Reflection and New Year Resolutions

We've reached the end of another year and it's time to welcome in the New Year of 2014. I'm aware that the making of New Year resolutions divides some people - the belief that a New Year doesn't necessarily mean the need to make a resolution and that it can be done throughout the year on your own terms. However, I am one of those people whom create New Years resolutions to aid the direction of the New Year and I thought I'd share a few of them with you this New Years Eve.

I'm not a massive party animal. I don't drink so venturing out into the town centre won't be on my list! This New Years Eve I'll be sitting at home watching television with a nice takeaway - my perfect night in.

Reflection
2013 has been a hard year to say the least. Yes, there has been some great aspects many of which were on my Bucket List! Some include:

Being shortlisted for the Company Style Blogger Awards - April
Buying my own car! - May
Visiting WB Harry Potter Studios - June
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo - July
Visiting my Big Sister in Gt Yarmouth/Bacton by the Sea! - July
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland - December
TURNING 21 - December

Although these are only a handful of brilliant things, they've sadly been shadowed by the negative times.

In June 2013, I was diagnosed with suspected depression and anxiety which was apparent to my family. I've always been a worrier, but it started to develop into something more serious. In late 2013, I was actually diagnosed with anxiety and acute depression by my GP - not the greatest part of my life. It's one of the hardest times I've had to deal with - the change in lifestyle, medication and learning how to deal with things I find difficult, better. I am in no doubt that I will come head to head with difficult problems in 2014, but there is a handful of things to look forward to this New Year.

I must point out, through the tough times this year I've had my boyfriend to lean on. He may not have 'solved' my problems, but he's been there to talk to and a shoulder to cry on which is sometimes what you need and I just think he deserves a little mention and credit for that :)

Firstly, my Graduation in July! I will hopefully graduate with a BA Hons in Business Management! After that, I'm not quite sure. I know what I want to do, but I am not 100% sure of what path to take in order to get there, so the future after my degree is still up for debate.

I also am planning to holiday this year as a reward for my University journey and as a time to relax and reflect on what I have (hopefully) achieved this year!
 

Resolutions

Save Money

I recently  turned 21 in December and I'm starting to look to the future. I have my own personal Credit Card account and Current Account, which I might like to add to those gasping at the word CREDIT CARD, I am VERY GOOD at managing. I only have my credit card to build a positive credit rating score for when I move out and need a mortgage and whenever I do spend on it (which is a couple of times a month) I pay it off as soon as it pops up on my online account - which is the best way. See, I am very prepared.

I plan to create a new 'savings' account and put aside 'what I can' much a month and create and stick to a 'budget' each week. This will allow me to keep track of what I'm earning and spending on a weekly basis and actually see in my savings account what i have personally saved myself :) I'm not bad with money but saving will help whatever my future will bring and also make me feel good.


Healthy Eating
If you've ever met me or seen me, I have a small size 6 figure. It's all thanks for my high metabolism. I don't work hard for my figure and neither do I put any effort into it - but I should. My eating habits are very unhealthy, not just what I'm eating but also the fact I hardly eat at all.

This year I want to eat healthier. My body doesn't take too well to eating too much bread and therefore I want to cut a lot of this out :) My diet will be more balanced; trying to eat 3 meals a day and packed with more fibre, protein and vegetables. Not only will I be more healthier, it will hopefully have a healthier effect on my skin, which is always a total mess!

I also want to become more toned. I plan to take up a toning regime (free of course) which will also allow me to become more confident when I go on holiday later this year and healthier inside.

My New Year resolutions are short and sweet. I Find if you give yourself too many goals you become less focused and forgetful. Keep it simple :)

I hope 2014 is prosperous, full of happiness and good times to remember - not to mention great opportunities and open doors. I'm not keen on the cliché of "This year will be my year" - I prefer to look at it as I hope the coming year of 2014 is better than the last and that things start to look up. I don't expect a miracle, but some good news and light at the end of the tunnel would be encouraging.

What's your opinions on New Year resolutions? Do you have any for this year?

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Winter Warmer: Hot Chocolate!

When the cold weather hits, whether you're dodging everyone in the Christmas crowds or cosying up in your PJs at home, nothing beats a hot chocolate in your favourite mug! I've had a few at coffee shops in town and the odd sachet here and there, so I thought I'd share with you my favourite!

Festive Feeling: Hot Chocolate

Firstly, I want to share with you my new Christmas mug! I bought this in October from a car boot sale for 25p! I couldn't say no to 25p, especially with that cutie gingerbread man on the front. The picture really doesn't do the mug justice - the mug is hand painted, the colours are vibrant and it really creates a festive feeling with the candy cane style handle and decor.

You can find a festive mug amongst a couple of the high street stores or supermarkets. The prices can vary but if you shop around you're bound to find one in your price range.

ASDA Chosen By You Drinking Chocolate

"Fairtrade. Simply add hot milk for a rich, indulgent treat,"

A lot of people 'knock' own brand labels because of the image that they're cheap and not as good as branded products. Well, I tend to disagree! I find there is too much hype on branded products and you're mostly only really paying for the brand name and image! My sister has been raving about this hot chocolate formula for ages and to be honest I was always a 'add water' formula girl, until now!

The tub is pretty big, 500g but is reasonably priced for the amount you get! It's part of the 'chosen by you' range so it's been tried and tested by customers. The formula is fairtrade, making it fair for all of the suppliers and growers involved which is pretty important granted the world we currently live in. The design is pretty simple. I like it. 

ASDA Chosen by you Drinking Chocolate - 500g -  £2.48 

RATING:
Price; 5 STARS The price is very reasonable for the amount you get. It lasts a while so it doesn't damage the purse strings! I've seen many hot chocolate formula's roughly the same price but different in weight.

 Consistency; 5 STARS The formula is a powder which stays light and fluffy in the container. It says 3 teaspoons, although I find 1 and a half just enough! It dissolves and mixes in really well when the milk is poured in - no big lumps floating around.

I've had hot chocolates that are made with water and I can honestly say those mixed with milk, like this one, are much better! It's slightly thicker and the milk adds to the taste!

Taste; 4 STARS The chocolate formula and milk mix well to create a thick creamy taste and consistency, just like what I expect in a coffee shop! I found it a little sweet towards the bottom of the mug, although I could of added too much sugar - so I might need to stop adding excess!

Would I Recommend to a Friend?; YES I've had many hot chocolates, and I stand by those formula's made with milk. Although they take longer to make because you have to heat the milk instead of boiling a kettle, it creates a thicker and creamier drink. It mixes in really well and is great value compared to other similar formula's on the shelves!

I always have this hot chocolate after a long day at work / university. You can guarantee I'll have this hot chocolate in my favourite festive mug whilst putting my tree up! It warms you up and gets you in the festive mood!

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AVON Color Trend Nail Top Coat - 'Dazzlers'

An Avon book dropped through my letterbox a few weeks ago and I whilst flicking through, a lot of bits caught my eye and couldn't resist buying a couple of nail top coats! I am a sucker for anything glittery and that's what immediately drew me to these!

Silver Plated & Rose Golden

"Paint over your favourite nail enamel for a great glittery finish"

Avon Color Trend Top Coat 'Dazzlers' - Silver Plated & Rose Golden - 8ml - £3.00 £1.50

 When my items arrived, the nail polish was packaged in fuchsia pink boxes decorated with clear white text indicating the brand, item and colour. I was surprised at the condition of the boxes as they were pristine and looked as if they had just been taken out of storage in a store!

The Dazzlers Top Coat polish is also available in Blue Burst, Gold Flecked and Fuchsia Dazzle. I chose Silver Plated and Rose Golden because they are at complete opposite ends of the colour spectrum - silver and burnt gold, which I have no doubt will go with various different shades of polish.

The pots are small but you can easily hold them without losing your grip and 

they're easy to store because of their basic shape. I'm not overly keen on the white top because when compared with other polishes on the market, they look cheaper than their competitors.

Swatches: L-R: Collection Lasting Gel Colour Think Pink & Silver Plated top coat - MUA in Natural Days & Silver Plated top coat - Silver Plated 3 Coats - Rose Golden 3 Coats - MUA Fashionista in Summer & Rose Golden top coat - MUA Shade 6 & Rose Golden top coat -

The swatches above show what the top coat looks like when applied to a basic polish and also on their own with 3 coats. You can also add a couple of coats to build up the glitter look depending on the impact you desire! The looks you can create are great just in time for Christmas!

Silver Plated is exactly what it says, silver. It reflects the light really well and gives a basic polish a classy and jazzed up look. Rose Golden on the other hand is in-between a burnt orange and gold. It's an unusual colour and reminds me of Christmas and the warm roaring fire. Because of the pigment of the polish, it has a big impact regarding colour. It looks great with browns, beige's, reds and oranges.

The polish is a good consistency - it's not thick and gloopy and although the polish is clear but is packed with tiny and large flecks of glitter to create a great day-to-night look!

I chose to wear MUA in Natural Days with Silver Plated as a top coat and kept the polish on for approximately a week. My activities throughout the week involved typing, working in a retail store at the weekend with tills and stock, washing up and of course, shopping. I applied the polish on a Saturday night and when working throughout the Sunday the polish stayed put all day! I was amazed as my nails take a beating at work! Throughout the week it stayed pretty much the same until day 5 where they started to chip. But considering my nails had a total of 4 layers of polish on, they did well!

I've already stocked up by ordering 2 more bottles from Avon!

I will definitely be considering these for my Christmas Party!

RATING:

Price; 5 STARS These top coats were previously advertised at £3.00, although I purchased them at £1.50 when they were on promotion (October 2013).

Promises: 5 STARS When used for their intended use, the polishes are amazing. They add a great day-to-night look to a plain polish and is really eye catching. 

Ease of Application: 5 STARS The round tops make using the polish easy when you're in a rush and are quite stable considering their size. The polish doesn't dry too quickly, but quick enough to apply a couple of coats well within 10 minutes.

Would I Recommend to a Friend?: YES These top coats are great value for money considering how they transform a basic nail polish. I will definitely be considering these for my Christmas Party!

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Christmas & 21st Birthday Wishlist

If you've read my profile, you'll know that my Birthday falls on the 27th December - 2 days after Christmas, making me a Christmas baby!

My Birthday is perfectly timed for the Christmas sales, meaning I can spend whatever Christmas and Birthday money I receive on bagging great items for half the price! Although because of the timing, I usually have "Here's your Christmas and your Birthday present, combined" I'm not selfish or rude, but I've had to wait a whole year where a lot of other people have Christmas and then their Birthday halfway through the year and they don't get a combined present?

Anyway, I have some idea what I want for Christmas and my Birthday and so I've created a pretty little collage representing what I'd like and my interests in general - but obviously it may change, it's a girls prerogative!

Pictures courtesy of Polyvore

 1. Return to Tiffany Heart Tag Charm and chain SMALL - £110

 I've wanted one of these for a while, but if you know me well, I don't like the idea of people spending a lot of money on me - I hate a large price tag. I thought, as it's my 21st, I want something special. I like this necklace because of the loop attached to the tag charm which stops it twisting round but also because you have the option of engraving the tag charm once it's in your shopping basket. This is a great way to make it more personal and gives it a unique touch. I'm not keen with the fact that the necklace chain itself is £45! - An option for me would be to purchase the tag charm at £65 and purchase a sterling silver chain in a jewellers or on eBay to help keep the price down :)

2. Pandora Mouse in the Cup Charm - £30.00

Since having a Pandora bracelet, I love collecting charms, but I like them to have meaning. Every charm that I have on my bracelet has a meaning behind it which makes it more special and sentimental. I love their Fairy-tale Range for Spring Summer 2013, I already have the Crown and Fairy-tale book - yes I know it's Autumn/Winter, but I am a sucker for anything to do with fairy-tales and princesses! Therefore, anything fairy-tale related will be perfect!!

3. Tan Handbag

I really want a new handbag for Christmas! Only trouble is, I can't find one I love! I would like either black or tan and preferably the style shown in the image. I need a bag that fastens with a zip - I don't want anyone dipping in my bag! I also don't want one with HUGE long handles - I found a perfect one in Accessorize, but the handles were huge :( Who knows, it could all change before Christmas, but this one is a very close winner!!

 4. River Island Black Quilted Chain Clip Top Purse - £20.00

I love River Island Purses. I love the style, the size and the colours- without a doubt, there is always one that catches my eye. I love this particular one because it's classic black. It will go with practically anything and the chain detail is so on trend and adds an edgy look! I also have a jacket with matching edge chain detail too!

 5. Clothes!

I am a typical girly girl. You can never have too many clothes and I love a good jumper or pretty top! I recently purchased this fluffy jumper from Miss Selfridge (retailing at £42). I love the design as it makes me look like a piece of Battenberg! I'm a size 6 although size 6 jumpers are weird, one minute they'll be too small and the next too big, so I do prefer to buy my own in the sales. Therefore vouchers or money is the safer bet! I will be grateful for anything I receive :)

What do you have your eye on this Christmas? I'd love to hear what everyone is looking for - it may give me some more ideas!

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Embracing the Average Size of Women in the UK - Size 16

Last week, it was announced that Debenhams are changing their size 8-10 mannequins to size 16 mannequins in all of their UK stores. They're urging other large retailers to follow them to help "reflect the average size of women in the UK"

Today, too much emphasis is placed on looks and beauty rather than what kind of person you are inside. To be honest, I can see why - the sexualisation of young teenagers, the constant use and promotion of Photoshop and the stigma against anyone who haven't got a 'thigh gap' or doesn't conform to the 'model look'.

With every size comes a stigma. Whether you're tall, short, skinny or plus size, you're bound to receive criticism from some people for not conforming to their views (which I personally put down to jealousy!) Even though I'm a size 6, I personally find that clothes look better on a fuller sized model. People assume that I'm happy with my size - which I am! I love fitting into children's clothes and not having to worry tooo much about calories and what I'm eating, but reality is, the world is a cruel place. I used to get bullied and even though that's stopped, I still get the awkward remarks about eating food. We all need to think about all ends of the spectrum: what does it feel like for those you're calling fat or anorexic, ugly or fake? It breaks your heart and you're constantly worrying and thinking about what others are thinking about you. But you can't please everybody.

However, we need to think of what image this is portraying to the audience. Just because you're skinny doesn't mean you're healthy and neither does being fuller sized mean you're unhealthy. Of course, there is the fact that yes, there is a problem with obesity at the moment, but that's not a reason to 'tar everyone with the same brush' . We could all embrace this opportunity to portray the average UK sized woman but also promote living a healthy lifestyle at the same time.

What is off-putting is the constant Photoshopping of models and practically anything and everything in magazines. The question is, when looking at all of these images you need to wonder what is real and what is altered to conform to 'beautiful'. Another irritating point is that most of the mannequins used in stores may have a size 8-10 waist, but if you look closely at the proportions of their legs and arms, they are VERY MUCH out of proportion. This therefore does not represent a woman's shape, whether that's the average size 16 UK woman or even an average 8-10. It MAY spur people on to get fit and healthier, but it's creating the image of something that is unachievable. - I'm a size 6 and I do not look like that!

I am totally behind this change and I hope that other major retailers follow and help change the fashion industry from using size 0 models and out of proportion mannequins to style clothes. This would be beneficial to the customers viewing products that are viewed on a 'real woman' and also improve the image of the retailers embracing the shape of the average woman in the UK however, we need to keep track of living a healthy lifestyle at the same time.

Everyone is beautiful, it's just a shame not everyone sees it that way.

What do you think about Debenham's changing their size 8-10 mannequins for size 16? Do you think retailers need to embrace the average size of the UK woman?

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Nivea Lip Butters

I've seen a lot of bloggers review he Nivea Lip Butters and the majority of them weren't impressed. So when I saw them on offer in my local supermarket, I thought I'd give them a go myself!

Original, Caramel Cream, Vanilla and Macadamia & Raspberry Rosé
"Buttery balm formula which melts instantly into your lips leaving them feeling soft and smooth.... containing Shea Butter and Almond Oil ... long-lasting moisture to leave your lips beautifully soft and healthy looking all day long."

Nivea Lip Butter - TOP: Original & Caramel Cream BOTTOM: Vanilla and Macadamia & Raspberry Rosé - 16.7g/19ml - £1/£2 each

When I first set eyes on these compact lip butters, I loved the designs. The graphics make them look soo yummy and it gives you a little peek into what the smells could be like! The front isn't over run with text which appeals to my desire of things being minimalist, although when turned over the back of the products are packed full with the barcode, weight and contents, ingredients and manufacturing information. Even though there is a lot of information on the back of the tins, I didn't find it incredibly hard to read. The font is clear and the navy font colour works well against all 3 background colours.

The little tins aren't very big, roughly the same in diameter as Vaseline tins although not as large in depth. This makes them a good size to fit in your handbag compartments or small portable makeup bag. The lids seem quite secure when you try to open them at first, but once jiggling around in my bag I did find them loose sometimes which damaged the lip butter inside and made things a little sticky!

When opening the lip butters, the colours are bright and look good enough to eat! You can immediately smell them as soon as you open the tins and they smell lush! The lip butter itself is soft and delicate although some vary with the way they rub in on the lips.

Original

The Original lip butter is similar in colour to regular Nivea lip products; basic white in colour and doesn't smell of anything. This lip butter was okay to apply although was the greasiest of the 4 and left my lips feeling uncomfortable.

Caramel Cream

Caramel Cream is a golden yellow colour, symbolising caramel from the front of the tin. It smells a lot like it too but isn't too sweet or over powering. There is a light tinge of yellow in the lip butter but again, it's not noticeable when applied. The butter was relatively okay to apply although was slightly greasy.

Vanilla & Macadamia
Vanilla and Macadamia is like a toned down Caramel Cream. You can smell both scents coming through which reminds me of Christmas! The lip butter is a very light cream colour, but you wouldn't really be able to tell unless you compared it! The butter was quite hard and when applied onto my lips, it made them feel really greasy.

Raspberry Rosé

Raspberry Rosé is baby pink in colour and smells strongly like raspberries! I love the smell as raspberries are my favourite fruit which make it my preferred out of the three! It has a very very light tinge of pink although this isn't noticeable when applied on the lips. The butter was quite soft to apply which made it easy to wear and use.

What is unusual is that none of the lip butters contain SPF which a lot of other Nivea lips products do! I do like these lip butters, especially Raspberry Rosé and I'll continue to use them until they're empty, although I wouldn't go as far to say they're an essential, but a nice alternative to your regular Vaseline or lip balm.

RATING

Price; 3 STARS I purchased these at £1 although I've seen them being marketed at £2.25! I think that's rather expensive considering similar products you can buy for the same or even less.

Promises; 5 STARS The lip butters do have a soft and creamy formula and did leave my lips feeling super smooth and velvety! 

Ease of Application; 5 STARS The lip butters are extremely soft and glide straight onto the lips! It feels like velvet! Although the texture and consistency means that big holes can be left if you press too hard!

Would I Recommend to a Friend?; NO To be honest, these lip butters are nothing different compared to Nivea's regular lip products. They're just packaged in a tin and given a new smell!

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B. Pure Micellar Water

I'm familiar with the B. range and the various different products available but I've never taken much notice about them. I've mentioned before that I'm sceptical about using toners and cleansers because of my sensitive skin, but when the B. Pure Micellar Water was on promotion recently, I sat up and took more notice of what they claim to do with my skin.

MicellarWater

"Quick and easy 3-in-1 cleanser that dissolves impurities in a single sweep, no water required. Ideal for all skin types even the most sensitive."

B. Pure Micellar Water - £4.99 £3.32 - 150ml

Described as a "super water", the micellar water:

Cleanses by removing impurities and makeup, Tones by restoring the pH balance, Refreshes with cucumber juice extract and is Ophthalmically approved and Dermatologically approved.

Front

Back

I'm not overly familiar with high-end products but the way the B. Pure Micellar Water is packaged screams 'high end product' to me. One feature that I rarely see on beauty products these days is the 'Cruelty-Free' logo on the back of the product - a positive feature and a feature that stood out for me. For a cleanser, the bottle is a simple design (which might be the reason why I like it so much!) - clear, approximately 6.5" tall with a pale grey screw top which is decorated with a simple silver band. The screw top isn't as fiddly as you'd expect and the small hole which the cleanser is dispensed from helps prevent unnecessary waste.

The bottle is embossed with a circular design, B. logo and text. The circular design in my eyes symbolises the 'water' feature of the product which I thought was a nice touch! The B. logo is noticeable as it's in colour although the text size is quite small. I had trouble reading it and I have very good eyesight however the text on the back of the product was easier to read, probably because it was printed on a white label. The overall design of the cleanser is neat and minimalistic. It's easy to hold, use and store.


The cleanser is clear and doesn't smell of anything - just like water. But you know it's not by peeking at the ingredients on the back! Directions for use state that there's no need to rinse with water, just apply to a cotton pad and sweep over the face - so that is what I did! I've only been using B. Pure Micellar Water for a week but using the cleanser on my skin was easy. My skin hasn't become irritable, flare up and hasn't left my skin dry like a lot of products, although I accidentally spilt a few drops on my bed sheets and it has left a light stain :-(. I've heard it's a great dupe for Bioderm although I cannot comment because I've never tried it! I will continue to use it until it's finished and will most probably repurchase it too!

RATING

Price; 4 STARS I purchased this when is was on promotion in October at £3.32. I think that's reasonable considering the prices of other products. I would even  be  tempted at £4.99 as you can get student discount at Superdrug!

Promises; 4 STARS After using the B.Pure Micellar Water, I noticed how healthy  my skin  felt. It didn't leave me skin feeling tight or dry which is what I was worried about. 

Ease of Application; 5 STARS The Micellar Water was really easy to use. The small hole at the top of  the bottle helps prevent unnecessary waste on the cotton pad.

Would I Recommend to a Friend?; YES I think the B. Pure Micellar Water is worth a  try,  especially for those with sensitive skin like me!

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NEW Wonka Chocolate Nice Cream

Nestle have released NEW Wonka chocolate bars! There are 3 variations - Nice Cream, Creme Brulee and Millionaire's Shortbread which are all available in small 35g bars priced at 65p and 100g bars priced at £1.35.

NEW Wonka Chocolate

"Smooth vanilla creme topped with chocolate sauce ... Scrumdiddlyumptiously shareable"

The Wonka Chocolate bars caught my eye not only with their shiny wrapping and branding but with their unusual combinations. I have blogged about similar products resembling the Wonka branding CLICK HERE, although I've never come across Wonka branded products and was quite excited about trying one!

Wonka Chocolate Nice Cream - 100g - £1.35

All 3 variations are branded with the iconic metallic magenta wrapping and icon Wonka font which is accompanied with the small Wonka Hat icon. I purchased Nice Cream because it was the most appealing to me out of all 3 and it took me back to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movies and the chocolate river and candy garden! A great feature the bars is the re-sealable strip to the bar. When opening, you peel back the strip to get to the bar and when you want to save it for later, you can reseal the sticky strip! It's a nice feature that I don't come across often and added to the look and use of the bar.

Nice Cream mainly consists of 30% creme and 15% chocolate sauce. The chocolate bar itself is decorated with raised images of what looks like icecream and the trademark 'W'. It's interesting rather than having just a plain bar underneath the rather extravagant wrapping.

The bar was a little flimsy - when holding the bar it melted quite quickly and the pieces broke away very easily so I wasn't surprised a lot of the bars on the shelves were broken! The overall taste was very sweet. I wouldn't be able to eat a lot of it compared to other chocolate bars which I wolf down a lot of the time! The vanilla creme inside didn't taste very much of vanilla although was a nice consistency - not too hard or soft. Again, the chocolate sauce reminded me of the chocolate river in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movies! The chocolate sauce was very gloopy and stick, it oozed out of the bar and at times was quite messy and for someone who is very clean - this wasn't a nice experience.

RATING:

Price; 5 STARS The bars are all very good value for money considering the overall product offering. The small bars are 65p and the bar featured in the post was purchased at £1.35.

Promises; 4 STARS The bar lives up to what it says on the packet. Even though I found the sauce very gloopy and sticky and bar itself quite sweet, it was a nice treat!

Ease of Eating; 3 STARS The bar broke very easily so I was disappointed when trying to find an unbroken bar on the shelf! The bar was also very sweet and the chocolate sauce was very sticky and gloopy making it quite messy to eat and handle.

Would I Recommend to a Friend?; Yes. This bar is worth a try! Just because it didn't suit my pallette 100%, doesn't mean others won't like it! I haven't tried the other 2 variations, although I'm sure all 33 are worth a try just for the thrill of eating a Wonka Bar.

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NEW MUA Matte Lipstick

MUA have released a New Matte Range, currently consisting of a palette and 5 lipsticks.

Matte Lipsticks

"Everything from nudes to bolds, MUA's matte lipsticks are available in 5 wearable shades that glide smoothly over lips to give a beautiful non-glossy finish."

MUA Matte Lipstick: Totally Nude, Peachy Keen, Pouty Pink & Wild Berry - 3.8g - £1.00

Another MUA product review, but these lipsticks are the NEW Matte Lipsticks which come in 5 lipsmacking shades. They're priced at £1.00 just like MUA's other range of lipsticks and look pretty much the same except for the colour of the shell.

The lipsticks are barrel shaped which means they're quite easy to hold whilst applying. Compared to MUA's other lipstick range which are black in colour, the new matte lipsticks are packaged in white shells - making them easy to tell apart from other ranges. They still have the silver band around the middle and transparent gloss at the bottom so they keep in style with the main MUA range.

There are 5 different shades in total, although I'm reviewing 4 of them - Totally Nude, Peachy Keen Pouty Pink and Wild Berry. There's bound to be a shade that suits you within the 5!

MUA Matte Lipstick Swatches

Totally Nude: Exactly what it says on the label - nude. I love my nude shade lipsticks and this one is a great shade! It's perfect for making the eyes or cheeks pop on a night out or to create a natural look with minimal makeup.

Peachy Keen: This shade is very similar to MUA's Double Take Long-Wear Lipstick in Nectar. The pigment is strong although I wasn't too keen on Peachy Keen as it seems a bit 'too much' and comes across more of a Summer shade rather than an Autumn/Winter look.

Pouty Pink: This shade is a Barbie pink. Again, this shade was also quite bright when opened but was surprisingly light when swatched! It's not too 'in your face' but again I think it's more a shade for Summer than for AW2013.

Wild Berry: Purple/Aubergine shade. When opened,Wild Berry is really dark and I was a bit scared at first to try it. When swatched the colour has a warm pigment to it and unlike some of the matte shades, Wild Berry looks great for this season!

The pigment of all 4 lipsticks are surprising considering they're matte. I wasn't impressed with the application. The lipsticks didn't glide on very well and made my lips feel uncomfortable although this could be the change in weather causing excess dryness. They lipsticks did stay on for a while until they started to bleed so they would be good for a night out or for work until lunch when you could re-apply! Overall I wasn't totally sold on the matte look. I much prefer MUA's other range of lipsticks which give the impression of a glossy look.

RATING:

Price; 5 STARS Even if you're just curious about the shade and want to experiment with different looks, a £1 is definitely worth it considering other lipsticks available on the high street.

Promises; 4 STARS The matte lipsticks are exactly that, matte. No gloss, just flat.

Ease of Application; 3 STARS None of the lipsticks went on very well. They didn't glide

smoothly over my lips which made it slightly uncomfortable. It could be the weather causing excess dryness on the lips but either way the lipsticks didn't glide on well.

Would I Recommend to a Friend?; YES The lipsticks come in great wearable colours, especially Wild Berry which is great for this Autumn Season. The matte look is also quite desirable throughout Autumn/Winter although I personally didn't get on very well with them.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Be the Breakthrough

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Website: breakthrough.org.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/breakthroughbc
Twitter: @BreakthroughBC

I haven't been directly affected by breast cancer, although all of us at some point will be affected directly or indirectly by cancer. In the UK, 1,000 women die from breast cancer every month. Awareness is being raised about breast cancer through many different ways this month and everyone can get involved!

#ShopPink

Breakthrough have some exclusive pink products which you can view by CLICKING HERE that are available this October. Each item carries a minimum 10% donation and brands include GHD, Avon, GlamGlow, Warehouse, Debenhams, Sainsbury's and many more! I personally love the Viva Pink polish (which you can see below) and the GLAMGLOW Youth Mud looks very indulging! 

  



AVON Nailwear Pro+ Nail Enamel - Viva Pink - 12ml - RRP: £4

The swatches above are to illustrate fab pink shades. I've specifically picked Avon's Nailwear Pro+ Nail Enamel in Viva Pink because Avon are donating 25% to Breakthrough Breast Cancer! 

1. NYC Expert Last Nail Polish - Long Time Lavender - RRP: £1.79

2. Sinful Colours Professional - Glass Pink - RRP: £1.99

3. MUA - Natural Days - RRP: £1

4. MUA - Strawberry Crush - RRP: £1

5. MUA - Bright Pink - RRP: £1

6. Collection lasting Gel Colour - Think Pink - RRP: £3.19

7. AVON Nailwear Pro+ Nail Enamel - Viva Pink - RRP: £4

GLAMGLOW is raising at least £7,000 from sales of this product through Breakthrough Breast Cancer! Marks and Spencer will also donate an additional 10% of their sales of GLAMGLOW Youth Mud to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, available in store and online. It's also available in Space NK stores and online.

GLAMGLOW YouthMud - RRP: £49.50



#GreatPinkBakeOff

On Friday 18th October, Breakthough are urging everyone to get involved with the Great Pink Bake Off! It's very simple to get involved to help raise money and awareness, simply ask friends, family or work colleagues to bake some homemade treats, bring them altogether, make a donation and decide whose bake is the best! It's a great way to get everyone together but it's a great opportunity to raise awareness and knowing that the money raised will go towards Breakthrough Breast Cancer's vital work.

To get involved, simply call 08080 100 200 or visit pinkbakeoff.org



#MoreThanALump

This October, Breakthrough are urging women to text SIGNS to 70500 to receive a free booklet the size of a credit card that details key signs and symptoms of breast cancer and what you should do if you find anything unusual. The handy small size means that it's a great size to fit into your purse or handbag - we all have one, there's no excuse!



TLC Booklet - Approx Size: 5.5cm X 8.5cm



The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chances of beating it! This means women need to regularly check for any change or irregularities, it's very simple! I'm nearly 21 and although I'm young, we should all still check and become aware of what is 'normal' for us and what to look out for.

There are 3 simple steps;

TOUCH - Can you feel anything unusual?

LOOK - Can you see any changes in the shape or texture of skin?

CHECK - anything unusual with your GP/Doctor

 

Breakthrough Breast Cancer ambassador D Hilary Jones, Comments:

"Many women don't check their breasts either because they don't know what signs and symptoms they are looking for or they simply forget to do it. I'm supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer's TLC Campaign to encourage as many people as possible to text SIGNS to 70500 to get their free handy guide that could save their life. The guide includes five common signs and symptoms of breast cancer and is handy enough to slip into a purse to serve as a reminder to make regular checks."

Breakthrough Breast Cancer ambassador, singer and fitness presenter, Michelle Heaton, says:

"Since finding out I carry the BRCA1 gene, breast cancer risk is something I have been extremely aware of. Even though I've had preventative surgery and a reconstruction, I am still very careful to check my breasts on a regular basis. I follow Breakthrough breast Cancer's Touch Look Check (TLC) routine and I tell all my friends and family to do the same. What's more, I'm encouraging everyone to get their own free TLC guide which explains what to look out for when you check your breasts.All you need to do is text SIGNS to 70500 to get your free handy guide today; it could save your life."

If you're supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer I'd love to know what you're doing! Drop a comment below or contact em via Twitter!

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