NEW BLOG ADDRESS!

Hi everyone! I have made the decision to move over to WordPress - please be advised that ALL of my NEW BLOG POSTS will be over at:

http://acupofsmiles.wordpress.com

Thanks! Hope you see you there

Alison x

Face Soap and Clarity

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet! I bought this as soon as it was out, and I was SO EXCITED.

FACE SOAP AND CLARITY: for super clean, fresh and bright skin. It's a 3-in-1 foaming face wash to cleanse, detoxify and exfoliate tired, dull skin! It has vitamin C and superfruit plum skin brightening complex.

As with all Soap & Glory products, the tube doesn't lie: it IS brilliant for flaky, dry skin. It's actually a lot less harsh than a normal exfoliator which I really like - you don't end up looking raw after a quick scrub. It is essentially a face wash with exfoliating beads in it, which gently exfoliate the dry skin on your face as you scrub! And of course, the Vitamin C & superfruit plum complex help to make your skin bright and happy!

It is a pretty foamy facewash and it makes your skin feel great! I couldn't get along with the scent at first, but it's really grown on me. It's fresh and fabulous. And if it makes my skin look good, who am I to complain?

Soap & Glory recommend this particularly for "young problem skin" and "tired, dull skin in need of rejuvenation", and I'd recommend this for all skin types! If you want to really treat your skin, I'd recommend using its fabulous companion Clear Here, which is especially recommended for oily/combination skin types.

Face Soap and Clarity is available at Boots, £6.13

Clear Here cleansing cloths

I've got a super special review for you all! Soap & Glory are bringing out some FANTASTIC cleansing cloths for the Clear Here range. These are suitable for oily/combination skin types - perfect for my skin! They're called... CLEAR HERE DEEP PORE PURIFYING T-ZONE CLEANSING CLOTHS. Or Clear Here cleansing cloths, for short.

I've only been using these wipes for FOUR DAYS and I'm already in love with them. Soap & Glory has DONE IT AGAIN...

These cleansing cloths have "Poreshrink-4 complex for a smooth, clearer, fresher face". With lemongrass, mandarin, and orange essential oils, they're pretty nifty sounding, and smell great. It smells similar to Clear Here and Face Soap & Clarity, so if you like their scents you'll be pleased with this one! It's very soapy-smelling. I do like the fresh, tingly feeling it leaves on your skin, and it's not so tingly that it puts you off the product. Apparently the tingling is the Poreshrink-4 complex working its magic... That's fine by me!

As for cleansing, they're great! They remove my makeup just as well as the Off Your Face wipes (did I review those yet? No? Oops... coming soon!) and leave my skin feeling really soft and smooth. I get dry skin on my forehead actually, and these have really helped on the days where I don't exfoliate! With Off Your Face wipes I find they're quite moist - sometimes a little TOO moist. These are just right! And of course they come in a BRIGHT PINK packet - it goes perfectly with all the other S&G things in my bathroom...

I have to say, for maximum effect, you should definitely use these alongside Face Soap & Clarity and Clear Here. It is FAB. My skin is lovely and smooth at the minute. And as I have combination skin, my skin can appear slightly shiny during the day - it is ALREADY starting to ease up. I don't wear foundation much and often forget about the powder, so it's nice that I don't have to worry so much.

I predict that these will be a HUGE HIT with all the other combo skin girls and guys out there - I love that S&G is trying to cater for all skin types. :-) There are 25 wipes in the packet, so there are plenty to go around!

I am not sure about pricing or availability details yet, but KEEP YOUR EYES GLUED to https://www.facebook.com/SoapandGlory for the latest news and updates.

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Intensive

You might remember my last blog post about the Smooth & Soft collection by Herbal Essences. I mentioned I'd like to see an intensive conditioner because the normal one just wasn't moisturising enough for me!

Well, guess what?! The lovely people over at Herbal Essences have brought one out! I couldn't WAIT to try it. I wasn't disappointed by the results at all!

The intensive conditioner has the same scent as the conditioner and shampoo, and it smells fantastic. The consistency of the product is thick and smooth, and it goes on really well. I'd recommend using it on the ends of your hair, and ends of your layers if you have any. If you have a fringe, avoid getting any of the product near it! You'll end up with a very bouncy and uncooperative fringe!

Since using the intensive conditioner, my hair has been in lovely condition. I've found my hair behaves a lot better when I'm not straightening it, and I've noticed less frizz as well! Above all, my hair feels MOISTURISED! It quenches thirsty hair!

One thing I absolutely have to warn you about is that the conditioner CAN be really slippery. I recommend you don't do what I did when I first got the pot, and hold onto it when you're using it...I ended up dropping the pot upside down in the bath - oops. I managed to salvage some of it but a lot of it ended up down the drain!! Hope the pipes were in need of some moisturising... For this reason, I'd really like to see the conditioner move from a pot to a tube or bottle! Clumsy people like me will just end up wasting it! :-)

And now for the REALLY GOOD part. This is one of the best intensive conditioners I've tried, and I'm definitely hooked. So how much do you think we'll be paying? - It's less than you think! You can buy it for just £3.99 at Superdrug. An absolute bargain for what it does! And now Superdrug has introduced their very own Beauty Card, it's another excuse to buy this product and see your points total climb...

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Intensive is available from Superdrug for £3.99.

All Around the World!

Looking at my blog stats I've had visitors from all over - and I'm going to guess the majority are coming for Soap and Glory goodness, right?! :)

So I wanted to make the blog a bit more accessible... Let me know what I can do! For example, if you're from Australia, should I add links to available products & the reatiler on the review posts?

Let me know!
AMR xxx

Mist You Madly

I can't believe I haven't done a post on this yet! Easily my favourite fragrance EVER, I actually don't use any other body spray now - just this one. It's become "my scent".

A flirty, floral, fragrant body spray featuring notes of Bergamot, Blackcurrant, Magnolia, Freesia, Vanilla and Musk.

The smell is very yummy, and can be detected in other products such as Clean Girls, The Daily Smooth and Scrub Em and Leave Em. For extra oomph use all three after a shower! I think it's very much a summery scent and I love it! The bottles last a long time; a squirt or two is all I need and the smell lasts for most of the day. You could try spraying it in your hair to make it last longer (as it'll carry the scent better).

A standard size bottle is 250ml, but they have also released a separate travel sized version (100ml), which is the perfect size for handbags. There's no excuse for not smelling good at all times! The travel sized version was previously only available in gift sets, so I'm really pleased they've decided to release it as part of the travel sized collection (which I will be reviewing VERY soon!) The bottle itself is pink (who would have guessed??) and has a spray nozzle. It's perfect!

If you like the Mist You Madly scent, I'd highly recommend buying Eau de Soap & Glory (available from Boots, £15.83), which is essentially the same smell in perfume form - with super pretty packaging!

Soap & Glory declare it a "flash of fabulous", and I absolutely agree!

Mist You Madly is available in a standard 250ml size for £6.13, and a travel sized 100ml for £3.11 from Boots.

Katy Perry at Capital FM Arena, 30th March 2011

Sorry about the wait for this blog post, I've been super busy! BUT I can't wait to share this post with you. I've been a big fan of Katy ever since One of the Boys came out, and although my obsession didn't quite match my previous obsession with Lady Gaga, she's always been inspirational in my eyes.

We didn't get to see much of Yelle performing as we were outside trying to buy merchandise! They weren't really my kind of act though, so I really couldn't offer a judgement. I LOVED DJ Skeet Skeet though, he had a lot of energy and had everyone raring to go for Katy's show.

Calvin Harris was supposed to support Katy on her tour, but as everyone knows, they had a little spat via Twitter as Calvin didn't think he had much of a set to play for. In his words, "playing side of stage for 30 mins, it seemed pointless me even being there". I'm not sure why he thought it would be pointless - he'd gain some support and possibly new fans by doing a small set, it sounds like someone was feeling very high and mighty about himself...

Anyway, moving onto the CALIFORNIA DREAMS TOUR! (I apologise for the quality of my photographs - my camera didn't do very well with all of the lights, glitter, etc!)

Set list:
Teenage Dream
Hummingbird Heartbeat
Waking Up In Vegas
Ur So Gay
Peacock
I Kissed A Girl
Circle The Drain
E.T.
Who Am I Living For?
Pearl
Not Like The Movies
Only Girl (In the World)
Big Pimpin'
Born This Way
Whip My Hair
Thinking Of You
Shake Your Body
Hot N Cold
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Firework
California Gurls

The stage was very pink, with the centre piece being a colourful staircase with giant lollipops! There were giant cupcakes on either side of the stage, and the entire arena smelled of cotton candy. Katy recently auctioned one of the cupcake trampolines to raise money for the Japan disaster, fetching a whopping £3,404.40. If I had the cash I probably would've put in a bid myself - how great would it be to have a piece of Candyfornia in your living room?!

The props came and went - there were even giant pieces of steak and hot dogs suspended from the ceiling! It was both cool and strange, but that's why we love Katy.

The entire performance was set around a story whereby Katy is a young girl who loves candy and wants to go to the Big Baker's ball. This kind of reminded me of Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour, but never mind. It's a cute concept and I actually preferred Katy's.

I really loved Katy's costumes during the show. One of my favourites is pictured below! I have to say, I'm really jealous of Katy's amazing figure. She told ELLE magazine she needed to train "like an athelete" in preparation for this tour, and you could tell! She had a lot of energy despite the duration of the show.

I also LOVED the costume she wore during "Peacock". I don't have a decent photograph of it from the show, but it was literally just like the tail of a peacock. Big, bold, beautiful feathers popped out of nowhere, and Katy was strutting her stuff on the stage!

As E.T. was being released around the time of the show, Katy had set up face painting tables in the entrance of the arena so that all her fans could be "abducted". E.T. was definitely a major theme in this show and it was great! I was looking forward to the performance of it and I definitely wasn't disappointed.

There were really bright green, cyan and pink fluorescent lights strobing around the arena, and it looked fantastic. The lyrics to the song were on the three screens above the stage so that everyone could sing along - it was great! Katy's cat costume looked brilliant and it really showed her personality.

It wasn't all big performances though, with plenty of props and colourful lights. She stripped it down so it was just her and a couple of musical instruments. The performance was so genuine and she made it seem really personal. It was just Katy and her fans!

During I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Katy pointed at people in the standing crowd and they were pulled over the barrier to come on stage with her! I thought it was super cute that an absolutely shocked lady could not believe she was on the stage with Katy, and that Katy took the time to take a photo with the woman on stage. Everyone was "aww!"-ing as the magical moment took place.

The highlight of the California Dreams Tour, for me, was definitely Firework. Firework is one of my favourite songs on the Teenage Dream album and she left it until near the very end. It was worth the wait!

Katy asked everyone to turn on their glo-sticks, or any other light they had. Mine was flashing away! I love that Katy decided the proceeds of all of the glo-stick sales would go towards helping Japan. I thought it was very generous, and you could see that they were incredibly popular with everyone at the arena. I still love to wave mine around and pretend we're still in the arena!

And the performance wouldn't have been complete without a display of fireworks! Ok, they weren't really rockets or catherine wheels, but we did have a spectacular display of sparks flying from the stage. It increased the dramacticness of the performance but really, everyone loves and knows Firework so I'm not sure it would have been any less successful if she hadn't included them!

Above you can see the crowd holding up their glosticks. Notice that a lot of people are standing up on the seated areas! Pretty much the entire arena was standing for this concert, which shows that Katy is such a successful performer.

Above: fireworks were displayed on the three main screens above the stage. A nice touch, I thought! And I LOVED Katy's costume in this performance. A nice sparkly number. Again, wish I had her figure...

Above: fireworks fly as Katy sings her heart out, accompanied by the voices of the KatyCats inside Capital FM Arena!

Above: more fireworks! You can tell by Katy's posture that she's having fun, but putting everything she has into the performance. Firework always seems like a tricky one to sing, but she really pulled it off. I loved it! Well done, Katy!

Then the performance finished, and the arena went dark... The screens flashed up with Katy approaching Candyfornia, so we all knew what was coming!

Yep, California Gurls! The number one hit single featuring Snoop Dogg. EVERYONE knew this song, and there was a huge buzz when people realised what was next in the show. Katy's cupcake dress was fantastic and I'd gladly have one myself!

People waved their glosticks as the song got underway, but Katy had a few surprises in store for us as the performance went on.

As everyone was singing along, we noticed that some BEACH BALLS were making their way onto the standing crowd! My friend was actually down in the standing block and said she wasn't expecting beach balls to come flying out of nowhere, and very nearly got knocked out by it! Oops!

There's absolutely NO doubt about it: Katy wanted her audience to have fun whilst they watched the show, and she wanted to get them involved in the action. I felt really jealous all the way over in block 6, as I wanted to grab the candy she was throwing, punch a beach ball, and generally see her up close. I had a fantastic time nevertheless!

As the song neared the end, GLITTER was being propelled upwards by cannons! It was absolutely unbelievable but I LOVED it. Glitter, candy, cupcakes, beach balls, glitz and glam - it was SO my idea of heaven. If Candyfornia was real, then boy, I would move there in a heartbeat.

As the final fall of the red curtain approached, glitter and beach balls were still flying everywhere, and the crowd was going absolutely wild - applauding and screaming their appreciation for Katy, the performers and Katy gathered in the centre of the stage to take their bow.

It was the end of the California Dreams show at Nottingham.

BUT I had such a fantastic time. I was still buzzing as I left the arena, and as I got into the car clutching my California Dreams tour tshirt and my glostick! I was grinning from ear to ear; Katy had made such an impact on me that night, and it will stay with me forever.

I would not hesitate to recommend Katy's show to anyone. It's definitely something you need to experience, especially if you love her music!

I am really hoping that I can nab a couple of tickets for her November Nottingham date, but as you can see it is a superb show and unfortunately seems to be sold out everywhere! Katy's show was the best I have seen to date. I loved it!

Soap & Glory: Hand Food

I absolutely LOVE Hand Food, and I can't believe I have written a review about it yet. Currently, I own 4 mini versions, two pump bottle versions (from the Christmas duo Hand Break), and 6 full sized ones. Addicted? A little bit. But it's just so good!

Hand Food™ is a silky soft non-greasy hand cream with shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow.

It comes in two sizes as I've mentioned - a 50ml (mini) version, and a standard 125ml. The mini version is perfect for handbags and pockets, and even travel - so there's no excuse to leave your hands dehydrated when you're on holiday!

The ingredients are a great combination of shea butter, macadamia oil, and marshmallow; shea butter and macadamia oil are perfect for dry skin! I'm not sure where marshmallow comes into it, but it sounds yummy all the same.

It comes in a pink tube and has the original pink scent - perfect! What I really like about Hand Food is that it absorbs really quickly. It is really quick to work, and my hands start to feel softer within hours of using it. My hands dry out easily so Hand Food is a gift from the Gods, in my opinion!

Hand Food features in a lot of the Soap & Glory gift sets and, given how good it is, I'm really not surprised! I think every guy and girl out there should own Hand Food. As the mini version is only £2.35, there is NO excuse for dry hands! Get down to Boots and "mend a hand", as the Soap & Glory team would say!

You can buy Mini Hand Food (50ml) from Boots for £2.35, and the full sized version (125ml) at Boots for £4.85. Unfortunately, Hand Break is not on sale at the moment but you might be able to find it on eBay.

Soap and Glory: Hand Maid

As you know, I'm currently working night shifts in a supermarket. Yep. 9pm until 7am. It's not great, and my hands get COVERED in filth and various substances, including jam, chutney, syrup, juice etc. So when I saw HAND MAID in Boots, I HAD to get it.

Here are the reasons why you must buy Hand Maid:
* It smells GREAT!
* It dries really quickly
* It's travel sized, perfect for handbags and pockets
* IT'S ONLY £2.50!
* And the biggie: it KILLS 99% of known bacteria.

Hand Maid is an anti-bacterial cleansing gel, and it smells absolutely gorgeous. I really like that it comes with a flip top rather than having a lid you have to push down.

I love the size of Hand Maid: it's easy enough to slip into your pocket or handbag, and I carry mine around in my jacket pocket so I can use it whilst on the shop floor - it's really handy! It means if I have an accidental spillage I don't need to waste time going to the loos, I can just have a little squirt of HAND MAID and my hands feel fresh again.

The gel represents the Soap & Glory brand perfectly: it's PINK. And it smells good, as I've already mentioned. It has a summery grapefruit scent, and it's definitely one of the best anti-bacterial gels I've used. I say Hand Maid is a gel, but it certainly doesn't feel like one when you rub it in - it seems to almost evaporate from your hands, so you don't get that nasty, sticky feeling afterwards. It's like you've just washed your hands, really! Soap & Glory weren't kidding with the description that it is quick dry, easy to use!

Hand Maid doesn't dry your hands out, which I think is great, and the best thing about it of course is that it kills bacteria. I don't have to worry about all nasty germs lurking on all my surfaces: I just call my Hand Maid and the bacteria scurry away. This product is a must-have for anyone, and at £2.50 it isn't going to break the bank. Get down to Boots and get YOUR Hand Maid - she's waiting for you!

Hand Maid is available from Boots, £2.50.

Soap & Glory: Feel Good Factor

I promised the girls over on the Soap & Glory Facebook page that I'd review Feel Good Factor and Hand Maid (coming shortly!). I bought this about a week and a half ago and it cost me £8 - normal price is £12, so I'm glad I bought it whilst there was an offer on! It's worth the £12 price tag though, so don't let it deter you from buying it!

Now, let's get to why I LOVE this product!

* It smells fantastic.
* It absorbs really quickly!
* It doesn't feel greasy on your skin
* It doesn't make your skin shiny!
* IT HAS SPF 25!

If you can't tell already, I do actually love this product. I tend to use a lot of product when it comes to moiturisers with SPF, but this is fantastic - I really don't need to use a lot. The consistency is light and it spreads easily without dripping everywhere. Of course, you do need to keep reapplying it which could be a pain if you've got makeup on, but I say less is more - let your skin breathe, ladies! (If you're a guy this may or may not apply to you...)

And the SPF is GREAT. Most SPF facial moisturisers come with a maximum of SPF 15, so it's nice to have something a bit higher. What I really love about S&G is that they actually LISTEN to their customers and what the customers want. It's great!

In the past I haven't got along with SPF products for the face. I used to spray suncream on it for higher protection but to be honest, it made my face sticky, greasy, shiny, and red: I was allergic to it. Since using Feel Good Factor I haven't had ANY of these problems, so as a sensitive-skin user I give this product a HUGE thumbs up! I knew S&G wouldn't let me down ;-)

If you've tried Feel Good Factor, let me know what you think!

Feel Good Factor is available at Boots, £12

A Cup of Smiles - Blog Relaunch

Hi guys, how are you? I've decided to revamp the blog and make it a little easier on the eye. I've opted for a fairly plain layout, and I've added/removed some gadgets. Let me know what your thoughts are!

As for the name, I wanted something that reflected my personality more: A Cup of Smiles seems perfect! Remember you can now find me at http://cupofsmiles.blogspot.com, and not Butter Up!

Watch this space because I have a few blog posts lined up, including a couple of concerts I've been to AND a new addition to our family - Logan.

See you soon!
A x

BLOG RELAUNCH

Hi guys! Hope you're all doing well. I'm going to be re-launching the blog soon with a new design and (maybe) a new name. I'll be back soon with more reviews - including my review of the Katy Perry concert at Capital FM Arena.

See you soon! ♥

Simple Kind to Eyes Makeup Corrector Pen

I received the new Simple Makeup Corrector Pen in the post on Saturday, and I was pretty excited about trying it. I usually apply quite a lot of eyeliner and I have been a victim of the dreaded "panda eyes" numerous times. It's true: eyeliner just won't stay put! So, this seemed like a gift from the Beauty Queen.

The pen itself is "Simple" (see what I did there?): plain white, with the Simple logo. The tip is similar to a felt pen: small, pointed. I often have trouble removing left over eyeliner from under my waterline, so this was the area I targeted first.

...Boy, was I surprised! The pen removed all traces of the eyeliner completely, so I proceeded to remove the eyeliner from above the lashline, too. It really does work and removes the eyeliner effortlessly. And at £4.99, it's a must-have.

However, the felt pen tip can be a nuisance: it can be sharp if you angle it wrong. And cleaning it can be a pain, too; I'm never sure if it's been cleaned right or not as I can't seem to remove the eyeliner traces from the tip itself. Nevertheless, I just give it a wipe with a Simple facial wipe and hope for the best! It'd be useful if there was more information on the packet about cleaning.

As with all the Simple products, it carries the Simple Goodness promises:
- Pro-Vitamin B5 actively restores, softens and smoothes
- No Alcohol, No Oil
- Non Drying and Non Greasy
- No Perfume, No Colour
- No unnecessary ingredients and No harsh chemicals so it won’t upset your skin.
- Dermatologically Tested and Approved
Pretty Simple really, isn't it?!

Would I recommend this? Absolutely! It is a steal at £4.99, and considering how well it works to remove eyeliner in awkward places, I think it'll be staying in my daily makeup bag for a long time yet. I have fairly sensitive skin and this hasn't irritated it yet, so I would give it a thumbs up for any other sensitive skinned people out there!

Simple Kind to Eyes Makeup Corrector is available at Boots for £4.99.

Mighty Mouth II

I LOVED the original Mighty Mouth. I wasn't too keen on the lipgloss, which I felt was too sticky and not a great colour for me. I did, however, think the lipbalm duo was fantastic. In one end, there was a vanilla scented lipbalm to moisturise your lips, and in the other side there was an exfoliator to remove any dead, rough skin. Working nights takes its toll on my lips, and they often dry out and crack. So, I was a huge fan of the duo stick and I could just carry it around in my pocket!

I have been a bit apprehensive about trying the new Mighty Mouth. It is a simple lipbalm, pink in colour - although it is fairly nude on the lips. The formula feels a bit sticky at first, and I'm not entirely keen on the way to apply it as it ends up going all over the place (I am quite clumsy when it comes to applying gloss!), but it doesn't stick together and doesn't look over the top. It's just a nice, simple gloss suitable to wear anywhere!

Did I mention the smell?! It smells (and tastes...) delicious. Soap and Glory has decided to retain the fantastic smell from the lipbalm duo, and this is highly pleasing ;-) My main annoyance with a couple of the Sexy Motherpucker lipglosses is the smell - a strange cocoa scent that, quite frankly, sometimes leaves me feeling a little sick. The vanilla scent is lovely but I do have to try my hardest not to eat it!

But the best thing about the new Mighty Mouth lipbalm is how moisturisng it is. For a gloss, I wouldn't expect it to be as moisturising as it is. You can really feel the difference even an hour or two after first applying it. I wish Soap and Glory had made another exfoliating balm, but I am quite happy with Mighty Mouth II and I would definitely recommend it! I really like the new packaging as well - a job well done to Soap and Glory, I feel!

Mighty Mouth II is available at Boots, £7. Currently, Soap & Glory products are 1/3rd off so you can get it for the bargain price of £4.67.

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft

I won standard size Smooth & Soft shampoo and condition via Twitter - many thanks to Vicky from Herbal Essences! Now, I've promised to review them so here we go. Sorry that it is so short - I just like to get to the point! :-)

(Image (c) Herbal Essences)
Smooth & Soft Shampoo
My first thoughts:
- Smells good
- A nice consistency
- Lovely colour!
- Easy to get it out, same bottle as all the others

It lathers up well and leaves my hair feeling, as the title suggests, Smooth and Soft! I think it's definitely a good product to use if, like me, you have frizzy and curly hair, and need something to tame it a little.

I normally have to switch shampoos often because I usually get a build up but I've been using this every day for a few days now and I haven't noticed a build up yet. I'd recommend this product for normal to dry hair, suitable for daily use.

Standard size (200ml) is available at Superdrug for £1.99, and the larger size (400ml) is available at £3.49. However, the large sizes are currently buy one get one free - so it's a completely acceptable excuse to try both the shampoo AND conditioner!

Overall, I give it a 9/10! I haven't quite given it full marks because well... there's always room for improvement!

(Image (c) Herbal Essences)
Smooth & Soft Conditioner
First thoughts were the same as the shampoo: smells good, looks good! It conditions fairly well and lives up to the 'smooth and soft' name.

However, my hair is on the dry side and I don't think it would be something I could use every day, as it just doesn't give me the moisture that my hair demands. There isn't an intensive treatment by the looks of it, but if one was brought out I'd definitely buy it - I'm really impressed by the shampoo. If you need extra hydration then maybe try Beautiful Ends mask as this is also a wonderful product.

Going back to the conditioner, I think if you have normal hair it would be completely fine to use this every day. It hasn't left my hair with a build up and it does actually smell pretty good.

Again, the standard size (200ml) is available for £1.99 at Superdrug, and the large size (400ml) available for £3.49. The buy one get one free promotion currently runs across all of the Herbal Essences products so why not treat yourself and stock up?! :-)

Overall, I'd give this product an 8/10, but only because it doesn't quite hydrate my hair as much as I would like. Please bring out an intensive mask, Herbal Essences! x

Clothing Dilemmas

I've noticed recently how very few outfits I seem to have, despite having a lot of clothes. They just don't match, don't fit, or just look bizarre. I've got a lot of impulse buys too. I think I should probably clear them out on ebay but I hate the idea of losing a lot of money on them!

Anyway, I can't WAIT for spring so that I can finally ditch the thick coat, the several pairs of socks and the gloves. I've been window-shopping online and these are a couple of things on my Lust List...

Lipsy Dip Hem American Flag Top, £32
I really love this top! I've become somewhat obsessed with American styles lately, there's just something so appealing about the laidback lifestyle. I so want to be wearing this top casually, with some bangles, a pair of oversized sunnies, and some distressed denim shorts. It just screams "American Girl"...

Lipsy Tiered Cap Sleeve Sun Dress, £50
This is SUCH a pretty dress, and it's definitely my style. I'd love to wear this with a pale pink blazer or cardi, and some nice heels. I think because it's so simple it shouldn't be overdressed: let it speak for itself!

Rare Ruffle Neck Pleat Dress, £34
Another simple dress, in Apricot. It definitely follows the trend of pastel colours and I think it needs a nice pair of heels to jazz it up a bit. But I can imagine it'll be quite suitable for summer when we're just lazing around on the beach with an ice cream ;-)

Will update again with more, but for now...!

Matalan

I actually really like Matalan's new arrivals... I can see myself wearing a lot of the items on my holiday, which is now only 6 months away. :(

This Floral Peter Pan Dress is so cute and only £16! I love the peter pan collar, which seems to be hot right now. The print is very suitable for Spring and if I was wearing it at the moment, I'd probably pair it with some thick black tights (it is still so cold outside!) and some blue ballet pumps. I'd probably wear a blue cardigan too, but I was never any good at matching colours ;-)

The Tapestry Print Weekender bag is a steal at only £8. I can definitely see myself wearing this EVERYWHERE - to the shops, out and about, or on the beach. It's definitely something versatile enough to go with a lot of different outfits. The style is very 70s, so it's bang on trend right now. I love the pastel colours!

Now, I really like these Buckle Detail Wedge Sandals, and I have to be honest: I've never really taken a liking to wedge shoes. At £18 you might not be convinced, but I say they're perfect for a stroll in the summer evenings, or for a trip to the seaside.

I think these three are definitely going to make it on my "to buy" list when I'm next shopping at Matalan, so watch this space!

Why not check out the rest of Matalan's new arrivals and tell me what items you like the most?

Thierry Mugler

Lady Gaga confirmed via Twitter she'll be at the Thierry Mugler Paris fashion show.

"I'm making my debut as a runway model, walking in the MUGLER PARIS FASHIONSHOW 3/2. I directed the show music, previewing Government Hooker."

Um, excited?! As other people have commented, she's quite short to be a model. I'm sure she's going to do something exciting though. It'll be interesting to hear the new song - I'm surprised she's previewing one so soon after Born This Way.

The Thierry Mugler show will stream live from their facebook page.

Mr Medicine

I am so happy that Eliza Doolittle decided to release Mr Medicine as a single! I love it! However, I'm not optimistic about how well it's going to do in the charts. Eliza hasn't had a top 40 hit since Pack Up, and I know she's been trying really hard. I love the song but will the rest of the UK like it? We'll have to wait and see. I think the main problem is nobody really buys music any more - a lot of good artists are losing out on the chart hits when nobody buys the singles, and it's a real shame. I 100% support the music industry and will continue to buy my music to support the artists I like.

Now, I've got to admit I still don't really understand what the song is about, and the video doesn't really help to clarify it. But having said that, I do like the video; it me of an advert. It's different to what she'd normally produce, but it is essentially very much like her, if that makes sense. She's walking along the streets in the dark, with a bunch of creepy characters following her (is anyone else reminded of the Corsa 'Come on!' advert?) until she reaches her destination.

The song itself is really optimistic I feel. It's always been one of my favourites. Her voice is just something else - and it definitely makes me feel happy! Whenever I'm feeling down, I whack her cd on and it's like the sunshine has come out again.

What do you think of the video?

Jessie J

I find Jessie J really intriguing. When I first heard Do It Like A Dude, I instantly took a disliking to her. Don't get me wrong, I thought she was great vocally - it was just the shock of how odd the video was. She reminded me of a more gothic Lady Gaga, if I'm honest!

Then Price Tag feat. B.o.B came along. This was a style I could definitely get used to. It was softer and more appealing to me. The video definitely wasn't as "in your face" as Do It Like A Dude! Price Tag was an instant hit, even holding off competition from Lady Gaga's new song Born This Way (definitely going to do a blogpost about that video by the way, I have a lot of opinions on this one!).

In an industry that has "seen it all before", Jessie J is taking a different standing. There's just something about her and I can't quite put my finger on it. She's mesmorising, but at the same time so odd. What is it about her that is so catchy? Either way, I've been convinced enough to buy her new cd, Who You Are. I haven't had much of a chance to listen to it, but the songs are definitely different to the likes of Price Tag and Do It Like A Dude.

I'm fairly confident we'll be seeing a lot more of Jessie J, and I'm excited to see what she'll produce next. I'm going to leave you with the Price Tag video - let me know what you think.

Katy Perry O.P.I Mini Collection

Katy Perry has recently collaborated with O.P.I to create four new fabulous nail polish shades. As a big fan of Katy (only 5 weeks until we see her in concert!) I just HAD to have the mini collection.

There are four shades (from left-right in the picture):
Not Like The Movies - it looks greeny-grey in appearance, but purple in the light.
Teenage Dream - a pale pink, glittery colour
Last Friday Night - a blue, glittery colour
The One That Got Away a deep pinky-red colour.

I've tried all of these except for The One That Got Away - I think it's more of an evening polish. One thing I have to say about these polishes, and I've never tried OPI polishes before, is that they are really good quality. They last for ages, especially with a base and top coat. I wore nail polish to work and given the extremely physicalness of my job, I wasn't expecting it to stay on - normally, it chips or comes off completely... but there wasn't so much as a scratch! Really impressed.

I'll post pictures once my nails grow a little - they're bitten right now. Not attractive. I have to say that Teenage Dream is my favourite so far - it's so pretty, and I just can't stop looking at my nails when I have it on!

Overall, I think the mini collection is a complete steal. The bottles are small, but you don't need a lot on - two coats is perfect. I'll be buying the full sized versions of Teenage Dream and Last Friday Night, I think!

The Katy Perry OPI mini collection is available from
ASOS for £12.75.
Individual nail polishes from the Katy Perry OPI collection are available in full size from ASOS, £10.50 each.

Hair Trio

I've decided to review Hair Supply, Glad Hair Shampoo and Glad Hair Conditioner all in one post - just for convenience!

We'll start with Hair Supply. This is one of Soap & Glory's first hair products, and I first tried it as part of a giftset I got for Christmas in 2009. It's available in a full sized squeezy tube (200ml) and a smaller, travel-sized one.

The formula is a yellow-ish colour, quite thick in consistency, and smells quite perfumed. I'm not sure about the scent really but I know a lot of other people like it. Maybe I'm just fussy!

The description says...

"Super gloss-giving radiance and repair mask treatment for all hair types. Ultra-lite gel formula hydrates and
defrizzes but won’t weigh hair down! Leaves hair smooth and shiny, coats and controls spilt ends!"

It definitely controls split ends and leaves hair smooth, but I wouldn't recommend Hair Supply if, like me, you've got fine and curly hair. It just weighs it down far too much in my opinion. I really wanted to love this product but it refuses to love me! I have continued to use it on my split ends, though, and it works a treat.

I've noticed that quite a few girls on the Soap & Glory Facebook page often complain that it weighs their hair down, so make sure you only use a small amount - a little bit goes a long way! I think it depends on your hair type as to whether this product would work for you.

Hair Supply is available to buy in Boots, £6 for a 200ml bottle.

Glad Hair Day Shampoo

The Glad Hair Day shampoo and conditioner are fairly new products to the Soap & Glory range. The first thing I noticed about this product was the smell. It reminds me of raspberries - it is absolutely divine!

The shampoo itself is a pink colour, almost like a gel. I don't think it lathers up very well but it does a good job of cleansing my hair when I've had a build up of product - a big thumbs up from me for that! I find the biggest problem I have with shampoo is getting the previous day's products out, and this has been a huge help. I'd definitely recommend this shampoo if you have similar problems.

I'm generally used to bottles that you tip upside down in order to get the shampoo out, so the squeezy tube makes a nice change. It means that when you haven't got a lot of product left, you don't have to tip the bottle upside down yourself so that you can use the remaining bit of product! I sometimes find it hard to squeeze it out though, so do be careful.

The one thing that seems to put people off... is the price. At £5.22, there are plenty of cheaper shampoos out there that do the job just as well. But if you're a Soap & Glory addict like me, you'll trust the brand to deliver a good quality product and you won't mind paying the price. I can honestly say I'm always having a Glad Hair Day after using this!

Glad Hair Day Shampoo is available from Boots, £5.22.

Glad Hair Day Conditioner

Now we come to Glad Hair Day's partner in grime, the Glad Hair Day conditioner. Once you've washed away the previous day's muck, it's time to condition your hair and show it some respect!

Like Glad Hair Day Shampoo, the conditioner smells really good, and comes in a similar squeezy bottle. I have to admit I've often mistaken the conditioner bottle for the shampoo one, and end up squeezing a massive amount of shampoo onto my hair. Again. (S&G if you're reading - could you possibly modify the bottles so it's easier to distinguish between the two? Thanks!)

I prefer this conditioner to Hair Supply - it doesn't leave my hair feeling weighed down, but it stills works nicely as a daily conditioner. It complements my curly hair nicely, and I've always got a nice bounce in my hair after I've used the Glad Hair Day products! Both the shampoo and conditioner are suitable for daily use, so don't be worried about using it every day.

Again, the Glad Hair Day conditioner is £5.22 but don't be put off: it's definitely something everyone should try, especially lovers of all things Soap & Glory. I have tried a lot of hair products in my short life, and this duo is definitely up there with the best ones.

Be warned: The Glad Hair Day Shampoo and ESPECIALLY the Conditioner seem to be proving EXTREMELY popular in the shops. I've noticed that people are finding it increasingly hard to get, and Boots.com always seems to be sold out... So don't worry too much if you can't find it - when it is in stock, grab it quick, because I guarantee it won't be there for long!

Glad Hair Day Conditioner is available from Boots, £5.22.

ASOS Love

On the 11th February 2011, ASOS announced a week-long competition where you simply had to input your email address/Twitter account name with your "most loved" item, up to a value of £150. Now, I'd been entering a few of the competitions ASOS had been running, so I didn't hesitate to enter this one! To my surprise I was the FIRST winner of the competition! I don't have a nice watch that I can wear when I'm out and about so I decided to buy my most loved item - the Juicy Couture White BFF Watch!

I don't normally wear watches very often, and when I do I have to opt for a child's watch because my wrists are quite petite. Thankfully this has a snug fit! I was actually worried about the strap as it is silicon, and sometimes they can look a bit tacky. Luckily that wasn't the case for this watch! It has quite a weight to it, which surprised me. What I like most about it is that it is quite plain: the design is simplistic, all white with the Juicy Couture logo placed in the centre of the watch. The Swarovski crystals don't overpower the watch either, and fit in nicely with the rest of the design. I love it! It's definitely something I would wear every day if I could. I'm slightly scared about wearing it outside in case I happen to scratch it, or even lose it...

One thing I absolutely HAVE to mention: the packaging is so cute! It comes with its own little brown cushion, in a pink box, in a black box. It's a bit like "pass the parcel" when you're unwrapping it... Nevertheless, I love it - and I love ASOS for giving me the chance to win such a glamorous watch!

Born This Way

Image from GagaDaily

I'm a huge Lady Gaga fan, so you can imagine how excited I was about the release of Born This Way. After hearing the little snippet she sang at the VMAs, my initial thoughts were that it would be a darker song, maybe something like Speechless (which is one of my favourites). Imagine my surprise when I listened and it was really upbeat! The song is completely different to anything I've heard from Gaga before, and it definitely wasn't what I was expecting. I'm really interested to see what the video is like especially considering the content of the song. I think it will be relevant to the lyrics, but Gaga always tries to bring out hidden meanings in her videos so who knows?

Lyrically I think it's fantastic - really inspiring, and it is definitely up there with "Firework" as far as pop anthems go. I don't think it's Gaga's best song, and I don't think she'll ever write anything that will top "Bad Romance", but it one of the most inspiring songs she's written. Having a disability I can sort of relate to the song - and yes, I was Born This Way!

Like most people, I've been reading reviews from bloggers about "Born This Way". And I have to say, I haven't been impressed. If there is one thing I've learnt from the music industry, it's that music isn't original. Every artist borrows ideas from another, perhaps making it more relevant to this day and age. Most bloggers have compared "Born This Way" to Kelly Rowland and Madonna - so what? It's obvious Madonna was a huge influence in the way Gaga has approached the music industry, and I think it's fantastic that she's taking older songs and trying to reinvent them and make them more relevant to our society. I don't see it as a bad thing.

I also stayed up last night to watch Gaga perform at the Grammy Awards. She arrived in a "womb", although everyone initially thought it was an egg. Not far off, I suppose! It was pretty odd - even for Gaga - but I think it's just a sign of what's to come. She seems to go through fashion phases: The Fame seemed very obsessed with become famous, so you had all the glitz and the glam of the Hollywood industry. The Fame Monster took a darker turn and everything about her seemed more twisted. Born This Way seems as though it's going to take a completely different path - reborn, if you like. It's a chance for Gaga to show the world what she's capable of, and I can't wait to see it.

Going back to the performance, I thought it was fab! It was quite plain for Gaga - I was actually expecting... well, something more dramatic. But it was relatively low-key and simple. One thing is for certain: that girl can move! I loved her hairstyle - a supershort fringe and a high ponytail, and I'm expecting to see them around a lot more after this performance. I didn't care much for the outfit, but I guess it was all part of the "womb" idea.



What do you think? Yay or nay?

Sugar Crush

Hi guys! Haven't posted a Soap&Glory review for a while, so I've decided to review the latest addition to my collection - Sugar Crush. Soap & Glory is currently on offer at Boots, 3 for the price of 2, so I had to (finally!) pick it up.

"It’s sugar, baby
Use your Sugar Crush in the shower once, twice, or three times weekly, depending on the level of scaliness you struggle with. (Four times – even – if you’ve ever been labelled ‘old lizard legs’)."

Now, I wasn't sure about the scent to start with. It's quite a strong lime smell, but you can also smell a hint of almond. After getting in the bath and scrubbing it all over, it did start to grow on me. Sugar Crush contains Smashed Brown Sugar, Sweet Lime, Almond Oil, and Macadamia Grains.

I actually think the scrub is similar to Breakfast Scrub (which I promise I'll review soon!) in terms of the actual textures. It's definitely different to the likes of Flake Away and Scrub, Actually but I think that is what makes it appealing. It's quite a good scrub although I think the consistency is quite watery, and unlike Flake Away, Scrub of Your Life etc. it doesn't leave a sticky feeling on your skin afterwards. Although I personally don't mind it, I know other people do.

It IS quite expensive at £9.45, but it's a 450ml tub so it should last for quite a while unless you're abnormally flaky... I think it would do well as a gift for men, as the S&G Spa range is blue instead of the Original Pink colour. Definitely worth a go if you're looking for something a bit "different" to the usual Original Pink scrubs!

Available from Boots, £9.45.

Katy Perry - Firework

"Firework" is quite an old song now - you could say it has lost its spark, but not for me! Peaking at number 3 in the charts, Katy Perry said it was her favourite track on Teenage Dream. She said:

"People are coming back and almost adopting it as their own anthem, and it's hard, I think, to write an anthem that's not cheesy," she explained. "And I hope that this could be something in that category. I hope this could be one of those things where it's like, 'Yeah, I want to put my fist up and feel proud and feel strong."
(source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649047/katy-perry-tweets-about-sparkling-new-music-video.jhtml)

The thing I like most about Firework is its ability to inspire. I felt empowered when I listened to it for the first time on The X Factor. When I watched the video, I had to hold back the tears - it was so sad, but lovely at the same time. I thought it was wonderful. I've been going through a rough patch lately, especially with regards to my career direction. I haven't got much of an idea, but Firework says to me: you CAN do anything you want to do! I found the following lyrics particularly inspiring:

"Maybe the reason why all the doors are closed/
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road"

I'll leave you with the video - tell me what you think!

17 Starry Eyes Glitter Liners

I picked up three glitter liners at Boots yesterday, made by the 17 brand. They were 3 for the price of 2, which I think is an absolute bargain! How could I resist?



I decided to buy Moon Rock (Purple), Supernova (black), Northern Star (Silver). I'm hoping to pick up Stardust (Gold) at some point, too.

First of all, I wasn't convinced: it didn't show up very well. But I figure the trick is to go over it a couple of times. Below I have gone over my original line twice, so I reckon if I tried to build it up it'd look even better!




The brush is not that bad - it's easy enough to see what you're doing. Other eyeliners I have tried have really tiny brushes and it's impossible to create the look you want if you haven't had a lot of practise with the brush. This one however is pretty easy to get used to. It is both soft and firm so depending on what kind of look you want I'd say it was a good choice of liner to use, especially if you're a newbie to using a liner brush. It certainly takes some practise at getting the right sort of line but it shouldn't be too hard!

The thing I like most about these eyeliners ... it doesn't move! I smudged some of my mascara and was worried I'd end up smudging the glitter liner off, but it stays put. It is also easy to build up, although it does feel weird on your eyelids at first. I would say these are more suitable for the party/evening looks, but I can definitely see myself jazzing up my eyes with a bit of Supernova during the day.

I think I'll be experimenting with these for a while, and I will definitely be trying the Starry Eyes eyeshadows. It's lovely to find a glitter liner that is actually really cheap! At £3.99 (and it is currently 3 for the price of 2 at Boots right now) you'd be mad not to try them.

Available at the bargain price of £3.99 at Boots