Essie prep 'n' protect

 Hello my berries,

I've been in Africa for the last 10 days on the most incredible trip of my life, exciting post to come! On the holiday note, I wanted to talk about the Essie prep 'n" protect set, as I wanted to make my nail polish last as long as possible as I didn't want to worry about re-doing them constantly as I was so busy travelling. I picked these up for around £10.99, on offer, as the set is normally £12.99. I personally think it is really good value for money as the quality is so wonderful and it really does help to make your nail polish last longer.

The base coat, which is called "grow stronger," provides a lovely foundation for nail polish, or could even be used as a clear coat for school or work if you don't like colour but want your nails to look well looked after and tidy. I just apply one coat and it drys like a dream, so quick! It makes the application of the polish so much smoother and it gives the nail polish something to stick to when you paint them with your chosen polish.

After applying my base coat and two coats of my chosen nail polish, I use the top coat in the set "good to go," which is just a nice finishing touch to make your nail polish look a lot shinier and glossier.

I'd recommend picking up the set as it increases the time your nail polish lasts, mine lasted at least a week using this, which I thought was amazing as I was at school and very hands on, which usually makes my nail polish chip like crazy.  I'd pick up the set as I think its more expensive if you buy them separately, you can get the set at any drugstore fairly easily. Happy Painting!

See you soon
Beauty Berry
xoxo

My holiday outfits

Hello my berries,

I just thought I would share a few outfits that I wore in Turkey when I was on holiday there, so with out further ado, here we go!

Dress-Hollister
Shoes- Debenhams

Necklace- Accesorize

Bracelet-Fossil

Playsuit- Hollister

Top and Shorts- Miss Selfridge 

Wedges- River Island

Bracelet- Topshop
Rings- Miss Selfridge

See you soon
Beauty Berry
xoxo

Results day

Hello my berries,

I wanted to talk about something a bit different today and that is results day. I got my GCSE results yesterday and I am happy to say that I did really well and I, as well as all my family and friends, are very proud. However, I think its funny how years of education are represented by a few test papers, although this system did me a favour, I can't help but question understanding how so much can come down to so little. Some people don't like tests, and panic and get anxious (I have to admit I myself am a very anxious person,) the question paper could have been made up of your least favourite topics or just the topics that you don't get as well as the others, and finally you could have just had an off-day. I'd like to offer my congratulations if you did well and are happy, if you got the grades that you needed to further your interests in a particular subject or got in to the sixth form or college that you wanted, if you didn't though its not the end of the world. Just remember that there is always tomorrow, and that when you move on to whatever you decide to do, and you work really hard and try your hardest, then you will succeed. Some of my friends didn't get the grades they wanted, but I know that they will do amazing in whatever they put their minds to and that they will get to where they want, they just need to take a different route. I hope all of you enjoy the rest of your summer!

See you soon
BeautyBerry
 xoxo

Battle of the Balms

Hello my berries,

I have wanted to do this post for awhile, but I wanted to make I'd tried and tested all of them to the max, I can assure you that I have!

From left to right
Nivea HydroCare, Korres Shea Butter Lip Balm, The Body Shop Born Lippy in Strawberry, The Body Shop Born Lippy in Passionberry, Crabtree&Evelyn Citron Creme & Honey Lip Butter

Now, I am a lip balm addict so it was definitely hard to nail my top 5 recommendations but I have finally done it.

If I want to use a lip balm before I apply a gloss or a lipstick and my lips aren't really chapped or try, I'll go for the Nivea Hydrocare lip balm with SPF 15. This is a great balm to use underneath lipgloss, as it just makes everything feel a lot smoother and hydrated. It has a lovely creamy texture and glides easily onto the lips, it is slightly slippery though so if you want a matte look I wouldn't use this one as it does give the lips a glossier look. It also contains SPF so it  protects your lips, however if your on holiday and you need SPF I'd go for the Nivea Sun Protect as that has SPF 30. I love the smell of Nivea products too so I really love this lip balm.

Next is the Korres Shea Butter Lip Balm for dry lips. This is an all round great chap-stick, it is perfect to use underneath any lip product as it just smoothes and hydrates without leaving any sort of sticky or oily residue, it sinks in quickly and makes your lips feel very nourished and soft. This is usually what I go for if my lips are feeling sore or very dry as it fixes the problem ASAP!

Thirdly, my Body Shop Born Lippy Balms- I LOVE THESE! I've gone through a couple in the last few years and the two scents shown in the picture are my favourite- Strawberry and Passion-berry; its not just because they have my surname in them aha! I always use these before I go to bed as they are very thick in texture and incredibly moisturising and I always find when I wake up my lips are lovely and soft. The strawberry one is tinted so you could use this in a soft everyday makeup look, perfect for school. The passion-berry balm is my favourite however, as although it does look like its going to be very dark considering it has a dark purple colour, it doesn't have much, if any, colour pay-off.

Lastly, the Crabtree&Evelyn Citron Creme & Honey Lip Butter. This is a gel like butter and I use this as a treat as it is absolutely beautiful. It smells and tastes like lemonade and has sort of a gritty texture whilst being very moisturising so it kind of doubles up as an exfoliator as well, the grittiness disappears after a while leaving the remnants of the yummy soft lip balm, (yes I have licked it of my lips on more than one occasion so I can say its yummy aha.)

I love lip balm and if I were to pick the most versatile lip product it would be the Korres one, as I feel this is very multi-purpose and can be used for anything, whereas the others aren't as moisturising or are too thick to use under lipstick, I imagine it would just cause goops on your lips, not an attractive look.

Hope you enjoyed my post on all different sorts of lip balms, butters, chap stick, whatever you want to call them.
See you soon
BeautyBerry
 xoxo

My New Favourite Perfume

Hello my berries,

I've been wanting this perfume for ages, and it is Calvin Klein's Beauty fragrance. The scent is described on the website as a "feminine, sophisticated fragrance that opens with top notes of Ambrette seeds, middle notes of jasmine and dries down to the base notes of cedar wood." It is a beautiful scent, and I would use the words feminine and sophisticated also to describe it, it is perfect for summer and isn't too overpowering, making it suitable for everyday. Its definitely a perfume that lingers on your skin for ages, but I would describe it as a perfume that whispers not shouts, as it is so subtly there in an amazing way. The bottle is lovely as well and looks nice on my dressing table, which is always a bonus. I imagine that it would be good for travelling also as the bottle is flat and thin and the lid is in line with the rest of the bottle, so its easy to pack and won't take up too much space. It is definitely a favourite of mine and I have no doubt that I will be wearing it everyday for the rest of the summer!

See you soon
BeautyBerry
xoxo

Benefit's Neutral Palette

Hello my berries,

I'd quickly like to apologise for my absence, as I was taking my GCSE'S, but luckily the summer holidays have started for me and I am now going to be a committed blogger!
It was my birthday last week and my friend Flora got me the Benefit Neutrals Palette, which was so incredibly thoughtful of her considering I am an eyeshadow maniac. From the minute I set my eyes on this palette I knew that I was going to love it, their aren't any bad shades in the palette and they are a dream for everyday. The shadows are buttery and easy to blend and have barely any fall out. The pigmentation is also amazing, they aren't as pigmented as the Naked palette shadows but they still have great colour pay off and look beautiful on the eyes. I also find the palette is particularly good for my blue eyes as they are bronzy and gold, which really brings out my eye colour.

The inside of the palette

The packaging is also cute and lovely as Benefit products usually are, they have an old fashioned feel about them which I adore, and I think they just look very pretty. My only complaint would be that the box is quite bulky and thick, the shadows are in a cardboard case within the box, which takes up unnecessary space, I think they could have made it more compact. 

The Packaging

The shade names from left to right
My Two Cents, Birthday Suit, Call My Buff, Kiss Me I'm Tipsy, It's Complicated, Gilt-y Pleasure

This brand is also the first that I've seen that have a mixture of both cream and powder eyeshadows. The cream shadows are the first two swatched, and they can be used as eyeshadow bases to improve the wear of the other shadows, or as a simple wash of colour over the eyelid. I think this palette would be great for beginners as the colours aren't overly pigmented and really easy to work with, the palette also comes with a little sheet which shows you how to create different looks with the eyeshadows, I also think this would be very helpful!

See you soon

BeautyBerry

xoxo

Exam tips!

Hello my berries,

Now I thought I would change things up and do a lifestyle post instead of a beauty/fashion related one. For some of you, it is that time of year when you are revising hard for your GCSEs, IB diploma or A-Levels or a qualification of that sort. I am personally in the process of doing my GCSEs and I have to say it is rather hard to cope with all the work I am getting. I thought I would just share a few tips on how to cope with exam stress that have helped me personally.

1. Organise your work space
This is a big one for me, I think almost everybody finds it difficult to work in clutter and mess, as they say a tidy room is a tidy mind. Make sure you have somewhere that you can go for revision, that way you know when you have to work and it gets you ready to start doing some serious revision.

2. Get as many revision aids as you can
Flashcards, big A3 paper, post-it notes, and all that. GET IT! That way you can find out your preferred method of revision and try different ways so you don't get bored of doing the same thing for all of your subjects over and over again.

3. Make a revision timetable and stick to it
For some people, timetables don't work as it makes them feel like they are at school and can't make decisions. I personally love timetables, as it reassures me that I am on track and makes sure I am covering all subjects and topics that I need to cover. A good tip if your not a timetable kinda gal is just to make a tally table with all your subjects, and mark a tally on it every time you do revision for that subject, that way you know you are revising for ALL of them.

4. Try to enjoy some time
I am guilty of overworking myself and forcing myself to concentrate even when all I want to do is go to sleep. Don't get to the stage where you just want to give up, instead go out and have fun, and don't feel guilty about it. You are allowed to rest and have a break, you need breaks to be healthy and happy. People who take breaks are actually more able to concentrate as they don't feel like they spend there life revising.

Hope some of those tips helped, good luck with exams and revision everyone!
Beauty Berry xoxo

Colour Adapt Foundation by Max Factor

Hello my berries,

So I purchased this on a whim because I saw it and thought- why not? And I have to say I have now changed my earlier comment to why? The reason for this change of heart is because I really hate this foundation. To be honest, I really am not a foundation lover as my skin isn't bad at all and I usually just use concealer to save time and money, but that doesn't mean that I don't like to wear it for special occasions or sometimes I need to wear foundation for shows.

To start, the packaging is pretty horrible as it is quite cheap looking and very plastic. However the range of shades isn't bad at all as it has a range of shades both dark and very pale, with different variations of both yellow and pink undertones which is good. My shade appeared to be blushing beige, but it turned out to be way to pink for me.

First of, the pump is convenient like most pumps and works well, and the foundation wasn't runny. I used my fingers to apply the foundation which seemed to work, as the foundation is quite easy to blend. My problem was that when I looked at the final effect, after just one layer, it looked caky and patchy. I hate looking like I have a thick layer of makeup on, and this definitely made me look like that. Sometimes, I would forgive this if the coverage was good, but its really not.  It covered my redness around my nose and chin, but it did not cover any blemishes or eye bags/veins at all and I really wasn't impressed. It is meant to be a light coverage foundation and paired with the watery consistency you think it would look pretty and natural, but it did the opposite. It just made my skin look like it a had a thick layer of foundation on and the coverage really wasn't very good at all so personally I wouldn't even bother to try this.

See you next time!
xoxo

Ted Baker Lip Crayons

Hello my berries,

So, I got a set of 4 lip crayons recently and I have been absolutely loving them. All 4 of them are for the girl who loves bright and bold lip statements so if your into subtle shades then these definitely aren't for you.
Firstly, the packaging is lovely, all 4 come in a little tin and there all displayed nicely. The tin is beautifully decorated and a great thing to put on a dressing table as its so dinky and pretty. I really love the formulation of them as they are very creamy and glide on easily, without clinging to dry patches which is one thing I hate about really matte lipsticks. They are very moisturising and make your lips look a lot fuller than they are, and who doesn't want plump, kissable lips? They also last amazingly well on the lips, and when they do start to fade they don't go all patchy and make your lips look weird which is another thing I love about them.
I highly recommend picking them up as soon as you can because they are a really great buy for any girl that loves bold lips and a great present to as the packaging is so nice, they are quite affordable at £12.95, which I think is amazing considering Ted Baker is a higher end brand.
Enjoy the pictures of me modelling all of the lip crayons!

These 2 shades are definitely my personal favourites, the bright red and the light pink!

Unfortunately the shades aren't named, but going anti-clockwise, the red shade, the dark pink shade, the light pink and the deep purple.

See you soon! I hope you all have a wonderful week :)

Fashion trends for Spring time

Hello my berries,

So as said in my last post, spring is here! I mentioned a few makeup trends so I thought that it would only be fair to mention a few fashion trends for spring time. Now, I'm sure like me you have all spent your time all cosy in your home, locked away from the outside world in woolly jumpers and furry socks, hibernating. But now, its time to get back outside and here are a few ways to be fashion ready!

1. PASTEL colours!
This is a really big trend this season and pastel colours look beautiful on any skin tone. Minty greens and baby blues are definitely the most frequent to come up in designs and they really do look sophisticated and put together. You'll have no trouble finding pastel pieces either they are everywhere- I recommend ASOS for finding pieces though because they are all over their website!

2. Boxy jackets
The fit of boxy jackets somehow really flatters the body, and gives you a really beautiful silhouette. They come in a variety of patterns and prints so you can find one that really suits your personality, they can also jazz up the plainest of outfits. A tank top and jeans paired with a textured boxy jacket would be a really lovely outfit.

3. The Shift blouse
The shape of a shift blouse is just like a boxy jacket, more masculine fitting clothing is all over the runway. They make your shoulders look more broad and add shape to your body. Again, they come in all different patterns and textures so what are you waiting for, go out and get one!

That's just a few of the trends this season, other trends include collarless coats, wide leg trousers and bomber jackets!

See you soon
Beauty Berry xoxo

Spring makeup trends from fashion week

Hello my berries,

Now since fashion trends from fashion week have been everywhere, and a few signs of spring are upon us (I actually saw the sun today aha) I thought I would simply mention a few wearable makeup trends for the spring time and recommend some products that would help create the looks.

1. Soft berry lips
Now I am all about the lippy, and since hearing of this trend I am all over it. If you don't want to go out and buy a new shade just put on a lot of lip balm, put a deeper shade of lipstick on your finger and just gently buff in the shade to your lips. It will make your lips look healthy and moisturised as well as adding a soft colour to the lips, and you will be in trend!

2. Cat eyes
I don't remember a time when feline flicks weren't a makeup trend but anyhow they are definitly still in! For a look like this I suggest using a black liquid liner, like Stilas sparkle waterproof liquid liner (I did review this liner so if you haven't read it be sure to check it out, highly recommend!) Quick tip: line your top lash line, then do the flick upwards from your lower lash line and join the lines up at the end. Doing this means your more likely to get both eyes matching, which is always desirable, and it will look at lot cleaner and slicker if you do it this way.

3. Glowing skin
This spring is all about having a glowing iridescent look to your face, making you look fresh and wonderful. I would recommend using a glowing foundation like Rimmel wake me up foundation if you want something high coverage, although I personally have been trying Garnier, BB cream miracle skin perfector and it gives my facea lovely glow without looking greasy or oily.

So now I've listed some trends and how to get them, we will all be ready to hit the catwalk in the spring time!


Beauty berry xoxo

New York

Hello my berries,

As I have failed as a dedicated blogger to upload in a while, I thought I would give you a reason: I was in New York! Having made many beauty purchases in the likes of department stores, Sephora and others as well as the airport in duty free I thought I would share them and give you my first thoughts on them upon using them for the first time. To start I'm just going to express my anger that in the US Mac, Clinique and many other brands are so much cheaper than in the UK, so all Mac lovers wait until you go the US to make purchases. I just thought I would share a couple of my favourite purchases that I bought with you so here it goes!

Top- Bountiful Beige chubby stick eye pencil by Clinique
Orchid Pink lipstick by Clarins
Plum Crystal Balm by Clarins

I bought a Clinique chubby stick for eyes in Bountiful Beige which is Shade 1, as I have heard lots of love for them and thought I would given them a go. They are perfect if you are in a rush because you just swipe them over your lid and your good to go, I really like the colour as it is a very subtle gold shade and it really opens up your eyes.
I also bought 2 Clarins lipsticks that I already know I have fallen head over heels for and one of them is the Clarins Pro Long-wear lipstick in Orchid Pink, it is so creamy and it smells and tastes delicious, it lasts for a long time (hence the name) and I just love the pop of colour this shade brings. The other lipstick I got is one of the Crystal Balms in the shade Plum. I have to say this is the most bizarre lipstick I have ever seen and when I opened it I thought I had picked up the wrong thing, as shown in the picture below it has a transparent green around the colour in the middle, which I have grown to love as it hydrates your lips while adding colour. The only downside is that it is quite hard to apply as the small section of colour means that you have to really fiddle to get the product over your lips as otherwise it can appear blotchy.
My other favourite purchase was the Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 as it has such a creamy texture which makes it easy to apply and it literally covers anything which I love!

New York is an amazing place for anyone to visit and I had a wonderful time with my family! I highly recommend popping it on your "things to do before you die" list because it is magical and wonderful everywhere, and the most amazing experience ever!

From left to right
Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NW20
Clarins Lipstick in Orchid Pink
Clarins Crystal Balm in Plum (the bizarre one with the green film around it aha!)
Clinique chubby stick for eyes in Bountiful beige