Monday 24 March 2014

The Confessions of a Beauty Blogger Tag

Hello and welcome back to the Student Beauty Bag, i am aware for the past week i haven't posted anything, and i am really sorry about that i had all my blogs planned and i had taken all my photos, but then on sunday i came down with a horrible kind of stomach ache illness, that to be honest just wanted me to sleep all day, to the matter of fact that i literally did sleep for 4 days in a row and didn't get out of bed at all. It was horrible, and to make up for it, instead of giving you one of my average beauty posts, i decided to do a tag post. I realised you didn't really know much about me and this blog, so i picked the confessions of a beauty blogger tag, lets get started!

1, How many hours a week do you spend planning/ writing/ uploading posts?

Well i had to think about this question quite a lot because i post three times a week, with each post roughly taking me an hour to plan and write. But then i also take pictures, and at the moment to reduce the amount of time i spend taking photos, i am trying to get into the groove of taking all my photos in one sitting, that roughly takes me 30 minutes but then i have to sort out which photos to choose, then i edit the best ones, so all in all i think it takes me about an hour to complete everything photo wise for all three posts. I then also finally research, advertise, comment and generally talk to you guys on social media sites, so i guess if you add that, i most spend at least 6-7 hours a week doing blog related things!

2, Are you a spender or a saver?

I am definitely a spender, what beauty blogger isn't! I am really addicted to beauty products and fashion and shoes, basically everything, so i rarely ever save, apart from if i know there is something i want, and i have to save up for it!

3, When is it easiest for you to write your posts?

I think it is easiest for me to write my posts in the evenings in between doing college and my free time i manage to conduct 3 posts a week, which i think is quite an achievement. Obviously i don't take the photos for the blog in the night, i normally do that on a weekend morning when i have plenty of time to slowly take the pictures. I also do if i have time on the weekends basically plan and sometimes i get round to writing the posts, but i have to admit that is pretty rare!

4, What makes writing posts comfortable for you?

I think getting feedback and knowing that you have helped someone is the best, and most comfortable thing for me, it really encourages me when some of you contact me and i love making new friends through it too, so don't be shy and come on in!


5, Whats your worst makeup/ hair habit?

I think my worst makeup habit is chapped lips, or dry skin, this is a real problem for me, and i find it very hard to treat it, and whenever i look in the mirror i am always like why do i allow my skin to get so bad. I suppose i do have some really bad hair habits, i also have very dry hair, which means i have never had the need to really wash my hair lets say more than 3 times a week because it doesn't get greasy, but i need to starts washing it more often and keep my hair down, not scrunched up in a top knot!

6, Whats one quote you wish the world would live by?

I am not a massive fan of quotes, and i don't really know that many, but i think i prefer the more heart wrenching/ sad kind of quotes that make your realise what other people feel like. There was once this quote about bullying and it was talking about would you ever want to go through what you are doing to someone else and it was really sad but i cant remember it now, it was really beautiful and sad.

7, How long do you spend getting ready everyday?

Oh no the question i dread is coming! I think because i have to leave really early in the morning on a weekday for school, i tend to not spend as much time as i would on a weekend, but saying that i take at least 30 minutes to do my makeup in the morning, so to get dressed and sort out my hair if i am not straightening it, it will take me probably an hour! On the weekends though because i have time i often spend nearly an hour doing my makeup because i get very easily distracted, and have no attention span!

8, What your favourite post on your blog?

I think my favourite post on my blog is my blog is my review of the Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Carnation because it was one of my first blog posts and i took so much time writing it and the finished post really made me fall in love with blogging. 

9, Who is a beauty blogger that you think deserve more subscribers that they have?

I think there are many beauty bloggers on twitter and Instagram and other social media platforms that don't have as many subscribers as they deserve, i have started to interact with lots, and many of the new generation of beauty bloggers like me deserve more followers because some of them are truly inspirational and well written!

10, Whats one thing you're excited about in the coming year?

There are many things i am really excited about in the next year, and one of them is definitely building up this blog, getting more subscribers and teaching more people about student friendly beauty items and products that are safe for your skin, there are many things!

11, What has been your favourite blogging moment?

As you know, i am fairly new to the world of beauty blogging, so i haven't experienced that many things beauty blogging related, but one of the best things about blogging, and my best moment was when i finally realised that people were actually reading my blog, even though it wasn't  very many people, its still someone who can learn from me!

12, How long does it take to prep for a post?

As i said in question number one of this tag, writing and planing a post can take around 1 hour, but it really depends on the post, this post didn't take very much preparing because its just me answering questions, but another post with photos that i need to edit and crop may take much longer.

13, Are you wearing jeans/ skirt right now or are you wearing pyjama bottoms?

At the moment i am wearing an old t shirt and some running leggings because i have just come back from the gym, but normally i would just be wearing pyjamas or even a onesie, the benefit of blogging instead of being on Youtube!

So that was the last question for the confessions of a beauty blogger tag, i hope you enjoyed and learnt more about me and beauty blogging for me!!

Izzyxxx 

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Review: Grace Cole Strawberry & Kiwi Body Spray



Hello, its Wednesday, and there is only two more days to the weekend, Yay. As I kind of feel like reviewing everything I own at the moment, I have decided to review this new product I brought less than a week ago, four days ago to be exact because I have fallen head over heels with. Ahhhh I am so exciting. 

This mystery product that I am talking about, which isn't very mysterious if you have read the title of this blog post, is the Grace Cole Strawberry & Kiwi Body Spray, which smells so amazing, and fruity and delicious I could eat it. I had never heard of Grace Cole products before I wondered into House of Fraser one day, and saw a massive stand on all of them and I couldn't resist to smell all the different scents, but my favourite was the strawberry and kiwi flavour, but some of the other ones were really nice too!

The scent is so sweet, and sickly it is all most a bit too overpowering, but I feel the actual spray, and what it spritz's out to be quite light, and not too concentrated like a perfume. In a way that is a really nice quality about it because I get quite annoyed when a body spray smells to concentrated, and too much like a perfume. When I spray it onto my body I usually use around 3-4 spritz on my whole body, and I feel that is just enough so it doesn't choke everyone who will go past me during the day! But I also spray my room with it when I put it on if i am not on the go, I feel around 4-5 sprays per smallish/ medium sized room like a bedroom fills the room up with a really nice summery scent, that isn't to overpowering, and just makes your room smell or fruity. I do also feel that this body spray doesn't have the best staying power though, it lasts a while if you spray quite a bit on your body, around one to two hours, but I wouldn't use it if I want something to stay on all day, but it is really easy to just keep in your handbag, and you can top up throughout the day so I suppose it is not that bad.


The next thing I am going to comment on about this body spray is something that always kind of sells the product to me with fragrance items, the packaging, and even though this packaging is quite 'average', it does have some really cool stuff on it! Okay so the main really cool thing on it is that the lid on the bottle, the spray part is this really gorgeous dark red chrome colour, that is really shinny, and as soon as I saw that small feature it sold the product to straight away because other things don't have that detail on! Okay I am going a bit mad now on this shiny lid now, also the res of the packaging is quite nice, it is bright red, with strawberries and kiwis on it, which is good because you only had to look at the picture to figure out what it smelt like, you didn't have to read it!

So finally, I think for the £3.50 this cost me, it was originally £5 but it was on offer, this is a really nice product, well worth the money, and i even think I may go out and by the shower gel version of this, and even maybe another few body sprays because they all smelt so nice and delicious they were irresistible!

Izzyxxx

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Grace+Cole+Strawberry+Kiwi+Body+Spritz+250ml/192204049,default,pd.html

Monday 10 March 2014

Where has The Student beauty Bag been??

Hello, and welcome back to the Student Beauty Bag, i really can't believe it has been 6 weeks and 1 day since i last posted on here, and it truly only feels like 2 weeks, which was the original amount of time i was going to take off. I never mentioned this on my blog, apart from me finding it hard to post 3 times a week because of all the schoolwork it had, but i had started to think of writing and keeping this blog a bit of a chore, and i hated myself for thinking that. I decided, if i took 2 weeks vacation from this blog, planned some posts during that time, took lots of pictures, and just started to love this blog like i did when i created it, keeping it would be a lot easier and less stressful. But the thing was after around two weeks, my half term started, and i thought that would be a perfect time to restart it, i assumed i wouldn't have much homework and revising to do, but i was completely wrong. I had so much to do, and i was on holiday in north wales for a bit with my family, and there was no internet connection, so i could prepare some posts, so i put it off, week after week, until i decided last week that i missed this blog, and decided if i don't start it up now, i don't know how long it would be until i started it again.

So, today is Monday 10th March, and from wednesday on, i am going to hopefully start blogging again on a monday, wednesday and friday schedule again. I never said that i was posting on those days, but i kind of adopted those days, and have decided to stick with them, however if i am really busy one day, and can't post, i will make up for it in the week, resulting in ever week posting 3 blog posts.

I am really sorry about this, and when i was away for six weeks i did miss you guys tremendously but couldn't get my self to start it all up again. Also, sorry this isn't a proper 'beauty' post, but as i said i will start properly on wednesday. I love you guys lots and thank you for being here for me and supporting me, love you!!

Love, Izzyxxx

Sunday 26 January 2014

My Top 5 Pamper Evening Essentials: Volume 3

Hello, i hope you realise, but you are very lucky today, you are getting two posts in one day, only because i thought I had posted these posts a few days ago, but for some unknown reason, they didn't publish or save, so here I am today, on sunday afternoon, when I should be planning next weeks posts, I am rewriting the posts I wrote earlier this week! Its a hard life ehh.

So todays post is my Top 5 Pamper Evening Essentials, and did you know, this is my third volume of this, how time flies! So today I have chosen 5 of some of my favourite pamper essentials that i will be using today to prepare myself for the next week ahead, and that will help me relax tonight. I have chosen all drugstore products so you will be happy, and I have chosen one lip product, one hair product, and three body products! I hope you enjoy!


Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub- £5.50 
I think this is probably one of my top 5 lip products ever, even though I have only ever had one tiny 25g tub before, it lasted me ages, even with some sneaky eating of it because it tasted so nice!! I know everyone talks about this scrub, and it heavenliness, but for the £5.50 price tag, it is completely worth it, i feel that everyone should have it! The gorgeous bubblegum taste and smell, I feel is nicer than actual bubblegum sweets, and it the sugar grains are surprisingly good at removing all that disgusting dry skin of your lips. Another benefit of this product  is that it is really easy to use, you just take a small pinch, (or more if your hungry), scrub it around your lips for 10-20 seconds, and for the best bit, lick it off! For me this is a real life saver product, I cant live without it, and i will be definitely using it this week!
https://www.lush.co.uk/product/67/Bubblegum---25g


Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Body Butter- £10.50
Oh my god, this is one of my all time favourite body butter/ creams in the whole world, i know it says that it is a after sun, that you use after you have been in the sun for too long when its hot, but this product is also an excellent everyday body butter! I first brought this product nearly two years ago, just before I was going to go on my holiday to Sri Lanka, to keep my skin soft, and not burnt while i was sunbathing in the sun. During that holiday, I used it religiously, and even when i burnt my shoulders once, it was so soothing, and did bring down the redness, but most of all it was a perfect after swim pamper essential. After my holidays, I had some left over in the tub, so i started using it when my skin was extra dry, or it just felt like it needed a pick me up, I became obsessed and used way too much of it! When the holidays rolled around a couple of months ago, and i was going back to Sri Lanka, i knew this was a definite product I was going to take, and again became obsessed with it all over again, and i still have a bit left in the tub, so i have started using it again, and it is the perfect reminder of summer! Bring on the summer time baby!
http://www.boots.com/en/Hawaiian-Tropic-After-Sun-Body-Butter-Exotic-Coconut-200ml_954962/


Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner Sample- £1.99
You may have heard of this product as it is very popular in the Charles Worthington Moisture range, but i always thought i had way too many hair products so I never brought the full sized bottle for £5.99. But when i saw this little sample sized packet of it in Boots the other week, I couldn't resist buying it, and it was only £1.99. It turns out i love this product, and i probably should buy it while Charles Worthington is on sale at Boots, I am really glad i brought the sample size, and even though it is 'sample sized', it did last me three uses. It is a leave in conditioner, that after i showered, especially if i had no intention in washing my hair in the next couple of days, and wanted my hair to stay nice, I used a small dollop of it, and rubbed it into the areas of my hair that were particularly frizzy. It calmed down my frizz, and I definitely recommend this if you have really dehydrated, frizzy hair!
http://www.boots.com/en/Charles-Worthington-Moisture-Seal-Hair-Healer-Leave-In-Conditioner_1330137/


Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturiser in Cocoa Radient- £4.99
I sure do love convenience, and you sure don't get more convenient in the body moisturising group than a spray and go moisturiser! When i first saw these advertised in a magazine, I knew instantly I had to get them, and then I realised they hadn't been released yet, i practically cried, i was so upset! When i did eventually get it, I was seriously obsessed with it, and for those couple of weeks, my skin had never been softer, but then after the summer i stopped using it so much, and since then i have kind of become un touched with it! I really want to start using it again, not just because it is so convenient, it is also a really nice cream, just like the original cocoa butter creams, and I would definitely recommend this product if you sometimes feel lazy in the moisturising front!
http://www.boots.com/en/Vaseline-Spray-Go-Body-Moisturiser-Cocoa-Radiant-190ml_1336204/#maincontent


Baylis & Harding French Lavender & Cassis Foot Balm
I got this foot balm as part of a set a couple of years ago for christmas from Baylis & Harding, and I think you can no longer buy the exact set I have anymore, instead i think they rebranded the foot balm, and changed the idea of the gift set, so i do recommend getting that, and you can find it pretty cheap online. In the gift set was this really nice, soft, luxurious foot balm, that smells heavenly, really sweet, and kind of makes you fall asleep! Also in the gift set was some really fluffy white socks that you got free, and if you do find a similar foot balm to the one i have, i definitely recommend thickly layering it on your feet, so they feel slightly soggy, and then carefully putting on the socks, it makes your feet feel so dreamy. Even if you don't have this foot cream, just put any cream on them, and some fluffy socks on after a warm bath, it will literally relax you slightly too much, its perfect!
http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/sainsburys-price-comparison/beauty_gift_sets/baylis_and_harding_french_lavender_foot_set.html

I hope you have enjoyed volume three of my Top 5 Pamper Evening Essentials, and if you feel in need of some pampering or relaxing, i would definitely recommend you setting some time aside for you to complete a few of these steps, it will be worth it, trust me!

Izzyxxxx

New Look Black Metal Trim Ankle Boots



Hello and welcome back to the Student Beauty Bag, it feel ages since I last posted but in fact it was only on Tuesday! So today I have different type of post than i normally have, it is not beauty related, it on my second most favourite thing in the world, shoes! I love shoes so much, and I sure have my fare share of them, from ankle boots, to high leg boots, to heels, to flats, to sneakers, i have everything! 


I don't know if you still remember, but on one of my first ever posts, I posted my December favourites, and included in that were some high heeled black cut out ankle boots, they were really nice, but slightly to high for me on a everyday basis. So just after I brought those, I saw these really nice simple black ankle boots with some really effective gold detailing on them, and the best thing about them they weren't very high. As you can expect I immediately fell in love with them, and couldn't resist them, so i had to buy them!


These are some of the most comfortable boots i have ever tried, they are the perfect height for someone like me who needs to wear high heels because she is so short, but doesn't want her feet hurting all day, and for them to be too high and uncomfortable, but also wants her feet to look semi decent! When I tried them on i was very impressed how comfortable they actually were, and because the pair I have our wide fit, they have enough room for my feet, without making the length way to big. Even if you don't have particularly big/ wide feet, and just want some comfortable boots to wear everyday, I would definitely get them!


But it isn't just because these boots are so comfortable why I love them so much, they also happen to look really nice and casual, that you can easily dress up for a more formal occasion. I personally love to wear these boots everyday if I am just popping out to the shops, or just running errands, and they are also very suitable if you are still in school or college, as they are not very high, and very simple looking. They are a black suede/ leather ankle boots, with a 2-3 inch block heel, that is very stable and comfortable, they also have a simple gold zip down the inside of the shoe, and a simple gold line across the back of the heel. The little, simple details surprisingly add lots of detail to the shoe, and make it look also surprisingly pretty, and attractive.

I hope you have enjoyed this mini shoe review, would you like me to do more, i have found it quite enjoyable, and easy, as shoes are one of my strong obsessions!

Izzyxxxx

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Review: Revlon ColourBurst Balms


Hello and welcome back to The Student Beauty Bag, and just a quick sorry before I start, I am sorry that i haven't been posting on a regular/ normal schedule that i have kind of picked up because I have been so busy with all my schoolwork, and I cant seem to get organised, so for the rest of this month, I am planning to just blog three times a week. I will try and keep to my Monday, Wednesday & Friday schedule, but i don't know how well that is going to work, so can you just be patient if I am slightly uneven with my posting, sorry, but I will try my best, and will be back on form for February, i promise!

Sorry about that mini, weird paragraph there, i was just trying to tell you my plan for the rest of January, and if you don't get what I mean, feel free to email me at TheStudentBeautyBag@Gmail.Com if you have any questions, or just contact me on any of my social media profiles on the right of this page. Anyway back to todays post, if you haven't guessed it by the title yet, I am reviewing the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, in the shade Honey, and the new Revlon ColourBurst Lacquer Balm in the shade Demure.



So lets start of with the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the colour Honey, this is a very popular product of Revlon, and when it came out, it seemed every beauty blogger had it! I was different though, and even though I have wanted it for months, i only recently brought it, a couple of weeks ago, and boy am I obsessed with it! For the first two weeks after I brought it, I used it most days, and especially if i was going to school and things, because it is a really nice pink- mauve colour, even though the packaging suggest its a nude- baby pink colour, its not, its actually quite bright! I love the colour, i think its a really universal shade, and perfect for anytime of day, but the colour isn't the end of my happiness for this product, oh no! This product is exactly what it says on the crayon ( pun intended!), it is perfect mix of a lip balm, and a lip stain, I personally love the fact that it feels like a lip balm on the lips, but really does stain the lips as well. Also unlike some Lip Stains, it doesn't feel like it is tugging on your lips when you wear it, and especially when you apply it, its so smooth and soft. All together, I think this product is excellent, and well worth the £7.99 price tag, I feel like I couldn't live without it now, and I definitely want more colours! 



The other Revlon product I am reviewing is the new ColourBurst Lacquer Balm in the shade Demure, I only recently brought this last week, and to be honest it was surprising i didn't buy it sooner! After buying the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain a couple of weeks ago, and when I found out there was a new line coming out similar to those products, i knew I had to try some, and when I saw the colour Demure online, it seemed like the perfect colour for me. Similar to the Balm Stains, these are really nice build able colour balms, that feel like you are not actually wearing anything on your lips, but these are slightly different, the Lacquer Balms have a slightly smoother, more velvety texture that the Stains, which when I tried the stains, I thought was impossible. But i think may favourite thing about this product is the amazing colour it gives, I am truly in love with the colour, and as I said earlier is a really me colour. It is a gorgeous baby pink colour with a lovely, but not to overpowering pink and silver glitter/ shimmer to it, that naturally blends into the lips, and produces a beautiful natural shimmer to them, which you can easily build up to a heavier colour.

So, that is the end of todays post, I hope you enjoyed it, and if you haven't brought any of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains/ ColourBurst Lacquer's yet, i definitely recommend them, and they have a new range out called the Matte collection, that I will need to get soon! Thank you for reading this post, and have a good week.

Izzyxxxxx

Sunday 19 January 2014

My Top 3 Spot Blasters!!


Hello, and welcome back to The student beauty bag, and if you are also anything like me, the thought of any recommendations in how to blast those pesky little spots (or big spots in my case), you just can't resist to try. Also, I think reading recommendations in spot blasting products is one of my favourite types if skin care posts to read, so let's get started!


1, Origins Super Spot Remover Gel
I defiantly think this is one of my favourite spot fighting products I have ever tried, yes it is very expensive for a spot gel, but I think when it's a product that has the possibility to save your skin forever, you can't resist buying it, and I can say this has definitely been worth the £14 it cost. When I brought this gel a couple of weeks ago, I was expecting it to be good because it's from Origins, but I never thought it would be as good as it actually is, and for it to overcome my next favourite in the spot blasting top 3. It is a clear gel that is really simple to apply to the skin, and doesn't burn the spot when you put it on, and it dries up quickly, and starts acting fast. It also may seem like the smallest bottle you will ever see (it's a tiny 10ml), but it really does last forever, and in the couple of weeks I have used it nearly everyday, I still haven't used barely any!


2, Soap & Glory Dr Spot Gel
Before I discovered the Origins spot gel, this was by far the best spot blasting gel I had ever tried, and trust me I have tried quite a few! In many ways it is very like the Origins one also, it too is a clear gel based formula, that dries out quickly, and starts too work super fast, but one thing I have never really like about this one is that I feel the gel has a strong anti-bacterial smell too it, and it puts me off slightly when I use it. All together though this is a good spot gel, that definitely works, and is just a cheaper version of the Origins spot gel, and is well worth the £8 price tag. Also I just have to add that its on offer at £6.00 in Boots at the moment, and if you are thinking on buying it, definitely buy it when its on sale!
http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%C2%99-Dr-Spot%C2%99-Super-Strength-Breakout-Clearing-Gel-15ml_1364152/


3, Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream
This may seem like a really random thing that will help get rid of spots, and something that you will never think of, but if you have tried it, you will say with me that this cream can be a real lifesaver when it comes to those pesky spots, especially the scars they leave. I was first introduced to using a tiny bit of sudocrem on a spot by a male teacher of mine a couple of years ago, and no one ever believed him, until one person tried it, and then swore by it that it had made all her acne spots and scars become unnoticeable! I use just a tiny little dab of it on a spot or scar on my face, and leave it overnight for around 8-10 hours, and it reduces the swelling, redness and noticeability of the spot straight away, and is a perfect solution if you have a couple of pesky spots that you want to practically fly of your face overnight!
http://www.boots.com/en/Sudocrem-Antiseptic-Healing-Cream-125g_1666/

So that is my Top 3 Spot Blasters post finished with, I hope you have enjoyed it, and found it very useful, these are my personal favourite 3 products that i feel get rid of spots for me, but they may not work as well for you, or they may work even better, but I just hope it has given you a bit of inspiration on a couple of products that may help you. Also sorry this post is being posted on sunday, instead of my usual friday, but I am still getting used to all my schoolwork, and trying to get organised again after the Christmas Break!

Izzyxxx  

Monday 13 January 2014

Review: Loreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash



Hello!! I feel really excitable today, and oddly happy, even though its Monday, and I absolutely hate Mondays, and maybe its partly because i am going to be reviewing one of my favourite make-up finds in a while, the Loreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash Lip Gloss/ Stain/ Liquid lipstick, lets get this overly excitable train on the tracks! Yay

As I put in the Introduction, I am not really sure what to call this product, it is described as being a stain, which it really does do, but it also reminds me of Liquid Lipstick, a bit like the Rimmel Apocalips, but with more of a lip gloss shine to them, its very complicated! I cant really remember when I got my first one, but it was when they were first released, which I think was in the summer, but a couple of weeks ago I was in Boots and i saw these, and they had lots more colours and they all looked so attractive and pretty i couldn't resist getting some more!


I have three colours, the first one I brought was Romy, which is a really beautiful pale/ baby pink, that transfers onto the lips amazingly, and I think is my favourite shade of the ones I have, they are really glossy, and just like it says on the label, it does feel just like a splash to the lips, and apparently they are 30% water! This colour is less like a stain and more like a lip gloss than the colours i have, probably because it is a lighter more neutral colour with less pigmentation, and is the perfect colour if you feel you just want to add a bit of colour to your lips, and not wear lots of lip gloss or lipstick. Also i think this is a perfect colour for school, as it is a really neutral colour, that isn't that noticeable, and they last forever, around 4-5 hours, so you don't have to touch up throughout the day!


The next colour i have is Eve, which, when you look at the colour inside the packaging, you think is going to turn your lips a purple/ lilac colour, and you are going to look like you have some terrible side effect from a disease on your lips! But, somehow, when it goes onto your lips, turns into a really nice shimmery, pinky, almost lilacy colour that really complements your natural lip colour. I cant really remember why I brought it because when I first was going to try it on, I was very sceptical, but it is a really nice colour, that i don't think many people go for, but should though! Like Romy, the colour above, this is very similar, and is less of a stain than the other colour i have, and more like a gloss, also because it has less pigmentation on the lips, and really neutralisers with the natural colour of the lips!


Finally I am onto my last colour, and its my least favourite colour that i have, and i only brought it a couple of weeks ago, but i feel it is a bit adventurous  for me, and not an everyday colour that I would go to every time. The colour i am talking about is Juliet, and its a bright, rich, dark red colour, it is a truly gorgeous colour don't get me wrong, but I just don't think it really suits me, and is not my normal colour. Also, unlike the other two colours I have, this one is a lot more like a stain, and it dries  very quickly, so if you are like me, and also mess up your lips, it is nearly impossible to change them after a few seconds when they have dried up! Saying this though I am really trying to use it more, and I have found it is better if i apply some to my finger and dab it onto my lips, and it allows me to build the colour up to as much as I want.


In conclusion this line is really good, they have amazing durability, and are a mix of many different lip products mixed together, which creates the perfect consistency and gloss! They have a nice colour line with lots of pinks, corals and reds, mixed in with a few unusual colour that are really nice too, I will definitely be getting some more in the future! I hope you have enjoyed this review, and i look forward to seeing you soon.

Izzyxx

Link:
http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Paris-GlamShine-Stain-Splash_1309088/


Sunday 12 January 2014

My Top 5 Pamper Weekend Essentials


 

Hello, and welcome back to the second edition of The Student Beauty Bag, I hope you enjoyed it, and can you believe it was only two weeks ago that it was posted, it feels like months! So similar to last time i have picked a variety of many cheap, drugstore products mixed in with a few high end, luxury products. This time I have chosen three skincare items, one haircare item, and one nail item, that i will be definitely using this weekend to pamper myself, lets get started!


Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Mineral Hair Rescue Masque
Can i just write a disclaimer, I have only used this product twice before as i only brought it last week, but this hair product I think has definitely changed my life forever now! I have very dry hair, as I think i mentioned in my last top 5 pamper weekend essentials, so I was looking for a nice hair masque i could use as a deep conditioning treatment once to twice a week to give my hair more moisture, but this masque gave me so much more, and has become probably my holy grail hair item! I was expecting good things from this masque, as it was Charles Worthington, but this has completely blown my mind, it adds so much hydration to the hair, but also makes it a ton more shiny and glossier, and just make it feel healthier! I am truly obsessed with this product, and I just cant wait to use it again!


Eucerin Dermato Clean Cleansing Milk
Ever since i brought this cleansing milk in the beginning of December, I have used it everyday, and is the perfect product for me! Before i discovered this product, I have never been successful with any cleansing milks and cleansers to remove my make up with apart from Bioderma because my skin is so dry and sensitive, it just reacts with my skin. I had heard of eucerin before many years ago, but this was first proper product from them, and it has definitely made me want to get many more! This really silky, smooth cleansing milk is perfect for cleansing your skin in the morning and really waking it up, i do also use it in the night before I use my Bioderma, because I feel it doesn't remove make up that well, only foundation, but not mascara. That is the only fault with this cleanser, and for £9, it is definitely worth it!


Gilly Hicks Calla Bluff Hand & Body Cream
This is a really nice hand and body cream that is very moisturising and hydrating that leaves your hands and body silky smooth, but the best thing about this is that it smells so delicious and nice, I could just eat it! Like any Gilly hicks or for a matter of fact any Hollister or Abercrombie & Fitch, their body sprays, creams and lotions always smell so nice, and make your skin smell like the scent for the rest of the day. This scent, Calla Bluff is a gorgeous Vanilla/ Coconut scent with hints of pineapple, and other citrus fruits, unfortunately I cant seem to find the link on their website anymore, and i don't live anywhere near another Gilly Hicks store so I cant check if they stock it in their stores. Anyway, if you are in the store, and they do stock it, I would definitely recommend getting this one as it has a beautiful scent, or any hand and body cream because they are really hydrating.

 
 Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Cuticle Eraser & Balm
There is always lots of controversy behind Sally Hansen and their product, but I have to say I do like their products, and think some items are really good, and have made my nails so much better. When i got this for Christmas i was really happy because I have been looking for this for a long time, and never could find it in shops, hence the reason why I have added the amazon link to it, because i think thats one of the only places you can buy it in the UK. This cuticle eraser and balm is really nice and has a very fresh scent of cucumber and white tea is really nice, and does exactly what it says on the packet, removes your cuticles and make them look instantly nicer! I was a bit spectacle on whether it would actually work, but was pleasantly surprised and think I have found a cuticle eraser for the rest of my like now!


Bioderma Hydrabio Rich Moisturising Cream
When I was in Paris, during the Ester Holidays last year, I wondered into a French Pharmacy for some unknown reason, to my delight i saw that they stocked Bioderma, which I had heard of, but never tried one of their products. That day I went Bioderma crazy, and I am still as crazy as i was 9 months ago, i brought the ever so popular Micellar Water, their atoderm face and body lotion, and their Hydrabio Rich Moisturising cream for the face. This rich moisturiser is the perfect face cream, and I would use it if it wasn't so expensive everyday, instead i use it when I feel my skin is going downhill, and it kind of saves me from my skin going crazyyyy. I think the best thing about bioderma though is that it is free of horrible chemicals that harm the skin, and is perfect for people like me that have eczema and psoriasis!
http://www.bioderma.com/en/nc/the-products/what-s-new/product/action/194.html

So that is my second top 5 pamper weekend essentials out of the way, did you enjoy it? I feel that I have to say this, so I will, I am soooo sorry that i haven't posted very well this week, I have been really busy with school, and even though I have never intended to have a schedule, I kind of have adapted to posting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and today is sunday, but i promise tomorrow i will post, and try and get back into the blogging vibe!

Izzyxxxx

Thursday 9 January 2014

My Top 5 Body Sprays

I know this is quite a weird post, and body sprays are basically just a cheap version of perfumes, but who doesn't have their favourite body sprays that they constantly have on them! As i mentioned in my Issey Miyake perfume review, I love perfumes and body sprays, so ideally My top 5 body sprays would be the perfect post for me, and i have so many body sprays, so it was so hard to pick out my top 5. Lets get this party on the road!


1, Hollister Crescent Bay Body Mist
If anyone has ever owned a Hollister Body Mist they will know how amazing they are, they smell so fruity and delicious, and surprisingly have a very long staying power. When i was in the shop, i tested them all out and this one was my favourite, however all of them smelt amazing, and next time I go to Hollister i am definitely going to get the Solana Beach Body Mist as that smells amazing. The crescent bay body mist smells just like watermelons, which I think is my favourite scent for perfumes, it also smells just like you would imagine sugar to smell like. Altogether i think this body mist is by far my favourite because of its fruity, sugary scent that reminds you of summer lots, and i also think its a very versatile body spray because it can be worn in both the summer and winter, and has a long staying power, and smells very strong for a body spray. You maybe thinking these body sprays must be so expensive because they are from Hollister, yes they are £12, which is ridiculous for a body spray, however in my mind, they are well worth the price, and I have had mine for about 18months and i still haven't used half of it up yet!  


2, Ted Baker Butterfly Wings Body Spray- 50ml
This perfume has defiantly earnt its place in my top 5 body sprays, it is a gorgeous, feminine, floral scent, that almost smells like a really nice perfume, and doesn't have the normal harsh smell of body sprays. I have this body spray in 50ml, which is the perfect handbag size, not too small, but not too big, the scent is really delicate, like a perfume, and is not very overpowering, so is perfect for everyday touch ups, there is also a 150ml version which i think I will get when i finish this one. Surprisingly, this body spray is also really long lasting, I feel it probably lasts all day with a about three touch ups, and individually it probably last 3 hours on the skin, but I do spray it on around three times, because one pump doesn't always spray lots. Also, considering the astonishingly cheap £2.50 price tag, this is way worth the money, and i would still probably get it if it was around £5-7 because its so good!
http://www.boots.com/en/Ted-Baker-Butterfly-Wings-Body-Spray-50ml_1222597/


3, Natural Collection Passion Fruit Body Spray
Like the Ted Baker Body Spray above, this has defiantly earnt its place in my top 5 Body Sprays, and I had real trouble figuring out which one to put in the Second place and which one in the third place, and as you can see this astonishingly cheap body spray at £2.00, has made it in at number 3. This sweet, light passion fruit scent is a must in my everyday schoolbag, it has a really light smell, and not as overpowering as the other Natural Collection Body Sprays. As a whole this body sprays is really good, i don't think it has the best staying power, but it is nice to just use to freshen up during the day, I also really like this body spray as a room spray, i feel it gives the room a nice touch and isn't too strong but you can still smell it! I would defiantly recommend this body spray too anyone who loves their body sprays, especially cheap ones, and too anyone who wants a cheap multipurpose spray!
http://www.boots.com/en/Natural-Collection-Passionfruit-Body-Spray_46498/


4, Soap & Glory Mist You Madly Body Spray- 100ml
For any Soap & Glory lover, the scents of all their products is so unbelievable, and when i saw the had brought out a mini body spray, I knew I had to get it! As it describes on the bottle, this is a 'Flirty, Floral, Fragrant Body Spray', and it really is just that, in away this really should be higher up in the scale of my top 5 body sprays, but some how it ended up in number four! This is the perfect girly, floral, fruity smell, that is full of berries, vanilla and magnolia notes, that just makes you feel like an utter princess! I think the staying power of this body spray is pretty good, and only needs a few touch ups throughout the day, also i have had this bottle for ages now, and i have only used about half of it, and apparently it is only a travel size! This is defiantly the perfect body spray for any Soap & glory lover, and i would recommend it too anyone, its such a universal scent!
http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=1114197


5, Natural Collection Vanilla Body Spray
As I said earlier when I was reviewing the Passion Fruit body spray, I said that I loved Natural Collection Body Sprays, and just to prove it my fifth favourite is the Vanilla version. This vanilla body spray is exactly how you would imagine it to be, strong, sickly and quite overpowering, and i have learnt over time when owning this body spray, you don't exactly want to spray it more than once at a time! I have just realised that everything i have been saying is just basically bad things about this product, but trust me, it is a really nice body spray, thats the reason why its in my top 5! Yes, it is very overpowering and strong, and has a sickly scent, but however, it just sells itself to you, when i first brought it, I never thought i would love it so much afterwards, its just really nice in a really hard way to explain. I would defiantly recommend this to anyone who likes quite strong and sickly scents, and if you love vanilla, this is the body spray for you!
http://www.boots.com/en/Natural-Collection-Vanilla-Body-Spray_46418/

So that is my top 5 favourite body sprays over, I know especially the last review wasn't the greatest review ever but, i hope i really did get my point across, and before you buy i just ask you one thing, smell it before you buy it! Anyway i hope you have enjoyed this post and sorry this is going up on thursdya and not my usual wednesday post, but i have just been really busy this week, and have been trying to get back on track with all my schoolwork!

Izzyxxx

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Review: The Body Shop Body Butters




Hello and welcome back to The Student Beauty Bag, it feels like ages since I last wrote on here, when in fact it was only friday, and today it is Tuesday! I really hate tuesdays, they are the beginning of the week, and the weekend feels like such a long time ago, and the next weekend feels so far away.  And by the way i am sorry this blog post didn't go up yesterday, and i have now kind of got a schedule that i post on monday, wednesday and friday, but i was so busy yesterday with all my schoolwork, so sorry. Anyway today I have a review on one of my favourite beauty related things, The body shop body butters, I have four and I love them all so much, they are basically like heaven in a tub! I think with the body butters they are so well known, and everyone has one, that they become kind of less talked about in the beauty blogger world, but they are still very special. I have 4 body butters, and have never finished an entire tub, I feel like i would probably have every flavour if they weren't so expensive, but actually I have only ever brought a body butter in the 50% sale, I mean who doesn't buy the whole Body Shop during their sales, they have some amazing sales especially after the New Year, and in the summer.



Raspberry Body Butter
This was the first body butter I ever brought, and i brought it this time last year in the sales, and I even think this maybe my favourite body butter, and even my favourite smell from The Body Shop, I really recommend them. But there is one massive downside to this particular body butter, its limited edition, *my life ends*. You can only get it in the winter sale, and in the summer sales I think, which is a massive disappointment, it should have defiantly been all year around. The actual body butter, like all body butters is thick, creamy, and utterly luxurious, it is so moisturising, but i also may think it is slightly too heavy and solid for a everyday use, which you could probably tell from the picture, I haven't used it all up yet. but the smell is in a completely different league to all the other body butters, it is a rich, heavenly smell, perfect for a pamper evening!



Papaya Body Butter
I brought this body butter, along with the one after this, in the summer sale for £5, which is a complete bargain for Body Shop body butters, and this one especially is a perfect summery, sweet scent. Unlike the raspberry body butter, this is less heavy and solid, that is very soft and creamy, but not runny, perfect for lazing on the beach. I tend to use this body butter less in the winter months, but sometimes I love to use it as it reminds me so much of the summer months! For many people i think this would be the perfect body butter, it is soft and creamy, and not runny, it has a lovely sweet, summery scent and is very moisturising!
http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/bath-body-care/body-butter/papaya-body-butter.aspx



Passion Fruit Body Butter
As I said in the review above, I got this is in the summer sale for £5, and has been a complete lifesaver recently! I feel it is very hydrating and moisturising, probably because it is not as thick and solid as the raspberry body butter, and a has a more of a buttery texture than the papaya body butter. I would also say that this is a more of all year round product than the papaya version, as it is still summery, but also quite wintery. The reason why i find the scent both quite summery and wintery as it is a very fruity smell, but has both sweet and sour notes to it, which i feel is a good selling point, and i would defiantly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a all year body butter, that has a gorgeous scent!
http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/bath-body-care/body-butter/passion-fruit-body-butter.aspx



Cranberry Joy Body Butter
I may have said earlier in the raspberry body butter post that that was my favourite body shop smell, I may have slightly been lying! I think either the raspberry scent or the cranberry joy scent are my favourites, I cant choose! Anyway back to this mini review, I only got this body butter recently in the sale, but I have loved the scent for a couple of years now, it is just so festive, wintery and christmassy,   and i already have the shower gel in it too! You maybe thinking why on earth are you buying a festive body butter after christmas? But i just couldn't resist it, and also I don't think it is the most christmassy of scents, it is very sweet and fruity, which for me I think is fine in the summer! Like all Body Shop body butters, this version is so hydrating, creamy and you just want to eat it, but its a shame its limited edition though. And by the way can we just take a small moment to look at the gorgeous frosty packaging! Ahhhh
http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/sale/sale-5-and-under/cranberry-joy-body-butter.aspx

So there it is, my body shop body butters, I truly love them, and find them so moisturising and hydrating and the scent of them is just impossible to refuse! If you have liked this post, and want me to do a couple more Body Shop related posts I sure would love to, so just leave a recommendation in the comments.

Izzyxxx

Friday 3 January 2014

Lush Christmas Kisses Gift Set


As you may know if you follow my Instagram, (or if you don't, theres a link to the right of this page), I tend to be always posting pictures of me and Lush products. I recently posted a picture of my Lush Magic Wand Bubble Bar in action, and there is a review of it in my most recent post of My Top 5 Pamper Evening Essentials, take a look of it if you want too! Anyway back to this blog post, I will be doing a review of my Lush Christmas Kisses Gift Set which i got for Christmas, I am properly obsessed with it, and have wanted one of the products for a long time, I ran out of it ages ago and whenever i went into town I would forget to get it. If you think you can guess what it is, comment below in the comments before you read this next bit!


Bubblegum Flavoured Lip Scrub
OMG, I think this is probably my all time favourite Lush Product, even though I have only ever had one tiny 25g tub before, it lasted me ages, even with some sneaky eating of it because it tasted so nice!! I know everyone talks about this scrub, and it heavenliness, but I just had to do a mini review when I saw it was in this gift box. For the £5.50 price tag, it is completely worth it, the gorgeous bubblegum taste and smell, I feel is nicer than actual bubblegum sweets, and it the sugar grains are surprisingly good at removing all that disgusting dry skin of your lips. Another benefit of this product  is that it is really easy to use, you just take a small pinch, (or more if your hungry), scrub it around your lips for 10-20 seconds, and for the best bit, lick it off! For me this is a real life saver product, I cant live without it.
https://www.lush.co.uk/product/67/Bubblegum---25g


Chou Chou... I love You Toothy Tabs
I am sure everyone has different reactions and opinions to the Lush Toothy Tabs, but i find the concept really weird, and would rather just to stick to normal tooth paste. To use them, you put one in your mouth, you chew it a bit, then when it starts bubbling, get your toothbrush and start brushing, but do not swallow them, ( I actually did swallow it, so i don't think nothing bad really happens, it just doesn't taste very nice! oops). The smell of the Chou Chou... I love You Toothy Tabs, is supposed to be of a romantic rose flavour, like Turkish delight, but it really doesn't, it tastes like a weird soda and chalk mixture mixed together with some sharp rose flavourings, urghh. I don't think I like will ever repurchase this flavour of them, but there are a lot of other flavours, so I maybe will try one of them, i do recommend them to you if you are fascinated by them, but maybe try a different flavour, not Chou Chou... I love You.
https://www.lush.co.uk/product/5804/Chou-Chou-I-Love-You---12g


Honey Trap Lip Balm
When I saw this honey and white chocolate flavoured lip balm in the little gift set, I didn't know what to expect, I am not a fan of the taste of both white chocolate and honey, but this lip balm has kind of changed my views, it tastes amazing! This is a thick and almost grainy textured balm, that is very moisturising, but doesn't leave a white trail on the lips, which I always hate when white lip balms do that. The smell to this is incredible, its very sweet scented, the packaging is very small, and there is only 8grams in the tub, but I have been using it for a week now, and i have barely used any. I also would recommend this product to anyone, especially any sweet scented lover, but it is a bit pricy at £5.75 for what you actually get.
https://www.lush.co.uk/product/6310/Honey-Trap


Santa Baby Lip Tint
When i picked this out of the little gift box, I was assuming this to be very similar to the Honey Trap Lip Balm, when it is completely different. This is a lip tint, not a lip balm, don't make the same mistake I did by thinking it was a lip balm and practically smothering it all over face, to realise my face had turned a bright shade of red because in actual fact it is a very highly pigmented lip tint! The colour is a very christmassy bright red, and is a smooth, almost solid texture, that dries on the lips matte, and tastes and smells exactly like Cola bottles, which is a huge bonus. The only annoying thing about this is that it is a Limited edition, christmas lip tint, that you can only buy at christmas time, but it is a very similar colour to the Lush It Started With A Kiss Lip Tint, which is slightly more of an orange shade of red. I would still recommend It Started With A Kiss to anyone, even though it doesn't have the same Cola taste and smell.
https://www.lush.co.uk/product/6379/Santa-Baby
https://www.lush.co.uk/product/232/It-Started-with-a-Kiss---10g

I hope you have enjoyed this review, unfortunately this actual gift set was only for Christmas, and their sale has finished so it is no longer for sale, but I would definitely recommend getting them separately because i think they are actually worth it. This is the lats of my mini series Christmas present reviews, but i do think i will still do a few other reviews of some of the beauty present i got in the near future, so look out for them!

Izzyxxx