BYS Eyeshadow Palette ~ Budget Friendly Make Up

BYS or Be Your Self is an Australian  make up brand. I'd actually never heard of it so I didn't know if it was any good.
I was recently in my local Store Twenty One which sells clothes, homeware and other nik nak type stuff just having a nosy about, when I noticed a make up stand by BYS. The products were nicely displayed and like an magnetic pulse, I was drawn to it.
Displayed were eyeshadows, nail varnish, lip sticks, glosses and eye liners. I picked up one of the metalic eyeshadow palettes in 15 Natural Glam. I wasn't able to swatch it but I didn't mind as it was cheap enough to take a chance. (I'll tell you the price later).

The colours aren't individually named but basically start with a dark brown colour then gradually get lighter to a shimmery gold colour.

The staying power is actually quite good but I did find that they were a bit difficult to blend despite using my two usual eyeshadow brushes. The above close ups are just a basic application.

The packaging is nice and simple but it comes with one of those rubbish sponge applicators that I never use.

So overall, not bad at all and I think I will go back and buy some nail varnish (for research purposes of course) but the totally best thing about this palette...it only cost me £1...bargain.

Any bargain make up brands that you've been impressed with? Do share.

Rachel xx 

My Leibster Award Nomination & What's It All About?

An award for me? Why thank you...I'd like to thank my Mother and Father for having me...My faithful computer...The lady who serves me in Boots...etc etc...
Ok, it's not an award as such but, it is in fact a recognition by another blogger who follows you to simply say 'I think your blog is great and I give you an honorary award for your hours of typing, taking photos, spending money (!) to inform the world of this and that and general online sharing'.
Sounds quite nice doesn't it? So I would love to thank the lovely Stephanie Eva for my nomination and here's hoping it brings us both new followers.

So, my questions that Stephanie has set for me and her other chosen bloggers...

1. Have you ever wanted to be famous? If so, what type; actress, model, singer, etc?

When I was younger I really wanted to be a singer. I used to have solo singing roles in the school's yearly productions and often daydreamed about being famous on stage. I once had a job in the summer and autumn of '99 as a singer in a wine bar which I really loved.

2. If you could only use one makeup product for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Only one? That's a tough one, but I guess it would have to be foundation.

3. Most people don't like their natural hair, do you like yours? If you do, what do you like about it? If you don't, what did/will you do to change it?

I love my natural hair colour. My Dad tells me it's the exact match of my Mother's when she was young. My hair sometimes has a mind of its own one day being completely straight the other day very wavy.

4. Have you ever been confused for or told you look like a celebrity? If so, who? If not, who would you love to look like?

No, can't think of anyone ever saying I do. I guess we all would like to have other people's features maybe. I would like Jennifer Aniston's sun kissed glow and smooth complexion.

5. Who would you want to swap lives for the day with, if you could?

My daughter. She's nearly 3 and I would love to see the world through her eyes. Plus she gets to play and have her food made for her, no housework, worries etc! LOL

6. Do you like blogging? What made you want to finally dive into the blogging universe?

I love it. I guess I wanted a hobby that was completely different to my job. I guess I was researching something I wanted to buy that was expensive, and wanted to know if it was worth spending my money on. I got to read so many blogs on a huge range of topics from beauty, home decor, DIY and craft that I thought 'why not have a go myself'.

7. Have you ever been addicted to anything (soda, coffee, habits, etc) that you've had to stop using/doing?

I wouldn't say I'm addicted to anything as such. I have a bad habit of letting the ironing build up though which I really hate doing. I never leave the house without my phone.

8. Do you film YouTube videos? If you do, how do you feel about your channel? If you don't, why not?

No I don't. I'm not at all confident in front of a video camera, plus I feel that's a huge commitment. I really wouldn't have the time to film, edit and upload.

9. What is your favourite scent? Could be anything.. 

For a perfume my all time favourite is Eternity by Calvin Klein. I've repurchased it so many times. Whenever I smell it I'm instantly transported to a very happy time in my life. I also love the smell of the morning dew when spring is in bloom.

 

10. If you are dating/living with/talking to/married to anyone, what's their name and where did you meet?

I'm married and he's extremely social media shy so I won't be saying his name. We met locally.

Stephanie only gave me 10 questions but when I researched Leibster Award, 11 seemed to be the most common.

I now tag...

Bee

Parie

Iyana Nikita

Mandy Sickle

Victoria Jane

Amy Tester

Rosie Penelope

Lianne H-x

Kendra C

Charlotte Rose

Sinead

Here are my 11 questions for you...
1) Do you prefer the countryside or the city?
2) What's the worst present you have received?
3) Do you drive? If so, what was the first car you owned?
4) Where do you see yourself in a year's time?
5) Have you ever read a book that's made you cry?
6) What's the strangest dream you've ever had?
7) Salty or sweet popcorn?
8) What's your favourite online shop?
9) How many hours sleep do you have on average?
10) What's the best advice you've been given and by who?
11) Have you ever bought something that you've used or worn and then taken back?

I hope you accept your 'reward' and play along. But before I go, here are my 11 random facts about me...
1) I like peanuts but have never tried peanut butter
2) My favourite colour is red
3) I love antique oak furniture
4) I love rings especially ones with precious stones
5) I started reading 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill and have yet to finish it
6) My first car was a mini (original model)
7) I don't drink tea or coffee
8) I want to visit New York some day
9) My favourite season is Spring
10) I've lost the left sandal of my favourite pair but still keep the right, in the hope of finding it
11) I ran over a cat on my driving test and still past!

Thank you again to Stephanie for my nomination. Now I think I'll go treat myself to something as a reward...

Rachel xx

Ojon Super Sleek ~ Is It Any Good?

Whenever I go to my hairdresser for my usual cut and blow dry she always manages to get my hair extremely straight and sleek without the need to use hair straighteners (or flat iron if you're in the US).
To achieve this she applies about three products in total after shampooing and conditioning whether she really needs to or not. I've often thought 'is this really healthy for my hair?'
Well I've come across a brilliant product to use after washing my hair that leaves me with the same result as freshly cut and styled salon hair...
Ojon Super Sleek Restorative Blowout Perfector is my new favourite styling product. Apply a small amount onto damp hair by smoothing from about halfway down. Avoid the roots if you have naturally oily hair anyway. Style in your usual way and once your hair is dry you will instantly notice the difference.

Above are two photographs taken on different days after using the same shampoo and conditioner and hair drier.
I noticed the difference almost immediately. My hair was smoother with less static that I sometimes get after using my hair drier.
If you normally like lots of volume then avoid this product, but if you do have dry ends and sometimes frizzy flyaway hair then I really recommend this.
The price is quite expensive at £22 for 125ml, but having said that I used about the size of a 5p to all my hair so this should last a while. (I used my Advantage Card points at Boots to buy this but I am now willing to pay with real money when it needs replacing).
You can read all about the product here for the ingredients and the Ojon story and also buy directly from the website but this is the link to the Boots site here where I bought mine.

Have you tried any of the Ojon products?

Rachel xx

Which Handbag Are You?

Aaah Next, how I love thee. 

I was 14 years old when I actually bought myself a pair of shorts from there with my own money. I had a Saturday evening job doing waitressing at my local pub for pittance, and I had managed to save up enough money for some make up and an item of clothing.

Anyhow, as I come back to this decade and remember what I'm supposed to be writing about I came across this lovely chart at the Next blog. With the new season coming fastly upon us it's only a given right that us women treat ourselves to a new handbag. I mean we really need one for the new season don't we?

So what better way to choose a handbag that suits your lifestyle...

Source ~ blog.next.co.uk

To be honest, I spend every weekend differently, so I guess that's why I have so many bags in different colours, sizes, shapes and fabrics, or I just have a little addiction.
Whatever the style you're looking for, Next have a massive variety for you to choose from. I actually have my eye on this beauty...the metal corner shoulder bag in camel at £24.

As I said before aaah Next how I love thee.

Rachel xx

Revlon Lip Butters for Autumn

I have my fair share of Revlon Lip Butters; in fact I may have one in every handbag I own (and that's a lot of handbags..) so when I was in my larger Boots store in Swansea, I couldn't resist picking up these new ones for the coming season.

Revlon Lip Butters are usually a cross between a lipstick and a balm, but with these two they are purely a sheer tinted balm, which I'm quite glad of as I really didn't fancy wearing purple and green lipstick!

Provocative has very fine purple micro glitter and Invite Only having green.

So, do I like them? Well yes, but when applied I can't really see the difference between them. The purple glitter in Provocative is more obvious in the flesh than in the above photograph. Invite Only is completely sheer with only a small hint of green glitter.

If you like more of a hint of colour then these aren't for you. You would probably prefer the Maybelline Baby Lips instead, but for me I like these more as they are really hydrating as my lips get quite dry.

I really didn't need the two but as I was only able to swatch one colour I wasn't able to compare them.

Priced at £7.99 they're not cheap but I know that I will use them a lot, especially in my line of work as they are sheer and just enhance my natural lip colour.

Have you tried these yet?

Rachel 

The Body Shop Honeymania

When I was informed by the lovely people at the press office at The Body Shop HQ that there was going to be a new line being launched I was actually quite excited.

Let me introduce Honeymania…

Honeymania is Community Fair Trade honey that is sourced from Ethiopia and is made from the nectar of wildflowers.

The complete range includes:

·        Soap

·        Lip balm

·        Eau De Toilette

·        Shower gel

·        Bath melt

·        Body scrub

·        Body butter

I was able to sample the range at my local shop and I can honestly say that this is by far my favourite range that they have released.

I was first expecting the products to smell quite sweet and sickly but it is far from it.

The body butter is what you can expect from their other ranges; easily absorbed with lasting softness and fragrance. The Eau De Toilette is my favourite though. Not a heavy scent but with notes of honey and a touch of flowers it is lovely for day wear.

The collection launches on 18^th September, and I will be definitely going back to purchase some full size products.

Rachel xx