Winter Saviours

Bonjour my lovelies!

I'm very sorry about my lack of posts but I have been super busy and thus super tired! I have returned and I have some winter saviours for you all!

It's very chilly, windy and rainy here in South West England (My thoughts go out to those hideously flooded) and so on my travels have come up with a list of things to keep your hair, skin, lips and hands feeling beautiful in these last few grey months before spring has sprung!

Lips: Bubblegum Lip Scrub and Lip Service Lip Balm by Lush
This sugar scrub buffs all the horrid dry flaky skin away, and tastes super sweet! Yummy. You're not meant to you know, eat it from the jar but you can lick it off after scrubbing away so this is how I know it tastes nice! The balm smells and tastes a little like chocolate orange, and something about the balm's consistency and shine leaves a super flattering finish on your lips. Well worth a purchase at the till in Lush whilst purchasing all your bath bombs!

 Body: Clean Girls Body Wash and The Daily Smooth Body Butter by Soap and Glory
THIS SMELLS LIKE HEAVEN. I love the smell so much I have even purchased the 'Scrub 'em and Leave 'em' body scrub and the 'Mist You Madly' body spray which have the same fragrance. A little obsessive, I know but the scent does last if you use it this way. These products are super hydrating and leave you smelling and feeling like a peachy little cherub, and also feeling like you have quite frankly kicked the damp cold weather in the arse.

Face: Moisture Match Moisturiser for Very Dry Skin by Garnier 
I love this whole range of moisturisers, they are meant to be tailor made for your skin's needs and they're pretty good at it. I have also used the one that mattifies your skin but I prefer this one as it easily deals with the dry patches on my face I get - especially during winter -  it doesn't feel too heavy and smells like summer. I thoroughly recommend this range if you're looking for a new face cream.

Hands: Carex Moisturising Hand Gel and Hand Food by Soap and Glory
I use these products all year round. Because of the nature of my work I always carry hand gel, but I found that most aggravate my chronically dry hands so I tried the moisturising one and it's great. It doesn't fully moisturise my hands but it doesn't dry them out either and has a really lovely fragrance, as well as killing bacteria. I always always always carry Hand Food too. It's the best hand cream out there and it lasts. The formula is thick but it absorbs quickly, and it keeps your hands lovely and soft long after you have applied it. BUY IT, IT'S BRILLIANT!

Hair: Aussie's Anti-Frizz Conditioning Milk and Conditioning Oil Spray by Dove
I have already reviewed the Dove spray in an earlier post of Recent Favourites, but I just love it. It leaves your hair super soft and smelling gorgeous. A brilliant product. The Aussie Conditioning Milk also smells great and is a slightly more heavy duty product for when hair can go a little crazy and dry in the horrible weather, just pop it in towel dried hair and TA DAH! Shiny beautifully soft hair. Lovely.

Well my lovelies, I hope you enjoyed this post, don't forget to share with me your winter saviours!! Have you tried any of these? What did you think?

Love GG xx

My Big Decision: Update!

OH SWEET LORD I LOVE BREAD.

You may remember my post just before Christmas, pledging to all you internet lovelies that I would lose weight in order to be happier, healthier and more confident.

It's going okay. It's going fine. It's happening. I have given up bread, become more mindful of what I am eating, and accepted the fact that I am going to have some days where I fail. Some days I get home from work, stressed about various things and eat toast. Sometimes I delve into the cupboard and pull out Waitrose Essential Choc Chip Digestives and happily tuck in. And sometimes I refuse the second helping and the biscuits at work and feel pleased with myself.

However, yesterday I went shopping, and in Topshop I caught my reflection in one of those massive mirrors they have. And I felt unhappy and horrible, which took me by surprise because when I got dressed that morning and chose my black leather (kind of muted leather-look matte) jeans, green topshop tee and statement necklace I felt good. I felt like I looked nice. But I looked hideous. In my head I saw a huge girl who shouldn't even be in Topshop. I didn't buy any clothes yesterday apart from a jumper which I bought a size too big as I felt big (It's a nice jumper though), and I didn't feel confident to pick out items that thrown together would create a nice outfit.

When I started this post, I meant for it to be a fun update, something light. But the truth is making lifestyle choices is difficult and you will get these down days.

On the plus side, my jeans yesterday were falling down A LOT, and I feel fitter. When I train for dance it's easier and a couple of people have commented that I look as though I have lost weight. But I don't feel like I have. I really need to up my exercise, and I have been totally inspired by Sprinkle Of Glitter's hashtag on insta and her blog GlitterGetsFitter. She takes brisk walks everyday, which I think would suit me more than running, as dancing really gets you used to short, frequent bursts of intense activity rather than drawn out steady cardio that requires constant endurance.

Have you tried to change your lifestyle to get healthier? What did you do to make it easier?

I'm sorry about the depressing posts, I think it's the rain and the lack of socialising recently, but I definitely want my blog to be totally honest.

Be Happy!
GG xx

Well Behaved Hair.

Recent Favourites

Bonjour!

Been very quiet again - sorry about that! But no worries - I have a shiny new blog post for you of all my recent favourite products…just in time for payday!


1) Revlon Nail Enamel in Scandalous (761)
This is a really pretty and dramatic shade I bought in October, having had the purple glitter catch my magpie eye! It goes on beautifully evenly and dries super fast, and the glitter goes on with every stroke. A lovely nail polish!

2) Benefit Porefessional Agent Zero Shine

This was a shaky start, but I have grown to love it. I know it's a recent release from my favourite cosmetic brand of all time but I do really love it. Having waited eons for Benefit to release something that is specifically anti-shine (See my last post on matte skin!) I snapped this up straight away. Putting it over make up a few hours after you've applied it is not a good idea - it highlighted where my foundation had settled on dry patches and rubbed away slightly - but having applied it as my normal face powder over fresh foundation, it gave my skin a flawlessly matte and soft finish. Yet ANOTHER must-have from Benefit…THEY CAN DO NO WRONG!

3) Seventeen Backlash Mascara

I have raved about this mascara to anyone who would listen. This builds up to an amazing volumised, lengthening and blackest black lash look, making your lashes look so fanned out and big, it leaves people wondering whether they're real (People ask me on average 3 times a day.). It's a brilliant mascara…go and buy it now! And check out the rest of Seventeen's range, I use so many products of theirs now and they're all pretty damn good.

4) Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in Shade 107 

Burgundy. Burgundy everything. I must have it. I bought this lipstick a while back and it's fabulous. The colour, the matte finish, the sleek red and black packaging, all of it is perfect. I use this both everyday and in the evening, and always feel confident wearing it. A great choice if you want to embrace the new burgundy/berry dark lip trends.

5) Valentina Acqua Floreale EDT by Valentino

I love my classic, feminine scents, and on a recent trip to Dublin I made this purchase rather hastily in Manchester Airport's duty free. I was searching for something new and different from my usual Dior and Chanel purchases, and this smells gorgeous. Subtle enough for day but luxe enough for night, it literally smells like the beauty floor in every department store you've ever been in, except nicer. The bottle is also beautiful and it lasts all day. A new firm favourite - worth a try if you like feminine classic fragrance.

6) Groovy Kind-A Love Make Up Kit - Benefit
I received this (extraordinarily gratefully) as a Christmas gift, as luckily my family know of and embrace my clinical obsession with Benefit. The kit is fabulous, containing miniatures of my favourite everyday products (POREfessional Primer, Benetint, Dandelion Box-O-Powder and They're Real Mascara) and also gave me an opportunity to try new ones like the eyeshadows, which are highly pigmented and infinitely blend-able, and the sparkly highlighter 'Gimme Fever', which is long-lasting and flattering. I think this is only available at Christmas time, but all the kits are worth the investment with benefit as it gives you chance to try lots of different things at one price before splashing out on the full sized versions. SO worth it though.

7) Dove Hair Therapy Leave In Conditioning Spray 

A while back I had hideously frizzy dry hair, and after a small personal epiphany that hair oils do not make thin hair greasy (Thank my hairdresser and her liberal use of Moroccan Oil), I purchased this as part of a 3 For 2 deal with some deep conditioning Shampoo and Conditioner (What I actually went in for). I am now on my third bottle of this stuff. I spray it in towel dried hair and I'm left with smooth and manageable locks which smell like HEAVEN. Mmmmm. I have a feeling this will work wonders on every hair type, hair oils are really really worth a go. 

Well done for making it to the end if you did!! On tuesday I am off shopping with Abbie from kittensintophats.blogspot.com so no doubt I'll have purchased more - I could do a blog haul for you!

What products are you loving at the moment? What left you disappointed? Have you used anything in my lovely little list?

Have a good week!
GG xx

A Very Big Decision

Bit of a different blog post this evening.

I love this time of year, I love Christmas. I love the decorations, the gifts for loved ones, every little national and family tradition that you absolutely must do (Watching Dr Who, drinking Buck's Fizz and not even THINKING about opening a 'main' present until after dinner) and of course the SPARKLE. However, there is also vast amounts of beautiful, indulgent, luxurious and hideously calorific food. As always, with Christmas also comes the inevitable; parties, endless Facebook and Insta selfies, and most shops brandishing their latest and greatest (and tightest) party wear.

Now I am curvy. I am a bit of a chub. I have curves that Nigella would look at and go;
'Now there are some hips and boobs'.
I am also seemingly outgoing, confident, loud and I like to think witty.
This is not entirely the case, however.

I constantly feel crap about the way I look. This is not news to around 85-90% of people these days, low self esteem and body hating are the norm, but I am fed up now. Aside from blogging and being a crazy cat lady I also do a lot of performance and dance. This surprises people. They look at me and think, 'Uh huh, course you do. Zumba's not dancing love, and neither is the YMCA at your second cousin's wedding'. Actually, I am a hip hop, ballroom, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre and street dancer. And I hate walking into that studio three times a week and having to look at my horrible body in wall to wall mirrors next to girls who, despite being my oldest and dearest friends and some of the kindest and funniest people you will ever meet, practically disappear when they stand side on to the mirrors. And I hate having to prove people wrong. Why should they presume that because my dress size is double figures I look like one of those Disney pink elephants when music is played?

Let's get this clear I am not the biggest woman you'll ever see. I am not unfit, I am incredibly strong and I do have a kind of vaguely hourglass 1950's pin up figure, but I am not happy. I look at myself and see a blob. Much like the secretary off of Monsters Inc.

So my dearest internetty Chumlas, I have made a decision. After I have consumed most probably a goose and a turkey, 56 loaves of bread, 5kg of potatoes in various forms, 30 gallons of wine, 78 boxes of Ferraro Roches, 3 boxes of the most delightful truffles called Monty Bojangles Abbie and I found in Waitrose the other day, anything with the word Cadbury written on it and enough pringles to last me until Christmas 2023, I will be losing weight. And by blogging about it, I see it as a commitment to actually do it. I cannae lie to you, can I? I will be hungry and moody and annoyed and tired and hungry and upset and hungry and exhausted and hungry - but I have to do it. My goal is to walk into a room of all of my friends far away at various Uni's across the country and for them to not believe I am the same person that they left in deepest darkest Dorset.

I plan to run, and swim, and go to the gym, and make my lovely but scary-ass South African/Portugese dance trainer motivate me. And by next christmas, I want to be slipping into a little Bodycon number with a statement necklace and strutting into all of those Christmas parties. I don't see it as losing weight anyway, I see it as trying to gain confidence. I genuinely believe that as long as you're happy with yourself and dress fabulously you are gorgeous. I think that I need to do this to be a happier me. I think that what is portrayed as 'normal' in the media is borderline anorexic and wrong. I also think that Sam Bailey was right to win the X Factor. She's amazing.

So there you have it. Wish me well Chums. Have an amazing Christmas, eat what the hell you want and join me in January to blast it away with a kick ass running playlist and eating grilled chicken. Mmmmmmm.

Be happy.
xxx

Determined Stage Make Up Face

How To Get A Perfect Matte Make Up Look

Bonjour again! This is going to be a long post but it will be worth it!

One of my pet hates (apart from these ones I talked about in my 11 questions for the Liebster Award) is having a really shiny face day to day. Don't get me wrong, I love the illuminated slightly shimmery finish everybody else seems to be able to achieve, but no matter how much Benefit High Beam I use, or how much illuminating primer I buy, I still look like I have run 800m and not bothered to fix my face afterwards.

So, now I love having a matte base whenever I do my make up, whether I'm going out or day-to-day. I have spent ages perfecting this and trying a thousand and one products to achieve a lasting matte finish, and I think I have just about got it. This process works for me, but don't take it as gospel! Just thought I'd share my ideas!

My first tip that I must stress is a matte finish does not begin and end with foundation and powder. No way. Clay face masks are your saviour when it comes to matte skin, as are squeaky clean faces! So use a decent facial cleanser and follow with a clay based face mask a couple of times a week to clear impurities, excess oil and prevent future blemishes.

On to make up!

Always use a primer. It helps your make up to stay on longer and by buying the right one it can help prevent shine and even out your skin tone. I love 17 Stay Time Primer or POREfessional and Stay Flawless Primers, both by Benefit.

Now I have spent most of my days trying to find a foundation that lasts and gives a lovely even finish that covers everything I need to cover and stays matte.

There are three matte finish foundations I have tried and LOVED recently.
The first is 17's Stay Matte foundation, the cheapest of the three but by no means any worse. I have recommended this and recommended it again to everyone I know. Their make-up in the past year or so has got so much better, and I have noticed them trying to match new products of premium brands which is a really clever idea as the brand is really good for those on a budget. The foundation does exactly what it says and is just all round brilliant. I am on my third bottle I think, and for someone who switches foundations with every outfit, that's a winner in my book.

The second is Rimmel's newest foundation, Stay Matte Liquid Mousse. 'Mousse foundations dry my face out.' WELL THIS FOUNDATION DOESN'T. Because it's a *Liquid* mousse this seems to make all the difference. Who knew? Stays matte all day and goes with my desert island product: Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. Fab-las.

The third and final foundation, also my most recent purchase is No7's Stay Matte foundation. I bought this because as we were going into winter I noticed all of my already ivory and porcelain shades of foundation were getting too orange and pink for my ever pale skin tone (Curses of a strawberry blonde welsh woman) and I knew that No7 did a shade that, let's not beat around the bush here, was practically paper white. It is called Calico and it is the closest shade I have ever bought to my natural skin tone. The foundation itself is great. Stays in place all day and provides a natural looking matte finish. It's a really good foundation.

Applying foundation with a brush or sponge always helps to stop shine as applying with your fingers means you're transferring oil onto your face from your hands. I love Real Techniques stippling foundation brush and the Model's Own foundation egg sponge. These help to create a flawless airbrush finish.

So once you've applied your primer and matte foundation, it's time to add concealer.

Instead of Matte concealer I like to use quite heavy coverage ones to cover spots, scars and under eye circles. My top three are:
- Boing! Industrial Strength Concealer by Benefit
- Touche Magique Concealer by L'Oreal
- 17 Stay Time Liquid Concealer by 17

Then go crazy with your finishing powder with a big brush. Or don't. You don't want to look like, in the words of my cousin recently in Dublin airport, 'like you've dipped your face in baby powder'.

My one product I will NEVER stop using is Rimmel's Stay Matte powder in Translucent, but I also like No7's Translucent Loose Powder and Maybelliene's new 24hr SuperStay Powder. You really need to use it to set your make up and absorb oil to really achieve a matte look.

Well done for making it all the way to the end! I hope I have given some useful tips, and I'd love to hear what products you use to achieve a matte look which stays put all day.

GG xx

I Have Returned!

Hello Strangers! 

I have been forced by the ever radiant Abbie to blog via something rather wonderful:

She has kindly nominated me for a Liebster award! 

I am very grateful to her for a massive kick in the butt, so go and check her blog out by clicking on her name up there. Her reviews are fab, as are her make up tutorials and her blog is generally vair amusing.

ANYWHO here are the rules: 

1. You nominate someone with less than 200 followers. 
2. You must then put the logo somewhere in the post and on your blog so others know you've been nominated. 
3. Write 11 facts about yourself
4. Answer the 11 questions the blogger who nominated you set for you to answer.
5. Also link the blogger who nominated you. 
6. Nominate 11 other bloggers.
7. Finally, you must write 11 questions for the nominees to answer. 

Here are my questions for my nominees:

1. What is your favourite food?
2. What piece of advice would you give your 13 year old self?
3. Do you like cats?
4. Who are your favourite YouTubers?
5. Favourite City?
6. Football or Rugby?
7. What does your blog mean to you? 
8. Favourite cult beauty product? 
9. Do you prefer shopping online or actually going into the shops?
10. Where do you wish you were in 11 years?
11. Which is your favourite act on Strictly/X Factor this year?

Now to answer my Questions!

1. What is your favourite food? My absolute favourite is a roast dinner with EVERYTHING. Cooked by my Mum on a super cold rainy grey Sunday. Yummy. 
2. Favourite online shopping sites? Right now I love ASOS, New Look and Boohoo.com, which is really good for party dresses that you are only going to wear a couple of times! ASOS has free delivery too and their products are always really high quality. 
3. One beauty product you could not live without? I have thought about this a lot an can only narrow it down: In terms of make-up, three things. Revlon Colour-Stay black liquid eyeliner, Seventeen Backlash volumising black mascara and Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder. In terms of general beauty products: I don't EVER leave the house without hand cream. Preferably Soap & Glory Hand Food. It's phenom.
4. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why? Ooh toughie. Either London - I cannot explain how much I love my capital city, it's one of the best places in the world. Or the Maldives. Imagine your idea of a paradise. White sands, blue seas, exotic fruit and...rustic boats... Well the Maldives is my dream destination. Lead on a beach all day with my music blasting and some really trashy romcom novels. Perfection.
5. Lipgloss or Lipstick? Lipstick. Preferably a burgundy matte finish. Suits everyone anywhere.
6. What inspired you to start blogging? My beautiful mate Abbie and watching Sprinkle of Glitter, Daily Grace and Zoella on Youtube.
7. What is your favourite thing about yourself? In terms of appearance, not a lot. I do like my eyes though, and my dimples. They are unique! In terms of personality, I like to think that I'm relatively amusing...
8. Baths or showers? Used to be baths but now showers. They either have to be scalding hot or cold though. 
9. Five of your biggest pet peeves/hates? Ooh. I hate people who try too hard, or tell people they're amazing at something when they're not, it can be more damaging than criticism. Not thanking someone when they have pulled over in their car to let you through. People who shout at workers in shops for no apparent reason. Not thanking or appreciating something when someone has tried really hard especially for you, a mate being on their phone when you're trying to talk to them, people taking credit for other people's work...Oops that's seven...And there are more...
10. How did you choose your blog name? I am really very short and I challenge you to find anything I own that hasn't a trace of glitter on it.
11. Who is your style icon? I honestly can't answer that. I take inspiration from what I feel comfortable in and what I think looks relatively acceptable in public! Ha! 

Finally, my nominees. Obviously I am going to be nominating Abbie! However, the trouble is I don't know many other bloggers yet! I am yet to really join in this world properly which is why I need all your help.

But seeing as Abbie is one of my besto Chums, I will trust her judgement and nominate the other ten (obvs apart from me!) after having checked out their fabulous blogs! 

Abbie

Jenny

Lucy

Jess

Courtney

Renny

Lorna

Rachel

Rosalind 

Naomi 

Ashleigh

Sorry for the copying! I hope I get to know you loads more in the future.

GG xx

Springtime Cats

Yodelations!

I am evidently a bit of a rubbish blogger, although I have been very busy! To make it up to you, here is a beautiful picture of my boy cat, Sebastian. We also own his sister, Dilys, who is gorge, but this photo seems to perfectly sum up how Sundays should be.

Sebastian Enjoying The First Spring Sun
Copyright AEGM 2013

I will return with some reviews of various products, I have been being a bit product happy recently, so I hope I shall provide some insightful advice!

Lots of Love,
GG xx