The Chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 17 - Getting glam with Glossybox

I've never had a Glossybox before and since this months edition was Mermaid or Unicorn edition with an awesome eyeshadow palette from Makeup Revolution i was SOLD. So of course as many a savy shopper does, I dug out a voucher code and purchased away (uh oh... don't tell the other half). You can imagine the disappointment when the below arrived:

So I saw this and thought...Ok maybe they ran out of the boxes. I opened the box further:

I had thank sinking feeling I wasn't going to get what i thought i was purchasing.

Nope. Not mermaid or Unicorn. Regardless of not being the colourful delight i wanted it to be there was many a delight in the box.

Already reviewed in my last blog in Episode 16 of trying to be more woman I received the Too Faced Better than sex Mascara which i LOVED! Please refer back to my other blog for the full review.

As pictured, also reviewed was The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm. This smells slightly Rosy however I didn't find the affect long lasting...... pity.

Another item which my colleague (blogger http://riettezemakeupchapette.blogspot.co.uk/ ) was particularly excited about was the Catrice Volumizing Lip Booster. I'm yet to try this but I'm not wow-ed by the colour.

Something I should have tried this weekend was the Smokey Eye Pen from Rodial. I'm not sure how to use this but I'm sure youtube will have the answer.

The other two are actually samples but I already know that i love the Himalayan Charcoal Mask from The Body Shop and as a lover of masks I look forward to trying the Hydro Face Masks from Rose of Jericho.



The subscription for Glossybox is £10 + postage and packaging so I'm not sure if I'll be trying them again. When i queried why i didn't get the Mermaid or Unicorn box they simply stated that it was sold out. I'm not sure if that's acceptable since its basically false advertisement.

That's all I have for now so Peace Out! ☮🕊

The chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 16 - i don't do fancy dress but i did fancy up my face

Folks it's that Halloween time of year (not actually Halloween yet) which calls for parties, which in turn calls for fancy dress of course. I'm invited to two parties this year (well three but the third is held AFTER Halloween and its my brothers party so I don't count it). My work do and my friend's house party so this episode of trying to be more woman will include two versions of my fancied up face with different products (that's the plan). Lucky you!!!!

First party was the office do. Held immediately after work in our office cafe (basically our office kitchen eating area.) Both nights out my look is goth devil. I chose this look as I need practice with my smoky eye and I already have flashing horns from when I was 13. Job done.

So here is how I looked for the office people....

The following is an end of the night shot so lighting is darker and the makeup has worn off a little in places (eyeliner and eyeshadow mainly).....

What you can't see is what I'm wearing (oooo sounds kinky...SPOILERS it's not)... Well I'm wearing an off shoulder black and white skater dress which is mainly white with black bows from ASOS. The bottoms are half pvc wonders from sofabulous (a brand within littlewoods) which I've teamed with a primark over sized thick knit cardigan. In my usual bargain ways the dress and bottoms were from ebay (LOVE searching new with tags) and the cardi was of course bargain price in primarni! The Bottom especially were a great find as it turns out Littlewoods have a clearance account on Ebay. Check it out along with all these other retailers with clearance accounts:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Littlewoods-Clearance 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/OfficeShoes 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/veryclearance  

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Trespass-Outlet 

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/thesuperdrystore?clk_rvr_id=1349026516353&rmvSB=true

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/boohoo-outlet?clk_rvr_id=1348836892763&rmvSB=true

Onto trying to be more woman... how did i get my face looking this way.... check out the below:

 

I went with a double team red lipstick: The base lipstick is from Bourjois called Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick which goes on as a gloss and mattes out. The lip gloss is from Elle and is an oldie of mine (most labelling has rubbed off over time.) I bring this out every Halloween as it gives a bloody sheen which is perfect for the occasion.

The mascara is an old fave which I've reviewed in a prior blog..here. The Gosh foundation and Primark (foundation stick) highlighter I've also already reviewed....here and here. 

The eyeliner is another Bourjois item but this was entirely new to me. It's unique in its shape and therefore application but I actually found this made it easier to apply. I got this really cheap in my local (Maidstone) TJ Hughes and would really suggest for others to give it a go.

The newest items in my arsenal for this look was the ModelCo contour stick. It looks an odd colour but let me reassure you that this blended beautifully and really finished my look. I got this in my first ever birchbox (which you can see the full review for here) and couldn't have been happier to have discovered it.

Then we have the Mac 8 colour eyeshadow palette. I used only one lighter base colour for this look.

Lastly i used Collection 2000 eyeshadow pencil. This didn't sharpen well and was very crumbly. This could be due to the age but either way this was the first and last time i will be using this.

Second party and second look is similar with a few changes:

For starters this picture is care of a bestie of mine Ruth. Check out her instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/ruthiomac_88/ . Sorry folks but I didn't take a before so as you can see my eyeliner is already bleeding out but this is the best pic i could get. Lighting at my friends was very dark, mainly lit but UV bulbs (as pictured below) hence my fluorescent bra showing through.... my bad.

The bestie loves a sugar skull so her and her hubby went all out on the decorations. Was awesome with dry ice and the works!!!

The make up bag for this night was :

As you can see there are a number of repeats from the day before. I am also missing a key piece from the above which I will still include in the breakdown:

MAC Russian Red Matte lipstick. This isn't pictured but its a great base as it stays on all night. Tried tested and almost all gone.

Too faced better than sex mascara. This was a newbie from my first ever glossybox (review to follow). When i got this mascara my work colleague (check out her blog http://riettezemakeupchapette.blogspot.co.uk/ ) was really excited. For good reason. I find this coats my lashes to thier fullest extent making them look fuller and darker than they have ever been!

Another newbie to the list which differed from the night before was the Fearne Eyeshadow base. No longer available in store but this really helped the eyeshadow stick.

I once again used the MAC eyeshadow palette, but this time i used two other colours. These seemed to work a lot better than the powder pencil combo from the night before.

All the rest was the same.


That's all i have to share for now. Hope you have enjoyed this blog and if you have please read on and check out my other blogs.

Peace out! 🕊☮

The Chronicles of "Trying to be more woman" - Episode 15 - Latest in beauty with my latest in beauty box

I've been watching the Latest in Beauty website since my last delivery, adamant that I'd choose wisely this time keeping reviews, variety and product size in mind. I feel happy with my choices this month. My box is brimming with delights, each which excite me and none of which i felt even a tinge of disappointment with. Well without delay let me introduce you to this months box of delights:

As you can see I chose the following 9 items with my "Beauty Guru" subscription:

1. Burts Bees - Tinted lip balm in rose

2. Murad - AHA/BHA Exfoliating cleaner - really excited about this and am just waiting until I'm through my current cleanser before i give this a go

3. Natracare - Regular Tampons - guess why i wanted these and what I'll be using them for.....

4. Eisenberg Paris - Moistourising smoothing serum
5. Lord & Berry - Matte crayon lipstick in Chic - tried this out and I'm not entirely sure the colour suits me. Will try it out in front of my gal pals to see what they think
6. Nanogen - Root boost thickening hair treatment spray - no hair, do care 😭

7. Feather & Down - Sweet dreams pillow spray - intend to have the Mr try this. He used to suffer from insomnia and although he sleeps better it still takes him a while to drop off to sleep

8. Wellwoman - Wellwoman energy in Lime - never taken vitamins before let alone berocca type stuff. First time for everything

9. Cetaphil - Gentle skin cleanser, Moistourising cream, Moistourising lotion - why wouldn't i try this? Three products in one selection! YAY









Another yay in this box was A FREEBIE (as pictured on the right). I have tweeted Latest in Beauty my joy at the freebie and now i shall tell you blog reading folk. YAY i love a freebie!!!! Will give this a go and review another time.




 












Lastly i was impressed with two small things included in the box this week. Two things which they may not have intended to impress by, but none the less did impress little old me. Firstly...there was instructions on how to use one (well three) of my products and also a voucher for money off another product should i wish to purchase full size later. This is a small gesture but something i really appreciate.

So folks. That's all i have to say on these for now. To see individual reviews you will have to read future blogs (oh yeah; plugging my own blog) as and when i use the products.


Peace out 🕊☮

The Chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 14 - Whats new? Whats used?

Quite a bit of newness this week, some empties and also a return to a product which I've already reviewed.

Lets start with goodbyes with some empties:

Tesco - Coconut & Almond Milk Shampoo
A golden oldie for me. I've mentioned before but i have a sensitive scalp and often my scalp has reactions. On top of that with my super fine and soft hair, if a shampoo leaves too much of a residue then often my head is left a greasy mess. At 80p I'll be getting this again and again.


The body shop - Tea Tree Cleansing Toner
 I've reviewed this before but I got this from The Ashford Retail Outlet for a steal. I've been using this after my cleanser and its really helped to clear up my recent break out (sounds very prison break when in reality i mean SPOTS). I will be getting this again to be sure.


Avon - Sweet Vanilla Bubble Bath
Sold out on their site but you can purchase other festive shaped bubble baths so take a look if you want. I wouldn't suggest it as i have mentioned here, and here. To reiterate my prior post this smelled great in the bottle but didn't smell at all outside of the bottle.



Ok enough of the old, in with the new:

Balanceme - Pure Skin Face Wash
This is my favourite newbie of the week. I got this in my Birchbox this month and i am impressed. I'll start with the best part. It rubs on and washes off quickly and leaves my skin feeling great. I must go on again about sensitive skin but its my blog, so deal with it! This does not irritate my skin at all and leaves me feeling glorious. Now the bad bit. Looks and feels like spunk! Sorry to those who ma be insulted by me bringing up bodily fluids but that's the case. The smell is also kind of chemical for a product which claims to be 99% natural? Regards less of smell, look and texture I am loving this product!

Aldi - Mighty Shampoo
Another product which admittedly i have tried before but well worth a revisit. This moisturises better than my tesco usual but without leaving a residue which will grease up my hair. This smells delicious too which is always great for a shampoo. People don't be put off by store brands. Aldi especially are upping their game and playing against the big boys. So far there isn't a product of theirs i haven't been impressed by.

Rituals - Ritual of Sakura
My colleague seemed excited when i got this in my Tilli box however i wasn't that impressed. The smell is quite old fashioned and not a scent i like. The texture is odd. This is a gel which foams... but not that foamy sometimes and sometimes too foamy. There's no balance. I basically used the whole canister in two washes which is ridiculous.

No.4 - Lumiere D'hiver Super Comb Prep & Protect
What this incredibly long name is meant to tell us is spray which makes it easy to comb (or brush) and protects from heat (should you choose to dry your hair). I air dry my hair so protect i do not need. With my thin, fine hair it does get tangled and does need help. This spray does work to help with my issue HOWEVER it does no more than my Aldi brand. Aldi version is much cheaper so i really wouldn't buy this again nor would i recommend this.






Lastly my other half has asked me to revisit my review on a new product he tried out last week (and is still using). I shall call this sections "He has an opinion on everything":

 The other half wanted to again reiterate that he liked the scent ALOT however he has found a design floor in this bottle. He claims that its incredibly hard to get the wash out the bottle which is frustrating for him as he really does like this product. Pity its so expensive.....



That's all folks. No more new, old, empties or revisits.


Hope you have enjoyed this article and if you have suggestions please do let me know.


Peace out ☮🕊

Thr chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 13 - Feeling sorry for myself

I was feeling a little under the weather this week and as always was feeling very sorry for myself. My first go to for any pain or illness is sleep. Well unfortunately being a working day my mind wasn't willing to cooperate with that. I woke up at 5.50 and I was up for the day. Still I got to rest even if I wasnt sleeping.

I'd have loved to get some household chores done but I really wasn't feeling up to it. So as many of us do, I set up camp on the sofa under my faux fur blanket and switched on Netflix. 

Anyway Ive got distracted from the main point. As I felt a little better in the afternoon and as noted already my skin is really horrendous at the moment I thought now was as good a time as any to do a face mask. The mask I went with was the Primark Deep cleansing blueberry bubble mask. It was my first time using s primark mask and a first using a bubble mask but at 80p I wasn't worried if it was useless. 

Application - the liquid comes out as a viscous fluid with a creamy looking consistency (yes, it looks like spunk)

Smell - with blueberry in the title name of the products , I was expecting something fruity. It wasn't. It wasn't a very pleasant smell for me but that could be me being ill as I've lost some sense of taste

Consistency when on face - once on, the foam starts up pretty quickly. It did feel a bit uncomfortable and itchy while I was waiting.....

Removal and after effects - washing off was easy enough however it was sticking to my flannel and really wouldn't wash out. After my skin felt a tad sticky... But no more cleansed...

Would I recommend this? Yes. It's a cheap buy to try out a bubbling face mask. Did it do much for me? No, but again didn't expect much for 80p.

If you like this, please visit my older blog on other mask's i've tried :)

Well that's all I have for you on this one. Hope you enjoyed!!!!

Life - Paranoia - annoying as hell, or is it just me

Like most people I manage to keep the crazy within under wraps until you get to know me. If you know me well enough however (for a rare few) you'll know that I'm massively paranoid about everything.

To some that may appear to be a bold statement however let me tell you that I woke up worrying that the neighbours were still parked over my drive without looking out of the window to check which feels me with this feeling of "why do they hate me so much". Now a rational side of me says firstly check they are even there (only half over now yay) and secondly stop taking it personally. They saw an opportunity and took it. That's all. Still my mind rocks back and forth until I finally check and see the van is gone. Yay past the first anxiety of the day in 10 minutes.

It continues however in the new evolution that my car is broken and will it die entirely today? No it didn't (another yay). That isn't the end however as standing on my platform I then have a mini concern that a regular who gets on my train will be here and want to talk. He was here and and he did. Got through that. I've only been awake less than an hour and this is how much I worry. Ahead of me is a whole day of worry, paranoia and anxiety which is standard.

Is it just me? The other half is the opposite and cannot fathom why I worry so much and half the time nor can I. I seem to be in a constant state of concern but at the moment I've really upped the ante.

I have some standard worries like:

• money (who doesn't) or more importantly not having enough
• Family - been a tough busy year for both sides of the family and I worry about them all and how they are coping
• Friends - I'm always concerned that I'm not seeing them enough and that they may stop liking me all together (I know this is particularly pathetic but it's an honestly almost a daily concern of mine)
• Relationship status - I've come to realise that I compare mine with everyone else and i really shouldn't. We are one of a kind so how could I compare.

You may notice work is not on that list. Well that is something I don't actually feel concern over. I have a stable job where I have an open and  honest relationship with  my manager and i Know what is expected of me and other than the commute I feel stress free from that side of things. I do get paranoid sometimes that people may dislike me in the work place but I've come to accept this as a possible fact (forget the haters because haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate.)

Where does this paranoia and anxiety come from, I don't know. It's been my dark passenger (yay Dexter quote) for so long I forget when it all began. I talk this out with the other half a number of times a day but it's not getting better. Until it begins to control or disrupt my life entirely I'll continue with my mini inner turmoil. I hope it isn't just me however. Misery love company they say and it would make me less consciousness if I knew I wasn't alone in these feelings.....

That's all folks on that. Peace out ☮️✌️

The chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 12 - damn you blemish stick

So folks in this not so special Tuesday me and my colleague decided to jazz up an ordinary day by renaming today Neon Tuesday. It isn't to become a national day I'm afraid but for a few in our finance team at work we are rocking the bright neon today.

Since today is a little different I wanted to put an effort into my face so what happens yesterday.... Mount Etna decides to mould itself to my face.

Sod's law, I know..I bought a blemish stick from Avon a little while back so this was an opportunity to give it a whirl... well..... Meh. It doesn't want to stick to my face and like most blemish sticks it's entirely the wrong colour for my face. So rather than conceal I'm left with a large paler lump on my face..... Yay. I tried and at least this has tea-tree in it so perhaps it's helping a little. Its currently only £2.50 so if you're tempted, now's the time to give it a go. I won't go on about my bad experience with Avon again, but here's my blog about them if you're interested.

The rest of my face I'm overall pleased with. This morning I tried a the technic primer (bought from fragrance direct for £1.75) out for the first time and then used the simple light moisturiser (i reviewed this on my recent blog so please refer back for more details). I feel the combo has made a difference as a base for the makeup and am pretty pleased. The Revlon gloss is a subtle touch to my bold look (yay neon Tuesday). I tried the Primark bronzer stick again today but this time along with the W7 liquid highlighter. The bronzer is probably too dark for me but runs in well but the highlighter... It's nice and glittery but other than that I feel it does little else. I'm also wearing my gosh foundation which I have mentioned in previous blogs and my L'Oreal eye pencil and Maybelline mascara.

Onto my fashion choices (picture care of itsshradha which the tag line #betterthanitsshradha comes from)..... Bold and beautiful i say. I am a pink Princess and proud today. I got this jumper for FREE from www.everything5pound.com when using a voucher code. I hated it when I first ordered it online and when it arrived but when I tried it on..... love at first sight. The jeans (sold out already) are also from everything5pound with a simple h&m black cami. I finished the look off with my office leather bright pink beauties which I had re-heeled yesterday. I love that these beauties are back in action so expect to see more of them. The socks were another recent purchase from ASOS, all topped off with my only accessory today which is my fitbit!

Well that's all I have on this neon Tuesday. I hope you all enjoyed and please do read my other posts for more makeup newbie reviews and fashion tips (maybe I'm not the best to take tips from).

Peace out ☮️️

The Chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 11 - Weekly, what have I used.

Going to try a new direction with the weekly "what have i used". I feel like I'm posting the same things every week because being realistic, it takes a while to get through a shower gel/Soap/shampoo/conditioner. Its not so exciting to show you the same thing over and over again. Instead let me show you new things, old favourites and used items.



So in with the new:



Above are three of the new products I've been trying out this week.

On the left we have Simple hydrating light moisturiser  which is something which I've Incorporated into my daily routine. This is such a light cream that it soaks in quickly and remains lightly on the skin (until your natural oils replace it). The only thing which could improve this would be if they could do something with the scent or lack there of. I'm a massive fan of the clean Nivea cream scent and have come to expect a fresh smell on a moisturiser.

In the middle is the Avon Sweet Vanilla bubble bath. It was our (oh the Mr do love a bubble bath) first time trying this out tonight and the scent is strong in the bottle but weak out of the bottle (and in the bath.... obviously). Would i recommend this? I wouldn't recommend anything from Avon as i did not enjoy their website experience nor their customer services (see my rage page article for further information regarding my customer service experience). This was however super cheap so get it while it lasts if you want some cheap bubble bath....

Lastly on the right is the L'occitane Supple skin oil. I've been using this in the morning and at night on and around my nails. I've been using this less than a week but can really see an improvement on the skin around my nails. I've even convinced the Mr to let me use this on him. I'm hoping if his skin around his nails is less rough, it may stop him chewing his nails. We'll see........

To the left is a new Shampoo to the Mr but an old friend to me. This the Aldi's Hydration Shampoo. Another super bargain. This shampoo has a sumptuous scent (so great I'd love to eat it). Hydration is in the name and hydration  is what it does. I tried this out previously when i was regularly showering at the gym (I haven't stopped showering, I've stopped going to the gym instead) but for me this was TOO hydrating. After a month of use i found it was leaving too much of a residue on my hair meaning that my hair was greasy even after washing. I do have super soft hair and when the Mr asked for a shampoo conditioner combo I thought this could do the job for him. He seems to like it and I'm using it once or twice a week which is agreeable with the delicate fine hair i have.

On the right is the Crabtree & Evelyn moroccan myrrh hair and body wash. This is another newbie for my mister. I bought this in the January sales from T K Maxx for a steal at only £3 (you can see I've poorly attempted to peel the labels off which is why i know the price still). I was unsure that he would like the scent but he seems pleased. Although it can be used on the hair and scalp, he is using this only as a body wash. I find it quite an old fashioned scent which is why I'm shocked that the other half likes it. He does surprise me still even after 7 years....








That ends the new stuff. Sad but true......


Onto the empties. 

Looking around online, empties seem to be a big thing among beauty bloggers. I'm not sure if its a sign of  "I've used the whole product so can review this fully" or a mark of pride almost like a trophy to say "i told you i had this and was trying it out".  Well here are my empties from this week:

My empties are the Shay & Blue perfume which i received in my Tili box recently. It was a small size so didn't last me very long. When i saw that the scent was blood orange i was worried as I'm not a fruity perfume person usually. Again when i sprayed a small amount in the lid i wasn't blown away. Perfume will always smell differently on each individual and once on my skin i really loved this!


The second empty is the The body shop seaweed deep cleansing facial wash. As mentioned before in my blogs this came from the Ashford retail outlet. I really loved this and it left my skin feeling really refreshed. I'd be tempted to get this again!







Lastly for this article i really wanted to share my hand wash. I know strange thing to want to share....

The handwash bottle is from Debenhams but it was some time ago so i couldn't say what make and price it was. Sorry too long ago and that really wasn't the point of me including this. I was running low on handwash and my other half had invited a friend over. I added my new handwash to the top of the old and its created this awesome mix effect which you can see a little in the picture but trust me when i say, its much better in person.

This mix is a mix of Aldi's Bubblegum handwash and Detol antibacterial handwash. The bubblegum wash was super awesome smelling and the scent stayed on your skin for some time. I worry about going cheap on a handwash as you want it to do its job....clean. The detol wash i cannot say anything about as its mixed with the old wash.....





Well that's all folks. Hope you enjoyed and if you did please do follow me!

Peace out 🕊☮ 

The chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 10 - Birchbox supports breast cancer

This month I decided to get my first Birchbox beauty box. Why this month? Well I've been keeping an eye on the products within the monthly box and this month I felt that I wanted everything that was a possible option. This is something I really liked about Birchbox, not only can you see the possible options available in the box for that month but also you get to choose between two of the items every time. This months choices were between ModelCo contour stick or Megalash mascara. I actually chose the option "surprise me" as, as i have already noted I would be happy with any of the this months options.


So next questions. What were the options and what did i get? Here..... have another picture:

I am yet to try these but i can tell you i am very excited about a couple of these items and cannot wait to try them.

Firstly the Spectrum Marble cosmetic brush. I haven't had much experience with brushes in general being that I am still a super amateur. Regardless i am really excited to give this a go.

Likewise i cannot wait to try the contour perfecting sponge from Ecotools. I'm really experimenting with contouring at the moment. I've been applying bronzer and highlighter really subtly and cautiously as i have been so unsure. With the blending sponge I'm going to search for some videos and try and up my contour game. I will post the results!

Leading from the contour sponge I am really desperate to try out the contour stick from modelco. I've already tried this out on my hand and it seems to blend really well. My colleague who is also a beauty blogger seems even more excited by this and excitement is really contagious.

The Number 4 Lumiere dhiver super comb prep and protect (WOW that's a long name) will be something which I can give a go almost immediately as part of my day to day routine. I'm not as excited by this but it is a practical item which I'll be able to use.

Another item which I'll start to try out immediately will be the Balance me Pure skin face wash which appears to be a Marks and Spencer's product. I always worry about a face wash as if i have a reaction with my sensitive skin it could really ruin all the work I've been trying to do to clear up my blemishes. Oh well. Lets see....

Lastly and the least wow of the products was the Anatomicals Grab your melons shower gel. Its a shower gel folks. It may smell nice but its going to be a sweet smelling gel just like many others out there I'm sure.



As happy as I was with my box i wanted to try one other product so BAD. The product i really wished for in the box was R + Co Badlands dry shampoo Paste. Pity but its an expensive product so its unlikely i will now get a chance to try this. Oh well.



I have the feeling most boxes came with the Grab your melons shower gel as this box edition was pink in line with "CoppaFeel". CoppaFeel is all about ladies keeping an eye on our breasticles and making sure we feel for any lumps and bumps. Their website has a GREAT instruction guide on how to check them which any lady should check out https://coppafeel.org/your-boobs/boob-check-101/ .


Well i hope you folks enjoyed this article and ladies..... go have a grope.... of yourself. I do not encourage you to go grope others!!!

Peace out ☮🕊

Rage page - national what day?

Is everyday of the year now a national day of some sort. Yesterday was national mental health day and although it's worthwhile highlighting that mental illness is a plight that noone should be ashamed of I'm unsure why it has a day? Just like today which according to my Facebook homepage is national girls day. This is girls day, not woman's day which is March but what's the difference and why does EVERYTHING have a day.

Surely if we naming days it should be for something monumental or world changing? There are national squirrel appreciation days, national talk like Yoda days, take your pants for a walk day (according to www.timeanddate.com this dates back to before 10 BC in China) and all other random days. How many days commemorate the real moments in history? On the 9th November 1989 the Berlin wall was torn down. There is no day to commemorate that and whether you know the significance of this event or not everyone is aware this is one of the many big moments in history.

The reformation was another big change in history which from my brief research (this morning on the train on Google) only Germany commemorates? This event changed the world as we know it, taking power away from the Catholic church who back then reigned supreme over all countries and gave religion to the masses. I'd happily commemorate this day.

Don't get me wrong... I don't hate all these holidays as some are fun like bring your 🐕 to work day and national talk like a pirate day (which when I was a teen a friend of mine tired to do all day). These days a light hearted and silly but I still can't fathom why they exist and why we know about them.

If you google national days you'll see there are so many that they are almost everyday with there being numerous national days which clash! Facebook is always trying to tell me what I should be celebrating but it's so often now I ignore the reminders which is a pity as I may miss some of the more worthwhile ones like  world cancer Day, Holocaust memorial day, world book Day and many more.

Well rage over for now. Hope you enjoyed and do tell me your thoughts on all these national days.

Peace out ☮️✌️🕊️🏳️

The Chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 9 - A weekly "what have i used"?

Its been a while. Busy week, busy mind, not really had the time to write a blog. I haven't forgotten so here's my weekly used bits:

 There are a number of repeats so I'll take us through some of these as logically as I can.

On right are three the body shop products I used this week. I purchased all of these from the Ashford Retail Outlet. This outlet is well worth a visit for any bodyshop fan. I got the two smaller bottles for £1.25 each and the bigger bottle was part of a set which was also heavily reduced (sorry but it was a while ago and I really cannot recall the price on this).

I have reviewed the two smaller bottles before but below are the links in case you haven't read my previous blogs:

Seaweed Facial wash - £7.50 full price

Tea Tree Cleansing Toner - £6.00 full price 

NEW to the list:

Moringa Shower Gel - £5.00 full price. I found this to be quite moisturising, leaving my skin a little greasier than I'd like. The scent isn't really doing much for me either. As noted above i did get this as a set and I loved some of the other scents that came before this.

Both of those on the left are from Avon. If you read my blog on Customer Service you will know i recently placed my first order with them and fell out of love very quickly due to their terrible customer service team.

Displayed on the left are two of the products of which I purchased in my order.

The Bubble bath was not a winner for me. It bubbled as it should and was gentle on the skin but the scent was so old LADY. Still at £1.50 I'm not heartbroken over the purchase.

The Lip Balm on the other hand was a big win! I get really chapped lips and this was great for just before bed, lasting all the way til morning or first thing in the morning, lasting me til my first coffee. Once again this was a steal at only £2.20 I would like to suggest to readers to go out and get this. I say "would like to" as due to their customer service and super slow delivery I would suggest anyone to shop with them. Sad as there are so many great products!

On the right are two Lacura products. Lacura is the cosmetic/beauty make from Aldi.

I mentioned before that I prefer this purple mouthwash and after using it after the last one I can confirm this is still a solid favourite. At only £0.95 I'm not sure why everyone isn't using this?!?!

The other item is a lime shower gel bought for my other half but I wanted to give it a go as it smelt so edible. Once again an absolute steal at only £0.65 and so much better than similar products I've tried in this scent from other superstores. Well worth a try if you have an Aldi near by.

So many snub Aldi and the alike economy/own brand products. I would really urge people to give these products a whirl! You could really save some pennies without making any sacrifices!

Yep. Its those guys again. Sanctuary Spa is a make which I use daily. Their products always do as it says on the tin and the scents are DIVINE!

I have reviewed these both before and if you are thinking of purchasing from the company directly, or via boots, expect to pay the matching price tag. If you want a bargain however T J Hughes always has a great selection of their products as well as many other well known brands.

I found T J Hughes entirely by accident. When I moved to Maidstone I had a stroll round the shops and found this gem. Its brilliant and I have since introduced my family to this wonder. Their website isn't as varied so I'd urge you to visit your local store to check for bargains!

This a two new things for me rolled into one. I'd never heard of this brand and nor had I tried a foam cleanser. I purchased this from my favourite T J Hughes store as noted above for a bargain £1.99. This can be found on their website here.

Its noted on the bottle that there are moisturising benefits to this and that it can be used everyday. With the exception to today I have used it and unfortunately I have more spots and blemishes than ever. This could be due to the makeup I wore twice in the week, or could be due to stress in my life HOWEVER it hasn't helped as it should have. Ironically in gaining spots in places on my face which are usually clear, the blemish spots i usually have on my cheek have disappeared since using this. Swings and roundabouts ay?

To the right you will see two products both of which came in my Tili Box from QVC.

This was my first box from QVC and it didn't disappoint. It isn't a subscription and there are no surprises. You buy the box as seen and they aren't even regularly released. Its a case of being in the know or keeping your eye out.

Of the two on the right I could actually pick a favourite.

The Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat promises to be a nail strengthener and conditioner. This couldn't have come at a better time as I'd recently had two sets of gel nails and I'd peeled the last set off, just as the nail technician told me not to do. This really did work as nice recovery for my nails. At £23.50 it is steeply priced. I'm unsure if I'd purchase this again simply due to the price. Pity.

The Shay & blue perfume was a surprise. I knew I was relieving this as stated already, but I didn't expect to like it. The Scent is Blood orange which is a little sharp and slightly sweet. Its a lovely scent and lasts well! I think it's quite a summery scent and would have done better in a summer edition box. At only £49 a bottle however, this is cheaper than most perfumes and I'd definitely consider buying this again.

Below is everything I received in my Tili Box. I will get round to reviewing eventually, I promise!

Last but not least we come to how did I wash this week. Well I have had a couple of reactions this week (not sure what to, and often am never sure) so I went for a fairly simply soap.

This Culticura soap was purchased from Fragrance direct for £1.49. It has an old fashioned scent and as advertised is gentle on the skin. For my this is great as it doesn't dry out my skin but does get my skin squeaky clean without leaving any residue.



Well that's all I have this week. I hope you've enjoyed and if you have any tips or questions, please to let me know.


Until next time. Peace out! ☮🕊

The chronicles of "trying to be more woman" - Episode 8 - Holiday face!

Hi guys and gals.


In case you were not aware I spent the last weekend in Sunny, cold, warm and wet Bruges, Belgium. I saw many wonderful sights, one of them being my made up face but we'll get to that later. First heres a couple of pretty pictures (which arent of my face) taken over the last few days:

This particular article is a "chronicle of trying to be more woman" so i shant dwell on the travel side too much but a quick overveiw I believe is in order. I saw a couple of museums, a few restaurants and a lot of pubs/bars. Pictured above was one of the many views of the canals, this shot in particular was taken beside a convent. The picture on the left was taken from the side of "Sint-Janshospitaal". This was a really interesting museum which i visited which was church turned church charity ran hospital. Really interesting history there and the paintings in here were beautiful! Its one let down.... the snotty ticket person. She was outrightly rude to me and my mum and honestly shamed the belgium people. I was so shocked by her behaviour!



RANT OVER



Ok folks so back to "trying to be more woman" after the culture above. I actually made an effort both of the nights out on the town however I may have forgotten to take a picture of my first face. Oh well we'll have to come back to that another time. Below is a picture of my face on the second night out:

So critique on my own face. I loved the lip colour but my parents both HATED IT! My sister-in-law loved the brows (did nothing to them so thats great) and my own criticism is that I didn't got heavy enough on the bronzer. That was me being too cautious.


So the next big question. What did I use? Well take a look below:

In no order in particular :

GOSH
X-ceptional wear foundation - I have reviewed this already in my prior blog however I will review again. This is a really fluid foundation but I would recommend a good moistoirizer as a base as this would otherwise dry out your skin. My colour is "Natural 12" and this is a lovely cheap buy from superdrug for only £7.99.


MAC 
In extreme dimension 3D Black lash - Prior full review on another of my blog. Please see http://torrancestips.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/the-chronicles-of-to-be-more-woman_17.html 


Green People
Instant definition lip crayon - CURRENTLY ON SALE FOR ONLY £10. Please see my prior review on http://torrancestips.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/the-chronicles-of-to-be-more-woman_21.html


Eyelash curler - Too old to remember where this was from and how much it cost.


Primark

Bronzer Stick - £1.50 so what you waiting for? Everyone can afford this so try this for yourself. I used this on top of my foundation and found this really easy to blend. As noted above I don't think I used enough but I like how well this blended and that it left a hint of glitter on my cheeks!

Foundation stick - £2.50 so not as cheap....but still cheap. I used this as a highlighter. On my picture above I used it below my eyebrows (which may be why the sister-in-law noticed them more), under my eyes, down my nose and above my lip. This blended SUPER well and I was so impressed. I think I would re-buy this however I am yet to try out ANY other highlighter so....





Laval
Pearl Eye shader - £2.50. The link is to amazon but I bought this in store from TJ Hughes for less. This was easy enough to apply but it took a few layers to make it seen.... Another bonus for this was that this lasted.



Overall my face lasted all night with only a reapplication of the lipstick so I was pretty happy. Both the lipstick and bronzer had a glittery edge which is great for a night out. Only thing i'd like to change is more bronzer however overall I loved the look!

 Thats all for this installment. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading.

PEACE OUT ☮🕊