#2014BloggerChallenge Nail Favourites

The theme of the #2014BloggerChallenge this week is nails! Now, I'm awful with nails. I can't grow them long because then it makes it difficult to play my violin (plus long nails really creep me out) and I've only recently started painting my nails often and taking an interest in nail polish. Today, I wasn't sure what to do with this topic as I'm not very good at nail art and I can barely paint my nails as it is, so I thought that I would do a post on my favourite nail related things. Some of these polishes are no longer available however I will try and find similar products. Hope that you enjoy!

1. Boots Essentials Cotton Wool Pads £1.39
2. (similar) MUA Nail Polish in Bold Blue £1.00
3. Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Black Espresso £3.99
4. Collection Gothic Glam in Deadly £3.19
5. Barry M Nail Paint in Clear £2.99
6. (Marks and Spencers Polish in Dark red - similar) Essie Winter Collection in Shearling Darling £5.99
7. Superdrug Beauty Essentials Nail Polish Remover £1.09

I always use the Boots Baby cotton wool pads as you they're quite soft but still remove makeup and nail polish effectively, I prefer using the cotton wool pads to remove my nail polish as I find that with cotton wool balls the fibres tend to come apart and so easily stick to other bits of nail polish which make it a pain.

I am a BIG fan of the MUA range which you can purchase in Superdrug, I have several of their products and even though admittedly some of the products are a bit hit and miss, a good majority of them are good quality at a great price. I love this bright blue colour in Spring and Summer and seeing as it's coming up to those seasons, I wapped it out again in eager anticipation. I find that the polish doesn't chip too easily and with two coats it does provide a solid colour. Strongly recommend checking out their polishes!

The Barry M Matte Nails are all that I wore throughout December and January, I did a blogpost on another shade of this polish (available here) and soon after I picked up the shade in Black and I honestly love it. They're not ridiculously expensive, especially as there's normally 3 for 2 deals at Boots and Superdrug and they don't chip for a few days. I also feel just a little bit cooler wearing black polish.

Another of my favourite polishes is the Collection Gothic Glam in Revenge. I did a blogpost on this here so  I won't ramble on too much, but I do still love this. It's perfect for a more formal occasion and adds a little bit of 'glam' to a look!

I used to use a Sally Hansen base and top coat, which was very good however it was quite expensive so I started using the Barry M base and top coat instead and it does almost as good a job but at much less of a price. It adds a high shine to a polish and does increase the amount of time that the polish stays on the nails for! I really like this product and if you're looking for a new top and base coat, try this!

Finally in the polish picks is this nail polish that I actually received in a gift set so I linked a similar one. It's just a deep red that is perfect for winter-y days. I like the whole burgundy trend, especially in terms of makeup. I also feel pretty hot when I have painted red nails, I'm a loser, right?

My final favourite is the Superdrug Nail polish remover. I know that MammafulZo uses the acetone-free version of this remover, however I find that this one is great. It's a large bottle and lasts a really long time and removes nail polishes really effectively. It doesn't dry out my nails and it's super super cheap. I definitely recommend trying it out!

Those are my nail favourites, thanks for reading! Have you tried any of these products? Leave a commend below!

Beth xxx

instagram: @bethssecret
twitter: @bethssecret
e-mail: beths-secret@live.co.uk

February Favourites

Anyone else struggle with the spelling of February? No? Just me? Aw. 

February has been a short month, however for me it's gone pretty quickly! I've been ill for the month with glandular fever and a throat infection so I haven't really been doing that much so my favourites for this month are quite boring and there's not very many! I'm going away at the end of next month for about 3/4 weeks so blogposts will probably not be that frequent, but I should have a lot more favourites!

My first favourite is the Intensive Hand Cream from Superdrug that I picked up for £1.49 a few months ago. I kept this in my bag because as it was cold, my hands were pretty awful! I actually lost this for about 2 months and found it when I switched up my room out of boredom a few weeks ago and I've realised how good it actually is! It's perfect for winter and chapped, dry hands and it's an absolute lifesaver. As well as this, it's also only £1.49 which is an absolute steal.

My second favourite would have to be the Umberto Giannini Backcomb in a Bottle at £6 (quite often on 3 for 2). I've heard mixed reviews on this product but I picked it up in December and have pretty much used it every time I've washed my hair since. I just use this after blowdrying my hair dry to give it some volume in the roots and finds that it does the job! However, I have found that I've used up a lot of this product and I find it quite expensive so I'm not sure if it's something that I will repurchase. I hate the overpowering smell that comes with dry shampoo so I need to try and find an alternative to get some volume into my hair!

I have been absolutely loving the Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation that I picked up from Boots last month for £8.99 and I've started using it as my everyday foundation. I love this, it's not too heavy but still provides a good amount of coverage. I picked it up in the shade 'Shell' however I think I would go lighter if I was to purchase it again as I think it's a tiny bit too dark and it does cling to dry patches, but other than that I love it. It leaves a glow-y sort of finish and isn't shimmery like the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation which I reviewed back at the end of November. I love this foundation and want to try out the powder from the same range!

Now, a programme that I literally could not stop watching was Game of Thrones. I know I'm late to the game what with Season four about to start, but I finally sat down and watched it and I absolutely loved it. I got through 3 seasons in under 4 days and it was time well spent. If you're a fan of dramas or things like Lord of the Rings I would definitely checking out the series. I thought it was the perfect mix of drama, love, sadness and humour. I did the heathen thing of watching the series before picking up the books but I've just started reading the books (no thanks to play.com for severely messing up several of my orders) and I'm addicted, it's ridiculous. Go check it out!

My final favourite is a YouTuber who you will have heard of who goes by the name Essie Button! I started watching her about a year or two ago and regrettably stopped until recently and I'm hooked! She does her make-up perfectly and is absolutely hilarious, I love her vlogs as well as her beauty videos and she's absolutely gorgeous. If you haven't ever watched her videos, I would thoroughly recommend pressing that subscribe button!

So, those were my favourites from the past few months. What have been your favourites in the past month? Have you tried any of my favourites? Leave a comment below!

Thanks for reading,

Beth xxx

instagram: @bethssecret

twitter: @bethssecret

e-mail: beths-secret@live.co.uk

Primark Satchel Update

A few months ago you may have seen my review of the Primark Satchel (link here) and seeing as I've been using it as my go-to bag for the past few months that I should do a review of it!

So, I purchased this back in November for £9 which is a huge difference in price to the Cambridge Satchels at roughly £120 a bag. I do quite like this bag, it's comfortable to wear and carries a fair amount of stuff, the colour goes with a lot of my clothing and it hasn't completely died. Emphasis on the word "completely there." 

Most of the bag is in good nick, however the straps aren't in the best condition. The left strap completely snapped off (at a really inconvenient time, the train doors got jammed at my stop, my bag strap snapped and I had to run down the length of the train trying to find a door that worked - wasn't ideal) however with a bit of superglue, I've managed to fix it. Bear in mind that I do carry a lot of weight in this bag, I used it everyday in December for work carrying big thick hardback books and then have used it the rest of the time to carry my books and clothes in if I'm going somewhere. The right strap is completely fine and doesn't show any sign of fraying.

As you can see, the inside lining of the bag (excuse the mess and mass of train tickets) is pretty much fine. One or two scuff marks and the odd thread hanging out but it's pretty much perfect condition on the inside. As well as the inside of the bag, the actual handle on top of the bag is also in perfect condition. I rarely actually use the handle, so it would be a bit worrying if it was fraying.

Finally, the buckle that adjusts the length of the strap is starting to show signs of wear and the little metal prong bit has slightly torn the material, however I think it still has a fair amount of usage left in it before it's utterly broken.

In conclusion, I do still recommend purchasing this bag! It's cheap, the quality isn't horrendous and I've had a lot of use out of it! Yes, admittedly it is a bit battered but if you don't mind getting creative with some superglue then this bag is fully worth the £9!

Have you tried the Primark satchel? What did you think? Leave a comment below!

Thanks for reading! Beth xxx

instagram: @bethssecret

twitter: @bethssecret

e-mail: beths-secret@live.co.uk

17 Metallic Eyes Review

Another quick little review for you guys on the 17 Wild Metallic Cream Eyeshadow in Green from Boots. I found this in my local Boots shop, however I can't seem to find it online so I don't know if it has been discontinued. I bought mine in this Golden/Green sort of colour and because I bought this at the same time I bought the SEVENTEEN Phwoarr Paint and I had spent a certain amount of money on SEVENTEEN products, it meant that I got a free eyebrow kit so it's not all doom and gloom!

Pros:

- Reasonably priced at roughly the same price as the Maybelline Colour Tattoo.

- Pretty decent sized pot.

- Lovely colour, love the green/gold thing.

- Packaging is alright, however I'm not a big fan of the whole cheetah print thing.

- Easily available in lots of Boots stores.

- Application is easy, dip your finger in and swipe it over your lids, or use a brush.

Cons:

- Way too creamy. Almost a mousse like texture.

- Does not last and creases almost instantly.

- Not very pigmented on application.

- Due to the lack of staying power, it's pretty much unusable.

- If it's the same price as the Famous Colour Tattoo, why not just buy that as it's a thousand times better.

Now, I don't know whether or not it's just my particular product which is this mousse like texture and it's a fault or what, but I genuinely can't use it as it just doesn't last. It's too thin and doesn't set after any amount of time so just sits there on your lids until it rubs or melts off which is ridiculous. Thoroughly disappointed in this product and would not encourage you to go out and purchase it! Such a shame as it could be such a beautiful eyeshadow :(

Without Flash

With Flash

So sad about this product, have you tried it? Did you like it? Let me know in the comments!

Beth xxx

instagram: @bethssecret

twitter: @bethssecret

e-mail: beths-secret@live.co.uk

#2014BloggerChallenge High Street VS. High End

I'm very much a high street girl, even if I do have money for once, I shop on the high street out of habit. I think that the high street is seriously underrated and you can get some great steals, but that doesn't stop me from lusting after some high end bits and bobs. 

I've created my selection of perfect high street items - clothing and makeup, and then my high end wishlist! 

1. Revlon Nearly Naked £8.99
2. Seek Makeup I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Storm £7.99
3. Primark Rose Printed Shorts £10
4. Umberto Giannini Frizzi Rebel Without a Course Styling Spray £6
5. Sleek Lipstick True Colour in Vixen £4.99
6. New Look Gold Geo Cut Out Necklace £5.99
7. Delilah Dust Silver Sideways Deer Antler £4

1. MAC 217 Blending Brush £18
2. Cambridge Satchel The Batchel £140
3. NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Club Mix £17.50
4. Yves Saint Laurent Forever Foundation £36
5. MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo £15
6. Michael Kors Round Watch in Golden £150

I'm so in love with the Cambridge satchel and since the strap started to break on my Primark one, I've been lusting after it more and more but I just can't bring myself to spend that much on a bag (even if it's relatively cheap for a high end bag!) I'm also completely in love with the Delilah Dust necklace and I think that I'm going to go ahead and buy that soon as it's an absolute steal at only £4. As well as that, the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation shown is something that I use everyday, it's not too sheer but it leaves the skin looking fantastic, I thoroughly recommend it! I think with the Michael Kors watch I'm going to get a high street dupe, admittedly it won't be nearly as good quality as the Michael Kors but it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper!
So, those are my high street favourite and my high end lusts! I hope that enjoyed this post, leave a comment below telling me what your high street favourite or high end lust is!
Beth xxx
twitter: @bethssecret
instagram: @bethssecret
e-mail: beths-secret@live.co.uk

Date Night Essentials

As it's Valentine's Day tomorrow, I thought I should do something along the theme of the day. I'm not really one to celebrate the day and I'm currently ill and single so I plan to spend the day in my onesie watching Game of Thrones.

However, I thought that I would do a post on what I take out with me if I go out on a date. I don't tend to take too much as I don't want to be lugging around everything but the kitchen sink, but I do like to be reasonably prepared. 

I like to take a reasonably small bag that still fits everything but also has a long strap so that I don't find that it gets in my way if I'm walking. I tend to like bags that I'm able to forget if they're there or not and doesn't take up any of my hands, otherwise I get irritated. 

Anyway, the first thing I like to take is a long lasting lip colour such as the Rimmel Apocolips. It stays on the lips and isn't too glossy so it doesn't just slide off, I like to bring this with me for a quick lip top up. I prefer bolder colours to more nude colours and I always think that it looks nice. 

The next thing I bring along is a lip balm, I like this Nivea one as I find that it actually does the job and softens my lips a lot. As well as that it smells quite nice and almost vanilla like and is quite cheap so it doesn't matter if I lose it.

As well as this, I also bring along a packet of mints. I get hungry nervous so mints are perfect and this little tin is exactly the right size. 

I also like to bring a mini pack of tissues where ever I go because I always find that when I really need a tissue, there's never any around. I'm also a food spiller so they're useful for cleaning up my messy eating.

Finally, I bring my purse because strong independant woman and all.

So that's what I take out with me if I'm going on a date! What do you take with you? Leave a comment below!

Beth xxx

twitter: @bethssecret

instagram: @bethssecret

e-mail: beths-secret@live.co.uk