Guest Post | Pick of the Best Winter Getaways

Starting the year with an endless stream of grey skies can seem unjust for the British. How can you build up enthusiasm, excitement and energy for a fresh year when the weather has nothing but dreary misery to offer? When it seems like nature is against you, take it on yourself to find somewhere that will help add some summery cheer to your new year. A winter getaway is a perfect way to break the winter up and get yourself a dose of sunshine that you’d be waiting months to see half as much of in Britain. Here are the best places to go to escape the winter blues and get you a refreshing, sun-filled boost to the start of the year:

Maldives
Choose from one of the luxurious hotels on the beautiful islands of the Maldives and you can be lapping up winter sun on the nearest beach throughout your stay. As many hotels have an entire island to themselves, those golden sands are never far from your room. Though the islands may be small, there’s always plenty to do and in recent years the trend for winter tourism from sun-seekers fed up with their dull native weather has become apparent. This means you can expect a special effort from the best resorts as they fight off the competition to try and be the best place for you to steal some sun.

Dubai
This marvellously modern city has so much potential for fun that you’d be tempted to visit even without the scorching temperatures and dazzling sun. Luckily, you won’t have to compromise as you spend time visiting shopping centres (there are nearly 50), fine dining in the fabulous restaurants and relaxing in whichever one of the multitude of luxury accommodations you’ve chosen. Dubai is a true spectacle and a one of a kind city that’s worth visiting at any time of the year, yet its climate staying warm when UK temperatures dip makes it an essential consideration for your list of winter getaway destinations.

Cuba
For those with a sense of adventure, Cuba is an ideal place to jet off to when you need some warmth during the depths of the British winter. This is the kind of destination where you’re better off in the thick of things, so well-removed hotel resorts should be off the menu. Instead, get into the action and experience all the cigar-smoking, Spanish-dancing fun offered in the charming local villages. There are great beaches in Cuba that are dotted with fun salsa or jazz bars that come to life by night. You’ll come back to Britain feeling re-energized by the liveliness of your Cuban adventure and rejuvenated by the lovely climate.

You may think it’ll be hard to get the summery clothes you’ll need for your winter holiday, but affordable ranges like George's range of bikinis have got you covered. With that in mind, there’s no good reason why you shouldn’t treat yourself to a winter break in a far away and sunny land, for a start to the year that Britain could just never provide.

MUA Velvet Lip Lacquer Review, Swatches, & Demo

I have been waiting to get my hands on the MUA Velvet Lip Lacquers for a while, they were only available online but are now in Superdrug stores that have a MUA stand. My local one doesn't have a stand so I picked these up while I was shopping in the city. The shades I have are Criminal, Reckless, and Atomic. Kooky and Funk were out of stock, I need to add these to my collection ASAP.

I absolutely love the Velvet Lip Lacquers and they, in my opinion, are by far the best product MUA have come up with. They are fully opaque and fully matte, and last all day until you remove them. You will need makeup remover with these, they really don't budge. I wouldn't advise wearing these if you are going to be eating though because they will flake off in the center of the lips.

At first, they apply like a gloss and have a liquid consistency, but after a few seconds they dry down to a very matte finish. They do not transfer off the lips and don't cling to any dry patches at all.

The only problem I have with these is the applicator. Because the colours are so vibrant you do need to be very accurate when applying them to the lips, and the doe foot applicator isn't the best for precision. There is an easy way around this though, so I just apply mine using a lip brush.

Over all I cant recommend these enough! They are £3 and available from Superdrug and MUA's website!

Have you tried these? Which colour is your favorite?

Gem x

Recent Beauty Buys

I have bought lots of new beauty items over the past few weeks, so I thought I would show you guys what I have been buying! You can expect to see reviews of these coming up on the blog soon.

• Avon True Colour Eyeshadow Duo in Healthy Glow
• Collection Deluxe Lipstick in Tallulah
• Nars One Night Stand Blush Palette
• Nars Orgasm Illuminator Mini (Free with Nars Palette)
• MUA Luxe Velvet Lips in Criminal and Atomic
• Revlon Colour Stay Concealer
• Little White Lie Tanning Mousse 
• Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil
• MUA Eye Tint in A Girl Like Me
• Revlon Color Stay Liquid Lipstick
• Technic Clear Mascara (I bought it for my brows)
• L'Oreal True Match Foundation
• Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Mascara
• Avon SuperShock Gel Eyeliner
• Perfect 10 Nail Art Stickers

Is there anything here you would like to see a review on? 

What have you bought recently? 

Gem x

PS I have a giveaway running where you could win your favorite photo turned into a canvas, enter here!

CanvasDesign.co.uk Review + Giveaway

I was recently given the chance by the lovely people at Canvas Design to turn one of my favorite pictures into a Canvas. (They are also very kindly giving one of my readers the chance to win too, so see the end of this post!)

You may know that in January I visited Disneyland Paris with my family. (We had an amazing week and if you would like a little look at some pictures, see this post.) I knew what picture I would like turned into a canvas, we had a lovely one as a family taken outside of the castle.

Delivery of the canvas was great and hassle free, I wish every parcel delivery I receive is like this one! I was text a couple of days before to let me know the date of delivery and given the option to change this. Then on the day of delivery I was text again with an hour slot when my delivery would arrive, again with the option to change the day or deliver to a neighbor.

I was so impressed with my canvas, it was even better than I was expecting. It is truly such great quality and the colours are so vibrant it looks amazing on my wall.

I would thoroughly recommend Canvas Design as not only do they offer great quality products, the price is great too with free 48hr delivery.

I have a great discount to share with you all too, so you will be getting even better value. Use the code BLOG15 and you will receive 15% off the price of a canvas.

**GIVEAWAY**WIN A CANVAS UP TO 40X40**UK ONLY**

Canvas Design are giving one of my lucky readers the chance to win their own canvas in any size they would like up to 40x40. Enter in the widget below. Please note that this is for the UK only! Rules are listed below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**UK Only**

**No False entries**

**Winner will be contacted by email supplied**

**Winner will be announced here and on twitter if applicable** 

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] | Review | First Impressions |

Effaclar [+] has all the benefits of the original with added bonus of fading acne marks. I suffer from acne and my skin is very prone to acne scarring. It makes my skin look a lot worse than it actually is as the marks are very red.

I have been using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] * For a little over a week now so I thought I would share my first impressions.

It is very much like the original in packaging, scent, consistency, and feel. It is almost gel like and is quite soothing on the skin.

After a weeks use I have noticed a distinct improvement in my skin. I was suffering from a cystic breakout before using this and it has cleared it right up. My scarring has reduced a little and on the whole my skin looks so much better.

I am looking forward to contunuing using this and will update you with the results after a few months of use.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] is available from Escentual here.


Gem x

Juice to U 3 Day Detox Review

If you are a regular reader you may be aware of my attempt to live a healthy lifestyle and loose weight.
I saw on twitter that Juice To U were looking for bloggers to review their three day detox so I put myself forward and I was very luckily chosen.

It is believed that there are many benefits to detoxing which include weight loss, healthy skin, and clarity of mind. I wanted to try it to see if it could boost my weight loss, and the added benefits would be great too.

A little about Juice To U taken from their website www.Juicetou.com

Juice To U is a totally natural and fantastic prepared juice detox service using fresh, local produce and is delivered to your door. The Juice To U detox programe consists of 4 juices per day with a 3 hour period in-between juices.

The Juice To U 3 day detox or 5 day detox will leave you feeling fully revitalised, refreshed, rejuvenated and invigorated. Your mind and skin will be left clear and not forgetting the weight loss!

The Juice To U team have masterminded the juices which ooze with vitamins, minerals, nutrients and that goodness your body requires for a healthy body and mind.

Our delivery day is Tuesday between 8am and 6pm, please refrigerate your juices immediately ready to begin your detox on Wednesday. Please note, we recommend at least 2 litres of water per day. You can drink fruit tea however, green tea is not allowed as it contains caffeine. We strongly advise no exercise during your detox due to energy levels been low.

The feeling of tiredness, nausea, sickness and headaches are to be expected when you are detoxing, this is due to your body releasing the toxins within your system.

I tried out the three day detox so I had twelve juices delivered; four for each day of the detox. They came by courier and were nicely packaged with ice packs so were still nice and cold when they arrived. They had even included two lemons to add to your daily water (2 litres a day is advised). 

There was three different variations of juice to be drank four times a day; Clean Green at 9am, Lets Glow at 12pm, Clean Green at 3pm, and Berry Good at 6pm. Clean Green was my least favorite, it didn't taste nice but it wasn't disgusting. 

I found the first day the hardest. I was struggling with my hunger and by 2pm I was very hungry indeed. I felt a little weak and had a niggling headache for most of the day but I persevered. I decided to go to bed at around 8.30pm, partly due to the fact I was very tired, but mostly it was to stop myself heading to the biscuit cuboid and ruining it. 

The second day I woke up feeling quite sick and the hunger had subsided. I could hardly stomach the first juice of the day but after that they went down a little easier. By 6pm I was really hungry and the sickness had worn off. Again I was feeling tired and went to bed at 9 which is unusual for me.

On the third day I woke up feeling OK, still not great and I don't think I had any increased energy levels. I noticed that my stomach was a lot less bloated and I could feel that I had already lost some weight. The juices went down fine and I had a lot of motivation as I knew this was the last day.

At the end of the detox I weighed myself and I had lost 6lbs. My stomach was a lot less bloated and my skin did look a little more radiant.

I think that the Juice to U three day detox would be great for someone who is looking for a boost with loosing weight, or if  they have a special occasion coming up or a holiday as it really helps with bloating. Its not easy and it does take a lot of willpower, but it is only three days and there are significant results. 

The detox costs £79 for three days, if you would like to find out more visit the Juice to U website here

Have you ever tried a detox before?

Gem x

Valentine Nail Art

Combat the Cold | Guest Post

Combat the Cold without Feeling the Pinch

There’s no denying that this winter has been a particularly cold one. We’re still battling the elements and feeling the cold and that’s without even looking at the devastating floods and storms that we’ve had to deal with, too. If you’d prefer to stay indoors during the grim weather, nobody could blame you! However, the more time we spend indoors, the more we will end up spending on our heating if we’re not a little savvy about it, our gas bills always end up soaring. Here are some ways in which you can keep costs low without compromising on your warmth and comfort though, so that you don’t have to feel the pinch as much as you might think.

Wrap up warm

Rather than reaching for the thermostat as soon as you feel a little cold, reach for a onesie, a blanket or an extra layer instead. If you don’t have one already, a George onesie is a great item to have stashed away for the nippy days, leaving you warm, snug and feeling fab.

Decreasing the temperature on your thermostat by 1 degree can help to save a fortune on your gas bill, and while the winter months aren’t the best time to do this, if you wrap up warm, there’s no reason why you can’t.

Keep windows and doors closed

There’s no point trying to warm your home if you’re going to open the windows, because the residual heat will escape and you’ll waste money in the process. Keep your windows and doors closed when you have the heating on and you will feel the warmth sooner.

Keeping your curtains drawn will also help to retain the heat so that you’ll hardly notice the one degree drop on your thermostat!

Eat well

The winter months are the perfect time to pull out the slow cooker to make some delicious winter warmers. Make in bulk and freeze some of the meal and you will have better value for money, too. Slow cookers are a fantastic contraption for busy lives, and with plenty of recipes for scrumptious warming grub online and in cookery books, you’ll be able to try something different if you fancy it, too!

Eat plenty of carbs that are full of energy, and start your day with a warming bowl of porridge. Stews and soups are also great options for the colder months.

Keep your socks on

You can lose a lot of body heat through your toes, so when you’re curled up on the sofa underneath your blanket, keep your socks on and you’ll stay warmer.

Use a hot water bottle

Rather than spending money on using your electric blanket, boil the kettle and fill up a hot water bottle instead. It won’t cost you as much, and it’ll feel just as wonderful tucked up in bed with it.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on keeping your home warm; stay cosy in other ways so that you won’t have to feel the shock of an expensive gas bill this winter.
 

High End Wishlist

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Palette £39.50 (Debenhams) | Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow £15 (Cult Beauty) | Lime Crime Lipstick £12.50 (Cutecosmetics) | Nars Adult Content Blush Palette £30

If you are a regular reader you will know that I am more highstreet than highend. Probably due to circumstance more than choice, but luckily there are some great products available on the highstreet.

Everyone deserves a treat now and then so I am going to treat myself to something nice. I am torn between these products, but I think the Nars palette may win as I don't own too many blushes.

I am absolutely in love with the Too Faced palette, but I have eyeshadow palettes coming out of my ears.

Have you tried any of these products?

Gem x

Disneyland Paris January 2014

On the 6th of January I was extremely lucky to spend the week in my favorite place on earth; Disneyland. I had such a great trip and actually, if it wasn't for this blog I doubt I would have been able to go. 

If you are a regular reader, you may remember that in the Summer I won Money Supermarkets Beauty and The Beach competition. I was super lucky and won £1500. Well, some of that money I used for this trip and I am so glad I did as my family and I had a fantastic time.

I thought I would share some of my pictures with you, I know I love to see things like this. We went to Disneyland Paris and stayed at the Santa Fe. It was the end of the Christmas Season but we were lucky that the Christmas decorations were still up. It just feels more magical with the decorations, personally I think they should keep them all year round!

Enough rambling, here are some pictures:

Review and Demo Pics: L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

I love a good mascara and I must admit I bought into the hype of L'Oreal Miss Manga. I had seen the advert on TV and some blogs reviewing and  raving about it. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it so went out and bought it right away.

I must say I am a little disappointed by Miss Manga. Its not a terrible mascara by any means but it just doesn't work for my eyelashes. It seems to clump them together and there is no separation at all. It does give some length and volume, but the over all clumpy-ness ruins it for me.

The pictures speak for themselves really. My lashes look all clumped together and I really don't like the effect. unfortunately it wasn't a hit for me, but its not to say it wouldn't work for you!

Have you tried Miss Manga?

Gem x

Guest Post* | Fashion or Function

Fashion or Function?

When it comes to footwear we usually have to make a choice: fashion or function? High heels have long been our friend and our enemy, settling their stiletto-skinny points on that thin line between love and hate. We all want to inject a bit of glamour into a night out and heels have long been the obvious choice for making an outfit scream 'Wow'! That is until it's 3am and you're waiting for a kebab with your heels in your handbag.

When it comes to function, we all want footwear that is comfortable and wearable. Trainers, flip-flops, your 10 year old pair of boots and the ballerina pumps that are more Billy Elliot's dad down the coal mines than The Royal Ballet all take pride of place in your shoe rack. We're all screaming for a shoe that brings fashion and function together without us having to traipse round the high street, rummaging and trying on endless amounts of footwear. We simply want something that will look fabulous and fit well.

FitFlop's ethos lies in making shoes that are scientifically and technologically flawless, achieving a great fit for everyone. But haven't we heard this all before? Many other shoe brands have guaranteed us ergonomic perfection only for us to find out it's all a big marketing ploy. FitFlop are changing the way shoes work. The company's creators include an entrepreneurial mum and two biomechanists. We all know how hard mums' feet work so we're taking this lady's word for gospel! With two scientists on the team, it seems that FitFlop may have designed what we've all been waiting for.

Over the last 6 years, the company have grown stronger, developing their ranges for both men and women. There is a lot on offer with all different types of shoes, designs, materials and sizes. With beautiful designs and a fit Cinderella would be jealous of, FitFlop is succeeding in stamping its mark on the footwear market. Their website boasts of amazing testimonials from their customers, with love and happiness screaming from the reviews. It seems FitFlop have finally won the fashion/function war!

FitFlop shoes can be found in a range of shops in the United Kingdom, as well as internationally. They also have a great online shop where you can browse their designs and search for your nearest outlet.

Avon Ultra Colour Lipstick in Red 2000

I received this lipstick as part of a Christmas gift. I regularly order from Avon but have never tried any of their lipsticks.

It's from the Ultra Colour range and I absolutely love it. The colour is the perfect red for my complexion and its really moisturizing and comfortable on the lips.

When used over the top of a lip liner, the lasting power is great. I just used a £1 MUA lip liner: It does the job and is a great match in terms of colour.

I used to stay away from reds as I didn't think they suited me, but this lipstick has totally changed my mind. Its all about finding the right shade of red for you. I am really excited about the MAC Viva Glam Rihanna now, to me it looks quite similar to this colour.

Whats your favorite red lipstick?

Gem x

3 Looks with Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

I was extremely lucky and received the Naked 3 palette as a gift for Christmas. The quality and pigmentation is amazing, I love the packaging and the colours are so pretty and unique. 

I thought about doing a review and swatches post, but there are loads out there so I thought I would do something a little different. 

I wanted to show you my favorites looks to create with the palette, so below are my three go-to looks with the shadows I have been using the most.

The first look is the easiest to create, but because the colours are so pretty it looks like it took a lot more effort. I put Mugshot all over the lid and blended into the crease. I then added factory to the outer V and blended into the crease and smudged it along the lash line. For all the looks I used Benefits Creasless Cream Shadow in Bikini Tini as a base and Rimmels exagerate liquid eyeliner. In this look I have Mac Creme Cup on my lips and I think it complements the shadows nicely. 

The second look is more of an everyday neutral look. I put Strange all over my lid and blended Limit and Nooner into my crease and outer v. Because the overall look is rose toned, I like to use a peach blush and lipstick to complement the eyeshadow. Here I am wearing Mac Shy Girl on my lips and Sleek Rose Gold on my cheeks. 

The third look is a little more complicated to create. I used Limit all over the lid, Nooner in the crease and then blended Darkside into the outer V. I highlighted my inner corner with Dust, and it looks a lot prettier in real life. Its a nice look for the evening when you want glamour, but nothing over the top.

Have you got the Naked 3 Palette? What are your favorite combinations?

Gem x

Christmas NOTD: Xmas Pudding Nails

I wanted to do a festive nail, but I am working all the way up til Christmas Eve (boo) so I needed it to be work appropriate.

 I settled on this: Nails Inc Porchester Square and a Christmas Pud on my ring finger as an accent. I think it turned out well and looks pretty cute!

Do you have festive fingernails?

Gem x

Area H2O Shampoo & Conditioner Review (Soft Water)

For the past two weeks I have been taking part in the Area H2O Healthy Hair Challenge. I have been using  Area H2O Shampoo and conditioner for two weeks, and now I am reporting back my results.

Depending on where you live in the UK you could have hard, soft, or medium water. Each water type has a specific problem when it comes to washing your hair and Area H2O is a shampoo that combats that problem.

I live in an area where the water is soft, which means that my hair is more likely to have product build up which could lead to unruly, flyaway hair.

On the first wash I could feel a real difference, my hair felt super clean, light weight, and so soft. It was definitely less flyaway and much easier to manage. 

I absolutely love this shampoo, I think that it really does make a difference and my hair is most definitely healthier.

Here are some photos of my healthier hair. I think it looks shiny and smooth :)

Gem x

Spa Day Treats: What to Take with You* guest post

Spa Day Treats: What to Take with You*

Whether you’re being treated to a spa day by your other half as an early Christmas present, or you’re treating yourself for no other reason than you deserve it, if you’re unfamiliar with how spa days work, they can be a little daunting. What do you need to take with you? What should you expect once you’re there? You’ll probably have a billion questions whizzing through your mind before the day, particularly if you’ve never been to one before. However, despite spas differing greatly, the bare essentials that you should consider taking with you tend to remain the same.

Swimwear

It’s common for women to take two swimsuits with them on a spa day so that they’re not stepping into a wet swimsuit after lunch. If you’re not too confident with your body shape, it may be sensible to take a onepiece for if you use the swimming pool, while reserving the bikini for any treatments and massages you organise – after all, it’s easier to keep bikini bottoms on than it is trying to be massaged in a cozzie! Take a look at George’s range of swimsuits if you don’t already have a suitable swimsuit to take with you.

Goggles

While they’re not essential, they’re ideal if you’re planning on going for a swim as part of the day. Depending on the spa you are booked into, if you do forget goggles, or decide that you’d like some once you’re there, you can usually buy them from the spa shop or reception.

Toiletries

Check to see what your chosen spa includes for you to use. If they don’t supply them, shampoo, conditioner and shower gel will be handy for when you take a shower. They usually provide a hairdryer though, so don’t worry about taking that along with you.

You will need to take along any hair products or make up that you use though – obviously, this depends on how much you rely on them and whether you’re happy to be seen in public without your face on!

A Fresh Change of Clothes

It can be rather nice to change into a fresh set of clothes once your spa day is over – this is completely up to you though.

A Book

While magazines are usually provided, you may as well put your spa day to good use and take your latest read to catch up on. There’s only so much celebrity gossip you can take, right?

Check with the spa before you go whether a robe and slippers will be provided. They usually are, but sometimes they can carry a surcharge. You’ll be given a locker key on arrival so that all of yourbelongings are safe and secure. Try not to stress or worry about what you should be taking along for your spa day and make sure that it’s as relaxing as it can possibly be, from the very beginning; all that’s left to do then is relax, unwind and enjoy the break!

Little Mix By Collection - Perrie Lipstick Review

I am not a fan of Little Mix, but I am a huge fan of purple lipstick. Little Mix by Collection (2000) Perrie's Lipstick had been out of stock for ages in my Superdrug. though the other day I was in luck as there was one left so I snapped it up.

I really liked the colour of the lipsticks from MUA's 1D makuep, but the packaging is way too tacky and childish for me to even contemplate buying. I think Collection have done a good job on this though, its not too obviously aimed at pre-teens.

 I love the colour, its the perfect purple and I think it suits me quite well. Its a nice change from my usual choice of pink.

The formulation is great, like all Collection Lipsticks. It is pigmented and is not at all drying. I would say the finish is semi-matte.

It lasted a really good time on my lips too, around 5 hours which is perfect.

Overall I absolutely love this lipstick and am on the look out for a back up as I love it that much. At £2.99 its an absolute bargain too.

Gem x

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge Review

I have wanted to try a Beauty Blender sponge for ages, but at around £16 they were out of my price range. So when Real Techniques brought out a Beauty Blender dupe I was so happy. I saved up my Boots points as I was still a little begrudged to spend £5.99 on a sponge.

It was well worth the money though, It really is great. I dampen mine by running it under warm water and then drying with a towel. I use the flat edge to apply my foundation in a sweeping motion which leaves me with really light coverage, so I then go in and use the sponge in patting motions over the areas that need high coverage (which is basically my whole face at the moment). This leaves me with a really flawless looking complexion - The sponge does exactly what it says on the tin!

I love the way that the sponge is designed, the flat surface is great for quick coverage and the point is great for under the eyes and around the nose. Its also great for spot concealing.

Overall I absolutely love this sponge and am going to purchase another as a back up. Its great for when you want a flawless finish to your makeup. The only gripe I have is that it is really hard to get completely clean, but I can overlook this for the sake of a flawless base.

Have you tried this?

Gem x

Manicure Monday: Purple and Silver

This manicure looks really effective and is really simple to do too. first I painted my nails with the silver colour and let it dry completely. Then I used sellotape to create the triangle shape and painted over with the purple. Let it dry and remove the tape and you are left with these cute nails!

Gem x