To Kindle or not to Kindle

I am currently debating whether to buy a Kindle and need your help as I just can't make a decision! Saying that I am currently leaning towards getting one as I've just seen that it has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon- and 6,779 reviews at the time of writing.

In true list form my arguments for the Kindle are:

♥ It will save me a lot of space and weight in my suitcase on holiday as I always take a pile of books away and it would be ever so handy to have them all in one place.

♥ It will lighten my everyday bag

♥ It has great Amazon reviews and I'm always hearing people raving about it

♥ I think I will read more (I don't know a particular reason why- I just think I will!)

♥ I think it's pretty and would be excited to get a nice case for it

And my arguments against:

♥ It's a bit pricy

♥ I worry about the glare of it and whether it will feel like I'm reading off a 'screen'. Will it be difficult to read in the sun? The description says there's no glare but I'd like to see for myself

♥ I love reading a proper hardback/paperback and this is obviously a different reading experience

My brother has just said I shouldn't get one as my reasons are lame and there aren't many 'proper' ones. I agree slightly but I think I still want one.

So please help me out with this and let me know your thoughts- and if you have a Kindle please let me know how you're getting on with it!

♥

Review: Origins VitaZing

Product

Origins VitaZing SPF15

Price

£25. I've just had a look on the Origins website and if you buy 2 purchases you get a free Dr.Weil Skincare Sample set so if you're thinking about buying from there it's a good time!

What does it claim to do?

"This multi-tasking moisturiser handles the vital jobs of hydrating, energizing and protecting to maintain skin's momentum all day. Gives skin the refreshing zing of antioxidant-rich Mangosteen. And adds a healthy hit of radiance that mimics the glow you get from a week's vacation. Slip it on first thing tomorrow - you'll look like you eat right, sleep tight & don't have a worry in sight." - Origins

What do I think?

There has been lots of hype about Origins VitaZing and the YouTube review from MakeupByTiffanyD earlier this month persuaded me to give it a try. It is quite pricy at £25 but I really feel that it is worth the money.

The product comes out of the tube as a white cream with tiny flecks/beads in it...

You then just rub it into the skin and the VitaZing starts working its magic. The first thing I noticed was the amazing scent which must be the Mangosteen (I had no idea what this was but it's a fruit described as "sweet, tangy and juicy" on the old faithful wikipedia)- it really smells divine and is a pleasure to use.

The product blends easily into the face and you don't need a huge amount. As soon as you start to blend it in you notice that your skin becomes more glowy and has a slight tint to it. Origins say it mimicks the glow from a week's holiday and this is a perfect way of describing it.

I put a small sample of it on my arm so you can see the tint- nb. it doesn't look so drastic on my face as this is one of the palest areas of my skin. This does give you an idea of the glow and colour that it gives though.

I really love this product. I haven't been wearing it so much recently but when the UK had the Easter heatwave I was wearing it everyday. When it's hot I really don't like to use foundation and this is the perfect solution. Even better is that it has SPF in it. I know this will be a holiday staple for me!

I would point out that if you have really really fair skin the 'tint' (don't really know if it's a tint but that's what I'm calling it!) may be too much howeverI wouldn't let this put you off completely as it might just mean using less product. Also if you have really oily skin the glow might not work so well with your skin- I have oily-combo and mine is fine but I would be wary of using too much product incase it made me look super shiny. These are just my feelings anyway- if you've used this and disagree would be great to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Would I re-purchase it?

Most definitely! I'm hoping this will last for the whole of summer and then I will be buying another for next spring/summer.

♥

A trip to Gunwharf Quays

It's payday weekend (hoorah!) so today I went to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth Harbour for a shopping trip- if you aren't aware of it Gunwharf Quays is home to 95 designer outlets (using the website bumf here), a range of restaurant and bars, a Vue complex and a bowling alley. You could spend the entire day here and it's really gorgeous as is set by the marina and the Spinnaker tower. Lovely!

Even better is that the shopping area has a Cosmetics Company Outlet. I don't think there are many of these in the country and it's a shop full of reduced beauty products- they are mostly high end and the Gunwharf Quays outlet sells Estee Lauder owned brands such as MAC, Bobbi Brown, Prescriptives, Estee Lauder, Origins and Clinique product (amongst others). Lipglossiping has a great post about CCO here.

It would be easy to go mad in there but I restrained myself and only bought two products.

MAC Sheertone Blush in Garb for £11

oh hi freaky looking hand in the reflection

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in Intensity 1.0 for £17

I loved the look of the blush as it's a colour I don't own- a very coral-esque brown which is great for bronzy, warm summer looks. I'm also really excited to try the Estee Lauder DW in light- I've read lots of good things about the Double Wear but know it is a very full-coverage foundation which would be too much for me. I tried this in the CCO and really liked how easily it blended and how light it felt on the skin. The tube is also really handy for taking on holidays as I find bottles such as NARS Sheer Glow (which I still need to review!) and Revlon's ColourStay too heavy when you want to pack light. Has anyone tried this foundation?

I also paid a visit to the Cath Kidston shop there which is fairly new and very very popular. I've wanted a large purse from there for ages but they didn't have them in when I last visited so was pleased to see they had a choice of two. I went for one and also bought a matching teeny tiny pencil case which is ideal for housing the pens which always end up missing in the depths of my huge bags!

Cath Kidston Purse - £16.50 (usually £25)
Cath Kidston Mini pencil case - £3.50 (usually £5)

The only piece of clothing I bought was from French Connection and it was this really cute pair of shorts which proved very hard to photograph! They're a very dark denim but I've included a photo with flash so you can see the detailing. They're made of indigo yarn dye knitted fabric which apparantly 'stretches in all directions to fit your body perfectly'. I was very tempted by a pair in pink too but they didn't have my size- booo.

French Connection Shorts - £23 (reduced quite a bit but can't find the original price)

♥

Things I've learnt since having a puppy...

♥ As expected, they are the masters of puppy dog eyes

♥ They get up far too early- luckily he's grown out of the 5.30am starts

♥ Every morning you will receive the best greeting- it's as if you've been reunited after 10 years apart! Charlie will put his paws around my neck and lick my face- every single day.

♥ They will constantly try to assert themselves as pack leader

♥ They do the most silent but deadly trumps

♥ Puppies are also known as landsharks


♥ They have a mad half hour most days and the only thing you can do is stay well out of the way- Charlie will run up and down the garden over and over until he's calmed down!

♥ Drop any food on the floor and it's a goner.

♥ They will come running as soon as you start making dinner- Charlie will be digging behind the shed, he'll hear the beginnings of making his dinner and will sprint across the garden like it's his last meal on earth

♥ They grow at a crazy rate


♥ Puppies sleep A LOT

♥ You will call them so many names it's a wonder they remember what they're actually called

♥ Getting hold of a sock or shoe is like winning the lottery to them

♥ Dogs don't hold grudges. You can have a bad day and the next day all will be forgotten. It's a mentality that everyone should live by

♥ A dirty dishwasher is like doggy heaven

♥ They love digging

Charlie is my family's four month old golden retriever. He is cheeky, naughty, loving, beautiful and perfection. I may be slightly biased though!

How much is your face worth?

I've seen this post on a few blogs recently and thought it would be an interesting concept to look at. The tag basically asks how much your face is worth by looking at the make-up products you wear. I've used the make-up that I wore today and these products (or slightly different variations) are generally what I wear daily.

♥ L'Oreal True Match Foundation - £10.29

♥ Benefit Boi-ing Concealer - £16.50

♥ Benefit Erase Paste - £19.50

♥ MAC MSF Natural - £18.50

♥ MAC blush in well dressed - £17.00

♥ ELF Eyebrow kit - £3.50

♥ UD Eyeshadow (in Naked palette) in Virgin - £2.60

♥ UD Eyeshadow (in Naked palette) in Half Baked - £2.60

♥ UD Eyeshadow (in Naked palette) in Naked - £2.60

♥ UD Eyeshadow (in Naked palette) in Buck - £2.60

♥ L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara - £11.29

♥ L'Oreal Paris Super liner - £6.19

♥ No.17 Mirrorshine lipstick in beehive - £4.59

Total: £117.76

Quite an interesting thing to do actually! It's just a bit of fun but does show how much we spend on make-up when everything is added up. I don't think I'd like to add up the cost of all the make-up I own and I don't even have a huge amount! Do let me know if you do this post as it's very interesting to compare!

April Favourites: My favourite three

I hope everyone has had lovely weekends? I've had a snotty cold so it's mainly been a chilled one- did enjoy some trashy Eurovision watching last night! Again- my April favourites have been posted later than hoped but better late than never!

♥ Clinique all about eyes - I received this with Glamour magazine when they were doing their big Clinique freebie issue and it's remained a permanent fixture on my bedside table. I had heard good things so was really keen to give it a try. It is a gel texture and feels gorgeous and cooling on the skin- it's great for the morning when you want to feel more awake and definitely does lighten under the eyes. A heads up for next month- Glamour are giving away Posie Tint, Benetint and Moon Beam!

♥ No.17 Mirrorshine lipstick in Beehive - this may well have featured in my favourites before because I adore it. It's the only lipstick I've been putting on recently. The photo doesn't give a true reflection of the colour- it's a pinky nude and very sheer which makes it super easy to apply and you don't need a mirror. I'd describe it as a mix between a gloss and a lipstick- the finish is beautiful. Even my Mum has bought her own! Has anyone tried any other shades of these lipsticks? I'd love to try more.

♥ Origins VitaZing - I am going to do a full post about this product soon as it is so amazing but couldn't not feature it in my favourites. It's been raved about by many YouTubers and Bloggers and is worth the hype in my opinion. The product is basically a moisturiser but not an ordinary moisturiser- it has tiny particles in which are released when you rub it into your face giving a lovely glow and a slight tint. It's been perfect with the recent warm weather and I've only been wearing this and my MSF Natural. I could talk about it all day but will leave it for my post!

An introduction to BM Beauty

This week I have been introduced to a beauty brand that I haven't come across before- BM Beauty. BM Beauty is a new mineral cosmetics line from Kimberley Wyatt (the ex-Pussycat Doll) and her business partner Laura McComiskie. The range prides itself on being cruelty free with a stamp of approval from the BUAV and is free from bismuth oxychloride, parabens, nano particles and synthetic dyes and fragrances.

BM Beauty also has a YouTube channel which features tutorials on Kimberley herself using the products and I've enjoyed watching these to get the tips and tricks on applying mineral make-up (a little goes a long way with the blush- I didn't realise this before and looked like a full on clown!).

When co-founder Laura (who is absolutely lovely) offered me the chance to have a look at what BM Beauty offers and see if I'd like to try anything I jumped at the chance and was sent a box of BM Beauty goodies to try. The photos below show the products I've received and am going to try out in the next few weeks- I'll do a post with swatches and product reviews.

Lash Curling Mascara

Bronzer Blush Brush

Bronzer in Summer Warmth and Blush in Peachy Glow

Top: Eyeshadows in Platinum Tiara and Marble Sparkle
Bottom: Eyeshadows in Dusty Road and Her Majesty

I will let you know how I get on! Has anyone come across this brand before?

Review: Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Product

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Price

£13.00 for the starter kit which includes 2 muslin cloths - Liz Earle
I was sent this product for review purposes

What does it claim to do?

"Our fast-acting ‘minute’ mask instantly revitalises. Containing stimulating camphor oil and toning witch hazel to help give your skin a natural-looking radiance...Use in the morning or whenever a quick fix is needed...Naturally active ingredients include aloe vera to help cool and soothe, toning witch hazel and purifying white clay." - Liz Earle

What do I think?

Another day, another raving Liz Earle review. I know I'm starting to sound like broken record but I love sharing these products with you.

The latest product that I've tried from Liz Earle is their Brightening Treatment Mask. The mask comes in a bottle very similar to the Cleanse & Polish (which I am running out of- noooo!) and the starter pack includes two muslin cloths. You can buy the bottle without the muslin cloths and it is only £4.85 for a 15ml tube if you wanted to try a smaller version before committing to a larger pump bottle.

The mask is different to others in that you apply it to clean skin and only leave it for 30 seconds- 2 minutes before rinsing off with the muslim cloth- this is why it's so great for a quick refreshing skin boost and I've found myself using it regularly. In terms of texture it is extremely similar to the Cleanse & Polish so if you like using that I can guarantee you'd love this mask. I have been applying it, removing it and then dabbing my face with a cotton pad with the Instant Boost Skin Tonic. After this little routine my face feels so lovely and 'zingy' and most definitely brighter.

I really love using a face mask and have a few of them, but sometimes they are a bit of a mission to remove and I always find bits that I've missed on my skin- especially with clay masks! This is great for a really easy and quick fix.

Would I re-purchase it?

Yes, definitely. It's a fantastic mask and one I am picking up far more often than my others.

EDIT: Something very valid that I missed out and was noticed by a commenter is that the mask is not suitable for sensitive skin

Accessorize Nail Polishes

A few weeks ago I stumbled across the Accessorize make-up range in Superdrug but didn't end up buying anything. I was, however, very impressed with the packaging and the few swatches of blushers that I tried.

Last weekend I was in Leeds with my University friends. Every birthday we team up, put £10 each in and then have a good amount of money to buy nice presents for each other (I received my present this weekend- an Accessorize necklace and a Jean Paul Gaultier 'Classique' perfume set- lovely!). It was another friends birthday too and so we bought her the Naked palette, some bracelets and two nail polishes from Accessorize.

We were all in love with these two particular nail polishes and all painted our nails in them before going out. Extremely matchy matchy but we loved the glitz of them. After leaving the girls I went to Superdrug and bought the same two colours and another.

From l-r: Gold Dust (shade 36); Molten Copper (Shade 43); Purple Dream (Shade 40)

These nail polishes are so gorgeous and are only £4 each. I could have bought every one in the collection as they are all beautiful! They're fab for layering up too- the gold will look fantastic over a hot pink polish so I'm excited to try this combination. I painted my nails with the gold shade yesterday (I would take a photo but although I am growing my nails, they still aren't ready for photos!) and used two coats to get a really good finish.