Happy 70th Birthday Mam

I would like to use my own little space in the blogsphere to wish my amazing mum a very happy 70th birthday - I love you loads, you are my rock, my inspiration and my reason for being xx
I'll post some pics of our day tomorrow xx

It's A Skin Thing ! Perfect Your Skin With Liz Earle Colour.

If you've been a follower of LouLouLand for sometime you'll already know how much I love Liz Earle I've been using the line for about 7 years now and this brand quite simply revolutionised my skin car regime, I actually panic if I don't have a couple of spare bottles of Cleanse and Polish in the house ! Over the 16 years that they have been in business, the company has gone from strength to strength, winning numerous awards and accolades along the way. The line has continued to expand over the years with new additions to their skincare line, a full bodycare line, and more recently the introduction of Liz Earle's haircare line, which has already won numerous awards..

Never one to stand still though the brand continues to innovate and expand, whilst at the same time maintaining their own high standards in production, ethics, quality and customer relations. There are two popular sayings "The Customer Is Always Right " and "What The Customer Wants They Get" and with Liz Earle those statements are certainly true. After numerous customer requests over the years Liz Earle listened and this year sees the launch of Liz Earle Colour - a capsule make up collection based on founders Liz Earle and Kim Buckland's experience of working with top make up artists, and a belief in natural make up which enhances the skin rather than masking it.

The first product to be launched from the Liz Earle Colour range is the Sheer Skin Tint. Marketed as the perfect bridge between skincare and make up, a tinted moisturiser was an obvious first step for the brand. Containing botanical ingredients such as natural source vitamin E, avocado, and borage which you'll recognise from the skincare line, it also included a mineral based UV protection  of SPF 15.

I have to admit I have always been a bit wary of tinted moisturisers in the past, despite being over 30 my skin is still prone to oiliness and the odd breakout, and I've found that they either don't provide enough coverage or they just make my skin look like an oil slick but loving Liz Earle as I do this was something that made my eyes light up straight away.

A little while ago I was lucky enough to be sent a full size tube of the new Liz Earle Colour Sheer Skin Tint to review for you lovely people. The first thing you notice is the packaging, its's quite different from the gentle blues and pale yellows, and whites were used to from Liz Earle, It has a dark almost inky colour and a pearlised finish. This colour packaging chosen for the Colour range was inspired by the brands home on the Isle of Wight, and more specifically the dark and glinting depths of the Solent, my only memories of the Solent aren't great I have to say, I went to the Isle of Wight many years ago with my parents and getting tossed about on a Wight Link ferry while my mum squealed the place down is an abiding memory of the place. Less of my personal reminiscing though what this does show is the brand maintaining it roots.

The skin tint comes boxed and in a squeezable tube. It has a nice sleek expensive look but  it is 100% practical and easy to use.

The product comes in a choice of three shades Bare 01 - for paler skins , Beige 02 for medium skin, and Beach 03 - for darker skins. As it's summer and I've been faux glowing a bit I chose Beige 02. This is very much a summer colour for me, the shades do seem fairly adaptable but for 80% of the year I think I will probably be Bare.

The first thing I noticed about the product was the smell, or more likely the lack of smell, a tiny hint of the Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser maybe but nothing overly noticeable. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Sheer Skin Tint compared to some other tinted moisturisers I'd tried was the texture. It was a lot thicker than I expected, with a smooth creamy feel My immediate fear was that it would be hard to blend but this certainly wasn't the case.

Despite it's thicker than usual texture it blended easily into the skin. I tended to apply it after cleansing and toning. Here is a scary before pictures

and a not quite so scary after picture

As you can see despite the thicker texture it gives a fairy decent coverage and leaves a nice dewy finish to the skin, Mummy Lou kindly remarked that it gave a really natural finish and gave my skin a nice glow - high praise indeed! I have to say I can see where she's coming from it certainly gives you skin a lovely natural, no make up, make up look. However I do have a few issues with this product on my skin. First of all coverage and this is just a personal thing, I prefer a heavier coverage than this, you can still see my blemishes and so on so I would still need to use a concealer alongside it. I also have oily to combination skin, and I think this product is a tiny bit too moisturising for me, after a little while my skin tended to look a bit shiny, so I needed to powder down my t-zone. Despite that though I still think that this is a good tinted moisturiser, especially if you have a drier skin, the coverage is better than a lot of other products out there, and Liz Earle is definitely a name you can trust. I don't know about you but I am certainly looking to see what else the Liz Earle Colour line has to offer.
Liz Earle Colour Sheer Skin Tint  retails at £21 for 40ml and is available from tomorrow the 8th September from all the usual Liz Earle outlets including their own fabulous website, not only that but if you order your Sheer Skin Tint directly from Liz Earle you will receive samples of all three shades so you can try your sample before you open your tube, ensuring that you are completely happy with your purchase, and helping to minimise returns, and a negative environmental impact - they really have thought of everything :)
If you have any questions please leave me a comment xx

(The Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint 40ml In 02 Beige Was Provided By The Liz Earle Team For Review Purposes )

Nails Of The Day - Purple Rain

I don't know what it is but lately I am getting the urge to change my nail polish every other day, I guess that looking at my nail polish collection and looking at all the pretty colours is just making me want to try them all out - it's to your benefit though and that means it's time for another nails of the day post

I have to say I love this colour and I really don't know why I haven't wore it more often - a perfect combination of dirty lilac and purple I present Illamasqua - Velocity

Would you believe that this is just one coat! Just one little coat and you have perfect coverage, you can't ask for anymore than that. What do you think of Illamasqua nails polishes and can you recommend any shades?

Things Are Looking Up At Last

Hey my loves, It's been a busy day but I thought I'd try and get a quick post up for you x
I had a super busy morning filming my monthly favourites video, and taking loads of pictures for upcoming blog posts. This afternoon my mum had her hospital appointment but we went to do a little bit of shopping before we went. My mum bought a few holidays bits in Superdrug and she also got me a few bits, including some nail polish remover, and a couple of the new MUA bits. As I mentioned in my MUA post ( Click here and here to read) the MUA basic line is expanding. They didn't have too much on the stand but I picked up a few bits including some grungy Autumnal nail polish shades.

From L - R - Shade 19 and Shade 23

and I also got one of the new single eyeshadow - Shade 24 - a gorgeous plummy bronze sorry for the slightly blurry swatch x

So after a little look around the shops in my local town and buying a few things for Mummy Lou's birthday, we headed to the ENT unit of our nearest hospital. I have to say me and my mum were a bit apprehensive, there were a few possibilities which weren't exactly positive - note to self never look up symptoms on the internet! She ended up having a pretty thorough check up including having a small camera put up her nose and down into the back of her throat !!! and a thorough ear examination and hearing test. The kind of good news is that her problems have certainly been caused by a viral infection, sorry to be gross but there is a build up of mucus and fluid in her inner ear which caused the severe vertigo attack. This will gradually disperse over the next few months with the aid of a prescription nasal spray. The only downside is she has probably been left with a degree of hearing loss that will only get worse the older she get, so she may need a hearing aid at some point. As nasty as a viral infection is some of the alternatives were a lot worse. She has to see her knee specialist before we go but so we really feel as though a weight has been lifted from our shoulders and we can look forward to our holidays at long last x
I hope you all have a great week, I am certainly looking forward to mine a bit more now, and especially to a better nights sleep xx

Yet Another Nails Of The Day Post - With Thanks To Mummy Lou x

Apologies in advance for yet another nails of the day post but this was one I had to share. Mummy Lou kindly got me nails polish in her recent Avon order. I haven't tried Avon polishes for years but I saw this and it was love

Yes it's another blue nail polish, Avon Nailwear Pro in Blue Shock. It's looking a bit tealy here but it's a proper electric shimmery blue, this is three coats which it probably needs for full coverage

Pretty isn't it alas it was the last appearance in the brochure so it might be a hard one to track down but if you like blues its well worth it x

Nails Of The Day - I Want Candy

I thought I'd start with a little blast from the past - Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy - When I went to New York a few years ago this seemed to be the song that followed me around, it was on the in flight radio stations, and in Hershey & M&M worlds, a perfect of example of how a song gets itself imprinted on your brain. Anyway what on earth has an 80's song got to do with a nails of the day post? well candy of course :)

More specifically two sweetie toned nail polishes from Essie, first of all, the must have from last year Mint Candy Apple, a beautiful pale mint green.

Because it's a cream formulation it probably needs two coats to avoid streaking but I have to say I love these pale mint / aqua shades from spring and summer (click here to see more of my mint and aqua colours).

I thought I'd give you two posts in one though, I also on a shade from Essie called Rock Candy, drool I'm not the hugest candy rock fan give me Edinburgh rock any day, but this colour is a very pale, neutral pink shade, not the most exciting colour I admit but the type of shade we all need in our nail polish collection -this is 3 coats x

All that talk of candy is making me hungry, damn you diet!! What do you think of these candy colours?

Au Revoir To August

and good riddance! - what a crappy month August was, the weather was awful, I was ill for half of it and my mum was ill for the other half - I have to say I am glad it's over.

There weren't a lot of positives for me in August  apart from having my first ever Percy Pig - Thanks Dawn! but predictably my spending was over budget


Swimsuit - ebay - £9.94
Ultrasun After Sun - ebay - £9.49
L'oreal Elvive Shampoo, Undies - Boyes - £4.20
Superdrug Haul - 2True,MNY,Earrings - £8.97
Stacey Maxi Dress - Boohoo -£10.00
Color Club Nail Polish - ebay - £6.34
Elle Magazine - £3.80
Total So Far - £52.74
+ £12.74

At £12.74 over it wasn't as bad as it could have been I guess, and the majority of purchases were to do with my holiday but I really could have done better, I've also spent a lot on my mum this month to go towards her birthday present, so it's looking as though I won't have as much money for my holidays as I would of liked - I guess the only option is to ebay like a demon lol - so you can certainly expect some new listings over the next week x

You'll already know this if your a regular reader but my other monthly mission is trimming my stash basically me trying to finish as many products over the course of the month and ultimately the year


Leighton Denny Hydra Flex Shield 12ml
The Body Shop Raspberry Shower Gel 250ml
Primark Beauty 4 in 1 Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25
No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara 01 Black 0.23 FL Oz
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish 100ml
Clean & Clear Gentle Face Lotion 200ml
SBC Echinacea Bath Soak 500ml
The Body Shop Dewberry Bath and Shower Gel - 250ml
John Frieda 3 Day Straight Spray 100ml
Total - 9 Items

This month I finished 9 items which is about the average so far for me this year which isn't too bad to be honest and I finished a nail and a make up item which is always good.

September will be a bit different than normal I go on holiday on the 28th so both my spending diet and trimming my stash will only be up to that date everything else will be added to Octobers lists. I'm hoping to finish a few more products this month, and I'm going to try and keep my spending right down, even though I'm probably going to the Metro Centre on Friday eek - restraint is essential!! On the blogging front I am going to blogging like a demon this month I have quite a few reviews I want to do including an Autumn / Winter essential, a hair product, a couple of skin care products and a few holiday preparation product reviews. In September you can also expect to see the start of my nail polish collection posts, lots of nails of the day posts, the continuation of my budget beauty series, and some pics from my mums birthday :). At the same times I am also preparing a few scheduled posts to keep you amused whilst I'm away - phew I have a busy few weeks ahead so stay tuned and you never know if I hit 500 followers in September you may have a little giveaway to enter. Anyways that's my September planned out largely positive bar a few hospital appointments for my mum, I hope you all have a great month and that we have an Indian summer because August was so bad, fingers crossed, Love and Kisses xx

Acrorelle Epiliation -The Not So Glamorous Side Of Beauty - 2 Reviews For My Pure

Right guys lets cut to the chase this isn't a glamorous blog post, no pretty make up here, instead it's about one of less pretty side of beauty, body and facial hair. I can feel you backing off now but please don't hear me out x
For some reason now body and facial hair is seen as a big no no, we wax it, shave it, epilate it and cream it off in order to look good. It's probably one of the least exciting parts of our beauty routine but we all do it. The trouble is the majority of hair removal methods don't last, within a week sometimes we are back where we started, not only that but with some hair removal methods our poor skin suffers big style, leaving it irritated, sensitive and often sore and with ingrown hairs.
Having previously tried and been impressed with the Acorelle Epiliation Oriental Wax, in preparation for my summer holiday I decided two try two products from Acorelle as part of my August My Pure reviews to try and deal with some of these side effects of hair removal.

Acorelle Essential Epil Hair Growth Inhibitor Skin Glorifier - Face

OK, we'll start with probably the most taboo subject, facial hair, unless your super lucky we all have a bit of facial hair on the upper lip or the chin, if you have dark hair more often than not it will be noticeable. As my mum says you can't have it in one place and not another, so brace yourself here is a pic of my upper lip without hair removal

You can just about see them, I don't have a lot of facial hair but what I have it dark and it's quite noticeable because of my skin tone. I generally use either hair removal cream or I wax it off myself (yes I know I'm brave ;) If I'm being honest I do it about once a week. It's just become part of my weekly routine now I guess, but it's a pain. Looking through the My Pure inventory I noticed a product from Acorelle, the Skin Care Glorifier and Hair Growth Inhibitor - Face.

Ideal for anyone who suffers from thick hair regrowth on the upper lip and chin, the product contains a patented extract from the Black Truffle this product claims to reduce hair density by 80% in just 56 days as well as improving the look and feel of the skin.

The product comes boxed and packaged in a small slim squeezable tube

At the end of the tube there is a small slanted nozzle, which is made of a clear textured rubber

The product dispenses easily through the tube and you can use the wand to apply it without touching it. It had a pleasant and easily absorbed cream gel texture and a pleasant floral type smell (it also contains Damascus Rose extract). You may think the tube is quite small at just 8ml but a little does go a long way.

The instructions advise that you apply the product after hair removal preferably waxing for best results. I have to be honest and say I removed facial hair 3 times during the process of this trial, once with wax and twice with cream, so obviously this may have affected my results. I have seen some results with this product some hairs are still as stubborn as ever but some of the finer hairs do seem to be coming back at a slower rate. To be fair I don't think this is a product that you can say yes or no to after less than a month so it's one that I am going to persevere with, but if you are a facial waxer it might be something that's worth a try. Acorelle Essentiel Epil Hair Growth Inhibitor and Skin Glorifier - Face retails at £19.00 for 8ml at My Pure.

Acorelle Ingrown Hair Treatment

One of the byproducts of hair removal be it waxing or shaving is ingrown hairs - If your of a strong stomach or you not sure what an ingrown hair is click this link . Yes I admit it I do occasionally get the odd ingrown hair particularly on my bikini line and my underarms and do you know what they are not pleasant and they can really hurt! I've tried a lot of preparations including lots of alcohol and aspirin based products and yes they do work but more often than not they sting :( Looking at My Pures inventory I was interested to see a product specifically for dealing with ingrown hairs so I decided to give it a go.

The Acorelle Ingrown Hair Treatment whilst containing a small proportion of naturally produced alcohol, also contains a high volume of AHA's and fruit acids. This anti bacterial product helps to gently exfoliate the skin thus preventing blocked pores and ingrown hairs.

The products itself comes a pump action spray dispenser but you can also apply it using some clean cotton wool. It has a clear liquid texture and a very gentle herbal smell. For the few I've been apply the product specifically to my underarms and my bikini line and I have to say in that period of time I have had no ingrown hairs or lumps and bumps in either area, where as in the previous month I had at least two sore spots on my underarms. I didn't have overly high expectations for the this product, but I have to say I'm pretty impressed, it seems to do the job and guess what it doesn't sting one little bit even on freshly shaved areas. I will definitely continue to use this product ahead of the market leader (Tend Skin) which stings like hell on me. Acorelle Ingrown Hair Treatment retails at £8.99 for 50ml from My Pure.

Again I'm sorry for the less than gorgeous nature of this post but beauty isn't all about the glamour ;) Any questions please let me know xx

(Both Acorelle Products Were Supplied By My Pure For Review Purposes)

Nails Of The Day - Sparkles Make The World Go Round

Well it's time for another nails of the day and it's no surprise which one it is. When I bought this colour I said I couldn't wait to put it on my nails, but some how I managed to hold off I was feeling a bit bored so I painted my nails for about the zillionth time this week with this beauty

Of course it's Color Club 849 Fashion Addict, this is a gorgeous holographic pale lilac shade love it, I only wish you could get paint this colour :) If you could I would definitely paint my room this colour - apologies in advance for the slightly bad finish and cuticles I painted it in a bit of a rush

Pretty isn't it I am absolutely loving glitters and sparkles at the moment, let me know what you think?

Welcome To Another Week and Adios To A Bad One

Hey Guys
Well it's Monday again and to be honest I am delighted to see the back of last week, seeing my mum so ill really scared me, thankfully she's feeling much better now but she has two hospital appointments to look forward to, one to get to the bottom of her ear problems and the other to see her surgeon to arrange her last knee replacement. Still I'm trying to focus on the positives it's less than 2 weeks to my mums 70th birthday, yes she was classed as an older mother when she had me and despite a bit of stick at school for having an 'old' mum I wouldn't swap her for the world x I haven't got a lot of cash for a big pressie, so I'm thinking of other ways to treat her including some home baking and some personalised home made cards, and of course the delivery of a nice bouquet of flowers.

Despite a stressful week I managed to get quite a few posts up including my long awaited posts on the Make Up Academy basic line ( click here and here to read them ) and a few nails of the day posts. This week I have a few posts planned including 2 My Pure reviews focusing on the hairier side of life, my monthly summary, and maybe a few nails of the day posts, so I hope you'll stick around, don't forget I will be doing a little giveaway when I reach the 500 followers x Oh and don't forget to check out my blog sale, I added a few things yesterday and if you want something let me know asap I will be taking down the remaining items on Saturday and adding them to my rather large donation to Give and Make Up x Oh and I will be adding a few items to ebay this week including lots of Hello Kitty dolls, and lots more brand new shoes so don't forget to check it out x

If your in the UK I hope your all having a great Bank Holiday Monday, and I hope you all have a great week where ever you are xx

(Oh and if your wondering about the photos, they are things that have made me happy this weekend my babies, homemade pesto sauce, and a little bit of home baking - more on that to come ;)