Review: 17 Mirror Shine Lipsticks & Tesco Sunglasses

I don't know how it happened, but somehow in the last couple of months I have become a total sunglasses whore.

I used to have a really hard time finding ones that suited my face, so either I've stopped caring and I'm just buying shades that I like, regardless of how ridiculous I look, or they've started making ones which suit me better.  I don't know which it is and to be fair, not sure that I care!

I took a little trip to Tesco last night (to get bourbon medicine to help with a nasty toothache I've got) and while I was there I noticed they'd got all their summer fashion in.  There was a pretty big selection of sunglasses and after trying them all on, I got one of the expensive pairs (£5!) and two of the cheaper pairs (£3 each).  I'm not someone who will spend a lot of money on sunglasses as I will almost definitely lose them, scratch them or sit on them so these are perfect.

Onto the Lipsticks...

I've just discovered Boots 17's latest little offering, Mirror Shine lipsticks which I am loving.

If you're into super-pigmented lipsticks, I don't think these are really for you, but I think if you like MAC lustre finish lippies and are into sheer colour these will be right up your street.  I've got four of the ten available shades:

The packaging is fabulous!

Top to Bottom - Peace, Flirtini, Belle, Beehive

All four go on very smoothly and they feel quite moisturising without being heavy. They give the same sort of sheen a lip balm would, so not too glossy but there's a bit of shine to them which I like a lot.  The staying power isn't massive, but because they feel so nice on I don't mind having to reapply every couple of hours.

I don't like to wear heavy make up in the summer.  I don't really like the heat anyway and a face full of slap makes me feel grubby and yuck!  These lovelies though, are going to be perfect for me.  A light little something I can put on, feel polished but not feel like its caked on.

Here's what three of them look like on (no swatch of Flirtini I'm afraid), along with some pics of the sunglasses - apologies for the scruffy hair, I'm not sure what its doing at the moment:

Peace (sheer orange)

Belle (rosy pink)

Beehive (nude)

I wish I could tell you which were my favourite, but I think I love them all equally.  I'm already thinking about getting backups of the lipsticks and possibly those pink/orange/green sunnies in case they get lost or broken.

So, here's the lowdown on the lippies (I'm sure you don't want a review on the sunglasses, it is a beauty blog after all)

The Good Stuff

• They've got a light texture and feel moisturising
• They give a lovely shiny finish
• Beautiful packaging - shiny, swimming pool blue tubes
• They're very reasonably priced - £4.49 each

The Not So Good Stuff

• If you like more pigmented, brighter colours these will be too sheer for you
• No SPF-  I guess something had to give

Overall Rating

I love these.  Let me say that again.  I LURVE them.  The only thing I wish they had was an SPF, but I like everything else about them enough that I can forgive them that.  These will definitely be a staple in my beauty routine this summer, so I'm giving them:

 

 Four and a half Glossies out of a possible Five.

Have you tried these lipsticks?  Am I missing out on a must-have shade?  

Have you got any recommendations for bargain sunglasses to help me with my new habit?

If you have, let me know in the comments.

I hope you're having a great Bank Holiday weekend!

Oh. Dear.

I weighed myself on Friday.  One of of those "in public places" type scales.  It printed off the little receipt and I was faced with these cold, hard, facts:

Now, before I go any further into this post - I know I'm within my healthy weight range.  I know that there are women out there who weigh the same as me (or more) and are perfectly happy and confident and gorgeous and I tip my hat to those women.

For me and by my own personal standards I feel that this is too heavy.  I have gained just over 8lbs in about 2.5 months.  Its my own fault, I can't play dumb here.  I can't claim "Well I just don't know where its all come from."  I do know.  It's a result of more booze, lots more 2 and 3 course lunches at work and virtually no self control or moderation.

I had a rough start to the year, with quite a bit of stress at work and losing my grandmother amongst other things.  I let myself do what felt right while I was getting myself straight, but the thing is...I got myself straight and then didn't stop eating.  My weight at the beginning of this year was 11st 3lbs.  I was happy-ish there, but probably would have been happier at 11st.

Today I started "the diet".  I'd call it a "healthy lifestyle" but that'd be a big fat lie.  I need to get down to at least my original weight, but really I'm aiming to lose a stone.

I cannot even begin to describe how depressing it is knowing that you're restricted in what you can eat, but I know its my own fault.  The worst of it is I can't even exercise at the moment because I've done something to my shoulder that I thought a massage had fixed, but actually it hasn't and I'm in about the same amount of pain as before the massage.

Lets just say that life doesn't feel all that "glossy" today.  I could cry and I'm sure it'd burn a few calories but I know there's no point.

So, if anyone has any good weightloss tips that they'd like to share please leave me a comment.  Ditto if you wanted to say something kind and motivational.  I could so use a bit of that right now.

 



P.S.  Next post will be more upbeat, I promse!

Review: Samy "Fat Hair, Zero Calories" Thickening Shampoo / Conditioner

I recently did a review video for Samy's "Fat Hair, Zero Calories" Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner.

I went off on a bit of a tangent, as I was intrigued by the fact that they'd labelled over the printed product info on the bottle itself.



So, if you can wade through all the blather you'd have learned the following:

The Good Stuff

• The shampoo and conditioner are both 100% vegan
• The shampoo is sulphate and paraben free.
• It's relatively cheap - about £4 per bottle, but I got these on a BOGOF.

The Not So Good Stuff

• The conditioner didn't appear to be suphate or paraben free.  Seems odd, as if you're using a haircare "system" you need to use all the products to get the full effect.  If you're worried about sulphates and parabens, you can't use the conditioner.
• Both products smell very sterile/medicinal.  If you've ever used Provon soap, thats what it smells like.
• I didn't find it thickening.  Sort of defies the point.

Overall Rating

Although I didn't like it, I think its good that there are 100% vegan products out there.  I can imagine it must be hard to find suitable products when you have concerns about that type of thing, so good on Samy for taking the time to create some.  The combination of the smell and the fact that it didn't seem to thicken my hair were real nails in the coffin for me, so I'm giving it...

Two Glossies out of a possible five..

Have you tried this product?  If you have, let me know what you think!

You Tube

So, I've been slack on the blog.  Again.

I'm really struggling to find a template that ticks all the boxes for me, but in the mean time I've put a couple of videos up on my You Tube channel (which I'd also neglected for months).

Go on, have a nosey - http://www.youtube.com/bethblogsbeauty

The most recent videos are an April favourites and a review of Samy "Fat Hair, Zero Calories" thickening shampoo/conditioner.

I had a bit of a beauty haul this week, so I'm aiming to do some more vids over the weekend if I can fit it in.  I have a birthday thing to go to tomorrow and I have work stuff to do as well, but I'm hoping I'll have a spare hour to record.

Bx