NOTD: Strawberries and Cream

Todays nails were inspired by my sudden craving for strawberries and cream (even though it's only February). Please excuse my horrible nail beds, I need to give myself a proper mani soon...

 Boots Intensive Naith Growth Solution is excellent!

Nails inc and Caite polish were free in magazines at some point - result!

17 Double Gloss Top Coat is really cheap and works great

I'm off to explore and hopefully going to the pics tonight to see Black Swan :)

17 Concealer does not hide the fact you are no longer 17...

Well, first things first... the interview went fabulously! It wasn't as formal as I had expected and the staff interviewing me were so friendly and nice. The interview was in an office just off Oxford Street but I found it really easily and managed to arrive early, looking not too windswept. They have basically told me that as soon as the General Teaching Council in England approve my registration (you must have this to be allowed to teach in a school) I can start teaching, and they have plenty schools for me to go to. I'm so happy today – literally have not stopped smiling!(getting very strange looks on the tube). 

Right, now on to the massive update! I was toying with the idea of either doing a mammoth post, or splitting it up into smaller ones – I've decided to just go with the biggie, so if you don't fancy a long read, you can scan the few the photos and be off... :P

Starting off with my review of the 17 products, I must say I wasn't that impressed. Apart from my most favourite lippie (see previous), I don't think I'm going to become a massive fan like I was in my youth. The Hide Away concealer is really dry and doesn't blend into my skin well at all. Obviously this could just be because I have temperamental skin, but I doubt it. I've tried it a few times now, before moisturiser, after moisturiser, before and after foundation, applying with my finger and applying with a brush – it just aint happening. It's really noticeable when it's on, and dries too quickly, therefore not blending correctly into the skin. For 3.99 I guess I shouldn't have been expecting miracles, but I think they might need to have a rethink of the formula and make it a bit less chalky and more blend-able. For now, it's a no no. If anyone else has tried this and has a similar or different opinion please comment below. The Shine Control Pressed Powder wasn't as bad, but I'm still not to keen on the one shade fits all. Shine-controlling? Yes. Flawless finish? Sort of. I think if this came in a wider variety of shades it might be a little more perfect for me, but I guess I wouldn't really know unless I tried that out. However, saying all that, it did prevent a shiny-face mid-afternoon and stayed put relatively well. For a budget option it's definitely a winner but I think this one will take a few more wears to win me over completely. It comes with an applicator but I've been applying it with a brush which makes it appear a lot less 'caked-on'. I'll continue with this a little longer and see if the product grows on me.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation is surprisingly good and gives a nice even coverage, albeit the formula is a bit thick. I've been applying this with a foundation brush from The Body Shop and today I added a little moisturiser, which made the product go on a lot easier. I think I've chosen a shade darker than I should have, but the foundation itself is really good. I've been a fan of Maybelline's Dream Satin Liquid for well over a year now, but I would consider using Match Perfection as an alternative. I'm going to keep using this bottle until I get paid, and might try a lighter shade to see how that goes. Verdict – reasonably priced, good coverage, best applied with a brush.

If you're still reading after all that – waaaayy! Your attention span is great! Next on the agenda... a huge collection of images from the past few days:

Nails: No7 and Barry M

Faces from the past few days:

Clothes: Dress - Primark

              Cardi - Primark

              Tights - Topshop

              Bird Necklace - gift from my gran

Interview Outfit: Dress - Primark
                            Tights - Asda
                            Shoes - Primark
                            Clover Necklace - Gift from a friend

I invested in some new shampoo and conditioner, after seeing it mentioned on another blog, and will be updating on that tomorrow. So far so good, I must say...

Again, a massive thanks to everyone who has been reading and following – I really appreciate you taking the time and if you want to know anything/see anything on my blog, I'm all ears... :)

Boots Haul :)

I really should be banned from my local Boots store - a quick pop in to pick up some Soap & Glory goodies resulted in spending a lot more than planned! Still, at least my Advantage Card points are totting up nicely again :)

As stated in the previous post, Boots are doing 3 for 2 across selected beauty, including Soap & Glory so I took advantage of this to stock up on my favourites, so that they will be there waiting when my current ones run out. I was one of the lucky ladies to get one of the large totes for 25.00 before Christmas when it was on special offer, so I'm already quite well stocked up, but every little helps, especially when you're getting one free! I bought another pot of The Righteous Butter, a tube of Hand Food which is the ultimate hand cream (the mini version is also great for popping in your handbag) and Clean on Me shower gel, which I use everyday so I need a constant supply. I bought Replenishing Rich Mouisturiser by Simple because, as much as I love Soap & Glory, their face creams are too much for my sensitive face to handle and I've used Simple for as long as I can remember! I do want to find a proper face cream, especially as I'm nearly 24 and really should invest to stop any wrinkles when I'm older, but I've yet to find one that works for me. Any recommendations?

Once I'd picked up my goodies I headed for the tills, walking past the make-up aisles - big mistake! I didn't really want to be buying make-up this week as I'm moving to London on Friday and am meant to be budgeting (which I'm horrendous as). However, the 3 for 2 offer tempted me yet again, this time on 17 products. This used to be my favourite range, back when I was aged 17, although I have in the past few months gone back to this range, especially for my favourite lipstick. In June last year I was in Boots looking for a really gorgeous pale pink lippie as my favourite MAC one was getting a bit low. I decided to save the MAC for special events and look for an everday replacement. I spent forever looking for one, but having really dry flaky lips and a funny shaped pout, it was quite a challenge. A lovely sales assistant (I wish I'd clocked her name as I'd have sang her praises to the store manager) suggested 17 Mirror Shine on Lipstick in Beehive - I LOVE IT! I wear it all the time as it goes on really well and gives a gorgeous glossy colour. It doesn't go all flaky on my lips and is such a wearable shade.

However... on a night out a while ago my brother's girlfriend asked to use my lippie while we were in a club and she broke it! At the time, we drunkenly laughed but the next day I was gutted. I've been trying to salvage the last half by using a lip brush but tonight I decided to treat myself to a new one. I'm glad I can use it as a lippie again :) Has anyone else tried this shade? What are your thoughts? As well as the lippie, I also bought some Shine Control Pressed Powder, however was a bit disappointed it only came in one shade - Neutral? I'll give it a try tomorrow so hopefully the shade matches my skin tone. I also bought Hide Away Corrector Cream to give it a go. I finished uni in December and haven't found a teaching job yet so my sleep routine has gone to pot, and for the first time in my life I have dark circles :( I don't think at 3.99 this will be a miracle cure, but I thought the price was decent enough to give it a bash anyway. Will update tomorrow on how it works...

I am also trying this for the first time, mainly due to the fact Boots didn't have my usual shade of Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid. My cousin, who I was shopping with, has used this and said it's really good... we shall see how this pans out...

I'd really like your thoughts on this lipstick if you have tried it. I bought it months ago, keep putting it on then taking it off again before I leave the house! The lighting isn't really doing it justic here - it's very pink! It's 17 Lasting Fix Lipstick in Dreamy. It looks pale pink on the Boots site, but in person it's brighter and slightly coral-pink. I'm not sure if it's the texture against my rubbishy lips, or the colour... will try and take a pic of it on my lips, although I have a wonky pout :(

And finally, NOTD...

George make-up at Asda Living has some surprising little delights, including great nail colours and really cheap! These two were chosen to match a top I was wearing today. The orange is a bit brighter than I'd like, but orange shades are quite hard to find!

Today's Mask: Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - Ivory ; Bourjois Little Round Pot - Rose De Jaspe; No7 Smokey Eyes Palette; No7 Amazing Eyes liquid liner; Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara; 17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick- Beehive.

Sorry for the poor lighting of the pics, I was shopping til 10pm so my room was really dark :(