Tuesday 31 January 2012

Superdrug Coconut & Sweet Almond Intensive Conditioner

This was featured on my Payday Treats  Post. My hair was starting to feel really dry after swimming and this was winking at me from the shelf :)

Like I've said before coconut is one of my favourite scents. And this smells so yum. What I have found with a few products that I have used in the past that they smell gorgeous in the bottle, but the scent doesn't stay on my hair very long. I only wash my hair 2 - 3 times a week, I have don't have the time to wash it more than that (That, and I am too lazy to actually make time to wash it more!) The coconut scent stays on my hair until I have to wash it again.


The instructions say leave this to work for 3-5 minutes depending on the moisture that you need. I leave it on for about 5 minutes.



It's a bit slimey, but nice to use. My hair is fairly long, about to my shoulder blades, so I use a fairly big blob to get from the roots to tips. It makes my hair so shiny and moisturised, even after swimming.

Here's what it looks like in the palm of my hand



I bought this for £1.49 which is a great price, but now its on offer for 79p! Grab it!

Will I buy it again? Possibly, it doesn't have a 'Holy grail' status yet, I'm going to try other ones also. But I won't disregard it, if purely for the gorgeous smell!




While on the subject of haircare, I also bought Superdrug Chocolate Brownie Dry Shampoo at the same time.



Just thought I'd mention that I'm not all that impressed. My hair feels yuck when I've used it and it turns the bottom of the bath brown when washing it out. My hair looks and smells OK though.  I'll use them all up, I hate wasting things. But I won't be buying these again.

Thanks for reading xx


Friday 27 January 2012

Busy Bee Candles

I love twitter. One thing I love most about it is that you get to hear about companies and products that you wouldn't have in your usual day to day business. Busy Bee Candles is one of these companies I wouldn't have heard about if I had not been on twitter.

Busy Bee Candles are all handmade using soy wax using fine fragrances. Their website is http://www.busybeecandles.co.uk/ Take a look, there is a ridiculous selection of fragrances available. There is something for everyone, that is for sure!

I can't get enough of candles at this time of year, especially frangranced ones. I currently have 6 burning in my living room, not all are fragranced! I love the light of them too. Everything looks so pretty in candlelight. 



The fragrances I bought were 'Lavender Pillow' and 'Coconut Rose' in a small candle for £7.50




Lavender is one of my favourite scents. Lavender Pillow did not disappoint. I was burning it in my bedroom and could smell it downstairs! I absolutely love this and will definitely re-purchase. So relaxing to have in your bedroom or to burn at night.



Coconut is another of my favourite scents and 'Coconut Rose' caught my eye. It is such an exotic scent. I was burning this in my living room this afternoon and it got to work very quickly. My whole house smelt of it.


They burn so evenly, I don't imagine that there will be much waste from these candles. A mini candle will burn for 30 to 40 hours, that's £7.50 well spent!


Busy Bee Candles come in wax tarts also, I'm definitely investing in a burner to try out some other scents.

The ones I'm looking forward to buying next are Basil & Herb (if I ever have fresh basil in my house, I am always giving it a sniff!;)), Sweet Dreams, and Sun Washed Linen

I think since starting this blog, I'm quickly learning that I am obsessed with scents!

What's your favourite scented candle?

You can follow Busy Bee Candles on Twitter @BusyBeeCandles and you can also follow me on twitter @jo85ste

Thanks for reading xx


NOTD, Parlez-Vous OPI?

This is my all time favourite nail varnish. I completely love it. My number 1!


It is a gorgeous grey purple colour.



I have so many compliments when wearing this. It is my 'go to' nail varnish. If I'm sat looking at my nail varnishes feeling 'meh' I reach for this. It doesn't last much more than a day, depending on whether I'm working or at home with my monsters.

What's your number one?

Thanks for reading xx

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Payday Treats Part 2...

It has been so grey here for days, so I had to wait to take these photos.

During my payday shop I also bought these blushes. I was feeling so uninspired with the blushes that I was using, I couldn't wait to buy some more. 

No7 Natural Blush in Soft Damson
Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in 02 Peach


I have many times picked up the Maybelline blush and never actually bought it. It was £6.49 in ASDA (It's the same price in Superdrug, or its £6.99 in Boots). Why I have never bought it, I do not know. I LOVE it! I have used it nearly every day since buying it. It's so easy to use, I tab a bit on with my fingers and blend it with my ELF blusher brush. It is really creamy and definitely a 'dream' to touch ;) It gives such a nice natural flush my face. I am going to buy other colours in this range, for sure!

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Peach


I've never used a No7 blush before and this is lovely. A really nice pink colour that I think will suit a lot of different skin tones. It's very buildable, but I tend to use it lightly to avoid that 'Coco the Clown' look on the school run!

No7 Natural Blush, Soft Damson

A swatch of both colours




Both of these blushes are good buys, I am so pleased with the Maybelline. Both are welcome additions to my make up collection.

Thanks for reading x

Friday 20 January 2012

Payday Treats! Part 1...

It feels like I have been waiting for payday for forever! Today I did a hop, skip and jump into Boots and Superdrug itching to spend some of my hard earned wages (OK, earned. ;))

There's no award winning photography here (is there ever!?). I was dying to blog what I bought and didn't want to wait for daylight. So I am splitting it into two posts. The make up will have to wait for daylight to photograph.

Anyway, enough of the waffle. Here's my haul..

Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Care Range:
Hot Cloth Cleanser
SPF 15 Radiance Moisture Cream
Exfoliating Facial Scrub
Nourishing Night Cream

This little lot cost me £7.98! Reeesult! I've read great things about the Hot Cloth Cleanser, and I've been dying to use it. The cost of just one is £5.99, but you can buy 2 for £3.99. How fabulous is that? I am looking forward to try all of these products and will do a review on each one. I don't want to overload my skin (it will be an oily mess!) so I will do it bit by bit.

Superdrug Chocolate Brownie Dry Shampoo

This was a deal, buy one get TWO free! So I got three for £1.99. I haven't tried this one before, so I am looking forward to. I am a brunette, and the usual dry shampoo makes it grey.

Superdrug Coconut and Sweet Almond Intensive Conditioner


I started swimming again this week, and my hair is so dry after, despite using loads of conditioner. So I thought I'd give this a go, and for £1.49 its no biggy if its rubbish. It smells lush! I am a sucker for coconut, it is one of my favourite scents. Hair products don't usually excite me, I normally buy whatever is on offer at the supermarket. But, I think I will make more of an effort now, purely for research purposes for the blog ;)

Montagne Juenesse Face Masks
Blemish Mud
Passion Peel Off
Green Tea Peel Off
Strawberry Souffle


I've said before, I love face masks, and I'm addicted to using them right now. Peel off face masks are oh so satisfying to use. I can't wait to try them all. These were from Home Bargain 3 for £2. I also bought one from Boots for £1 to get my spend over £5 for another No7 voucher.

I looked at my Superdrug receipt, and I saved a whopping £8.96! Ace!

Thanks for reading xxx

Saturday 14 January 2012

NOTD, Accessorize Blackberry

How I LOVE this colour! It's just the perfect deep red. I love how it makes my nails look, so glam and classic.

I quickly applied this today before we were going out, so its not the best application. Hey Ho :)

Taken outside

I applied two coats of this but I think it could've done with 3. I can see those little patches that grate on me!


With flash

I'm seeing Accessorize a lot on blogs. They're great products at fab, affordable prices. Deffinitely worth a try, in my opinion.

Thanks for reading xx



Montagne Jeunesse Very Berry Face Mask

I love a face mask, I do one at least once a week. It's uaually a Montagne Jeunesse that I pick up from Asda for £1 each. Or I have bought them from Home Bargains (a discount shop) for 3 for £2, although there's not many to choose from.



Sorry it's not the best picture!

Very Berry has a very mild, pleasant scent. Its really thick and creamy, and applies really easily to your face. It's really gentle, unlike ones that can make your face feel like it's on fire! Leave it to get to work for 10 to 15 minutes and wash off.

After I used this, my skin felt plump and moisturised. I used my Simple Night cream after and my skin looks really fresh. Even my mum commented when she popped over earlier on how 'glowy' I looked. This is a compliment and a half considering I have hardly any sleep due to a toddler who has forgotten how to sleep!

On first impressions, I thought I won't buy again. But I think I will. It's a nice, gentle mask that works well and makes my skin feel really fresh.

What are your favourite face masks? I can keep them in mind for future purchases :)

Thanks for reading xx

Sunday 8 January 2012

NOTD, OPI Skull & Glossbones

Over the past few weeks, possibly months, I have been sticking with darks on my nails with a few glitter polishes chucked in. So this was a welcome change on my nails.

OPI Skull and Glossbones is such a lovely nudey grey colour. I originally bought it in a Pirates of the Carribean mini set and loved this so much, I had to buy it in the full size!


The first coat of this is very streaky, but the second is fine. I wear it with my beloved Seche Vite as a topcoat.

I am very pleased as this photo was taken on the second day of wear. Now that is unheard of for me, I haven't even had to touch it up. To be fair, I have been working and not doing the usual house work I do when I'm around the house (snoooze). So very happy with this.




I love this type of colour. This is one I know I will reach for over and over again.

Thanks for reading xx

Saturday 7 January 2012

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction Exfoliator

Am I the only person that isn't mad on the Soap and Glory scent? I love the products and packaging, but I really don't like the original scent.

I find all Soap and Glory products do exactly what it says on the tube/bottle/tub ;) Even though I'm not mad on the scent I love how the products work and make my skin feel.

What drawn me to Pulp Friction was the fact that it didn't have the S&G strong scent. Its quite fruity. The fragrance is 'notes of frozen yuzu, orange oil, green fig and jungle pomelo'. Now I'm not 100% sure what a couple of those things are, but they smell pretty nice!



It costs £8 for 250ml.



The grains are quite fine and there is plenty of them, it also foams when using. It's nice to use and the bathroom smells glorious after.

I'm not really sure that I'll buy this again. My favourite Soap and Glory exfoliator is 'The Breakfast Scrub' (Amazing!), but I will carry on using it until its empty.

Do you have a favourite Soap and Glory Product? Is anybody like me and not really keen on the over powering scent?

Thanks for reading xx


Friday 6 January 2012

NOTD No7 Beanie

I seem to have a No7 thing going on at the minute. This is what I bought with my £5 off voucher, so it was £2.

I have added quite a few No7 polishes to my collection recently, and I'm really pleased with them. They last well, apply well and look lovely.


How absolutely gorgeous? It reminds me of BarryM Mushroom, which is one of my absolute favourites.



I used 2 coats of this, although on a couple of nails I noticed it wasn't completely opaque.

Up close, 2 coats and Seche Vite as top coat.



I am so pleased with this new addition to the collection.

Thursday 5 January 2012

Boots No7 Shower Loveliness

Happy New Year everybody. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and New Year. As ever, I spent too much, ate too much and drank faaar too much wine!

I noticed that the Boots No7 £5 off vouchers are back, so I had to share these products with you. Just in case you're unsure what to buy (that is usually me!) with your voucher. I actually bought these in a gift set in the sale down from £25 to £12.50. Bargain!

It is the 'Luxurious Foaming Shower Oil', 'Cleansing Body Polish' and 'Completely Quenched Moisturising Body Lotion'


I have never used a product like the Shower Oil before, so thought I'd give it a go. And I was so pleased with it. It smells gorgeous, and foams up lovely. It felt a lot more luxurious than the usual Dove soap I use (I adore the smell of Dove). In fact, since buying it over Christmas, I have used it every day. My skin feels more hydrated since using this.




The Cleansing Body Polish was also a big hit. I am completely addicted to exfoliating at the moment, and this did not disappoint. It's not as grainy as other exfoliaters I use (and like), it is a lot more gentle, but deffinately does the job. 

Here's what it's like on my hand




I have used this along with the shower oil every day since buying, I just love it. It smells divine and I honestly think my skin looks miles better since using this.

The Body Lotion I also have enjoyed using.


Hopefully, you can see it's quite a thick consistency. It absorbs so quickly and leaves a gorgeous sheen (for want of another word!) to my skin.



I can't double check the prices right now, the Boots website is down, but I think they all cost around the £10-12 mark. With the £5 off vouchers, they're really worth a try. I love all the products, and will buy them again.

Have you tried any of these products? Did you like them as much as I do?

Here's to a happy, healthy 2012. Filled with all things gorgeous ;) xxx