The Fishtail Plait

How do you wear your hair on those "in between" days?

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My 11p Beauty Secret

This might be really weird but I thoroughly enjoy cleaning my make up brushes.  Don't get me wrong I don't do it nearly enough (I know you should really wash them after every use if possible but who on earth has the time to do that?!) but when I do get the chance to wash them I find it kind of therapeutic!?
Anyhowwww...  So I have been through copious amounts of MAC's stupidly expensive brush cleaner in the past and I've tried a slightly cheaper version from EBay before, but then I came across a comment on Pinterest which advised that baby shampoo was by far the best product to clean your make up brushes with

So my 11p beauty secret is this little bad boy from my local Morrison's supermarket!!!  You can find cheap baby shampoo in every single supermarket or drugstore and it really works a treat
To clean my brushes I run my tap at a lukewarm temperature and squirt a generous amount of baby shampoo into my hand.  I then take my dirty make up brush and swirl it around in the shampoo so its completely coated and simply rinse it under the water.  I keep repeating this until the water runs completely clear and my brushes don't have any residue from the shampoo left on them. I will then gently squeeze excess water from them, reshape them if needed and leave them to dry on a towel near an open window.  Voila, my brushes are as good as new in no time and I feel some what satisfied!
Do you have any bargain beauty secrets?

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MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

Like a lot of beauty bloggers and cosmetic hoarders alike, I am a little bit obsessed with this blusher/highlighter combo right now!  I am so glad MAC re-released it as part of their Aprés Ski collection, as I missed out first time round!

£21.50 from MAC Aprés Ski Collection

The product itself is pretty massive for a blusher which can be a little daunting and off-putting, but ever since first use of Stereo Rose I have been in love.  Its a very pretty coral-pink with gold flecks running through it and it just gives you such a radiant glow without being to shimmery.  You do have to use it sparingly though as its quite pigmented and you will look completely overdone!!  Like all mineralized skinfinish's it blends SO well, will never ever go patchy and is really long wearing

I have heard that its totally sold out now which SUCKS (do let me know if you get your hands on it) but due to popularity I reckon this will be re-released again in another collection
Did you get your hands on Stereo Rose?  Do you have a dupe you can recommend? 

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Fifty Random Facts About Me Tag

Hey lovers! HAPPY HUMP DAY! So my blog doesn't often contain much personal info about me (other than ramblings about my skin type, hair type and fave make up products)  so I decided to jump on the band wagon with this 50 Random Facts About Me tag!  I hope it gives you little lot an idea of what I'm all about and hopefully you won't think I'm crazy or anything :)

My name means "light"
I think I have about 1 million freckles if you counted them
I'm allergic to pineapple - the first meal my bf cooked for me was sweet and sour, that was awkward
My favourite perfume is Chanel Coco Mademoiselle
I have an unhealthy obsession with Cheryl Cole

Every night when we wash up our dinner plates me and my boyfriend discuss how much money we would eat the grose leftovers or bits that have fallen on the floor for
I thought unicorns were real, but just extinct until very recently!  I thought that horses evolved from unicorns..
I'm 5 foot 1" but I thought I was 5 foot 3" for ages..  
I LOVE Nutella
I am always ALWAYS cold
When I was younger I was convinced I would be a famous actress
I cannot stand people touching me with their feet
I am incredibly forgetful.  I have to write EVERYTHING down or it will be forgotten within minutes
Fancy dress is so under rated and I find it incredibly enjoyable

I have no grandparents left :(

I think football is one of the worst things ever invented, and the majority of footballers are total idiots
I once received a letter from Anne Robinson after doing a charity event for bowel cancer
I dislike odd numbers and avoid them at all costs
I LOVE FESTIVALS.

Bestival 2011!!

I cannot stand spaghetti bolegnese, it is devils food
I have 2 tattoos.  I hate 1 of them
Micky Flanagan is my fave comedian "Are you going out out or just out?"
I auditioned for S Club Juniors
Hospitals/doctors are not my favourite, I can't even watch Holby City without wanting to vom.  Don't even get me started on One Born Every Minute
I'm really clumsy.  I constantly walk into things and I drop something on our wood floor every morning - FACT.
the first time I ate a Babybel I ate the wax
I adore babies, I prefer them to cute kittens or puppies etc
I will call my first child Tigerlily after the red Indian in Peter Pan (if its a girl obviously)
I am terrible at geography, I don't really understand what a country/county/continent is?!
I order skinny hazelnut hot chocolate's at Starbucks
I am petrified of spiders I hysterically cry when I see them
I think Harry Potter is the best ever

Coconut is my favourite smell
I can't eat corn off of the cob it makes me cringe, I have to cut it off (Nandos is always an interesting trip with me)
Talking of Nandos I like my chicken medium with extra hot sauce to dip it in!
I love computer games - I'm a total geek
I can't feel the tip of my left index finger due to a horrific finger-in-door accident when I was little
I think I could live on avocados 
My favourite film of all time is The Sound of Music
I have a bum chin

I have a reality TV addiction
I really want a little dog (big ones scare me)
I love Britney Spears, even now she's a looney

I'm always covered in unexplained bruises..
I find churches really creepy and scary and I don't like going there
I really like dinosaurs!
Pinterest is my fave app ever ever ever
I can't sleep with the tv on
I have a driving license but I really dislike driving - I was born to be chauffeured
I have a keltoid scar on my arm which I tell my niece is a button that will make me explode if pressed..

So there it is.  50 whole random facts about me!  I hope you haven't fallen asleep and that you made it to the end!! Does anyone share anything random in common with me??!! I would love to know some facts about you guys so please leave a comment and let me know some, or leave me a link to your post/blog!
TTFN! xx

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Cheap but Chic Part 2: Cheaper Beauty Alternatives

Its Monday YAAAAY - said no one ever! Meh.  Monday is rubbish huh, but maybe my post today will help cheer you up a little and wash away those naughty start of the week blues.
I had some amazing feedback on my previous post of Cheaper Beauty Alternatives (thanks guys!!) so I decided to do a second post of even more bargain buys! I hope you enjoy..

Have you got any dupe suggestions for me to try out?

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Empties

This is my first ever empties post!!! I am actually treating this as a massive achievement as I am terrible for finishing products.  I fall in love with things so easily and obviously being a beauty blogger I try to sample as much stuff as possible and things get left behind (sorry lovely products!)
I have been a really really good girl recently and tried my absolute best to use up what I've got completely, before moving onto something new. Here is what I have demolished...  

 
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser: oh Liz, I love you. If you haven't tried this yet you need to get yourself a bottle, and pronto. This green bottle of loveliness has been my holy grail cleanser for the last few months and I am counting down the days until payday so I can repurchase her. However The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser by Soap & Glory has been getting me through, so I would highly recommend that as a cheaper alternative
Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner: this is actually something I have been using for around 10 years now! I do dabble in other hair care brands but I always come back to my trusty and lush smelling Aussie. The miracle moist keeps my hair super hydrated, really shiny and the scent lasts all day! I also find that I don't need to wash my hair as often after using this. Another massive plus is that its under a fiver!! Will be repurchasing pronto.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant: I can see why this product has won awards, its great! The powder, made up of Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes, is activated with water and works to smooth the skin and accelerate cell renewal.  I received mine as a sample in a beauty box subscription and I thoroughly enjoyed using it instead of those harsh grainy exfoliants that leave your skin red raw and stripped of life! I don't think I will be purchasing this just though though as the full size is a whopping £27.95 and I'm not sure if it is really worth that price tag.
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer: When I bought this I was head of over heels for it, nothing I had used had come close and it really concealed everything so well. Then suddenly I decided it was too thick and I didn't love it so much anymore. I think the reason was I was using much lighter foundations and my skin has been quite behaved, so thick concealer wasn't necessary any more  I also discovered Maybellines Dream Lumi concealer which is my new addiction. Bobbi you have been so good to me but I won't be repurchasing you right now.
Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser: I have really been embracing the "no make-up  make-up look" for a while now and I have not stopped using my Just Skin. This is by far the best tinted moisturiser I have ever used and I am devastated that I have finally ran out! This got me through a summer, autumn and winter and I used my last little blob a few days ago *cries*.  Just Skin leaves you looking absolutely glowing and dewy whilst giving you remarkable coverage but still being really light and breathable. The only thing I hate about this is the price - £57 is extortionate for an item of make-up  I don't care what anyone says its a ridiculous price tag! For that reason I simply can't repurchase it right now, however much I want to, but I've decided it's a chance for me to try out some different foundations and hopefully end my quest to find a dupe for this amazing product!!! It's farewell for now Chantecaille    Bioderma Crealine: Bioderma is probably my most used product of all time.  I use it every single day without fail to remove eye make-up  cleanse or to simply freshen up.  I am so so glad I found micellar waters in 2012 as they have changed the way I treat my skin and make-up wipes/foaming face washes have become a thing of the past.  Its one of the only cleansers that doesn't leave my skin red and patchy its so gentle, but it removes every last trace of make-up.  Its really difficult to get hold of for a reasonable price in the UK, I stocked up when I was in Paris and got 2 bottles for about £12 which is a bargain!  I know there are sellers on Amazon and Ebay but I personally wouldn't recommend getting this from there.  I've heard that Bioderma will soon be available in Boots which would be AMAZING, but I hope it comes with a friendly price tag.
So there are my empties! I actually really enjoyed using up some products for a change and I will be attempting to stick to this new rule if mine in future! Especially as it now means I can go out and buy more, he he!!
Have you done an empties post I can have a read of???

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L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream*

I have something brand new and exciting to tell you about today!  So BB creams were massive in 2012, literally every cosmetic brand brought out their own version. Well this year is the year of the CC cream, and L'Oreal is releasing their version in 2013! The L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream*    

So what is CC cream I hear you ask!?  Well CC stands for Colour Correction which is used for evening out skin tone and tone correcting.  L'Oreal's version contains all the benefits of BB creams but with this added CC magic!
The aim of a CC cream is to help neutralise the appearance of redness, dullness or tired looking skin and L'Oreal have created 3 different creams, one for each of these problems.  I chose the Anti-Dullness CC cream as I find my skin lacks radiance and often needs a boost to look glowing and lovely!    

I have been testing this out all week and I cannot praise it enough!!   At first I was like "WOAH" as the liquid is thin, runny and purple!!  I wasn't expencting good things at all..  But when applied it transforms into a lovely smooth foundation that adapts to the colour of your skin like magic! (Or should I say "magique"!!)  It literally mimicks your skin tone and looks and feels like bare skin    

 
It feels SO light and silky like a moisturiser, and is a real joy to apply.  Once on the skin it literally feels like I don't have foundation on at all but gives a good and buildable coverage - more than than most BB creams would I think this will be perfect for summer/holiday months where I want a little something on my face but nothing too heavy, it also contains SPF 12! I wouldn't say that this is dewy but it does give a really radiant glow.  I find my CC cream looks best used with a touch of concealer on any blemishes and a swipe of powder!    

Me wearing my L'Oreal CC Cream!!

  The L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream is not out to buy yet in shops but is coming very soon and will be a very reasonable £9.99.  It will also be available in Anti-Fatigue and Anti-Redness formulas.  I can't wait to try the rest of the range to see what they can do for me! Are you a BB cream fan?  Will you be trying CC creams??  
*PR SAMPLE
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