Beautiful Addictions' 2nd Birthday!

Hey there beautiful people. I just wanted to pop on my wee blog to say thank you to any of you that take the time to read or comment on my blog. I have really enjoyed developing Beautiful Addictions over the past 2 years and getting to know more and more of you. I still have many ways in which I want to develop my blog though. I am always learning from others and love to discover new blogs along with the people behind them. 

I hope that many of you still enjoy to read my posts. I try to write a mixture of reviews and hauls along with the occasional creative make-up or nail art post. Feel free to put your suggestions in the comments below of the type of posts you would like to see as I am open to suggestions.

When I first began my blog I was fearful that no one would enjoy reading my posts or want to hear my opinions, but I am so glad that I gave blogging a go as after all I had nothing to lose. I hope that you feel at home when you read my posts as I really feel like I am talking to you when I write them.

If you are thinking of starting your own blog please give it a go. You don't need to know the ins and outs of how blogging works in the beginning just make your blog your own and write about what you love.

Thanks once again for supporting me by reading, commenting and following (subscribing). 

As a reminder you can follow me in many ways. You can follow via bloglovin', glipho, email, twitter & instagram

You can also follow me via Google Friend Connect, but as I believe that will no longer be an option from 1st July I would advise that you follow me through as many of the options as you wish above.

If you would like to show your support for Beautiful Addictions please feel free to vote for me in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 with Next under the category 'Best Established Beauty Blog'. You can do that via this link.



Love to you all, mwah!

Skin Clinics with the balance Me. Team

Hi Everyone and Happy Bank Holiday Monday!!!! I hope you are enjoying that extra day off today. I have got the boring ironing out of the way as I'm a little busy later on in the week, but now I am free to blog, yay :) 

This is just a quick post to let you know about some skin clinics that balance Me. are holding on Twitter and facebook. There are just two more clinics this week on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st May between 1-2pm. Be sure to post or tweet about any skin concerns that you may have during this time.


You can find their Twitter page here and their facebook page here

I really hope that at least some of you find this helpful. Are their any balance Me. products that you find help with your skin concerns? If yes, please leave details in the comments below.



Love to you all

Primark Haul

Hi there and Happy Saturday! Yay the sun is back thank goodness. Dreary weather makes you feel bad so now it's time to smile :) Today I have some clothes to show you that I picked up in Primark so let me get to it.



Left: Charcoal Cardigan £8 reduced to just over £3

I found this little bargain on the reduced rail. I think it will be great to go with many outfits, especially as the colour is very neutral. I bought this in an XS as it's a style that poofs out a little at the hips because of the way it is curved at the bottom.

Centre: Ivory Shrug £5

I also bought one of these in black which I wore last weekend and it was a great little cover up. Perfect for when you don't want to wear a jacket, but still need a little something. This comes in navy too.

Right: Khaki Fringe Waistcoat £12

I love the hippy vibe of this waistcoat. I wanted to get one last year, but I didn't spot any I liked. This is a great length too as it drapes over the top of my legs which is good I think if you are not that confident wearing shorts in the summer. It seems quite delicate so I will have to take care when washing it. This also comes in a cream/beige shade.


Left: Acidwash Dungaree Shorts £12

Okay so here is the part of the haul where I like to dress like a child as you can see :) I am not the most confident person at wearing shorts, but I really like the dungaree styles that are about at the moment so I thought I would pick up a pair and give them a go. I really like the acidwash effect on these too. How do you like to style up your dungarees? Any ideas are appreciated.

Centre: Purple Hello Kitty Onesie £14

I have been on the lookout for this for ages after seeing someone wearing one online. I obviously am a fan of Hello Kitty and love to be cosy and warm so this is like a godsend outfit for me. I got this in a size 10/12 thinking that I wanted it to be loose and cosy for lounging at home and it really is roomy. I could have got a size down really, but it's fine for indoors.

Grey Pinafore Dress £10

This is another item that I have wanted for a while. I really wanted a black one, but there was only one left that was too big so I got this, but I still want the black one :( How do you like to dress a pinafore dress? Leave any ideas in the comments below :)

 
Left: Black & Cream Print Trousers £9

I picked these trousers up for work. I think they look quite chic and will be great when worn with plain tops. They are really comfy as they are a drawstring waist style. There are exposed zips by the ankles which actually hold the trousers down nicely while adding a little feature. Other trousers I have for work tend to rise when I sit down and I have to pull them back down at the bottom when I stand up so these will not cause that problem. These will be really cool to wear in the summer too. They will probably crease easily when wearing, but I don't think you will notice it as much as you would with a plain colour as I think the detailed print will make it less noticeable.

Right: Animal Print Trousers £9

These are the exact same style as the other pair with a wild animal print. Both of these trousers I think would be great for going out somewhere straight from work too.


Left: Cobalt 'OMG' Joggers £8

I thought these were really cool to wear on more casual days and just a bit of fun. This pair says OMG on both legs. I have turned the joggers inwards to show you designs better. 

Right: Grey Marl 'WHY' 'NOT' Joggers £8

These are the same style, but with WHY on one leg and NOT on the other. I think I will wear these with my black studded high top trainers. I am not sure that they will go with the cobalt pair so I may have to wear those with my white plimsolls I'm not sure yet.


Black Disco Leggings £7

I tried these on last weekend and they really are great for £7. I have never tried the American Apparel disco pants, but these really do look pretty good. They are very shiny so if that's not the look you want these won't be for you. They don't feel as cheaply made as some of the other Primark leggings can feel as the material feels more robust. Primark do have the styles that look more like the American Apparel ones too, but they feel more constricting as there seems to be no give in them.


Dipped Hem Shirts in Left: Pink, Centre: Ivory & Right: Black £6 Each

I picked these up for work. They are fab as I can roll the sleeves up or down depending on the weather. These are very lightweight and see-through, but I wear them with a tight vest or t-shirt underneath. These do not need ironing if hung up straight after a wash either :) I buy these in a size 6 as they do come up quite large.



Left: Ivory V Neck Long T-Shirt & Right: Black V Neck Long T-Shirt £4 Each

These are made of the same material as the shirts above so no ironing :) yay! I think I will wear these with leggings and a bodycon vest over even over the top of a bodycon dress. I didn't realise until I got home, but these have a sexy split on each side about half way down which is a nice detail. I think these would be great if you were going on holiday as they would be great alternatives to a kaftan. I go these in a size 6 also.

Centre: Ivory Floral Applique Top £8

I only saw this in one shade and I wish there were more because I love it. It feels so, so soft. I think I might wear it under my dungarees. I would be happy to wear this day or night and I wouldn't feel too exposed with just a bandeau top underneath because of the keyhole design. I could really imagine this in black, pastel pink and blue as well as hot pink and cobalt blue so pleeeeease bring out more shades of this style Primark.



Top Left to Right & Bottom Left: My Crop Boyfriend Tee in shades Pink, Charcoal, White & Black £3 Each

I got these to wear with my dungarees as not too much stomach will be exposed. I bought these in a size 12 in the hope that they would be a little longer. I really like the roll sleeve design too.

Bottom Right: Red Coca-Cola Crop Tee £6

The tag I noticed when I got home said size 14 so I was annoyed, but the labels inside say 12 so who knows what size this is? It fits the same as the other tee's though and I like the design.



Top Left: Red 2 Way Vest £1

This vest can be worn as a v neck or if reversed as a slightly rounded low neck style. The finish at the end of this vest is not great, but I bought it to wear under things so that doesn't matter.

2nd From Top Left To Right: Vests in shades Apple, Orange, Cobalt, Turquoise & Aqua £2 Each

I thought these were £1 also which is why I queried it at the till, but I then realised it was a different style and they are a little better quality. They are still a great price and perfect for wearing under the shirts I showed you earlier on in this post.

Bottom Left: Pink Los Angeles California Sports Sweater £8

I love the colour of this top and this design is easy to wear with many items.

Bottom Right: Coral 86 New York City Sports Sweater £8

These two sweaters are both lovely and soft. This is a fab peachy shade too.

I hadn't intended to go on a shopping spree, but I was in town for an appointment and having a bit of topsy turvey day so I thought why not treat myself as I had some overtime money.

Have you picked up any Primark bargains recently? What are your favourite key items to wear in the spring/summer? Let me know in the comments below along with suggestions on how to wear the items I have picked up in this haul.



Love to you all

FOTD: Will you be MesmerEyezd?

Ello ello beauties. How are you all on this dreadful rainy day? I feel for any of you that have had to venture out in this today. I have been sent some coloured contact lenses for free to review so I have this FOTD post for you :)


MesmerEyez Muliti-Purpose Solution, Lens Case and Lenses in left: Jade Green (Intense Range) & right: Royal Blue (Illusionz Range)


Left: Jade Green, Right: Royal Blue

I went for the Jade Green lenses for this FOTD as my eyes are already blue so you will hopefully see more of a difference.





This Jade Green shade is a little less intense than I had expected as I thought it was more of bright emerald green, but I still really like it. I quite like the misty effect that the lenses appear to have around the pupil area as it makes my pupils look a little smaller so that I think you notice the colour more. The edging of the lenses are very defined so I think that makes them look less natural than they could be, but I guess if you want your eyes to really pop it adds to that effect.

These were really easy to use for me, but then I am a contact lens wearer at least four days a week. You simply wash and dry yours hands, peel back the foil seal to the packet each lens is in and ensure that the lens is the correct way up for insertion into the eye. It's very easy to tell as the side with deep colouring is the side that will be on show. It should basically sit on the tip of your forefinger like a bowl with the edges curving inwards. Use the middle finger of your other hand to lift your top lid slightly and pull down with the middle finger of your hand with the lens to open the lower lid just a little and insert the lens with your forefinger. I can place mine straight onto the centre of my eye, but if yours need adjusting just look in different directions and the lens should slip into place. Blink a couple of times too as this sometimes helps.

The lenses I have are meant to last for 3 months once opened. To look at all of the fantastic range from MesmerEyez check out this link and use the colour studio to try the shades on the model. There are a variety of styles that are natural, intense, sexy or even wild. So if you fancy a change or just want something crazy to make those eyes pop these lenses could be a new addition to your night out.

3 Month lenses cost £19.99 (cleanser and lens case included). To purchase check this link.

Other products used in this FOTD are:

Helen É Cosmetics Stage Foundation Ultimate Performance Liquid Make-up For All Skin Types (Monroe - Very Fair Skin)*

Helen É Cosmetics Miracle Concealer*

E.L.F. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

E.L.F. Studio Cool Bronzer

HD Brows Brow Beater

BellaPierre Cosmetics Lash Building Mascara Black

E.L.F. Studio Mist & Set

*Both Helen É Cosmetics were PR samples previously reviewed here.

Removing the lenses with clean hands pull down the lower lid gently, pinch the lens at the sides and pull out. You can look upwards if it makes it easier. Remove make-up AFTER removing lenses.

To store the lenses rinse to clean before placing in the lens case with solution for at least 6 hours. Rinse before placing the lenses into the eyes on next use. Change the solution in the lens case every week even if not in use. The lens case is labelled left and right, but I think it could be bolder so that it's a little easier to see.

I have been wearing these today for four hours and they have not bothered me at all. There is no irritation or discomfort. It is recommended to wear these for a maximum of 8 hours so I could not wear these to work as it's almost 12 hours for me from getting up to getting home. I would still wear them on a special occasion or night out though. These are not prescription lenses. They are only for cosmetic use.

 Many thanks to Amazing PR for sending these out to me. I have always been curious to try coloured lenses so thank you.

Are you a fan of coloured lenses? Do you have any favourite colours, styles or brands? Let me know in the comments below.



Love to you all 

 

Boohoo Haul & Vote!

Hello lovelies. I am sorry that I only posted twice last week, but I was a wee bit caught up. Today I want to share a little haul with you and when I say haul I mean 2 items that are the same dress, but in different shades :)



These are the Rachel Ruched Waist Open Shoulder Dress in the two shades it comes in Grey Marl & Navy, Link

They are £15.00 each, but I had a 20% off discount so these were just £12.00 each. I really fancied something with an open shoulder and thought these would be good for summer. I like how this dress combines the new cut out trend while gathering slightly higher at the waist for a babydoll style.

It's very strange how they are a bit different though. They are the same size yet the navy one seems larger, slightly thinner and longer.

I also voted for BooHoo as Best Online Retailer in the Lorraine High Street Fashion Awards 2013 where you must vote for your favourite's by 9.30am tomorrow so hurry!!

I am a real fan of BooHoo and have shopped on the website many times. I wasn't too impressed by the packaging of my last order though as the black from it transferred onto me and my clothes.

Just something to note BooHoo!

Okay so that's it folks. Have you voted for BooHoo in the Lorraine High Street Fashion Awards 2013 or do you have another favourite? Let me know in the comments below.



Love to you all

NOTD: Nails Inc. Portobello Nail Polish

Hey lovelies. I woke up early today and thought why not blog so here I am. I painted my nails last night and here are the results.


I applied one coat of my Rimmel base coat followed by two coats of Nails Inc. Portobello. This is a gorgeous neon orange matte shade which I think can look like it has a very, very slight pinky undertone to it in some lighting. It's a really fun shade. For some reason I usually prefer neon shades on shorter nails so this came in at the right time as I cut my nails before applying this. I received this in my May GlossyBox. As usual I still don't like the metallic lid on these polishes because I find them less easy to control than others. I have received some nice shades in my GlossyBox from Nails Inc., but I would like to try other brands now. My bottle has little smudge marks on the front of which looks like nail polish so not good GlossyBox! I finished off my manicure with my nail drying spray from Elegant Touch.

You can pick this up for £9.90 at lookfantastic.com or amazon.co.uk both with free delivery.

What are your favourite Nails Inc. shades? Do you have any favourite neon's from another brand? Let me know in the comments below.



Love to you all

GlossyBox Turns 2

Hey everybody. Happy Friday to you all. I feel like this week has completely run away from me, but I wanted to sit down today and find time to blog. I have my latest GlossyBox treats to show you :)


GlossyBox has turned 2 this month and so there are some great treats in this box!

Givenchy Noir Couture Mascara No1 Black Satin, Currently £20.25 for 8g

Curl. Length. Volume. Care. Meet your secret weapon for sweeping healthy lashes. 

  Leave texture at the base of the lashes while keeping the brush horizontally. Extend the texture to the end of the lashes towards the exterior of the eye with the round shape of the brush in order to lengthen and curve the lashes. Start the same steps again and again to intensify the desired result.

I love trying out new mascaras, but I have just opened a new one so this will be next in line for a trial.

Caudalie Divine Oil, Price varies on size 

 The Beauty Elixir for your body, face and hair, the Divine Oil offers everything you need to make your skin positively exquisite.

 Divine oil can be used on the body, face, hair, nails, added to a hot bath, or used as a massage oil.

I prefer dry oils as they massage into the skin nicely without leaving a greasy residue. Multitasking products are always handy too.

Premae Harmony Balm, £27.50 for 30ml

 Harmony Creme Balm is absorbed, leaving a dewy feeling on the skin. The balm spreads wonderfully and is an excellent skin protector and primer, making it easy for applying foundation with a silky finish.

 Apply sparingly over the face and neck twice daily after cleansing and toning.

Face creams are always something I love to try out too so I will see how this fairs.

Nails Inc. Portobello Nail Polish, £11.00 for 10ml

Portobello is a very flattering neon coral shade that suits every skin tone.

I am going to paint my nails with this either today or tomorrow so I will show you what I think of it in a post very soon.

Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Prime & Create Mixing Medium, £20 for 20g 

  When combined with mineral powders and pigments, this amazingly versatile product will allow you to create dozens of different make up finishes. 
  • Use alone as a primer to give a matte, shine free base for flawless make up application.
  • Mix with mineral foundation and concealer powders for an airbrush effect and maximum coverage with a matte finish.
  • Mix with powder blushers and bronzers to create a cream tint for eyes, lips or cheeks.
  • Mix with eyeshadow pigments to create liquid eyeliners and intense eyeshadow finishes. 
I am going to enjoy experimenting with this product.

My other 2 bonus products are some cute handbag sized nail files and a sample of Green & Blacks Organic Dark Chocolate which I have never tasted so yum.

I have been with GlossyBox since the beginning and I can't imagine life without my monthly treats from them now. Happy 2nd Birthday GlossyBox! You are ageing beautifully :)

For more information on GlossyBox UK click here and for the US GlossyBox click here.

Which products did you receive in this month's box? Are you happy so far? Let me know in the comments below.



Love to you all 

NOTD: E.L.F. Fair Pink Nail Polish

Hey lovelies. I hope you are having a sweet Sunday. Where the heck has the sun gone eh? I have just painted my nails so here is the polish I used.

 I applied one coat of my Rimmel base coat followed by four coats of this E.L.F. Nail Polish in the shade Fair Pink. This is a really milky white baby pink shade. I do adore the end result, but I must admit after the third coat I almost called it a day. I can't stand streaky nail polish so I gave the fourth coat a go and I'm glad I did. The finish is now opaque yet it took some work to get there. I know pale milkier shades usually apply more translucent and streaky, but I wasn't certain that this was going to finish nicely as too many layers can end up with too thick a coat on the nail that just ends up smudging and creasing. If you like this type of shade and you are happy to apply four coats to get this finish then that's great, but if you are more impatient then I am sure there are other brands that provide a similar result with less coats needed. I finished the manicure with my Elegant Touch Rapid Dry Nail Spray.

Unfortunately I have looked on both the UK and US E.L.F. websites and this shade no longer appears to be available. I did however find it on ebay.com for $5.75 with free shipping.

What are your favourite E.L.F. Nail Polish shades? What are your favourite pale pink shades from any brand? Let me know in the comments below.



Love to you all

Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 With Next

Hi there my loves. I hope you have all had a great day. Today I am not going to beg, but I would fully appreciate your support if you would like to nominate me for this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 With Next under the category of 'Best Established Beauty Blog'.


I am so pleased to still enjoy writing, reviewing and creating on my blog. Beautiful Addictions has been my baby for 2 years this month and it's been so much fun. I have tried and tested many products which has helped me to make new discoveries and had fun with make-up, especially at Halloween time. It has been great to get to know so many of you through the growth of my blog and I hope to meet more of you in person. I have attended a few PR events which have been interesting and fun too. Thank you once again for checking in on my blog. I hope you continue to enjoy my future posts. I want to expand Beautiful Addictions more and more so any thoughts or suggestions please leave in the comments below.


You can vote for me here 

Good luck to all bloggers and vloggers in every category and love to you all

Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks Island Living Spider Lily Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy

Ello ello beauties and how are we all today? I have a product review for you of skincare for your hands.


 Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks Island Living Spider Lily Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy

I received this product back in October 2011 in my Feelunique Beauty Box, Link. Check out the link for full product information.

My original thoughts:

 'The cream sinks into the skin straight away. The scent is subtle, but a little old-fashioned for me. I will still give it a try though. I am really into my hand creams at the moment.'

 I have to say that although it's not my favourite scent when I smell it up close it does not offend me when I use it on my hands as it is quite subtle. I like that it is in a squeezy tube so that I feel like I am getting all of the product out and not wasting any, but the screw top isn't my favourite, especially on this 25g size as it's a bit fiddly to screw back on. As a hand cream I did like the way it feels to use. It sinks in nicely, moisturising the hands well and left no greasy residue.

This product is available at £9.00 for 50g, Link or £15.00 for 100g, Link with free delivery from feelunique.com

Otherwise you can look on websites such as Amazon to search for other deals.

Have you tried any other products from this range? If yes, what are your thoughts on them? Let me know in the comments below along with your favourite hand creams and the reasons you like them.



Love to you all

 

My Latest Anti-Perspirant Deodorant & Body Fragrance

Hi you gorgeous readers and Happy Bank Holiday! Today I have a couple of products to talk about so here I go :)


Left: Soft & Gentle Anti-White Marks Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Verbena & Waterlily 24 Hour Protection, 99p for 150ml from 99p Stores

Shake, hold upright, spray 15cm from underarm. Do not apply to sore or broken skin.

This says it offers 24 hour protection. It did last as well as other anti-perspirant deodorants I have used, but I would say there were days that I felt a little perspiration under my arms within a 12 hour period (a working day). It says it minimises white marks on the back of the can so you are not guaranteed to be mark free although I didn't notice any obvious white marks while using this. The scent is very light and floral. Good for the spring/summer seasons. This sprays a fine mist with just enough product coming out.

I picked up two of these lightweight cans from the 99p Stores as I always like to know I have this sort of product to hand. I would pick this up again, especially at this price.

Right: Revlon Charlie Pink Perfumed Body Fragrance, Currently 84p for 75ml from Superdrug

Hold 15cm from the body and spray.

This is another body spray from the set my Mum gave to me for my birthday, Link. I really like the scent of this body fragrance. I usually just reserve body sprays for lounging at home, but I think this one is good enough to venture outside in as it could be thought of as an eau de toilette. Although the fragrance is not a bold, in your face type it is sweet and cheeky. There is a great mix of red fruits, tangerine and vanilla. I think any age could wear this day or night.

What are your favourite anti-perspirant deodorants and why? Have you got a current body fragrance that you just can't live without? Let me know in the comments below.



Love to you all

 

Keep Clean And Shower

Hey Everyone. I hope you are enjoying your Sunday with the thought of no work tomorrow. Thank you bank holiday :)

Today I have two products to talk about so I'll just get on with it.


Keep Clean And Shower Luxury Shower Gel's

Left: Vanilla And Anise

This was the original statement I made about this scent:

'Now I can either love or hate a vanilla scent depending on how potent it is as I can sometimes find them to be a bit sickly, but this one is gorgeous. I think the Anise must just give it that edge.'

There is something about this scent that I find very calming. It gives the senses a kind of instant relaxation.

Right: Lime, Basil And Mandarin

Original Statement:

'This one smells refreshing and clean, but is a little more masculine. The above two scents (in original post) smell a little more expensive. I would say this could definitely be a unisex scent due to the fruit and herb combination.'

I probably wouldn't pick this one up again because it is the most masculine scent of this range, but that's not to say it wouldn't suit the taste of others as it is a very clean and shower fresh scent.

The flip tops on these bottles are very secure. The bottles are a little stiff so you may want to unscrew the top when nearing the end of the bottle. I love the simple 'Keep Clean' design.

These were 99p each from the 99p Stores. To see my original post click here.

Have you tried any of the Keep Clean range from the 99p Stores? If yes, what are your thoughts? If no, will you be trying it out? Let me know in the comments below.



Love to you all

 

I'm On Networking Website Glipho!

Hi there lovelies. How are you all? I am so glad it's a long weekend :) Today I want to let you know that you can also find my blog posts on Glipho. So what's Glipho? Glipho is basically a website where you can share your writing skills and blog posts. It's a free platform and another way to connect with others. You can transfer existing blog posts from Wordpress, Blogger and Tumblr and then update every time you add a new post. You choose which category you want your posts to go into. Usually mine are under Fashion & Beauty. You can connect many of your other networking sites to your Glipho page also so it's great for networking. You can add a profile photo and a description about yourself and your blog or writing. On your insights page you can see views, likes, discussions and more which are attached to each of your posts.


You can find my Gliph's in this link. My username is beautifuladdictions

Please let me know in the comments below if you have a blog on Glipho so that I can check it out or even similar interests to mine.



Love to you all

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