Liz Earle Pure Muslin Cloths

Liz Earle Pure Muslin Cloths (£4.25)

It’s sometimes the simplest of things that can really change up and improve your beauty regime and for me, my little saviour is the humble muslin cloth.  Cheap, versatile and extremely easy to use, these little beauties are a staple item in any skin-care savvy girl’s face routine.  I’ve only discovered them in the last year or so but they’re now something I use every day and I’d strongly recommend you give them a try.

What I love so much about muslin cloths is their multitude of uses.  I mainly use mine for removing my make up and cleansing my face.  The perfect partner for a muslin is a hot cloth cleanser as they work really well together to penetrate pores and give the face a deep clean.  Although the cloth feels super soft on your face, it’s actually great at gently exfoliating.  I used to believe the key to exfoliating was to pick the most abrasive scrub I could find and rub it into my skin until it kind of hurt a little bit.  My method was all wrong and I was actually doing more harm than good by being far too rough with the sensitive skin on my face.  Using a muslin cloth is much kinder and achieves better results.  My face feels so soft after giving it the once over with my cloth.

To keep my cloths clean and germ-free I pop them in the wash with my other white stuff around once a week and they always come out like new.  They are super cheap to buy and can be found in most cosmetic stores and baby shops as they’re also good at cleaning up baby puke and dribble (nice!).  I guess it just goes to show how soft they are if you can use them on sensitive baby skin.  My cloths which are pictured are from Liz Earle and come in a pack of two for £4.25.  I like the minty green cotton trim on these ones - it makes them look very cute.  When I have some extra pennies I’m going invest in the famous Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and try it out for myself as I’ve heard so many good things about it.  It comes with a free muslin cloth too.  Any excuse to get a new one eh?

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They won't lose you!

 Jumper - Boohoo

Jeans - Topshop

Shirt - ASOS

Shoes - Next

Bag - Primark

Necklace & Ring - Primark

Nails - Model’s Own Bubblegum

I’ve had this jumper in my wardrobe for some time now and it’s just been hanging there, positively glowing and begging to be worn.  I needed a special occasion to wear this for the first time and decided it would be perfect for my trip to York with the girls from work.  Now lets state the obvious as many random people did throughout the day: this jumper is very, very, very bright!  Yes, three verys!  And as Saturday was a glorious sunshiney day the rays reflected off the wool and made it look even brighter.  This is the kind of colour that radiates onto other people’s faces, bathing them in fluorescent light too.  I feel sorry for whichever poor little nana knit this - I hope she was wearing shades!  But hey, neon is big this season right?  And I’m not one to do things by half.

My jeans are new and from Topshop.  I hate shopping for jeans because I’m such a short ass with a big ass and can never find anything which fits both but I think these Jamie jeans come pretty close!  I tried them on in both petite and regular sizes and was surprised to find the non-petite pair felt better.  The girl in Topshop said a lot of girls say that and often comment on the petite jeans feeling a bit too small even though the leg length is supposed to be the only difference.  Do you girls think the same?

Anyway, I had such an awesome weekend away with some of my favourite people doing some of my favourite things...shopping, drinking, eating, dancing, you get the picture!  The little bit of sun we had has me feeling very excited for summertime where pretty much every weekend will consist of doing all of those things.  I used to think I was more of a Winter girl but there’s something about Summer 2013 that already feels a little bit different.  I have a feeling it’s going to be a good one...

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MAC Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick

 Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick (£14.00)

The launch of the new MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 lipstick has had me burrowing into the depths of my lip product drawer to find an old favourite of mine, Ms Minaj's first Viva Glam offering. Released in February last year, this shade is a must have for bright lip lovers and Nicki fans alike.  And the best part?  The full price of all Viva Glam lipsticks goes to the MAC Aids Fund which helps people suffering with aids worldwide.  Finally, a lippy you can purchase and feel guilt free!

I really love the colour of this lipstick.  It’s a bright, fresh, pink with yellow undertones that make it look a little more peachy than Barbie pink and it works well with most skin tones.  The formula is satin which means it’s long wearing and is supposed to be moisturising however, it’s not the case for me.  I wore this last week when I was out all day attending the One Direction concert (my lips had to look kissable for Harry!) and although I didn’t need to top up the colour much, when I did reapply it towards the end of the night I noticed my lips had really dried out.  That’s nothing a little vaseline in between top ups won’t solve but it is a little disappointing.  Still, it wouldn’t put me off wearing this shade because it’s too lovely not to wear!

I’m really debating buying the Nicki 2 lipstick which is in shops now but I’m a little scared of the lilac colour and I really don’t know if if it will suit me.  I have nothing like it in my collection so it would be very unique but I don’t know how wearable it is.  I think I need to go into MAC and have a little play (any excuse!).  What about you?  Do you love the Nicki Viva Glam lipstick?  Are you going to purchase the new one?  Let me know!

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L’Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Spray Volume

 L’Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Spray Volume (£5.99)

Being a massive fan of Ms Cheryl Cole (let’s face it...which girl from the North East isn’t?), she could put her name to anything and I would probably buy it.  So when L’Oreal released their new range of styling sprays, modeled by Chezza and an array of different hair do’s, I knew I had to give them a go.

There are three different products in the L’Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Styling Spray range: volume, straight and curly.  My every day hair is neither poker straight or curled but more of a messy, undone look so I picked the volume spray.  To get the best results, I apply it to the roots of my hair when it’s wet and then blast my hair with the hair dryer.  Instantly, my hair looks bigger and thicker with a natural bounce to it.  I also really like using this spray alongside my sleep rollers as it helps to hold in the volume from the roller and create extra height.  I make sure I use the two together before a big night out for mahoosive hair!  I’ve never used the spray on dry hair but I’m sure it would be okay to do so if used in moderation.  Remember dry hair doesn’t absorb anything as good as when it’s wet.

The spray promises to hold volume for at least three days and whilst I don’t think it lasts quite that long, my hair still has oomph the next day.  I often wake up after a heavy night looking slightly worse for wear but with my hair still full of life.  The handy trigger dispenses just the right amount of product and it feels weightless in your hair.  I really love this product and I’m definitely going to treat myself to the other two for when I change up my locks a little.  I think you should too!  After all...we’re worth it!  Sorry, sorry...couldn’t resist!

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Xen-Tan Luminous Gold Gel

Xen-Tan Luminous Gold Gel (£24.99)

Spring is finally here and that can only mean one thing: we can now wear dresses without tights!  Woo!  No set of smooth silky pins are complete without a tan however, and although we are seeing a lot more sun, there’s no chance of catching a real one yet.  It’s time to fake it!

The tan I’m reaching for right now is the Xen-Tan Luminous Gold Gel in medium.  I absolutely love the colour this product gives me.  It’s the only false tan I’ve used which achieves the results I would normally get if I’d been on a nice two-week holiday.  The colour is natural but deep at the same time and gives more of a golden glow than a tangerine tinge.  Maybe that’s down to the iridescent shimmer that’s in the gel which stays behind on your skin even after you’ve showered.  I had to double take when I looked at my arm...I was glittering like a Cullen!

Xen-Tan applies really well, dries super fast and best of all, does not have that usual ‘fake tan’ smell.  My boyfriend actually likes the smell of this tan and it’s so refreshing to not hear him whinge about how I smell of biscuits, curry or suchlike.  My only gripe with the application is that the gel is colourless so it can be a little tricky to see where you’ve already applied it.  It’s not a major issue though and I’m just extra careful and make sure I rub it in properly.  

The picture doesn’t really do it justice but it’s the best I’ve got to show you at the minute I’m afraid.  I took this after I applied two coats of tan with one shower in between.  The colour develops after 3 hours, which isn’t long to wait if you’re in a rush, but I always like to sleep on it (thankfully it’s sheet friendly!).  I’ve had about 10 coats from my tube so far and still have enough left for a few more.  I think £24.99 is a really reasonable price and I will most definitely be repurchasing.

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