Imperial Leather Foamburst, reviewed here / Bad Apple Nail Varnish in Anna / Relaxing evening with a good book and a mince pie / Friday night chocolate soufflé treat / Uno, Chocolate Orange and Miggley rat / My dad’s new, beautiful Leopard Gecko – Gex

If you’d like to follow me on Instagram and see more of my photos, my username is bewitchery_.  If you’re on Instagram too, please comment on this post with your username as I’m always looking for new accounts to follow, especially fashion and beauty ones!

Naomi x

See what I mean?  The two scents I received are Uplifting Lime & Grapefruit, and (one that really suits my blog) Bewitching Blackberry & Wild Fig.

As far as appearance goes, these body washes definitely look the part.  I love the contrast of the bright colours on black, and the curved cans emphasise the luxury element.  They look fab lined up on my bathroom shelf, and the cans are practical too as the press down top is easy to use and prevents too much gel coming out, which is essential with these!

When I first saw that I’d been sent Uplifting Lime & Grapefruit, I was slightly dubious as I’m not usually a fan of citrus bath and shower products – they remind me too much of washing up liquid!  This one is actually quite nice though, as the zestiness of the lime is cut through with an earthy undertone of grapefruit, which makes for a refreshing morning shower.  I think my fiancé would like this one as the scent is quite masculine.

Bewitching Blackberry & Wild Fig is easily my favourite as it smells rich and beautiful.  I’m a sucker for sweet scents, and the Autumnal fruity fragrance of blackberry and fig has a hint of vanilla running through it that adds a touch of decadence.  This one’s perfect for a pampering evening bath, which is just what you need during these cold months.

The scent of both Foambursts also lingers on the skin for a long time after use, which is what I look for in a good body wash, so these definitely pass the test.

Foamburst is a very apt name, too.  The body wash leaves the can as a pretty coloured gel (green and purple to match the cans), but when rubbed turns into a gorgeously silky soft white foam, which feels lovely and luxurious on the skin.  You only need a small amount of gel (about the size of a £2 coin) to produce enough foam to cover most or your body, which is really impressive!  You can get 40 washes out of one can as well, which is absolutely worth the money.

The can also states that the foam is great for shaving, and though I haven’t tried it yet, I’m definitely going to be using it when I next shave my legs.  I currently use a gel to foam shaving foam which doesn’t smell that nice, so it’ll be nice to use something a bit nicer!  It’d be good for men to shave with too, I imagine.

Imperial Leather’s Foamburst Luxurious Body Washes usually retail for around £3.50, which is well worth it if you want a luxury shower product that goes a long way, but they’re currently on offer in Boots for £2.00, and on Ocado for £1.99, which is even better!

Naomi x

*These Imperial Leather Luxurious Body Washes were sent to me for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

Mog eating biscuits in her hammock / AngelEye jacket, styled here / Miggley sleeping in my dressing gown / Leicester Christmas lights switch on / Pink orchid I found in the street / Queens of the Stone Age live at the NIA, 21/11/13 / Leicester Vegan Fair / Jennifer Hope waistcoat, styled here / Making the Christmas pudding

If you’d like to follow me on Instagram and see more of my photos, my username is bewitchery_.  Please comment on this post with your usernames too as I’m always looking for new accounts to follow, especially fashion and beauty ones!

Naomi x

I received four Hard Candy items in total; Split Personality Cream Eyeshadow Duo in ‘Psycho’, Just Nails Nail Polish in ‘Mr Right’, Just Nails Matte Top Coat, and World Balmination Tinted Lip Balm in ‘Good Girl’.  I must admit, as a nail polish hoarder I was extremely tempted to only order nail products, but I thought I’d give some of the rest of the range a go too, and I’m pleased I did.

Just Nails Nail Polish in ‘Mr Right’ and Just Nails Matte Top Coat

‘Mr Right’ is a gorgeous deep blue shade with a delicate shimmer finish, that looks really elegant on the nails.  Though the brush is a bit smaller than I’d like, the polish still applies easily and evenly, and gives completely opaque coverage in two coats.  My only real issue with it is that it takes a while to dry, so I managed to smudge it whilst impatiently applying the matte top coat too early, but at least I’ve learnt for next time.  The ring that comes with the polish is a fab little bonus too.  I was half expecting it to be too small for me and not very good quality, but it’s actually nice and chunky and fits well.

I’d been looking for an affordable matte top coat for ages so choosing this one was a no brainer for me.  Unfortunately there’s no ring with it, but the product inside the bottle makes up for that.  It applies smoothly with very little streaking, dries a lot quicker than the polish, and as you’d hope, gives a matte finish.  Luckily, the formula is fairly thin too, so it doesn’t look or feel too thick.  I only applied it on my ring finger as an accent nail so you can see the difference.

At £1.99 each, Hard Candy’s nail products are a real bargain, and I’d definitely recommend them if you’re willing to wait a few extra minutes for your nails to dry!

World Balmination Lip Balm in ‘Good Girl’

Hard Candy’s World Balmination Lip Balm comes packaged in a basic twist up tube, but the packaging is really pretty, so it stands out from the abundance of blacks and silvers in my make up drawer.  I do have one little problem with the packaging, though.  For some reason, quite a lot of the product sticks out over the top of the tube, even before it has been twisted up (as you can see in the picture), so it’s hard to get the lid on without damaging the balm, unless you have a really steady hand.  Not ideal!

The first thing I noticed when I opened the balm was its scent.  It smells like a mixture of vanilla and lemon, and even tastes sweet, so if you’re a fan of scented lip products as I am, then this is definitely for you.  The balm applies nicely, and a has a creamy texture that isn’t greasy, so it feels nice on the lips and has a long-lasting moisturising effect.  I applied it this morning, and even after my Sunday lunch my lips still felt lovely!  It’s also very slightly tinted with a light peachy pink shade, and though it doesn’t add much colour to the lips, it does emphasise your natural lip colour.

At £1.99 it’s a definite thumbs up from me.

Split Personality Cream Eyeshadow Duo in ‘Psycho’

I don’t tend to wear eyeshadow that often (I’m more of a thick black eyeliner kinda girl), but when I spotted this I thought I’d give it a go as one of the shadows in the duo is, you guessed it, black!  The other is white, and both have a bit of shimmer to them.

The duo has a cream eyeshadow at either end of the stick, which sits in the screw lid that covers each applicator.   The applicators themselves are soft and spongy, and seem to be loaded on a spring, so they move and mould to the shape of your eyelid nicely, making application smooth and easy.  The two colours compliment each other well, and make for an impressive smoky eye that’s quick to do.

If these shades aren’t for you, there are plenty of other colours to choose from, and they cost £1.99 each, which is £3.00 cheaper than the RRP.

To view the full range of Hard Candy products that Xtras have to offer, visit their site here.

Naomi x

*These Hard Candy cosmetics were sent to me by Xtras for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

I’m happy to announce that George’s varnish completely lives up to the rave reviews.  The brush is narrow, but it’s fairly long and the decently-sized lid makes it easy to control the application.  The varnish applies smoothly, and gives amazing coverage even in one coat, but as always I applied two coats for a flawless finish.  As you’d expect of a quick dry varnish, it dries incredibly quickly, and a day later it is still free of any smudges, dents, chips or scratches.  It looks like it’s going to last a lot longer, too!

Here’s how it looks on the nails…

‘Boom’ is a gorgeous, bold shade that really catches the eye.  The pigmentation of the varnish is incredible, and the colour has a real depth to it.  I’ve always liked blues, but seem to be lacking in blue varnishes, so this is a great addition to my collection.

For such a budget range the quality of George’s quick dry nail varnish is very high, and if you’re a fan of nail products I recommend you try them if you can, especially as they’re currently only £1.  I’ll definitely be going back to Asda to buy more!  I spotted a lovely pink shade that I’ll be picking up next time.

Have you ever tried any varnishes from this range?  What do you think of them?

Naomi x

Jacava are a 100% British brand who are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and never test on animals.  They also boast the first 8-free polishes in the world (yes, that’s right, EIGHT-free), as they don’t contain Formaldehyde, Camphor, Toluene, DBP, Cellophane, Phthalates, Parabens or animal ingredients.  So, right from word go, they’re a brand I’m happy to support, and luckily their products match up to their good name!

Top Coat with UV Inhibitors and Blueberry Muffin

Jacava’s packaging is simple but sleek, and the long, slim lids that their polishes come with are easy to grip which makes application effortless.

The polish itself has a silky smooth formula which gives surprisingly opaque coverage in one coat, but I like to apply two coats for a bolder, more intense colour.  Perhaps the most stand-out aspect of Jacava’s polishes for me is how quickly it dries.  It’s literally dry to the touch within a minute, and after five minutes it’s good to go.  I even got my two pet rats out to play just after painting my nails, and they didn’t smudge at all.  Just one word of advice.  In my experience the top coat isn’t suitable as a base coat, and will make the polish peel off extremely easily.  It stays put for a long time without a base coat, though, and looks gorgeously glossy with the top coat for an all round perfect manicure.  Jacava’s website also states that the top coat’s UV Inhibitors keep white nail polish white for longer, which is a nice feature that I’ve never seen before, so worth investing in if you regularly wear pale shades.

Blueberry Muffin has a lovely creme finish, but is more of a pinky purple than a blue purple.  Sort of a soft and dusky dark lilac.  It’s an absolutely beautiful shade which reminds me of spring flowers and lightning skies all at once.  I love it.

Click image for a closer look!

Jacava’s range features eighteen beautiful shades and several different finishes, including creme, metallic, shimmer and glitter.  Every polish contains 22-carat gold for a nourishing, luxurious formula, and they cost just £14.50 each.  I personally have my eye on Blackberry Fool, Marrakesh Nights, Midnight’s Secrets and Chillax!  To view the full Jacava range click here, or find them on Feel Unique.

Which shade do you like best?

Naomi x

*These two nail polishes were sent to me by Jacava London for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

But before all that, I need a little break, so on Tuesday my partner and I will be heading to Dublin for a few days. Seeing as I spent pretty much all summer cooped up inside, I can’t wait to get out and about doing stuff. We have quite a few things we want to do and see whilst we there, and I’ll be taking my camera, so expect to see a LOT of photos upon my return!

Have a great week everyone,

Naomi x

Going by aesthetics, this primer isn’t especially exciting.  Just a simple grey tube with a wide nozzle which, quite frankly, makes quite a bit of mess as it lets out far more product than you actually need.  But as they say, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and what’s inside this IS special.

Almost every other primer I’ve encountered has had a heavy, creamy consistency, so I was quite surprised to find that this one is a clear, lightweight gel.  At first I was a little put off as I expected it to be a bit greasy, like hair gel, but a little goes a long way and it actually glides on perfectly and forms a silky finish which is the perfect base for make up.  My skin always feels so soft and smooth when I’m wearing this, which is lovely, but it does leave an odd residue on your hands after application which needs washing off.

In my experience, both liquid and powder foundations apply easily over the top of this primer to create an even, flawless finish, and quite impressively one application keeps your make up in place all day, which for me is the sign of a very good primer!  Furthermore, I’ve been using this for over two weeks now and have had no sensitivity to it whatsoever, so this is a great little product for allergy prone skin (although check the ingredients first, obviously!)

Make up over primer.

Without a doubt, FashionistA’s Flawless Primer is worth every penny I paid for it, and I’ll definitely be stocking up before it sells out.  It is available online from MUA here, and costs £3 for 30ml.

Will you be trying it?

Naomi x

MyChelle’s products are organised into five steps which, when combined, create the perfect skin care routine – you just have to pick the right products for your skin type!  Step 1 is cleansers, Step 2 masks, peels and scrubs, Step 3 serums, Step 4 mists, and finally, Step 5 creams.  The three products I received, and have now been using for a while, are their Fruit Enzyme Cleanser* from Step 1, Pumpkin Renew Cream* from Step 5, and Fabulous Eye Cream*, also from Step 5.  I haven’t tried any products from Step 2, 3 or 4 so cannot comment on how well the routine works as a whole, so I will share my experience of each product individually.

Fruit Enzyme Cleanser – 61ml – £8.50

MyChelle say: Gentle deep cleanser uncovers remarkably fresh, smooth skin. A special blend of natural multi-fruit Alpha-Hydroxy Acids unclog and purify pores, and increase cellular turnover for a more youthfully refined look. Strengthening and antioxidant Turmeric keeps skin calm and eases signs of irritation, while Fructooligosaccharides from sugar promote and protect skin’s health.

I say: The Fruit Enzyme Cleanser comes in a squeezy bottle with a mess-free click lid, which makes it really easy to control how much of the cleanser you use, meaning there’s no waste.  MyChelle recommend using a dime-size amount to cover the whole face, which in English money is about the same size as a five pence coin.  In my experience that is enough for a good cleanse, so even this 61ml bottle will last a good while.

The cleanser contains a mixture of natural oils and plant extracts, but the one that dominates is orange, so it has a gorgeous sweet orange scent, which happens to be one of my favourite toiletry scents.  It also has a light gel consistency which massages in like a dream, and doesn’t feel greasy at all.  The gel washes off easily with warm water and leaves the skin feeling soft, fresh and incredibly clean, without that tightness you sometimes get from facial cleansers.  I’ve noticed my face has looked a lot clearer since I started using this cleanser and I’ve had far fewer breakouts which is brilliant.

Pumpkin Renew Cream – 35ml – £21.00

MyChelle say: A lightweight, hydrating formula blends antioxidant-rich Pumpkin Seed Oil with reparative Peptides to protect cellular health and maintain hydration. Astaxanthin, from Micro-Algae, neutralizes free radicals while reducing moisture loss. EGF Peptides promote cellular renewal and collagen production. Shea Butter and Vitamin E replenish skin’s lipid barrier to prevent dehydration.

I say: MyChelle’s Pumpkin Renew Cream is not orange in colour as you’d expect, but a pale minty green.  It smells absolutely beautiful – fresh, but with a sweet and spicy note of nutmeg which really stands out.  The formula is light, and in the pot looks a little bit oily which, I’ll admit, worried me slightly at first, but I was relieved to find that it doesn’t leave behind any greasiness on the skin.  Rather, it is absorbed nicely and is incredibly moisturising and softening, and also has a calming, soothing effect on tired or angry skin.

MyChelle’s Pumpkin Renew Cream is suitable for all skin types, including combination skin like mine, and can be used as a day or night cream, so it’s a great little all-rounder.  I’ve been using my pot in the morning as a base for my make up, and it hydrates dry patches and evens out oily patches for a perfect finish.

Fabulous Eye Cream – 15ml – £19.00

MyChelle say: Advanced formula nourishes the delicate eye area while minimizing the look of fine lines. Revolutionary Edelweiss Plant Stem Cells inhibit collagen breakdown and are clinically proven to reduce wrinkle depth by 15% after only twenty days of use. Hyaluronic acid binds moisture within the skin, smoothing and firming the eye area.

I say: Once again, MyChelle’s packaging prevails with this cream and the easy squeeze tube and narrow nozzle make it really easy to control how much cream you use, and you really only need a little bit of this to cover the whole eye area.  The cream itself, like the Pumpkin Renew Cream, is non-greasy and easily absorbed, and gentle enough for the eye area, causing no irritation.  The Fabulous Eye Cream smells different to the other two products (I love how they all have a different scent!), with a delicately sweet, almost floral aroma with hints of coconut, lavender and orange.

Being only 23, I don’t yet have many wrinkles around my eyes, but I’ve been using this almost as a preventative, and it’s doing a great job so far.  After application my eye area feels smooth and firm, without being uncomfortable, and it’s definitely been helping to reduce my morning eye puffiness!

Overall, I’d definitely recommend MyChelle’s products and I’d love to fill the gaps in my routine with more of their offerings.  My skin is really quite sensitive and I often have allergic to reactions to facial cleansers and moisturisers, but I haven’t had any such reaction to MyChelle.  Definitely something to remember if you too suffer from sensitive skin!

You can view MyChelle’s full range here.

My parcel from MyChelle also contained two packets of Pur chewing gum, and since I am a gum addict it was a nice little surprise to receive these.  The gum comes in two flavours – Peppermint and Wintergreen, and is aspartame and sugar-free, so it contains no nasties.  It’s also suitable for vegans, diabetics and those who are gluten and lactose intolerant, so it’s a really inclusive product.  The gum itself has a nice, powerful flavour and tastes and chews just like any other gum, so it doesn’t suffer in that respect, but the flavour doesn’t last as long as I’d like.  Still, for a natural product that pretty much anyone can have, it’s impressive.

Naomi x

*These products were sent to me by MyChelle Dermaceuticals for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

The instructions on the bottle are simple – Use your normal shower product and rinse off, apply the In-Shower Body Moisturiser while still in the shower, rinse off, dry yourself, get dressed and go.  What could possibly go wrong?  As it happens, quite a lot.

NIVEA’s In-Shower Body Moisturiser has a creamy, smooth consistency, massages in nicely and has that typical, fresh NIVEA scent, but that’s where the positives end.  After applying the skin conditioner I rinsed and rinsed, but the moisturiser left a thick, greasy coating on my skin that just wouldn’t budge.  Even after drying myself the residue remained and it felt sticky.  I even tried scraping it with my finger nail and a gloopy, white mess gathered behind it, eurgh!  After leaving such a thick layer on my skin I at least expected the In-Shower Moisturiser to make my dry skin feel softer…  Nope!  I could still feel the dry patches through the grease, which is not a nice feeling.

Overall, I’m disappointed with NIVEA’s In-Shower Body Moisturiser.  I bought my bottle half-price from Superdrug a couple of months ago, but full-price this 400ml bottle costs £5.09, which would be better spent on a good quality, normal moisturiser.  I still use it every now and then if I’m in a real hurry, but I’ve learnt my lesson and I’d much rather take those extra few minutes to moisturise properly, even if it nearly makes me late for the bus!

Have you tried this product?  What do you think of it?

Naomi x