Some Gorgeous Christmas Pressie Ideas From Japonesque

When I was a little girl if anyone had suggested that I would be super excited at the prospect of receiving make up brushes  for Christmas than I would never have believed them. Age has done it's thing though and I've grown up and my wishlist has changed beyond recognition - I no longer want a toy post office, or yet more cuddly toys I want something well, pretty and sensible. I've recently discovered a range of  beauty tools and accessories that fits this bill perfectly and that are aesthetically pleasing and useful.

Founded way back in 1984 Japonesque are one of the biggest manufacturers of make up brushes, and beauty accessories in the world. Their products are used by leading make up artists in the film, television and fashion industries and now their available to beauty fiends like me :) A little while ago now I sent a couple of Japonesque's newest and most eye catching products to try out on behalf of Japonesque and HQ Hair.

The Safari Chic Collection 

What can I say about this collection apart from WOW. This has to be one of the most talked about ranges in the blogosphere for a long, long time. What's so exciting about make up brushes and beauty tools? I hear your cry, well see for yourself..

The range comprises of the Safari Chic Brush Set and the Safari Chic Bronzer Brush. The brush set comes packaged in an animal print designed micro fibre case. 

In the kit you get a powder brush, a shadow brush and a crease brush. All the brushes in this kit are made from a specially designed and coloured synthetic materials that are completely animal friendly. The brushes have black handles, and the brush hairs are in an amazing white, with a black and tan animal print design.

The Safari Chic Brush Set retails at around £28 from HQ Hair and various other Japonesque stockists

The Safari Chic collection is a brushed based collection and contains just one other item, the famous Safari Chic Bronzer Brush. I was lucky to receive one of these in the post, first of all look at the packaging, I'm not sure if this is how you would receive yours from HQ Hair but I *almost* didn't want to unwrap it.

I have to say though I'm glad that I did though, the brush comes safely hygienically packaged in a clear plastic box.

The brush itself is just the right size for bronzer, highlighter or even for loose powder. It has a quite squat in shape and has a short black handle with the Japonesque logo printed on in white.

It quite a dense brush but it isn't too stiff and you can easily mould the brush into a variety of shapes using your fingers.

The synthetic hairs are super, super soft in fact, when I took this brush out the packaging I couldn't stop stroking it. This kabuki like the brush set is characterised by white, black and tan bristles, which give a quirky animal print effect. I was a little bit worried about the colours running in the brush when it was washed but I needn't have worried it washed really well, with barely no shedding and no colour run, and it dried to be just as soft as it was before.

I've predominantly used this brush for both highlighter and bronzer (including with this bronzer here) and I have to say I love it. It feels gorgeous on the skin, and it a really easy brush to use, and to maintain. If your looking for a quirky present or even a stocking filler for the young and funky lady in your life, or even for a lady whose young at heart this collection and this product could be something to consider. The Safari Chic Bronzer Brush retails at around £19.50 from Japonesque stockists including HQ Hair

Pink

I'm a little late to this one in all honesty but unfortunately breast cancer doesn't just happen in October. Earlier this year Japonesque launched a range of pink products, where $1 from every purchase is taken at source and is donated to breast cancer awareness. The range includes all sorts of lovely gift ideas or just essentials for yourself  all of which you can purchase various retail outlets including HQ Hair, including the Japonesque Pink Manicure Kit at £20 which is packaged a pink leather pouch and contains all the stainless steel tools that you need for that perfect manicure or pedicure.

Also featuring in the range is the beautiful Japonesque Brow Kit, which includes everything you need for the perfect eyebrow including eyebrow stencils, precision tweezers, brow powders, brow wax and brow gel all contained in a pink clutch bag for only £21.00

These are just some of the products in Japonesque's Pink range but the range also contains two different types of eyelash curlers, the Japonesque Heated Mini Lash Curler for £12.50, and the ones that I was kindly sent, the Japonesque Pink Go Curl Pocket Eyelash Curlers.

Up until this year I always saw curling my eyelashes as just to much effort, but it's something I do now almost every time that I wear make up, it really does make that much of a difference. Despite owning a few different models my curler of choice has been one of the traditional metal style ones, but the Go Curl is unlike everything I'd ever seen.

It cute, it dinky, and it's pink. This curler is made from a pink and clear plastic and it comes complete with a white rubber curling pad, you also get a spare pad cleverly concealed in the base of the curler.

At first glance I wasn't 100% sure how to use this, but then I saw the fold out spring loaded handle on the back of the curler - clever and it makes the curlers even smaller :)

There was no problem with the grip of theses curlers they did the job surprisingly well for their size. My one issue was that I found it quite hard to actually see the lashes in the curler so I did nick my eyelids once or twice, being plastic though this wasn't particularly painful. Another benefit of plastic curlers is that you can heat them gently with a hairdryer to increase the strength of the curl. I haven't tried with this set but I've done it in the plastic curlers it's a definite no no with metal ones though so don't even try it! There is no better way then showing how effective an eyelash curler is then some before and after pics - these are my bare lashes, you can tell that because I have some white eyelashes sob!

Before

After

Before 

After 

Before 

After 

You can definitely see a difference can't you. I don't the curl is quite as tight as it is with metal curlers but I have to say for the size I'm pretty impressed with these. They would great for travel or for your on the go make up bag,and the colour is pretty cute too. The Japonesque Go Curl Eyelash Curler retails at around £10  from HQ Hair and other stockists. 

I have to say I've been really impressed with the products I've seen and tried from Japonesque. Anyone of these gifts would make a great Christmas present or even as a stocking filler. I definitely want to try some more Japonesque products, in fact I've already acquired a few already including some of the nail polish, and lip conditioner swabs which I will be reviewing shortly and of course this mini Japonesque Professional Concealer Brush that I picked up from a Boots clearance stand for just £2.00

Just a word of advice if you see this brush floating around definitely consider buying it. The hairs are soft but the brush is firm and I've found it invaluable for blending concealer and even for blending cream eye colours and eye bases - bargain!

Have you tried any Japonesque products? or do you have any recommendations? Please let me know in the comments xx

(The Japonesque Safari Chic Bronzing Brush And The Japonesque Pink Go Curl Pocket Eyelash Curlers Were Both Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

A Thank You And A GOSH Giveaway Update x

Hi Guys  - I just want to say a huge thank you for both the sweet comments that you left on my last post, and for the lovely messages and tweets that you've sent me. I have to admit I was in two minds about leaving the post up so I just want to thank you all for being so sweet xx

On to happier things I'm still waiting for one of my GOSH giveaway winners to respond so if you are

Jennifer Laura

please can you contact me at pootle28@hotmail.com as soon as possible with your postal details and the shade that you would like - If I din't receive a response by Wednesday then I will pick another winner x

One of my lucky winners Louise B contacted me to tell me she had already bought the BB Cream and so she kindly suggested that I draw another winner - Well using rafflecopter I drew another winner, who was

Ashleigh A

Congratulations Ashleigh, please can you send me an email to pootle28@hotmail.com containing your postal address and the shade that you would like x

Thanks again to you all for being amazing xx 

10 Years Gone In The Blink Of An Eye

I had every intention of not posting about this today but as the clock ticks round again, I thought I couldn't go on like normal when I feel anything but - if your not a fan of my personal posts feel free to close the page down, and come back later when I promise I'll post something happier x

 10 years ago today I lost my dad, sometimes it's hard to believe it's been that long and sometimes it feel like a lifetime ago. So much has changed in those 10 years, people and pets have came in and out of my life, and I guess I've changed a lot too. I'm a much stronger person now I think but I also think that I have a few flaws and problems that the events of the last 10 years have probably brought to the surface but I'm still here and I'm still hanging in there no matter how shaky the rope is on occasions.

I just want to share with you a song that reminds me of my dad. It wasn't a favourite song of his by any means but I remember it being on the TV in the hospital waiting room while we waited on that long night of the 4th leading into the 5th November 2002. I listened to it afterwards welling up every time I heard it but then I listened to the words and I realised how poignant they actually were. The song is about a break up rather than a bereavement but so many of the words ring true with regards to losing someone you love, and having to stand on your own two feet again.



RIP Daddy I'll Love You Always xxx

All That Glitters...Is Gold - A Review For My Pure x

There is no doubt about it, we are most definitely heading into winter, in the last week there's been snow in quite a few areas of the country. Don't be too downhearted though the winter isn't all bad, after all it means we're a little step closer to Christmas and New Year, bring it on pressies and parties - galore. We all want to look out best in our party frocks so why not make yourself into the belle of the ball, and add a bit of sparkle.

One of the products I chose for last months My Pure reviews as one of those things that's equally as useful in the summer as it can be in the winter months or whenever your showing off a bit of flesh :). I have quite a few products like the Acorelle Glittering Body Oil in my collection (I reviewed some of them here) but I love them and I have to say they are great for adding a bit of shimmer and sparkle to your skin.

This product contains a mixture of sunflower, jojoba and ylang ylang oils, combined with calendula extract, and a mixture of natural minerals such as mica, and titanium dioxide.

It comes packaged in a glass bottle, and comes with a controlled stopper that limits how much oil that you dispense at a time. I love bottle like this because you get much less wastage. The oil itself has a smooth and moisturising feel, but it's what is described as a dry oil, this means that you get none of the oiliness, and none of the greasy feel that you often experience with oil based products. It has quite a nutty, fresh fragrance which is similar to the Acorelle Body Scrub that I reviewed here. 

The oil is full of tiny, tiny golden particles,simply smooth the oil over your legs, your shoulders, and even in your hair, and on your face.

The oil has a lovely easy to apply texture and gives the skin a gorgeous subtle shimmer, and it leaves the skin where it's been applied soft, smooth and non greasy.

If you want full on glitter for the party season, or even for a winter holiday, this product isn't for you, but if you want smooth and silky skin, with a slight shimmer and glisten then this product is definitely worth a try. Acorelle Skin Care Glistening Body Oil retails at £14.99 for 50 ml from My Pure. Have you tried any shimmering dry oil products? let me know in the comments xxx

(Acorelle Skin Care Glittering Body Oil 50ml Was Provided By My Pure For Review Purposes)

There Is Nothing Better Than A Nice Cuppa But In Your Bath? - A Review For My Pure

People are either bath or shower people, and I'm definitely a bath person. A nice long soak in the bath does wonders for my sore and achy muscles, and I love the whole concept of enclosing myself in warm , soft and fragrant water. I love all bath products from bath oils, to bath bombs, to bath salts and bubble baths, but something I hadn't tried was the traditional idea of infusions.

These take on a few guises from a simple home made muslin or cotton bag containing dried herbs hanging from the bath tips to specially prepared bath tea bags often containing either herbs or flowers and often some form of dried milk to soften the water, that you either add directly to the bath water or that you prepare like you would a pot of tea and then add to the water

For one of last months My Pure reviews I decided to try one of these infusion type of products for the first time. Munio Candela Green Bath Therapy.

These come in three variants all with different aims - Peppermint to de-stress, Chamomile to relieve anxiety and Wild Flowers to relax. I could have chosen any fragrance but I went for Wild Flowers.

The 25g sachets come boxed, and are hand made in Latvia of a natural linen fabric. The Wild Flowers variant contains organic marigold, chamomile and yarrow flowers. The sachets also have a ribbon attached for ease of use .The sachet is designed to relax, and clean the skin, and encourage natural detoxification and perspiration.

There are two ways to use these sachets but I decided to start off by following the instruction on the box, and making  in essence a pot of tea but placing the sachet in a 500ml of warm water (I used water from a recently boiled kettle).

I followed the instructions and left the sachet in the water for about half an hour, and you could see the difference, the water had gone from clear to a brown weak tea colour.

I then add the infusion to my bath, turning the water a sort of brown, yellow shade. Initially I hung the sachet over the taps using the attached ribbon. I then put the sachet into the bath and gave it a squeeze to get as much of the flower extracts as possible. I also used the sachet to exfoliate my arms and legs, this was actually really pleasant due to the combination of the slightly coarse linen and the rough feel of the flowers inside.

If have to be honest and say the smell of this was a bit meh. I was expecting a real floral aroma but instead this smelled a bit like herbal tea, and it wasn't that strong either.

Whilst that wasn't an unpleasant product by any mean, I just don't really get what it was supposed to do, it coloured the water, and the exfoliating aspect was nice, but it didn't really do anything. The texture of the water wasn't any different, my skin didn't feel particularly soft after using it, and due to the lack of scent this didn't really feel like an indulgent bathing experience. Another issue I have with this product is the fact that you just get one sachet in the box and you just get one use from it. I did try and dry it out but you got barely any scent or colour from it second time round. I guess you could stick it in the bath leave it for a minute and then take it but to be honest what would be the point bearing in mind the lack of scent. I hate writing such negative reviews but at £10 for just one mediocre bath I don't really have a choice. Munio Candela Green Bath Therapy retails at £10 for a 25g sachet from My Pure. If you have any questions please leave me a comment xx

(Munio Candela Green Bath Therapy - Wild Flowers 25g Was Provided By My Pure For Review Purposes)

Foodie Friday - What I Ate Today

Hi Guys x I had a lovely but exhausting day shopping in IKEA, with Mummy Lou and my godmother :) Thanks to all you for your sweet comments on here, twiitter and on facebook yesterday. My godmother has to have a full body CT scan to see if the cancer has spread, and her specialist and the oncology will then decide the best way to treat it x She's keeping herself busy though and trying not to think about it x Anyways as I say we had a lovely but tiring day and my lovely godmother kindly bought me a few things which I'll show you later this month, and my mum got some nice bits for our living room which is getting decorated next week. It's been a bit hitty missy food wise but I thought I'd do a what I ate today post anyways x

Breakfast

It was a bit chilly this morning, so I had a nice warming bowl of  Quaker Oatso Simple Golden Syrup. I'm not really supposed to eat this as it's not technically gluten free but I love it - it's lovely and warming - I made mine up with skimmed milk - I also had a cup of tea made with skimmed milk 

Lunch 

Cake central - here - lunch time in IKEA, being veggie I can't eat the meatballs and the queue for hot food was too huge. So me and my mum had a piece of the Krokant cake which is gluten free, and we halved one of the Chocolate Truffle Cakes between us, and my godmother had a strawberry tart. I also had some cola and some fizzy apple juice for my free refill :)

Dinner

When we got home me, and Mummy Lou had some left over pumpkin soup, made from Delia's recipe. I sprinkled some crispy fried onions on the top.Mummy Lou had some fresh and crusty Tiger Bread, I had some gluten free white sliced (not pictured). To drink I had some no added sugar lemon and lime squash made up with sparkling water.

Snacks And Drinks

Lots of snacks and picking today I'm afraid. First up I had a can of Pepsi Max, Me and Mummy Lou also halved a bag of Cadburys chocolate covered popcorn. I also had a Boston Baguettes punnet from my Graze box - which is mini tomato bread sticks with BBQ relish. I also had another pot of tea and some more squash (not pictured)

So that;s what I had to eat today, did you have anything nice? let me know in the comments xx

Yet Another Slightly Personal Monthly Summary

I seem to be making a bit of a habit of these personal monthly summary posts don't I? but that's the way it is at the moment. If you follow me on twitter you'll probably know what I'm going to say next so apologies if you already know this, but today my godmother found she has another cancerous tumour :( Details are a bit sketchy at the moment but it looks as though she may be having invasive surgery to remove this one. It's not in her throat this time, it's actually on her neck on the opposite side of her head. Understandably we're all devastated that it's come back so quickly and in different place but we're all remaining strong fer her, and we're remaining positive. I'm going to keep blogging my little heart out but if I disappear, I just need some time away or  to spend some time with my family x

October on the whole was a bit stressful for a number of reasons and I have to admit that's one of the reasons I went over my monthly spending limit, yet again.


Boots 17 Silver Holo Nail Polish - £3.99
White Side Slit Tunic - Top Shop - £16.00
Turquoise Bracelet - ebay - £1.26
Orange Purse - ebay - £2.98
W7 Nail Polish - 96 Mosaic - £2.00
Cat Scarf - Top Shop - £20.00
Nude Striped Jumper- H&M - £9.99
Total - £55.23
£15.23 Over

Yes, it was just by £15.23 but it was still over, never mind I had plenty opportunity to spend more and I didn't so I going to view it as a small positive. Yet again I will trying to keep under my limit in November but who knows, given my previous track record I'm not hopeful x

Trimming My Stash was much more successful though - In October I finished 12 items.

DKNY Be Delicious Body Lotion 150ml
Davines Authentic Moisturising Face/ Hair/ Body Balm 75ml
Ojon Instant Restorative Hair Serum 25ml
Boots Simply Sensitive Face Wipes x 25 Wipes
Mama Mio O Mega Body Buff 125ml
Avon Naturals Sugar Plum and Vanilla Shower Gel 200ml
Never To Busy To Be Beautiful Keep It Fluffy Turkish Bath Body Polish
Body America Southern Belle Peach Mango Bath and Shower Luxury Foaming Mousse 236ml
Nivea Pearl and Beauty Anti-Perspirant Deodorant 35ml
2True Instant Waterproof Mascara - 1 Black - 7ml
MUA Make Up Academy Pressed Powder - Shade 1 - 5.7g
Primark Beauty Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes With Tea Tree x 25 Wipes
Total - 12 Items

I was really happy October's empties, as well as 2 Project 10 Pan items I managed to finish a nice mix of things including some skincare and body care, and some ancient items that I pulled out from the back of the cupboard, and made a serious attempt to finish. It goes without saying that this is something that I'm going to continue into November in fact I've already finished my first item :) and I'm nearly finished a couple of more Project 10 Pan items too :)

I've got lots of posts planned for November including a few fashion related things, some nail posts, and some make up, body care, and skin reviews. I'm also planning a triumphant return to You Tube, so don't forget to subscribe x Thanks to you all for following and I hope you all have an amazing November xx