Hello all, back for another beauty review, and this one is very in-keeping with Spring!

I got this in a set at Christmas actually and it's a really cute size, perfect for taking on holiday, which I have a lot of coming up!

It smells lovely, a very similar scent to the body lotion which you can read about here. It's part of the Peachy Keen range so it smells lovely and fruity and fresh, which is all you could want for Spring.

It has little exfoliating beads which are great for buffing and removing dead skin. As a big fan of fake tan as well, it's good to have a little product like this to help prep for a spray tan and help maintain a great, smooth looking glow.

This product isn't too expensive, and if you fancy treating yourself, then this is a lovely idea. I would use this product maybe twice a week, mostly because I have really dry skin, so it really helps keep my skin feeling smooth. It's not too rough on the skin either which is a key thing for me as sometimes it feels like you're rubbing a cheese grater over yourself (horrid image, sorry!) with some exfoliators!

Let me know if any of you have used this and tell me what you think!

Speak soon

Hello my lovelies,

Sorry, I've been rather busy for the past week so haven't been very active on here, but thought I'd write a little post for you on this gloomy Saturday.

Now this fake tan product I have been using for years, it is the first proper fake tan that I really discovered and started using, I think I was about 14 when I first used it. Of course I probably suffered the accidental orangeness that everyone goes through, but to be honest I still occasionally suffer that!

This product is great for students because of how cheap it is, I think it's usually about £3.99 but I'm pretty certain I've picked it up for less before. That is a seriously good price compared to some of its competitors.

I've honestly had my ups and downs with this products. I used it all the time for about four years and it was fool proof, either that or I just hadn't discovered any other kinds. I then stopped using it because I found that it peeled off and faded rather patchy especially in the elbow creases (is that what we call them?). So after that I started using other products. I did however about two years ago go back to using this and found that it didn't go so patchy anymore, so whether my skin's condition has improved or the formula has. It does still sometimes so a bit patchy when fading but I think that is somewhat unavoidable with any fake tan.

The colour is great and the main reason I've stuck by this product it due to it's really dark result. I think St Moriz does give the darkest colour, which is great if you want a super bronzed glow. It's also not orangey which is fab. Compared to its cousin product shall we say, St Tropez, I think for the money it does a better job of tanning.

The smell is not great, in fact this seems to be one of the only tanning products I've tried where there isn't really a nicer smell attempting to cover up the fake tan smell. This, to me, purely smells of fake tan really. However this doesn't really bother me because you are going to get that either way, it is inevitable really. So this isn't necessarily a negative point, it's just to be expected.

It's easy to apply and has, like the St Tropez, the green tint to the mousse with I think adds the more brown colour rather than orange. It dries relatively quickly too but I would suggest air drying for a bit before applying clothes.

Overall I would recommend this product, mostly for students. It is so cheap and will not break the bank any time soon. It also lasts a really long time, you could get at least ten applications out of one bottle I'd say, which is fantastic! If you don't mind the smell of fake tan, this could be a life saver for anyone who wants a quick tan that is a lovely dark rich colour.

Speak soon

Speak soon

Hello my lovelies,

So, as promised I am finally back with a much awaited beauty review. Seeing as Christmas was just a few weeks ago, I of course have a lot of wonderful gifts to blog about and I am just getting round to doing so.

So this product I got from amazon. Great delivery and came within a few days. The product package included the Julienne eyelash & brow permanent colour, Julienne eyelash & brow activator, eyelash tinting brush and a glass dish for mixing. There was also a mascara looking brush that was included in the permanent colour box!

    I was rather sceptical of this product because I thought 'if you can do it at home, why does anyone bother going to a salon?'. So I thought it'd either have an average result or nothing would happen at all. WRONG. This product has changed everything.
    You can use it so many times as well which will probably save me hundreds of pounds in the long run! This tint you can use for both eyelashes and brows. I chose the dark brown shade. At a salon I'd go for blue black for my eyelashes, so I was worried the colour wouldn't be as good, but it came out excellently.
   You leave the product on for as long as you want depending on the desired shade- of course do not leave it on for too long, and READ ALL THE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS before use!
    The thing I was worried about the most was how I'd use it on myself. Of course in a salon you sit with your eyes closed with cold cotton pads over your eyes. I was also worried about getting it inside my eyes.
     Basically how I did it was I applied it using the mascara brush, and put it on carefully as if it were a mascara, being sure not to get any in my eyes. If any gets in your eyes wash it out immediately- it'll sting a bit! I then used the brush to coat the places I couldn't get too, again being careful. I then just waited, I didn't need to keep my eyes closed- just continued using my eyes as normal (haha).
    Then after about 10- 15 minutes I used a wet cotton pad to remove the tint, being sure to close my eyes as I did it. Eyebrows are much easier of course, you just wipe!

Then all done. Ah yes I forgot to mention, you may want to put Vaseline in places you don't want the tint to get on, for example you eyelids!

All done, and now you have saved yourselves so much money!!!

I was fortunate enough to receive my first ever book to review on A Little Bit Of Laura the other day which in itself is an achievement for me. I could have asked for the book as a kindle copy however I wanted to take photos of the book so you all could have a look at it, and so the lovely author Dane Cobain sent me a paper back copy.

Now the first thing I can say about this book is the cover. It has a very eerie design, with tombstones and blood like splatters but in an abstract pattern that doesn't reveal too much about the story inside. I had read the blurb before receiving the book and I was thrilled because it sounded right up my street. As a writer myself I am constantly learning from books about genre and themes and styles. I personally love reading and writing thrillers and horrors and this book seemed like the perfect match. It also screamed 'Supernatural' at me when first reading if any of you have ever watched it.

Another thing to point out is that the book is a great length. I may only be a student, but students get busy too and I for one do not have enough time on my hands to read a book that could be used as a door stop. This book is about 130 pages long (give or take) which, if you're a keen reader, could take you less than a day to read easily. If you're like me and like to take your time  then it is great to split up over several days. The chapters are extremely short which to me is great because you feel accomplished after each one passes, it also keeps you on edge, keen to read on.

The plot follows several characters of whom all link to each other as the book continues. Father Montgomery is one of our main characters and is a priest who has escaped his past. We go back and forth between present day and past to witness his secrets. However the main theme of this book is angels. That's right. Now you may expect that this means the book is really religious but it by no means is. These angels are 'androgynous' and are punishing people for their sins. Gradually the world starts to notice that these angel appearances are causing many people to disappear. Our main characters must discover the truth behind it.

As the tension in the book built, I was excited to see where it would go and how the angels would be defeated. Of course we tend to think of angels as being good however there is something quite evil about these ones and it makes for a great story with an interesting twist. Great writing, and great plots- what more culd you ask for?

Without giving away the ending, I enjoyed this book very much. I've never really read anything quite like this and so stylistically it was a new experience. I loved that it was easy to read and quite a short book, because it made it all the more relaxing to read. Sometimes if you have a book that weighs more than yourself, all you can think about is 'How am I going to get through this?'. But this was fantastic because I could read a bit each night and not have too much pressure to rush through it.

A great story from Dane Cobain, something I would reccommend, especially for anyone looking for a book to read in a short period of time- perhaps a holiday read? Thank you to Dane Cobain for sending me this book, I will be passing it on to my brother and friend next, as I think they will enjoy it as much as I did.

I've been really envious of the craze of having 'gel nails' at the moment. Mainly because getting my nails done, and by this I mean not acrylics, seems pointless due to the fact I have long nails and therefore don't need falses, and I can simply do my own nails. I know it's not about that, it's more of a pamper thing, but It's never really crossed my mind to spend money on it. Anyway, gel nails always look lovely and so I felt like treating myself because of the success of one of my recent articles, and so I went shopping in search of a new nail vanish- which is always exciting for some reason.

This is what I bought:

Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint by Barry M - Pomegranate

This nails vanish gives the shine that you might get with a gel nail vanish. No, it is not actually a gel vanish, but it gives the impression of gel with its glossy finish and easy application. When using I simply applied one coat which, if you're in a hurry, is perfect because unlike some nail vanishes one coat actually looks full and okay on its own. However I put on a second coat for a thicker, more bold nail look. The shine is definitely more noticeable and my nails do look lovely. I didn't even realise the colour was called pomegranate and when I found this out it made me like it even more. It's such a lovely summery pink and it makes me feel like eating some fruit or a berry ice lolly- yum! Although don't eat the vanish- not a good idea, despite how lovely it looks! It does still chip however, but this is to be expected and it really does depend on how active you are and how practical you are, so this is not a deal breaker. Because it dries really quickly, applying another quick coat over the chips is not a problem. This nail vanish is easy to use and lovely to look at. An excellent purchase and one I'd recommend for those girls out there, like me, who don't have time (or money) to go out and get their nails done!

Hello lovelies,

So many apologies for my absence over the past few days. I promised I'd be posting and uploading a vlog however something occurred that kind of hindered that. My laptop broke. And why did it break? Well because stupid over here dropped a whole mug of hot tea over it. Well over my lap, but then as I got up it went onto my poor, poor laptop. Luckily I was thinking about getting a new laptop anyway, but still ouch. So I am sorry for not being very active.

I also wanted to take this chance to let you all know that I am now writing articles as frequently as I can on a website called The News Hub, so if you haven't heard about it, then please check it out, and look for my articles and have a read. I'd love to hear from you all and tell me your opinions!

I will try my best to make up for my absence. I have done lovely things this Easter break so I'll try and blog about them.

Also a side note to my previous review on Colour b4- you MUST rinse it for the time said- I clearly didn't and my brunette hair has reappeared. Yes it got darker/the colour came back. So now I'll have to do it again.

Just another case of moi being an idiot I suppose.

Ta ta for now!

X

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm very into skin care at the moment. My skin is not good and can be dry and oily and flakey and just, well not nice. I've been experimenting with 4 different products and today I shall review one of them...

• This product smells really fresh, sort of like cucumber which is of course such a delicate and lovely sent to have, especially for facial products. 
• It contains little gritty blue balls which help unclog your pores, and it's supposed to prevent blackheads. I've been using this product for just over a week now and my skin feels super soft and squeaky clean. My blackheads do look minimised as well and I'm hoping this will continue to clear my pores.

Hello Lovelies,

I have very strange skin. It's a combination of oily and dry. Not two things that you would usually put together, but it happens. I usually get a very oily forehead yet the skin that is oily is dry and flakey. This causes a problem with foundation. Often I find my foundation either dries and comes off or runs down into my eyebrows- orange eyebrows aren't good, who knew!?

So I've really wanted to find a good solution. At the moment I've been dedicated to making my skin healthier, and I'll reveal my secret in a later post. So, because of this I don't want to undo the good by using really thick foundations that cause break outs. What I really needed was something light and healthy. Here's what I bought:

So these two products I am thrilled with, but the best thing to do is to go out and simply see what works best for you and your skin type as everyone is different. I would highly recommend these products however!

Much Love

Laura X

I walked through the entrance of Portsmouth's Kings Theatre with an adrenaline and thirst for the entertainment that was set to fulfil me that evening. There were steep steps just as you entered, and a lady stood waving programs above her head. I fumbled for my purse and treated myself to a program which only cost me £4. Our seats were in the dress circle. As we walked further into the theatre I was taken aback by its beauty.

Our seats were velvet red and we were lucky enough to get seats right in the centre and on the front row of the dress circle. It was the perfect view. Now inside I was astonished at how wonderful it all looked. The curtains were already drawn back and on the stage were a few wooden chairs and a woven basket. The simplicity had me captivated before it had even begun. The rustling of sweet wrappers and the gentle mumbling of the busy audience gave me a nostalgic feeling from visiting the theatre as a child. I couldn't wait for it to start.





At 7:30pm sharp the lights went down. It began.

The Woman in Black, Susan Hill,  was everything you could look for in a good dramatic play. It had humour, shocks, surprises, and drama. And it definitely wasn't short of giving the audience a good scare when a sudden ghostly scream filled the auditorium.

The acting was sensational, Malcolm James and Matt Connor gave outstanding, believable performances of Arthur Kipps and The Actor. Having only seen the film of The Woman In Black, it was fantastic to witness the play and compare their differences. The talent that was displayed by these two actors was blatant when both kept swapping roles and taking on new ones. Not once did the play become confusing or less realistic. I was completely unaware that James and Connor would be the only two actors in the play- besides the mysterious Woman in Black herself! And despite having no other actors to work off, the pair did an excellent job and had me memorized in the wonder that was the theatre that night.

The atmosphere was greatly created by sound, much like a horror film. To portray scene changes, a simple background noise would fill the stage and the lighting represented the mood. This was pulled of easily, and had the whole audience engaged.

My experience was one of the best. I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Woman in Black and would recommend it to all who aren't too scared. An outstanding play, outstanding performances, and an outstanding night!

As I've previously mentioned, I have been lucky enough to receive some lovely little samples from Younique Make-up! How exciting! So in today's blog I will be reviewing some of their face products!

First of all I cleansed my face using Younique's Awake Facial Cleanser. To use this you get a little on your hands and add water to create a good lather. It lathered up really well and when I applied it to my face it was lovely and soft and didn't scratch or irritate my skin, like some other cleansers, which can be quite harsh on the skin, especially to those with sensitive skin. After rinsing and patting my face dry with a towel, I noticed my skin felt fresh and awake. I often suffer from fatigue, but this cleanser made my skin feel alive and left it feeling nourished and soft! I have continued to use this cleanser since my first try and have definitely noticed a difference. My skin looks naturally better when I wake up and it seems to have corrected blemishes and blotchy skin! Fantastic!

Next up from Younique was their Brilliant Daily Moisturizing Gel. To look at, it is a clear cream with little white gel balls. To apply I took a small amount and dotted it in all the appropriate places: chin, cheeks and t-zone. It felt really great on my skin and rubbed in well and easily. It had the right mix of silkiness and creaminess that left my skin feeling radiant without being oily. My skin is always a bit crazy to deal with as it's either really dry or really oily! I can never win! And I often think it could be down to the products I use. I loved this product because it met me in the middle. It gave my dry skin the boost it needed but also kept excess oils at bay, but left me with a healthy looking, natural glow. I have felt more confident since using this moisturiser, and you never know maybe soon I'll be brave enough to go bare faced!



Next I used Younique's Moodstruck Glorious Face and Eye Primer. This was probably my favourite product. I've never felt my skin feel so smooth! I applied small amounts to every area of my face that needed it. This Primer not only minimised my pores but also made my face feel ready for make up! It also seemed to correct my skin tone where blotchy. I was thrilled by the results of this product! It was the perfect start to my make up regime and I would definitely buy this product!


Overall, the face products I sampled were fantastic, and I would highly recommend them for women who want a fresh, awake feeling added to their daily make-up routine. If you, like me, are fed up of thick heavy moisturisers and scratchy cleansers, then Younique's facial products may just be the answer to your prayers!!

Stay tuned for my next Younique blog post, where I will be reviewing Younique's  BB Flawless Complexion Enhancer!

Products photographed in this blog post have been put in sample pots not their actual pots!

If you have enjoyed my review, make sure to 'google+1' it and share!!
If you have liked what you have seen on this blog post and would like to purchase some products, follow the link below to Younique's website!

https://www.youniqueproducts.com/

So recently my hair has been feeling a little sorrowful. I swear sometimes I can hear it weep a little!
'Help me Laura, save us!' my hair cries to me! And help it I shall. I've been desperate to find news ways of bringing life and thick, fullness back to my hair, and it often feels dry and brittle with plenty of split ends. It seems that even when you don't use heat or put you hair in crazy styles, split ends still occur.

So I recently was given the opportunity to receive some make up from Younique. Younique is a fabulous make up brand that is yet to take off in England. I feel so privileged to be one of the first to try out these lovely products!
https://www.youniqueproducts.com/

I know from personal experience that finding the right make up brand can be a tricky and rather tedious task at times. Sometimes a product from one brand works and another doesn't and we end up with a wide range of products from various brands. So when I was contacted by one of Younique's presenters, I was extremely excited to try out some great new make up!

First of all I would like to say, that a lot of the make up reviews I have previously done have been more aimed towards students and budgeting, however I feel as though Younique products are aimed more at people who perhaps earn money or like to spend a little more money, as the products are a bit more pricey- perhaps a lovely gift or when you fancy treating yourself- Younique is perfect for when you fancy splurging a little! I think it is also important to remember that sometimes it is worth spending a little more money on a product that you'll wear all the time and gives you fantastic results. I know that I have often opted for the cheaper make ups rather than choosing a more pricey one, and have been disappointed with its poor results. When I have spent more on make up it has always given me better results and I never feel as though it is money wasted.

As I was kindly given a lot of samples, I figured the best way to do this review well, would be to do it in separate parts. So Part 1 will be on skin products! And I'll be uploading that very soon so stay tuned!!