Myleene Klass My Palette Review

I received this palette from my mum at Christmas, and though I'd never heard of it before and never knew that Myleene Klass had released a palette, I was interested. I have no idea how much this palette cost, obviously, as it was a gift but I really do quite like it and was glad to have received it!

It features two blush shades, two lip gloss shades, 6 eyeshadow shades and two applicators. I'm going to do a quick rundown of pros and cons and whether or not this product is worth purchasing if you come across it.

Pros:

- Very pigmented shadows and blushes.

- A nice range of shadows, I use the cranberry and gold a lot.

- Large mirror which makes it useful for travelling.

- Smooth, sleek black packaging.

- One matte blush and one blush with shimmer, a nice range.

- The colours are actually usable and varied.

Cons:

- Might be difficult to travel with as it's so large.

- I find that fallout from the shadows and blushes fall into the lipglosses which is a little bit icky.

- The applicators aren't really of any use.

- It's quite heavy.

- The glosses aren't very pigmented, but still provide a nice wash of colour.

Overall, I think that this palette is great. I use it almost everyday. The shadows and blushes are very pigmented and the lip glosses, although they weren't really needed, are quite nice for a neutral look. The only downside to this product is the size.

I might do a Face of the Day with this as I do really like it. Hope this review was useful! 

Beth xxx

twitter: @bethssecret

instagram: @beth1562

tumblr: http://www.littl-musician.tumblr.com

Tone Up

Over summer, I was pretty happy with my body but over the course of winter I may have turned into a bear and gone slightly into hibernation and lost the muscle in my body. These past few weeks I've been working on improving the tone of my body and I'm starting to feel happier with my body, especially my thighs which have always been my problem area. Because I'm too lazy to get up extra early in the mornings and I always feel too tired at night, I don't run that often. Maybe once a fortnight, so instead I use a lot of YouTube videos and one or two infographics. I find them quite effective, but that's  just what works for me! Anyway, I thought that I would share what I use, just incase your interested.

This video claims to be a full body workout - it lies. It mainly focuses on your legs but I thought that it was really good and really did work after about a fortnight. At first it absolutely destroyed me and I was ridiculously tired, but after doing it every night I started to notice I wasn't getting as tired within about 2 weeks.

This infographic focuses on the abs and it really worked for me. Granted, it hurts a hell  of a lot, but it's pretty effective.

I love Blogilates, she's ridiculously upbeat and her videos are genuinely useful. I recommend this video in particular, but pretty much all of hers are great to be honest. She always has meal plans and fitness routines you should follow, personally I don't as I'm not looking to lose weight, only to tone up.

And finally, planking. I only recently started doing this, but I was surprised by a. how much it hurt and b. how much it actually made a difference. I'm trying out the 30 day plank challenge, I'm only day 2 but I'll keep you updated on how it progresses!

So, that's how I'm toning up at the moment. If you have any tips, please leave them in the comments section below! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

instagram: @beth1562

twitter: @bethssecret

Beth xxx

#2014BloggerChallenge Week 2 - Skincare

So, this weeks theme for the #2014BloggerChallenge is skincare! As I've told you about both my Morning Skincare routine: http://beths-secrets.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/my-morning-skincare-routine.html and nighttime skincare routine: http://beths-secrets.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/my-night-time-skincare-routine.html recently I thought that I would tell you about my shower routine that I have to try and get the rest of my body in as good a condition as I can. 

I tend to have long showers, I don't mean to I just get distracted thinking about the world and end up in there for normally at least 30 minutes. So, in terms of skincare or bodycare (?) the first product that I'll use is the Dirty Works Buttery Salt Scrub which is probably a dupe of a Soap & Glory scrub, however at a much lower price. I think I purchased this in Sainsbury's for a mere £2.50 which for the quantity is insane. It's a good product providing a decent amount of exfoliation and it smells lovely!

The second product I use in my routine is the Dove Bodywash Silk which I got on offer in Boots for £2.50. I love this product, I used it a lot a few years back but recently rediscovered it and therefore rediscovered my love for this. I find that it leaves my skin with quite a lovely glow and it's not hugely expensive for the amount that you get. It smells great and it moisturises my skin a little!

If I'm shaving my legs, I'll use a cheap conditioner because it leaves my legs feeling softer and less dry than if I used a shaving gel. I just use a reasonably cheap razor, one of the Bic Pure 3 Lady Pack 4 Triple Razor that are like £2.20 for for four. I don't really see the point in buying expensive razors because I use so many other products that leave my legs just as soft, however I would like to try one of the electric razors some day!

The final product that I use in the shower on my body is the Palmolive Naturals Nourishing Shower Milk in Honey which is ridiculously cheap at £1.99 for 250ml. I absolutely love this. After I've shaved my legs I use this and leave it on for a few minutes and it makes such a difference. I really do recommend that you try this product, it smells lovely and does such a good job.

After my shower I tend to use the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Firming Butter which aims to improve the firmness of your skin. I use this as my weight fluctuates a lot and I use this to try and prevent stretch marks. Some people really don't like the smell of this however I really like it, it is quite sickly though. It's a very thick consistency, like a butter but it comes out of a pump. I find that two pumps are enough to cover my legs in a thick layer. In terms of moisturising this is really great and leaves my legs feeling nourished.

So that's my bodycare routine! It's not technically a skincare post however as I had already done two I didn't see much of a point in doing another one as my routine hasn't changed very much. Hope you enjoyed! If you have any suggestions or recommendations leave them in the comment section below!

Beth xxx

twitter: @bethssecret

instagram: @beth1562

Liebster Award x3

WOAH THERE. Okay, so over the past month I have been nominated for 3, yes that's right, THREE Liebster awards! Thankyou to: Girl in My Mirror , A Beauty Quark and Alexandra Loves for nominating me! 

The Liebster Award can be awarded to bloggers who have less than 200 followers! You have to be nominated by another blogger and you are meant to state 11 facts about yourself, answer the eleven questions that the blogger who nominated you has given you, then nominate 11 bloggers who you think deserve the award, finally you write 11 questions that you think those that you have nominated should answer! Clear? Probably not.

So, the way I'm going to do this is respond to each of the questions that they asked me and leave their blog name above the answers. I'm going to skip out on the facts section as I have a previous blogpost on this: http://beths-secrets.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/the-liebster-award.html and I'm already answering a large amount of questions!Then write my questions and nominate 11 blogs who I think deserve to be nominated! So there's going to be a total of 33 questions that I answer, then 11 questions that I ask the people that I have nominated! Let's get started!

These questions are from Girl in My Mirror at http://girlinmymirrorxo.blogspot.co.uk

1. Do you have any nicknames? My full name is actually Elizabeth, so I suppose that Beth is a nickname!

2. What was the last item of clothing you bought? I've been buying a lot of clothing recently, but probably a David Bowie t-shirt that I picked up from New Look in the Christmas sale.

3. What was the last beauty product you bought? The SEVENTEEN Phwoarr Paint from Boots, I might do a review on this if it's requested!

4. Do you believe in the paranormal/supernatural? No, not really. But I do enjoy films about it.

5. Where is your favourite place to shop online? Amazon is my go to place. I buy a lot of books and I prefer them to be second hand (weird, I know) so this is my place.

6. Who is your favourite Disney character? I really like Anna in the movie Frozen, however I think that Dory from Finding Nemo is up there as well.

7. Do you take a handbag out with you? If yes, what do you normally have in there? Everything, even a screwdriver. What's In My Bag post coming up soon!

8. What are you wearing right now? A reindeer onesie, it's been a productive day.

9. What are your top 5 favourite music bands and/or artists? alt-J, Bon Iver, Two Door Cinema Club, Orla Gartland and The Black Keys.

10. Going out or staying in? Staying in is where it's at, yo.

11. Do you have any hobbies? What are they? I've played the violin for eight years and I also really love photography.

Okay, the second lot of questions are from A Beauty Quark over at http://abeautyquark.blogspot.co.uk !

1. If you only had one day left in this world, what would you do? Everything. I'd probably like to have a party by the lake with my friends.

2. Would you rather lick peanut butter off a hobo's foot or have a hobo lick peanut butter off your foot? Well. This... question.... I would rather a hobo lick peanut butter off my foot. I could just pretend that he was a cat or something.

3. Who's your biggest inspiration? I really like Jameela Jamil, I think that she's an incredible woman. 

4. If you could change one part of your life, what would it be? I would quite like to be living in London, I really regret not applying to university in London.

5. If you could only take on item to a desert island, what would it be? A boat?

6. Favourite memory? Probably in English Lit last year when me and my friends broke from crying.

7. What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Check my phone #loser

8. If you could be any character from any movie, who would you be and why? Hmm, good question. Mila Kunis in Friends with Benefits because Justin Timberlake...

9. What do you want to do differently in 2014? Be less shy. I'm already failing.

10. If you could be an animal, what would it be and why? Giraffe, everyone likes giraffes and I'd be able to see around everywhere as I'd be so tall.

The final set of questions are from Alexandra over at http://alexandralovesblog.blogspot.co.uk!

1 - What is your favourite high street shop? I really like H&M, they tend to have good stuff at reasonable prices!

2 - What is your favourite make-up brand? Sleek, I love everything I have by them.

3 - What are you looking forward to in 2014? Going to university, travelling, seeing how things pan out.

4 - Which celebrity's wardrobe would you most love to have? I'm not a fan of the Kardashians, I've never watched it but I've seen pictures of Kendall Jenner's wardrobe and I love it.

5 - Which make-up product could you not live without? Concealer, I have tired eyes.

6 - What do you prefer and why - Autumn/Winter clothing or Spring/Summer clothing? Spring/Summer clothing, I love pastel colours and floral patterns!

7 - Who is your favourite music artist? alt-J, I think that they're incredible.

8 - Which celebrity would you choose to play you in a movie of your life? Hmm, I have no idea. Maybe Mila Kunis?

9 - What colour Nail Polish do you love to wear? Matte Black, I'm a true emo kid.

10 - Why did you decide to start a blog? I'd been reading blogs for a while and wanted to give it a go. I don't have the equipment or confidence to start a YouTube channel so I thought a blog would be best!

11 - What are you most proud of in your life so far? I was ridiculously happy with my A Level grades, yes they were kinda average but I'm still so proud of them.

Okay, so there are all of the questions I was asked! These are the questions that I want those to nominate to answer:

1. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

2. Do you prefer night time or day time?

3. Favourite band or singer?

4. Favourite ever make-up product?

5. Who is a brand that you think consistently bring out good products?

6. Favourite item of clothing?

7. What would you want your last meal to be?

8. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?

9. Are you a messy or tidy person?

10. Ultimate guilty pleasure movie?

11. If you could have done anything different in 2013 what would it have been?

And finally, these are the 11 people that I nominate!

1. Stephanie from DearStephiiie

2. Emanuela from emanuelajuicy.blogspot.it

3. Style Life Lovely over at http://stylelifelovely.blogspot.co.uk/

4. Saida Cane from http://saidacanephotography.blogspot.co.uk/

5. Demi from http://beautykiss14.blogspot.co.uk/

6. Amateur Aglow at http://amateuraglow.blogspot.co.uk/

7. Sarah at http://sarahsstyle04.blogspot.co.uk/

8. Blushous Beauty over at http://www.blushousbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

9. Sammeh over at http://oddsandsodz.blogspot.co.uk/

10. Samantha over at http://www.samantha-davis.com/

So that's that extraordinarily long post over with, if I tagged you and you write a post leave a comment in the section below so that I can see it! Hope you enjoyed learning a little more about me!

Beth xxx

twitter: @bethssecret

instagram: @beth1562

bloglovin: Beth's Secret

Umberto Giannini Frizzi Rebel Without The Coarse Dramatic Results Styling Spray Review

A few weeks ago I picked up this product on the 3 for 2 offer at Boots, and I have to say that if you're going to buy any haircare product this year: the Umberto Giannini Frizzi Rebel Without The Coarse Dramatic Results Styling Spray (what. a. mouthful.) should be it. I absolutely love this product as it's made a real difference to my hair whenever I've used it. At £5.99 it's not hugely expensive, unless you're on a budget like me but it's thoroughly worth it especially if you catch it when Boots has an offer going on.

Pros:

- Not ridiculously expensive.

- Available in Boots where there's a shop pretty much everywhere.

- Easy spray bottle, not messy.

- Only takes about half a minute to apply.

- Has an in-built heat defence.

- Makes my hair ridiculously soft after use.

- The packaging is quite nice and stands out amongst my other products.

- Quite a large bottle for your money.

- Really does de-frizz my hair.

- Adds shine.

Cons:

- If you're on a budget like me, it's still quite expensive.

- The area it sprays on is quite concentrated on a small area.

So, that's my review of the Umberto Giannini Frizzi Rebel Without The Coarse Dramatic Results Styling Spray! Hope you enjoyed, I really do love this product I think it's fantastic! If you've tried this product, leave a comment in section below :)

Beth xxx

TAG: My First Time

I was tagged by the lovely 300 Days of England over at http://300daysofengland.blogspot.it/2014/01/my-first-time.html to do this tag!

She's part of the #2014BloggerChallenge and was lovely enough to tag me. She has a great blog so I thoroughly recommend that you go over and check out her tag!

1. First YouTube video I ever watched?

The first one I remember watching was Salad Fingers.... not particularly a good thing to have as your first due to it's sheer weirdness. If you haven't seen it already, check it out here (heads up - it's very. very. weird)

2. First person you subscribed to on YouTube?

Ooooh, I have no idea actually. It might be Sammi Maria (beautycrush) as I remember watching her videos before I first properly started watching YouTube. Her videos are really great, and her vlogs. She's someone I consistently watch whatever she uploads.

3. Do you still talk to your first love?

I don't know if I've ever been in love, to be honest. I'm very young. But the boy who I had the strongest feelings for, I do still occasionally talk to when it's not insanely awkward.

4. First kiss?

Okay, so I was 14 years old. In a cinema (so cliche) and sat next to my best friend and the boy who kissed me, was his best friend. Standard. It was awful.... and the film was Shutter Island. Hardly the most romantic film.

5. First alcoholic drink?

My first Proper alcoholic drink was probably a can of Strongbow when I was 14 years old, at my friend's birthday party. I proceeded to get hammered... don't do it, kids.

6. First car?

I haven't actually learned to drive yet! Awful, I know. I just haven't got round to it, I have my provisional licence but I use that more as a form of ID (I get ID'd consistently. I've only ever not been ID'd once... when I was with a friend who's a lot older than me) but I plan to start lessons soon!

7. First job?

The first job where I got paid was in a pub last summer. It was a lot of work and they didn't keep me on for that long... let me put it this way: I burned cheesecake.

8. First pet?

When I was born, we had a dog called Tweed. He was a chocolate labrador and he was really fluffy. Apparently he used to stand by my cot and watch me.

9. First celebrity crush?

Don't judge me, but Charlie from Busted. What can I say, I still stand by my choice!

10. First real boyfriend?

Incidentally the same boy whom I had my first kiss with! It didn't last long, maybe a month? In terms of a longer relationship, it was with a lovely boy at the end of year 10 and it lasted for about six months. Sadly, things didn't work out, but he was genuinely such a good guy.

11. Who was the first person to text you today?

My friend Chloe (HEY - if you're reading this) drunk What's App-ed me this morning at 4am, but another friend who I bumped into on New Years Eve and re-connected with recently texted me at 1pm this afternoon.

12. Who was your first grade teacher?

In Year One, I actually had two teachers as I moved schools midway through the year. I can't remember the name of the one at my first school but I remember her being kind and a good teacher. However, the teacher at my second school was horrible. She shouted at me on my first day because I didn't know something that I had never been taught..... yep.

13. Where was your first sleepover?

I'm not sure about this one, it was probably either at my house or my childhood best friend's house when I was probably in year 2?

14. What was the first thing you did this morning?

Admittedly, I wasn't actually conscious this morning. Whoops. But the first thing that I did today will have been to check my phone, reply to messages and check Twitter!

15. First concert I ever went to?

I think I must have been fourteen years old and it was my friend's cousin's gig at a local concert place. A random man grabbed my bum. 

16. First broken bone?

Surprisingly, I've never broken a bone! I'm very clumsy, I somehow managed to bruise myself a lot at my recent job, cut my hand open a few times and scarred my knee with a Minecraft Annual. But I've never actually broken anything!

17. First movie you remember seeing?

At home, Bambi as I remember the tape breaking. But in the cinema, the first Harry Potter when I was six years old!

18. First sport you were involved in?

Ha, sport. No.

19. First ever tweet?

Beth F ‏@beth1562

26 Feb 11

I have one follower. Is it even worth writing this?

20. First ever Facebook profile picture?

I was sooooooooooo cool obviously.

21. First ever piercing?

Ears! When I was 11. I went with a friend and her mum, I went first and the piercing gun got stuck so I bled everywhere. Fair to say it put my friend off the tiniest bit!

So those are the answers to My First Time tag!

Hope you enjoyed!

I tag all of you if you haven't already done this tag. If you do decide to do it, please leave your post in the comment section below so I can check it out! :)

Beth xxx

Hairspiration

People keep pointing out that my hair is so long now compared to how it was a few months ago, and it really is, I just hadn't noticed! It really needs a trim, and I'm being very very indecisive about how I should have it cut. I would quite like to keep some of the ombré that I have in, but I'm so unsure! I've been trying to find pictures online for hair inspiration but I'm struggling, I can't seem to find anything that I really want. I quite like the idea of keeping my side fringe or having more of a one cut in, but I've had it this way for 7 years and it's probably time for a change! I'm thinking about going for something along the lines of one of the pictures below, but I'm a little stuck. All help is appreciated! Thankyou!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/147915168985320548/

From She Wears Fashion - http://www.shewearsfashion.com/

http://www.sugarscape.com/main-topics/film-and-tv/863745/made-chelseas-binky-felstead-spencer-matthews-behaviour-horrific-jami

http://alifeinbeautyam.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/an-interview-amelia-at-liana-beauty.html

http://www.beautymatters.ie/blog/2012/11/nina-nesbitt-makeup/

Help!!

Beth xxx

#100HappyDays

Just a little something that I found that I thought that I should share with you guys!

http://100happydays.com/

The idea of this is  to take a picture of something that has made you happy every day for 100 days and submit it to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #100HappyDays.

It can be anything, a picture of a joke that made you laugh, a book that you're particularly enjoying, some food, whatever!

All you have to do to take part is enter: http://100happydays.com/#go here!

I think this is a wonderful idea, it makes us take just a tiny amount of time out each day to think about what really is making us happy and appreciate the smaller things in life. 

I'm going to be starting this challenge on Monday 6th of January by posting my to Instagram at @beth1562. If you're also joining in leave a comment in the section below letting me know your username and we can follow each other!

Beth xxx

New Years Inspiriation #2014BloggerChallenge

#2014BloggerChallenge What's Your New Year Inspiration?

The week before Christmas I met up with a friend during my lunch break to go for a coffee. Incidentally, we went to a lovely little cafe in Carlisle called 'Foxes' which is frankly a fantastic little place, it's quite indie so I love it (god damned hipster) and the waiting staff are lovely. Anyway, the friend I met with is going away in a few weeks to go travelling; New Zealand, America, Canada and Fiji and we both know that even though he's promised to, he won't come back. So many of my friends are going or have been travelling recently and I can't help but feel a little jealous, which is new to me. I've never really had the yearning to travel a great deal but of recent I want to see the world. I'm going away to Asia in March, hopefully coming back for a month and then staying with some family friends in Norway. I want to spend Christmas 2014 in Copenhagen or Zurich. I want to visit Paris this summer and listen to French music.

I'm so young and meeting new people who are older than me has made me realise this. They've all been away and seen the world and have stories to tell, but I have nothing. I only have 7 months and 15 days left of being 18 years old and that scares me a little, after that there's only one more year left of being a teenager however I therefore feel like it's acceptable that I don't really know what I want to do. I know that the world won't end the minute I stop being a teenager but I've always felt "Well, at least I have my youth" and it's slowly dawning on me that I won't have my youth forever and soon I won't be able to do everything I want to do. But, if I'm so young then why do I feel so old sometimes? I try to be older than I am, discuss politics with older men and drink whisky. On the one hand, I want to be old, have these conversations and treated with a respect that teenagers aren't normally treated with. But on the other hand I want to be a teenager, stay up all night with my friends and disappear to some other country for a month and explore. I have all the time in the world to do everything I want but I'm in such a hurry and I don't know why that is. 

What inspired this post was when I met up with my friend, he handed me a Christmas card which I then read on the train home that day. My friendship with him is synonymous of a time in my life where I was especially confident, we met on a photography course and I walked up to him in a cafe afterwards and pointed out our matching festival wristbands. I'm starting to get that confidence back, I'm now able to hold a conversation with people again and I'm able to ask for help when I need it and I'm hoping that this will result in even more new experiences. He talked about this in his card, and told me to start having adventures. It wasn't until I read that card, with the quotation above written in his boyish handwriting at the bottom that it really began to sink in just how mundane my life is and how little I've done with all the opportunities that I have been handed. I've spent so long locked away in my room so since receiving that card I've made the effort to begin to try and change. But not all adventures have to involve travelling away..,

I'm sat at my desk in my freezing cold room, looking out the window at the drizzling rain and dying light and thinking about what I really want to do and where I really want to be. I worked as a Christmas temp in a well known, popular chain bookshop and I loved every single minute of it and whilst I was there I rediscovered my love for literature. I've actively started seeking out more poetry and discovered W.H. Auden and more of Carol Ann Duffy's work (read 'Little Red Cap' I think it's my favourite poem). A large amount of my wages have been spent on books; art; fiction; cooking. I've started taking less crap and standing up for myself and stopped trying to please those who really do not treat me well. And finally, I've  said 'Yes' more to things that I wouldn't normally do or things that put me out of my comfort zone to gain 'new experiences'. Even if it's just going for a drink with the people I've recently met, agreeing to let a friend help me get over my fear of swimming or going clubbing. This past month has changed me, I've met some incredible people and it's given me the yearning to make 2014 an incredible year. But to relate all this back to the above quotation from "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, I've had a bit of a rough year. I was put in some difficult situations and it made me despairingly unhappy but it's only just starting to sink in just how unhappy I was in 2013, I struggle to think of a time before December when I was genuinely happy and it lasted. And so I've made a pact with myself to gain a little self-confidence and accept that sometimes, I do deserve more than the shit I sometimes get. I've frequently settled for less or had little faith in myself and my abilities and as a consequence have ended up unhappy, so this year I vow to change that, and to me, this is a new adventure. Things do get better but only if you can actively try and make them better.

Is there anything that has particularly inspired you this year? Leave a comment in the box below. This was difficult for me to write and I'm sorry about the long rambly post, this is the first of it's kind on here and quite possibly the last, so don't worry!

Beth xxx