Rimmel 60-second super-shine nail polish in Lovey Dovey

Now that it's spring, I'm starting to try to update my outfits and add a few finishing touches that are light, colourful and work well for the new season. Obviously I don't have the money and time to go out and buy a complete new wardrobe stock, but I am looking for more basic ways of bringing spring/summer colour and style that don't cost the earth. Make-up is a great way to achieve this, especially nail varnish.

Rimmel is a range that has been around a long time, and is one of the most well-known affordable British brands of cosmetics. They sell a wide range of makeup, from face powders and foundations, to eyeshadows, lipsticks and glosses- and a huge range of nail varnishes in a bunch of different styles and finishes, whether you are a more traditional french-manicure type of person, or you enjoy standout nails with special effects.

After browsing and looking for something a little similar to Barry-M's prickly pear gelly hi-shine, I found this pretty pale purple shade called Lovey-Dovey. This and various other shades were on special offer in a supermarket when I was out last weekend, reduced to £1.75. I think this is to make way for the new Rita-ora pastel colours that have been released recently- which are a little similar to some of the ones on special offer.

Lovey-Dovey is part of Rimmel's 60 second super-shine range, which suits me pretty well, as I am impatient when it comes to nail polish drying and so I generally go for the fast-drying variety. I was also interested in trying out the new Rimmel nail polish brush, as I have heard so many reviews about it, good and bad.


The nail polish comes in a regular 8ml sized bottle, with a black top. Like most nail polishes, the bottom of the bottle is transparent, allowing you to see the colour. It is a pretty lilac shade, which I would describe as just being on the verge of being purple. What I mean by this is that it is a pigmented lilac, rather than a twee pale pastel shade.


This nail polish applies very easily. I have to say, I think the new Rimmel nail polish brush is fantastic. It's by far the best applicator I have ever used for applying varnish and makes it so easy to get a fuss-free, non streaky finish. You can literally apply one coat with one brush stroke, which makes it as speedy to apply as it is to dry. The formula of this nail polish is creamy and non-watery which also helps to make the application fuss free. One coat was all I needed for a great finish, but of course you could apply two coats if you wanted a even more highly-pigmented result.


The '60 second' claim is totally accurate, which I was pleased about, as I can be pretty impatient when waiting for nail polish to dry. 60-second super shine dried fast and left a beautifully glossy finish. The colour payoff is just the same as you see in the bottle and was very eyecatching, and as I said before- a perfect spring/summer shade. Although due to the colour being a favourite for me, I will definitely be sporting this in the winter months too.

There was just one letdown in this product. For me, fast-drying polishes don't really have amazing staying power unless a regular long-lasting topcoat is applied afterwards (which kind of defeats the point of the whole 60-second application). This nail polish was no exception and I did notice it beginning to chip quite badly after only a few hours. By the next day the chipping had got even worse, so I topped it up slightly (really only a stop-gap. Ideally you would remove all the nail polish and start over to avoid it looking clumpy and caked-on).

Due to the chipping, I would probably only decide to apply again if I had the time to reapply it. If I was busy or it was a special occasion, I would either opt for something different that was longer-lasting, or use a topcoat over it to help it last for more than just a few hours. Alternatively, you could pick a long-lasting nail polish instead that doesn't require a topcoat.


Although the chipping was a fault, it is a notorious problem with quick-dry polishes and can be rectified by taking extra time to put on topcoat. Apart from this, I really liked this polish and feel it is great value for money, even more so if found on special offer. The colour is one of my favourites and the new brush applicator is fantastic- other makeup companies that supply nail polish should definitely take note of it. Good price, great colour and easily applied- one of my favourites.


8/10

L'oreal True Match Foundation

Lots of us have those 'staple products', especially in our make-up collections. The ones we return to time and time again. We venture out to try new things now and then, but if in doubt we return to our classics that we know and love. For me, this is one of those products.

A good foundation, for me, is the main piece of makeup you should have in your kit. Some may argue that it should be an eyeliner, or even a lip gloss, but for me, your base defines the rest of your look and can help other additional pieces of makeup used look their best.

I think that before you find the ideal foundation, you definitely end up trying a few unsuitable ones before you find something that works for you. I speak from experience that it took me around 6 different bottles/tubs of foundations, from creme to powder, matte to dewy finishes, to find one that I felt comfortable using.

L'oreal True Match liquid is a mid-ranged drugstore/high street foundation. It is available in tons of different shades, and tones too, so whether you have pale, ivory skin or a darker tone, you should be able to find something to suit you. For me, I found the palest shade in the cool-toned range  available to be the one that suited me the most, which is shade C1-Rose Ivory. It is a creamy ivory colour with a pink undertone.


This foundation is a liquid, but it's definitely not one that is too runny or messy to use. It comes in a glass pump dispenser that I can't decide whether I particularly like or not. It looks attractive, professional and quite expensive for a high street makeup brand, however, it's not particularly practical for taking out and about as it is bulky and the plastic cap comes off easily, which means you risk spilling some.  It is also near impossible to get the last few drops of product out when the bottle is almost done, which is annoying for me. As well as this, it's very easily broken if dropped.

The packaging actually had a revamp last year when L'oreal did a new advert promotion for the product starring Beyonce, but the packaging update was unfortunately very basic, just slightly changing the label logo and swapping the matte-silver trim for a shiny silver one.


You can apply this foundation either using a brush or by hand. I generally use the latter, as the heat from your fingers can help it blend easier into your skin. Go steady with this foundation though, as although it is only medium coverage, it can be built up easily and if too much is applied, it can become difficult to blend in without leaving streaks. It leaves a great, semi-matte finish, however if you have any particularly oily areas such as your T-zone, I recommend topping up with a translucent powder. I don't find this foundation is particularly good at covering up spots either, but as I rarely get any (my skin is more on the slightly dry side), it isn't a problem for me.

This foundation isn't particularly drying, but if your skin suffers from flaky, dry patches, I would recommend using a moisturiser or hydrating primer underneath too. If you have blackheads a primer is also ideal as I find True Match isn't great at covering them. As for staying power, I only had to reapply slightly once during the day- for me, that is pretty impressive.


For me, this foundation does what it says. It leaves a beautiful, natural finish that doesn't look in any way caked-on, but just helps your skin look like your skin, only better. It provides a good base for any blush, bronzer or other makeup product you decide to use after. 5 years ago, this cemented itself as one of my staple products, and I would recommend it to anyone with combination-normal-dry skin. I just hope the formula is never changed or it is discontinued, as it is definitely one of my favourites and a regular everyday piece of makeup for me.

L'oreal also do true match makeup in the form of mineral foundation, setting powder and concealer, so if you are a fan of the liquid foundation range, check them out.

Highly recommended.


10/10

Ben&Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream

After the great feedback on the previous Ice cream review, I decided to do another on a different type from the same brand. If you are less of a chocolate fiend, this one may be for you. But that's not to say it's not  richly sweet and just as moreish.

Ben & Jerry's cookie dough is probably one of their most, if not THE most iconic flavour to come from the famous American ice cream duo. Usually when you think of cookie dough ice cream, this is the first brand that springs to mind, for me anyway. Tons of other brands have branched out and replicated this variety, but this for me is the iconic original.

Described as 'Vanilla ice cream with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough', this pretty much is what it says on the tin (tub). Interestingly, it sounds as if the company has tried not to play around too much with a fancy flavoured base, or any interesting toffee or marshmallow swirls. I think by doing this, they're hoping that the sweetness of the cookie dough provides the extra taste and texture hit you need, without there being any overkill. It's also Fairtrade certified, which is great as it helps farmers in developing countries who grow some of the ingredients for this ice cream get a fair profit when their ingredients are bought.

Like other Ben and Jerry's ice creams, this one is packed to the brim, which can be both irritating and good at the same time. It's good because you get the full 500ml of product, but annoying-as when the ice cream starts to melt it can start leaking over the edge of the tub and down the sides. I would like to see an improvement on the size of the packaging- maybe a taller tub would solve the problem I've heard so many people talk about.

The label design is okay. It's not the most colourful offering I have seen from Ben & Jerry's, but it's pretty iconic and recognisable. It's basically a scene of cows in a field, and a bowl of cookie dough chunks. I'm sure it has changed over the years, as when I was younger I do remember the label adopting a more speckled beige colour scheme, which fitted in with the cookie-dough colour theme.

As for the taste; The vanilla base is pretty unoffensive and not really rich- definitely not anything like one of the high-end vanilla flavours that contain vanilla pods. It's not the best vanilla I have tried, however it's pleasant enough and I am guessing a blander vanilla has been used so it doesn't overpower the buttery taste of the cookie dough chunks included. These are definately the best bit of the ice cream and you will soon find yourself foraging through the tub with a spoon, picking the miniature cookie dough slabs out from the ice cream.

The taste of these is great- irresistible grainy, fudgey chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough. Because they are kept cool, they retain a little more texture, and the chocolate chips inside make a welcome surprise and contrast in texture from the smooth ice cream and chewy dough. I still feel this ice cream is missing a little something, though. Maybe using chocolate ice cream instead would work better, or adding something to provide another texture, like a caramel swirl or marshmallows.



Like all Ben & Jerry's ice creams, this is on the higher-end of the price scale, coming in at around £3.50 on average. However, it can be picked up on special offer quite a lot, but avoid buying it from takeaways and convenience stores, as they can charge up to £6 for a 500ml pot.

Overall, I do know why this ice cream has remained so popular over the years, and it is pleasant if you want something sweet, but not sickly and total overkill. However, there are varieties I prefer to this, and if I'm spending quite a bit of money on premium ice cream, I would generally pick something I liked more.

7/10

Epilepsy awareness week

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Ben&Jerry's Phish Food ice cream

This is a bit of a different kind of review for me today, as I usually tend to review cosmetics, with the occasional book review or recipe thrown in. However, after reading so many blogs which did fantastic food and restaurant reviews, I decided to have a go at reviewing one of my favourite, and a popular variety of ice cream which I'm sure many of you have heard of.

Ben and Jerry's is a popular American brand of ice cream which was founded in 1978 and later brought over to the UK due to it's popularity. It comes in many different flavour varieties, although there are currently a lot more available in America than Britain. Today I will be reviewing Phish food, a flavour brought out in 1997 named after the band, Phish.

The packaging of this ice cream is a decorative 500ml tub made of cardboard, with a colourful blue, orange and purple design. Although some argue the packaging is fairly boring, I find it looks attractive and is easily recognisable. The only drawback I find is the ice cream tends to spill over the edges as the tub is definitely packed full to the brim.


Phish food is described as a chocolate ice cream with marshmallow swirls, caramel and chocolatey fish-shaped morsels. And for me it provides a great contrast between flavour and textures.

The chocolate ice cream provides a rich, fudgey note to Phish food. It's very moreish and this is only helped by the plentiful supply of gooey marshmallow swirl mixed in. The marshmallow swirl is a little like frozen marshmallow fluff or the melted marshmallow you would get in a Smore. It's soft, chewy sweetness and texture cuts through the richness of the chocolate ice cream and stops it becoming too overbearing or sickly. The marshamallow swirl is my favourite component in the ice cream and I find myself trying to scoop out that on it's own.



The chocolate fish mixed into the ice cream don't add much in way of flavour apart from a slight bitterness, but definitely add a bite to the texture and stop the product seeming too sloppy, even when it's starting to melt a little. Personally, these aren't my favourite part of the ice cream and I would rather Ben and Jerry's swapped them for something like Blondies or chocolate brownies, however it's not a major problem in the overall taste.

As for the caramel, I honestly didn't notice it. If it hadn't said caramel on the packaging, I wouldn't have even been aware it was supposed to be there. Maybe the other flavours dominated it, but I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find any.

This is a premium ice cream, so expect to be paying £2.50-£5 depending on where you get it from. I usually wait until there is a half price offer on before buying any as I don't like spending lots on this kind of product.

Out of all the Ben and Jerry's flavours I have tried, Phish food remains my favourite out of them all and it definitely warrants a 10 out of 10 for flavour. Unfortunately the price and leaky packaging let it down slightly, but it is definitely something I will be repurchasing.


8.5/10

Lush Dream Time Temple Balm

Sometimes when I am online I take a look at what Lush products are for sale. As is the case with most Lush products such as fresh bath bombs or facial cleansers, they are often better buying fresh from the shop. However, lots of limited edition or retro products pop up from time to time on Ebay, which gives people the chance to try out items which aren't available in the shops.

Dream Time temple balm is one such product. A few years ago, Lush created three temple balms, which are designed to be rubbed into pulse points for a specific purpose. The three different varities were;

Dream Time temple balm- A relaxing balm to help you sleep
Flying Fox temple balm- A de-stressing balm. The rarest one that is most difficult to find.
Whoosh! temple balm- An awakening, citrus balm offering designed to perk you up on early mornings, or when you are tired but need to concentrate.

Dream time and Whoosh temple balms are available to purchase as part of a Lush spa treatment, and Dream time  temple balm is also, in fact, available in Lush as part of a (rather expensive) gift set, also named Lush Spa. Luckily, I managed to grab the Dream Time temple balm online, when someone bought a gift set and split it up to sell the items seperately.

Out of all the balms available, Dream time is the one which I had the most interest in, as I do tend to have problems sleeping and hoped this would at least slightly alleviate the problem.

Dream time temple balm comes in a tiny 10g screw top jar, which is ideal for popping into your purse or handbag. It is described as "Soporifically scented balm, with lavender and chamomile for a deep and restful sleep".

When you open the jar, it immediately smells of quite a classic lavender and chamomile combination, with an underlying slightly ginger note, presumably brought on by the ginger oil included. It also contains sandalwood oil too, however if you aren't particularly keen on the scent of ginger (I'm not), don't worry, as these components are barely noticeable unless you really sniff closely. It is really quite an unoffensive smell, which I feel most people would enjoy unless they really don't like lavender. Personally, although it is not my 'usual' type of scent, I quite liked it and it grew on me even more after a few uses.

The texture of this balm is a little like vaseline, a slightly-greasy balm. Unlike vaseline, however, it is easily applied and absorbed without any annoying stickiness and residue. I have used this under and over my makeup, and it didnt interfere with my foundation base. However, due to being thinner, it gets used up fairly quickly. I've applied mine seven or eight times now to pulse points, and there is already a dent in the product.

Although this is sold as a temple balm, you can apply this anywhere you like. I personally use it on my wrists, temples, behind my ears, under my nose, collar and forehead. You honestly only need a little bit each time, and the soothing smell lasts a good few hours. However, it is not really strong enough to be used as a solid perfume, so I probably wouldn't attempt to use this in place of a perfume.

As for making me sleepy, I can't really say I noticed a dramatic difference in my sleep quality. However, this balm does help me feel a little more relaxed and less tense if I am out. Although Dream Time temple balm is not a 'miracle worker', it is a good little natural stress-relief cosmetic, so if you get anxious and nervous a lot, it is something I would definitely recommend.

This is a product I really wish Lush would make as part of their permanent line, as I think it would be a popular seller. It is something I would buy again on it's own for sure, however I can't see myself paying almost £30 for a lush spa gift set or even more for a treatment at the spa that uses the balm. I've heard that sometimes the Lush spas will sell you them on their own, so I may try visiting the Edinburgh spa and asking. But apart from that, I will just have to keep a look out on Ebay and hope that someone else will sell them. Until then, I will make the most of the single tub I own.



8/10

Filofax a5 Finsbury Planner

Like a lot of people, I often do a lot of online shopping, and Ebay is a site that you can often find some great things on. It's only recently I have recently started using it, and I've been surprised with the amount of rare Lush products (review coming soon), books, high-end makeup, music...generally everything you can buy for low prices.

Unfortunately though-and my friends will confirm this- I often end up buying things I don't really need, just because they are at a low price. This that I am about to review is probably another one of those- though it is one of my favourite purchases ever, even though it is pre-owned and a little battered.

I found this filofax organiser one night on Ebay, and managed to win it at the last minute without really thinking about what I was going to use it for. Filofax is possibly the best known organiser company, that people refer to when talking about diaries and ring-bound planners. They also create premium leather purses and suitcases, but are most famous for the personal organiser.

This, essentially, is a leather ring-bound folder designed to keep a diary, notes, and contact information in. However it is customizable, and you are able to buy and print inserts for literally anything, whether you want to use it to keep an eye on your finances, or you just want a place to keep all your pieces of creative writing in one place.

There are all sorts of different materials, textures and colours available, from PU to luxurious buffalo leather. There are 6 different sizes as well, so there will be one to suit you, whether you want a purse sized one for jotting down quick notes and numbers, or a desk-sized one for journalling or keeping appointments.


The Finsbury filofax is a pebbled, grained leather, which is quite rigid at first, but like all leathers, softens up with continuous use. As I bought mine second-hand, it was already reasonably pliable, which for me was ideal as I could start putting things in the inner pockets right away. The layout of this a5 planner has 2 large slip pockets, 5 card slots, one translucent I.D slot and a notepad pocket in the back cover, which can alternatively be used to keep paper in. The A5 filofax is a pretty big binder, and is ideal if you enjoy doing a lot of writing. However, it can get heavy to carry around, so if you don't need as much space you may benefit from buying something smaller. I plan to use this organiser to keep blogging information in, as well as ideas. It is also being used as a diary.


My particular model is in the colour pink, which is now rare and discontinued, however if you keep an eye out on gumtree and Ebay, you may be able to pick one up. An alternative to this colour is Raspberry- which is part of the Finsbury's regular line. I was pleased I managed to get the pale pink colour, as it ties in with my blog-theme nicely and is a pretty shade that is definitely not in-your-face or loud. It is cute and feminine, but smart enough that you wouldn't feel silly using it at work or college.

As my binder was second hand, and marked used, I was aware of the slight damage that came with it. The popper clasp and Filofax logo on mine is slightly worn, and the top and bottom of the spine is scuffed. I am really not at all bothered about this though, and most likely as I use it all the time it will become more worn. As well as this, I plan to throw it in my handbag now and again and feel less cautious about it, had it been a brand new (and expensive) item.

The binder rings in a Filofax have often caused issues to buyers, for misalignment and gaps. A gap in the rings can cause the pages being turned to catch on them and rip. With this organiser, I was fairly lucky in that there is only tiny 1mm gaps in the bottom two rings which cause absolutely no issues. However, if you buy a brand new one and you find gaps, return it to the company as they will be able to either fix or replace it with no extra charge.


As I previously mentioned, this particular colour has been discontinued, but an a5 Finsbury costs around the £80 brand new. It is definitely worth shopping around for this product though, as new ones are available on Amazon for around £50, and I bought mine second hand from Ebay for £18. It is a very steep price brand new, but is mid-priced when it comes to Filofax organisers and is the cheapest leather option available.

Overall, this is probably the best organiser I have owned. Although I've bought brand new Filofaxes for a lot more, cheaper filofax copies, and smaller organisers, there is something about this worn-leather, pink one I like more than the others. I would recommend seeking one out for yourself if you are interested in buying a high-quality, customizable planner.


9,5/10

Mac Lipstick in Saint Germain

Mac is a high end brand well-known in the makeup and blogging industry, and their make-up products have been recommended to me by lots of different people. However, I have been wary to spend money on their products, as most come with quite a high price tag attached. If I am spending a lot on a piece of premium makeup, I want it to live up to expectations.

After browsing Mac's wide colour range online (there are so many different colours and textures- it is worth looking around online before you buy), I decided to have a look on Ebay for a reputable seller who may have some cheaper options.

I am a fan of pink and nude lipsticks, as I prefer something I can wear everyday to get the most use out of it. I am not really a fan of dark plums or reds, although I agree they can be a nice colour for nights out or special occasions. After looking through the different options Mac had to offer, as well as reading lots of other reviews and blogs, I decided to try Saint Germain- a blue-toned pink shade in Mac's amplified crème formula.


The packaging of this is really pretty-possibly the most understated yet elegant lipstick tube I have owned before. Some of Mac's lipstick packaging can be different colours if it is a limited-edition range, however this is one of their classics and in the well-known matte black and silver weighty bullet-shaped tube, with the classy silver logo. It comes in a cardboard box, which can be thrown away, but I have kept to keep the tube from getting dirty.


The colour of this lipstick is pretty rich, despite not looking too bright in the tube itself. It comes up as a pale pink, which is highly pigmented and shiny, although has no glitter particles. This helps it look a little more mature, and although it is a 'fun' colour, it would look good on all age groups.  I would recommend using a lip scrub and balm before applying this, as like all pale colours, it can highlight cracks and chapped skin on your lips easily.


This lipstick can be applied a few different ways. Either you can use it normally, and this way achieves a very high pigmented look, which would work well with a smoky eye to create a 60's makeup inspired look.

Secondly, you can apply a small with a lip brush and blend to create a more muted effect for everyday. This is generally what I do.

It can also be used as a crème blush, just dab a bit on and blend it, applying more and building up if you want a deeper colour payoff. It is a more moisturising option to using a classic powder option.



The texture of Mac's Saint Germain in the tube is creamy and hydrating, although it doesn't feel too rich or oily when you are wearing it. The lasting power is great and it looked as fresh as it did when I first applied it some 6 hours later.


Unfortunately the oiliness in the packaging can cause it to melt quickly when exposed to even slightly warm temperatures. I kept this lipstick on a shelf, and when I reopened it a few hours later, it snapped when applying, even though I had only wound it up slightly.


I managed to mould it back together and refrigerate it, however it soon snapped again and created quite a mess of the lipstick tube. I have since researched this online, and it is a notorious problem with Mac lipsticks that causes frustration among many people. I can understand the annoyance when this is a high-priced brand.


Saying this, though, it would not put me off trying other mac lipsticks, and products from their extensive range of makeup. I am interested in the foundations and might make a trip to my nearest mac store to get a proper match, as I have heard they have good customer service.


If you are considering buying mac products, be sure to shop around to get the best deal you can- but watch out for too-good-to-be-true prices. A lot of other companies impersonate this well-known brand, and if you receive a product with no original Mac boxed packaging, you can always take it to one of the official stores and they will be able to check for you.


This is still possibly the best lipstick I have used, and certainly lived up to expectations, the melting and breaking aspect was only a minor disappointment. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys pink shades, and wants to invest in a high quality product. Just ensure you keep it in a cold place. I really wanted this product to be a 10, but due to the issues with it easily snapping, I've given it an eight and a half.



8.5/10