tend to use it once I had a shower and when I am either sitting down to do my hair and make-up.

Overall... 10/10

Has anyone else tried this or have any more miracle products I can buy and try?