Thursday 27 February 2014

Colour Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow by Maybelline Review!


Hey BumbleBeas!
I am so happy I get to review this product finally! I had been after one of these eyeshadows for months but there was always something stopping me from buying one...until now!

I bought the colour Everlasting Navy, and let me tell you, the name is correct: it is everlasting! When I wore the eyeshadow it lasted the ENTIRE DAY morning through night without smudging or anything. It stayed a vibrant colour and made no mess whatsoever. This surprised me as my eyelids are really inconvenient and whenever I normally wear eyeshadows they instantly smudge and make a right mess of my eye make up. I am super impressed!

I adore the navy blue colour. It has high pigmentation and makes my eyes stand out, coordinating well with my blue eyes.

The only problem I have with this eyeshadow is that I find it tricky to apply! I tried using a brush but that didn't go very well so I then tried with solely my finger but I wasn't much more lucky. Eventually I got on well with doing a mix of both. Please let me know how you apply this certain eyeshadow brand?

But overall I am so happy and by far this is the best eyeshadow I have ever used. I will definitely be buying more of these!

Thanks for reading! What do you think of these eyeshadows? What colour(s) do you own? Let me know I'd love to hear!


Tuesday 25 February 2014

Easter Gifts for Babies!

Hello BumbleBeas!

Last summer I had the privilege of becoming an Auntie to my beautiful niece Lisa-Mae whom of which I am very close to. This Easter will be her first Easter and I would like to make it fun throughout her childhood as I know it would have been something I would have enjoyed as a child.

But, what do you do for a 7 month old baby at Easter? She can't eat chocolate eggs and can't go Easter Egg hunting, so I sat for ages and wondered: What on earth could I do for her? I searched the internet for ideas but nothing was helping me! So after I decided upon this idea I thought I'd share it with everyone who may be in a similar situation to me.

First of all I decided I would buy her an Easter egg basket which I would keep throughout her childhood for every Easter. I also thought it would come in handy when she is old enough to do Easter Egg hunts as she can collect her eggs and put them in the basket.
I took a trip to Hobbycraft and found this pink felt bucket with flowers on which was only £1.50!

I then decided on a theme which I made about rabbits. Every item I would collect for the bucket would have to be somehow related to rabbits which just adds to the fun of it.

For my first present I found this cute fluffy rabbit from Ikea. I can't remember the price of it but I don't think it expensive.

Secondly, I found these cute little socks with little rabbit heads on the feet at Baby M&Co which have a rattle inside! I thought of these as practical yet still fun. I am not 100% sure how much they were but I think they were £2.

Lastly, I found a hard book which is baby proof called 'Peekaboo!' in Waterstones for £4.99. It's a touch-and feel book with flaps inside and you have to lift the flap to see something pop out with fun material on to touch. Excellent for learning babies! As you can see there is a rabbit on the front cover and overall I knew my niece would love it.

I doubt I will add anything else to the collection but you never know! I haven't told my sister (niece's mother) about it as I want it to be a surprise for both of them. I hope to continue this tradition always for my niece and I can't wait to design Easter Egg hunts for her! I am really looking forward to Easter now so I can see her smiling face when she sees her presents.

What did you used to do for Easter as a child? Are you buying anything for the child in your life? Let me know and also tell me what you think of my idea!


Thursday 20 February 2014

Shopping Haul! Swatches + First Looks

Hey BumbleBeas!
Today I went shopping with my sister and spent much more money than I was planning to. Whoops! But how on earth could I resist?
  1. Bubblegum Lib Scrub from LUSH.
I have used this lip scrub before and loved it SO much that I bought more after using it for a year until a ran out. It is such a good lip scrub and well worth the £5 it costs.

2.  SEVENTEEN Miracle Matte Pressed Powder

I have never worn powder before so this is a completely new experience for me. Once I get the hang of it I will definitely write up a proper review on it after a long while of using it. It was 3 for 2 at Boots and I already had decided on SEVENTEEN foundation so I thought I may as well give it ago! Something Blogger has taught me is that it is good to try new make up products and broaden my horizons rather than just sticking to the same thing for years until they get discontinued. But this powder just looks beautiful!
 

3. Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow: Everlasting Navy 

I have been wanting this for SUCH A LONG TIME! I have been meaning to buy color tattoo eyeshadow for months and finally I am pleased to say I have it. I tried it on briefly on one eye and I have to say I absolutely love the colour. Once I have worn it properly I promise I will write a review on it although you've probably read hundreds of them already!

4. SEVENTEEN On the Spot Foundation

Seeing as my concealer is being discontinued I needed to find something to replace it. As someone who suffers from acne and scarring, the claims of this foundation clearing up your skin in four weeks was something I just needed to see. I haven't worn it yet but once I have I am planning to write a review so look forward to that! Also, because of the tube I didn't expect to see a pump when I pulled off the lid!


5. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick Dark Night Waterl-Oops!

I had been looking for a purple lipstick for a long while and after swatching many brands and shades I finally settled on this one! When I wear it properly (which I am excited to do so) I will write a full review on it. However I did try it on for a little while earlier to see what the colour was like on my lips and it looked better than I imagined. I also ate my tea and gargled some salt water after doing it and it seemed to stay pretty well which gives me very high hopes. Please note I found it highly difficult to take a photo that really showed off the purple in it so I took various photos. You'll just have to trust me on this one- it is a deep purple!

    



So that's it! I hope you liked my haul. Have you used any of these products? What do you think? Like I've said, I will be writing up reviews after a fair amount of use so look out for those!






Tuesday 18 February 2014

Mermaid's Tail Nail Art

Hey BumbleBeas!



My ultimate favourite nail design I have ever done myself as got to be this one. I was so super proud when I did it and had plenty of compliments! It is such a beautiful design and I love it. It's called: Mermaid's tail.

However, I cannot take the credit for the idea!

If you want to learn how to do this lovely and easier than it looks design, watch this tutorial by CutePolish:

Or click the link here

What do you think of my version of it, did I pull it off well? Will you try it?
Let me know!

Monday 17 February 2014

Lush: Rose Queen Bath Bomb Review!

Hello BumbleBeas!
Product: Rose Queen bath bomb
Who would I buy it for? A female friend
Rating: 4/10
I’ve read many negative reviews on this bath bomb and I'm afraid I'm going to be adding to them. I recieved this as a present from my sister and was eager to use it for a relaxing bath as I was sick. It fizzed out fairly quickly and turned the water a shade of pink. It was actually a better colour than the one the photos represent so don’t be fooled by it. What made it so different to other bath bombs was that it actually also released real parts of a flower in to the bath. I thought it would be rose petals and such but it was evident it wasn’t a rose.
There were more bits in the bath shown in the photos and they included a flower head, bits of stem, petals and various other things I wasn’t sure of. Although I was in the bath for an hour and a half those bits annoyed me and would tickle my skin! Also when I pulled the plug out not all of it went down the plug hole so I reluctantly had to pick bits out of the bath and plug hole to put in the bin.
My skin was smelling alright of flowers but I wouldn’t buy this product ever again nor would I buy it for anybody else. It wasn’t the worst bath in the world but it certainly wasn’t the best.
Have you used this bath bomb? What did you think? Let me know!

*please note this review was written about a year ago on my old tumblr blog*

Sunday 16 February 2014

My Favourite Eye Make-Up Remover!

Hello BumbleBeas!

As someone who is always wearing mascara and HEAVY eyeliner, eye make-up remover is always a necessary.

I have found that the best one for me is the eye make-up remover gel from Boots which has cucumber in it and is for all skin types.

It is a nice consistency and lasts for months and months and months. You only have to use a small amount at a time, even with someone like me uses a large amount of eyeliner. It spreads on easily on a pad and before you know it your eye make-up will be off in super quick time!

The great thing is that it has cucumber in it so it gives a cooling sensation that makes the skin around your eyes feeling fresh.

It is only £1.50 from Boots and you don't even need to restock that often! I have been using it for about two years now and I probably will for many more. Who needs to spend lots of money?

What eye make-up remover do you use? Let me know!



Saturday 15 February 2014

Liebster Award!


Hello!
Thanks to Imogen Fluer I have been nominated for the Liebster Award which is designed for blogs with smaller bloggers to get to know each other which I think is a pretty fabulous idea! I was so happy to see my nomination as it tells me at least one person looks at my blog which is pretty cool.

You have to answer the 11 questions the person who nominated you  has created, then create 11 different questions for your own nominations to answer and then go and let them know you've nominated them.

Here are my answers to the questions Imogen Fluer gave me:

1. If you were to be bought one beauty product, what would it be?
If it was something I always need it would be Collection Lasting Perfection concealer! That is my baby. But if it would be to try something new I'd like to be bought something from Benefit to try.

2. What colour is always on your nails?
Red! Although I don't usually ever have one solid colour on my nails, red is mostly my colour to go for with nail art designs.

3.  What is your favourite book?
This is such a difficult question! I cannot simply put one! But I love:

  • The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  • City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments) series by Cassandra Clare
  • The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth
  • Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman

4.  What is your favourite highstreet make up brand?
L'oreal is my favourite! I get my usual eyeliner from there and they do great lipsticks.

5.  What clothes shop do you go to most?
Blue Banana is where I get the majority of my clothes from. It's my alternative heaven!

6.  Where would you like to visit most in the world?
America! That sounds super common and cliche I know but I've never been before.

7.  What is your favourite skincare product?
Tea Tree face wash by The Body Shop is my skincare essential, although I use pretty much all the Tea Tree range from there. 

8.  What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?
A tough one! Perhaps my completely laced/netted top which I got for Christmas. I have NO IDEA where it came from but it seems to go with everything I wear whether I wear it over top or underneath.

9. Who would you like to meet most?
There is this YouTuber called Charles Trippy (also the bassist in the band We The Kings) and his wife Alli who I have been watching for three years now and are my inspiration. I'd probably cry if I met them.

10.  What is your favourite mascara?
Maybelline Great Lash Blackest Black Mascara. I have about 9 of these! 

11.  What is your order at Starbucks?
Hot chocolate with cream always. Yum!




My Nominations Are:
[There are supposed to be 11 but I don't actually follow many smaller blogs! Hopefully I shall now be able to follow more because of this!]

Emily (my real life best friend!)
Daisy Locks (Emily) 

My 11 Questions Are:

1. What is your favourite colour/design you've ever had on your nails?
2. What is your favourite lip balm?
3. Who is your favourite artist/band at the moment?
4. How often do you wear eyeliner?
5. Your dream career?
6. What is your favourite face wash to use?
7. Jumpers or cardigans?
8. Your favourite pair of shoes?
9. Why did you decide to begin blogging?
10. Do you watch any YouTubers? 
11. If you could recommend ONE beauty product to everyone, what would it be?

Thanks for reading!





Friday 14 February 2014

Current Body Butter: Mango Body Butter from The Body Shop

Hey Bumblebeas :-)

Today I thought I would share with you the body butter I am currently using. I have quite a large collection of body butter at the moment which I will make a big post on soon but for now I am going to show you the one I am currently using.
This mango butter smells amazing, I almost want to eat it! Like all other Body Shop body butters it glides on your skin easily, moisturising and leaving a lovely lingering smell on your skin.

I also have the mango lip balm which is just as nice!

What body butter are you currently using? Let me know!



Thursday 13 February 2014

Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream Review!

Hello BumbleBeas!

I have been using this BB Cream for about 3 weeks now which I think is a good amount of time to be able to write a fair review. So let's begin!


This BB Cream comes in 3 shades and can be used with or without moisturiser. It comes in a large tube and is only £7.99 from Boots!

Pros
  • It is lightweight
  • Doesn't make you orange and matches your skin colour
  • Doesn't take a lot to use on your face
  • Is moisturising
  • Looks like you have no make up on 
  • Easy to apply and doesn't take much skill
  • Makes your skin glow
  • Has SPF 30
  • Feels fresh
  • Looks smooth
  • Doesn't collect in to make up lines in creases

Cons
  • DOESN'T hide imperfections/scars/acne
  • Using too much makes your skin shiny

As you can see below, on the back of the tube it names 8 things it supposedly does which I have mostly either said works or not. I'd say altogether it does 6/8 of those things.



If you're like me and suffer acne, have redness and scarring on your face then this isn't for you to use solely by itself. Although I find it makes my skin look smoother and natural like I have no make up on, it does not hide imperfections. 

The good thing about this product though is that when there's a day where you can't be bothered to wear a full face of make up but want your face to look smooth, this is a good product. For me personally, when I am staying at home I will put this all over my face then just add my usual concealer to the parts I really want to conceal.

On a daily use, I use a part of it. I don't use foundation and only use concealer on areas I want to hide (which funnily enough is most of my face) however I will use this on my eyelids, above my eyelids and across my cheekbones. Having it across my cheekbones kind of gives it a glow (only with a small amount) and I use it on my eyelids as my eyelids are prone to have make up lines in the creases. 

Overall I only recommend this for people who are lucky enough to have flawless skin and want to go for a natural look. I also recommend it for those days where you don't want a full face of make up.

I will continue using this product until it runs out but I won't be quick to buy another. Perhaps I will for my eyelids and under my eyebrows but other than that I am not 'wowed' by it.

Rate: 7/10

What do you think? Have you used this product? Let me know!




Monday 10 February 2014

Lush: Karma Solid Perfume Review!

Hello BumbleBeas!

Today I am going to share with you a review I wrote about a year ago on an old tumblr blog about Karma solid perfume from Lush. Enjoy!
Product: Karma Solid Perfume
Who Would I Buy It For? As a treat for myself or as a small fairly inexpensive present for a friend.
Smell: I am really fond of it. A citrus smell
Would I Buy It Again: Possibly, but probably not. Perhaps as an easy present for a friend though.
Good For: Keeping in your bag for a quick touch up of perfume. Small and easy to have in your bag whilst easy to apply.
When I use this product, I rub it on my neck and on my wrists. However, sometimes it leaves an orange smear which I have to rub in.
I quite like the smell. Despite this, I feel like it fades too quickly for my liking and I would have to top it up repeatedly in the day.
It lasts for a long time and I still have loads of mine left even though I have owned it since February. I use it when I cannot be bothered to spritz on perfume as it is quick and easier.
I love how individual it looks and can become a talking point with friends when they ask about it. When I first got it (present from sister) we couldn't work out how to make it pop up! It took us 10 minutes to realise you had to push from the bottom. What annoys me is that you have to push down on it to get it back down which leaves an orange smear on your finger.
Overall this product doesn't amaze me yet I don’t hate it. If it was on sale I might buy it again but I would prefer to try other solid perfumes first.
I think I will stick to liquid perfumes instead!
Rating: 5/10


Saturday 8 February 2014

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Grapefruit Moisturiser Review!

Hello Bumblebeas :-)

So today I thought I would share with you my ultimate favourite moisturiser which is cheap, from the drugstore and does its job well. This is actually my second one of it and it is the moisturiser I use daily without fail!
This is the first Neutrogena product I have ever used so I didn't know what to expect when I bought it. I needed a change of moisturiser and I thought this one looked good so I chose to try it. I was not let down!

For starters, it is good for people who suffer from acne like me. It is oil free and is called 'visibly clear' as it does not clog pores and has 'micro clear technology'. Since I have used this it has not caused me to have any breakouts and instead goes smoothly over the skin sinking in quickly with no greasy feeling.

In addition, the smell is lovely! I wouldn't normally care about the scent of a moisturiser but this smell is so sweet! It is called pink grapefruit and smells just like it which I cannot get enough of. The smell also kind of makes your skin feel fresh too!

The product is very moisturising and I am never left with greasy residue or dry skin. It is easy to find as it is in stores such as Tesco and Boots and is a relatively decent price.

Overall the product will last you months and months. It is so good that I am going to just keep on using this moisturiser as like I said this is my second one and I highly recommend it especially to those who suffer from acne.

What moisturiser do you use? Let me know!


Thursday 6 February 2014

January Instagram Round Up!

Hey BumbleBeas!

I know this is a bit late but I have done a round up of my Instagram photos from January.
So let's see! What did I do?

  • I did some reading: Insurgent and Allegiant (which by the way are brilliant books!)
  • I got my new phone and new phone case. So kawaii!
  • I painted my nails twice: I did crocodile nails and some random doodling!
  • I went shopping: I got some lovely new beauty items from Boots and bought myself a new top from New Look.
  • I got new bedding: Just look at those zebra stripes!
  • I won a competition and entered another: Those nail polishes are ones I had one in a competition and I got to pick the four I wanted! Obviously I liked them. Also, you can see I entered another competition for some nail stickers.
  • I took my niece to the park: It was her first time at the park and the first time in a swing. So cute!
  • I shared my lip balm collection: Is that something to proud of or ashamed of?
  • I took a selfie
  • I filmed myself dancing
  • I shared my love for Supernatural: Just look at Sam Winchester!
What did you do in January? What's your Instagram? I am @BrionyBea





Time To Talk: Mental Health

Hello Bumblebeas!

Today's post is a bit of a serious one. Time to Change are hosting time to talk day today which is a full 24 hours or talking about and spreading awareness of mental health and get rid of stigma that surrounds it.

Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain. So why aren't we talking about it?

Everybody is fighting their own battle that you have no idea about. In some cases, this involves mental health issues.

When I started getting the symptoms of anxiety disorder, I was in secondary school with no idea what the hell I was feeling meant. The panic attacks, running away from social situations and claustrophobia just being in a classroom. The quickened heartbeat and palpitations, the hyperventilating and just the sheer mental exhaustion of it all. What did it all mean?

Luckily for me I had a counsellor at school who I had been seeing for years who was able to explain it to me. But what about people who don't have a counsellor like I did? 

Schools should make it more of a priority to discuss mental health in schools. Everybody knows what a broken leg looks like, but not many know how to recognise mental health issues. Schools should make it their duty to discuss mental health with their students and encourage them to speak out when they feel something is not right inside them. But not only that, people should be educated on how to support a friend, a family member etc because it isn't exactly black and white.

If you are suffering inside your mind, you should tell someone. I know that is terribly cliché and it makes you think "But it is not that easy!" I guarantee I know how you feel. I have never told my own family what is inside my mind but when I was 13 I opened up to the school counsellor and now, as a 16 nearly 17 year old, I still talk to her and see her as a friend.

Do not feel embarrassed and do not be ashamed. People aren't made to feel embarrassed when they break their leg or have cancer, so why should we have to feel ashamed about mental health?

We need to talk, and keep on talking. And then, we will talk some more.
Stigma around mental health won't change unless we keep talking and raising awareness until mental health isn't stigmatised any more.

And for those of you who are suffering: You are certainly not alone. There are plenty of people out there feeling as alone and as confused as you do. Mental illness doesn't go away over night and recovery is only an option when you admit to yourself you need help and then allow yourself to be helped. It's okay to not be okay.



""
Write a letter, or a blog post like I used to. Beginning is the most difficult part, but when you start you'll feel the weight being lifted off your shoulders as you speak.


Just talk.




#TimeToTalk









Wednesday 5 February 2014

New Pentagram Choker from RegalRose!

Hey BumbleBeas!

As you may have already seen, I am a big fan of the online jewellery shop RegalRose.
As I have exams all week I decided I would treat myself to the new pentagram choker I wanted.
Two days after ordering, it arrived!

It is a beautiful small choker with a pentagram on and the choker is black velvet. So pretty!
Here is a close up:
I have only put it on once and it took me a while to put on as the clasp is so fiddly! I am sure I will get used to it though.

Here is the photo off the RegalRose website:
I think I am starting to have a thing for chokers now!

What do you think? Do you own any chokers or items from RegalRose? Let me know!




Sunday 2 February 2014

January Favourites!

Hey BumbleBeas!

These are my favourites from the month of January:
1. Cheatwell Skeleton Bookmark which moves to make the skeletons dance!
2. Snow Fairy Shower Gel from Lush that smells like bubblegum!
3. Black Delaware Chunky Cut Out Boots from mr-shoes.co.uk
4. Frankenstein leggings from Blue Banana: my new favourite leggings!
5. 461 L'oreal Lipstick a luscious royal red that stays for hours!
6. Allegiant and the books previous (Divergent and Insurgent) which have me completely hooked!
7. Ultrabland facial cleanser from Lush makes your skin so soft!
8. Regal Rose Andromeda Blue Lapis Stardust necklace I have worn every day of January!