Sure Compressed* Challenge

Hi guys! Today's post is all about the newest innovation in the world of deodorants - Sure Compressed*. I'm sure a lot of you will have spotted the adverts which have been all over the television, but if not let me tell you a little bit about the compressed technology. Essentially the compressed cans are half the size of your regular deodorant (or the same size as a travel or mini size deodorant - seriously teensy!) but Sure claims they last just as long and actually work better. In fact it's claimed that Sure Compressed offers 17% better protection against dryness in comparison to regular sized deodorants  Pretty big claims for such a small can, eh? Which is why Sure have asked bloggers to put  their claims to the test with the Sure Compressed Challenge.

The Sure Compressed Challenge involves bloggers taking part in an activity of their choice to try out the compressed range and see how it fares during an active day. Since I'm on a bit of a health and fitness kick at the moment, I opted for a yoga class as my activity. I haven't tried yoga before (but I am a pilates devotee) so I'm really excited to see if I enjoy it, and curious to put Sure Compressed to the test to see if it lives up to the claims!

I usually buy a travel/mini sized deodorant to keep in my handbag so I am keen to try this out to see if it's an even better product to have to hand in my busy day to day life. I will post again after my first class and see if the challenge has been a success!

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

(*PR sample)

(Sponsored Post)

Katy Perry Killer Queen Eau De Parfum

It's not often that I'm taken in by advertising and end up buying a product solely based on it's marketing campaign, and I'm really unsure why I have been this time! But safe to say as soon as I saw the adverts and heard about Katy Perry's new fragrance, Killer Queen, I bought it!

Killer Queen is one of my most favourite Queen songs and I love that she's named her fragrance after it! I am a massive KP fan (although I don't like her music) and I don't mind lining her pockets by purchasing her perfume, unlike a lot of other celebrities that have released fragrances.

I bought Killer Queen from The Perfume Shop and it was £28.99 for 50ml (HERE) which I think is a complete bargain - my usual fragrances cost way more than this. I also got a free velvet bag with my purchase (which I don't want so if you would like it leave me a comment and I'll be in touch!)

First impressions of the bottle - I LOVE it! It's such a unique, pretty design I was bowled over by the quality even though it's quite a cheap perfume! I love that the 'queen' theme has been taken right through to the bottle, as this is inspired by a queen's sceptre. It looks stunning laying on its side on my dressing table.

As for the fragrance itself, it's a very strong and powerful scent which is the complete opposite of what I usually go for. The top notes are wild berry, dark plum and bergamot and I have to say it's a delicious scent. It's a very spicy, strong statement perfume that is ideal for autumn and winter as opposed to lighter floral scents that are more suited to the summer months. 

Clearly I am in love with this fragrance, and what really sealed the deal for me is its staying power - unlike the majority of other scents I've used this sticks around and does not budge for the whole day! Admittedly it does fade a little after the first 2-3 hours but hand on heart even when I've worked a 9 hour day at work I still catch the scent which for the price is frankly outstanding.

Overall I would definitely recommend giving this a sniff when you're next in the perfume section of Boots or near a perfume shop. I think it's a bit of a Marmite fragrance because lots of people I've spoken to have really disliked it but I absolutely adore it and can't imagine wearing anything else this winter! And throw in the stunning bottle, incredibly staying power and bargain price tag and you have the best perfume I've come across in a very long time.

You can buy Katy Perry Killer Queen from The Perfume Shop for £28.99 (50ml) with free delivery HERE.

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Autumn Haul - Boots, Shoes and a Coat

Hi everyone! Another haul post for you today - I seem to have spent so much money this month! I think I'm the same every year when the weather starts to get colder, I feel obliged to shop until I've got everything I could possibly need for the autumn and winter seasons!

One of my more practical purchases has been these amazing high leg boots from New Look. At my new job I drive in but have to park about 10 minutes away from work which hasn't been the nicest walk when it's been chucking it down with rain and I've ended up with very wet feet!

I decided to try and find some sensible but stylish boots that I can wear to walk in, that aren't so boring I won't wear them on the weekends too. After spending hours trawling the internet and looking around the high street I settled on these ones from New Look. They are the highest boots I own and actually come up to my knees (unlike other 'knee high' boots I've owned) and they have the chunkiest, well made soles I've seen this season! I have poorly knees which means wearing shoes and boots with thin soles is a bit of a no-no, so these were ideal!

As you can see they're a little bit slouchy when worn, which I really like about them. I think the silver zip and buckle details give these boots a nice edge and they would look great worn on the weekends with a skirt and leather jacket. I bought these from New Look for £34.99 (HERE) which I think is pretty reasonable for such comfortable, practical and well made boots that I can also wear with more stylish outfits.

Another sensible pair of shoes - these loafers are also from New Look and a practical choice. I usually wear heels when I'm at work but on the days when I want to wear flats I don't actually have that many to choose from. I spent a little while looking around for some I like that aren't just basic ballet flats (again with the issue with thin soles!) These loafers are really comfortable and the soles are quite thick, plus this style is bang on trend this season and I think they'll look super cute with some tailored trousers for work. These were £19.99 from New Look HERE.

My last footwear-related purchase is these amazing lace ups from Topshop. I am incredibly partial to velvet, especially velvet footwear, so when I spotted these in Topshop I fell for them immediately. I love the lace up style this season and think these will look amazing with frilly socks and tights.

They're really comfortable and have quite good grips on the soles which means I should hopefully be able to wear them throughout the winter whatever the weather! I think these were a real bargain from Topshop (not something I often say!) because they were only £28.99 (HERE).

Last but by no means least is this snuggly, gorgeous coat. I know, I know, I really don't need another coat because I already have way more than I wear on a regular basis. But there was just something about this one that I couldn't resist! I picked it up when I was shopping for my boots as a bit of an impulse purchase but I really don't regret it. It's slightly shorter than my other warm coats and very different. It's actually made from a soft jersey material, which makes it more of a cardigan than a proper winter coat but I quite like that about it. I love the belt because it brings me in at the waist and the snuggly collar is the best! I've already worn this out in the cold snaps we've had in the UK this September and it has kept me snuggly, stylish and warm. This is usually £39.99 from New Look but I bought it when it was on offer for £29.99 HERE.

Are you like me - do you always splurge at the beginning of autumn? Where have you been finding bargains?

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Autumn/Winter Nail Polish (Guest Post)

When the weather starts to get a bit colder I start to lean towards darker colours. I still love wearing bright colours in the colder months so today I have quite a selection of colours to choose from. 

First up we have a Barry M nail polish in navy, this is a gorgeous deep blue with an undertone of a mid tone metallic blue. It is a gorgeous shade and one of my must haves in autumn/Winter. Then we three nail inc polishes in the shades Victoria & Albert, Piccadilly Circus and motcomb street. I love wearing red all year so this is a staple in my collection, Piccadilly circus is a lovely plum colour and is a favourite in my whole family! For the days when I want a rich dark blue almost black I will wear Motcomb street.

If I want a bit more of a brighter colour I will wear OPI's Don't mess with OPI, a beautiful green that's not too out there. Everyone has to have a nude in their collection and I'm no different, this one is china glaze's dress me up, a great shade for when I want to be subtle. Next up we have live and let die which is a deep green with golden shimmer running through it, next to that we have one of my most favourite shades and this is called the spy who loved me. It is a gorgeous pinky red with silver and gold shimmer running through it, I love wearing this in the winter.

Last but not least we have my two glitter shades, I love wearing glitter, especially during Christmas time. The pink shade one of look beauty nail pops in the colour BLING, this polish has small and chunky glitters so creates a really lovely effect on the nail. The second one I have is OPI's golden eye, this is a lovely finely milled gold which looks great on its on or over another polish!

 

What are your favourite autumn/winter nail polish?

Thank you so much for reading!

Georgina

x

Today's guest post was brought to you by Georgina from PicturePerfectMakeup06!

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Fragrance Direct Revlon Nail Polish Haul

Hi guys! Those of you who are followers of Bee's Knees will know that I am a complete and utter nail polish addict. I love the stuff, and have plenty of it. But that doesn't stop me from buying more... oh no! Quite the opposite - I'm sometimes a bit compulsive about having to 'complete' my nail polish collection! So when I had a little bit of time on my hands last week I found myself perusing Fragrance Direct for beauty bargains, and here's what I bought!

As you can see I ended up with quite a few new polishes! I adore the formula of Revlon's nail varnish, and couldn't resist adding these beauties to my collection because they were only 99p each!

I picked up two Top Speed formulas in the world's most beautiful royal blue (Royal) and a unique orange/red metallic shade. You can treat yourself to these too for 99p HERE.

I also got three of the regular Revlon formulas, Stunning is a glitter top coat that looks amazing with large silver/white glitter pieces. Charismatic is a pretty pastel orange that reminds me of one of my all time favourites, Collection Hot Looks Fruit Loop. And Blue Lagoon looks like a dupe for Essie's popular Bikini So Teeny with its tiny shimmery particles and gorgeous baby blue shade. Again these were a mere 99p each and you can find them all HERE.

Whilst I was browsing I came across this fast try base coat from Sally Hansen for £1.50. It's no secret that I adore the Sally Hansen Insta Dri top coat and since my base coat is on it's last legs I popped this in my basket to try. Stay tuned for my thoughts! If you want to give this a go too you can find it HERE.

Have you bought any new polishes recently? What's your favourite brand?

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash* and Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash*

Recently I was lucky enough to be sent two Dove body washes - the Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash* and the Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash*. I tend to be quite set in my ways when it comes to what I use in the shower - I think I've been using some form of Soap & Glory body wash for about 6-7 years now! So I was excited to try something new...

I first tried the Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash because I was keen to see if it was similar to Dove soap. My Mum used to use Dove soap when I was little and the smell of it always takes me back to my childhood. This body wash is no different - it's got that classic scent that I love. The consistency of the product is really thick and feels gorgeous on the skin, it doesn't feel like it strips any moisture from my skin and once I'm out of the shower my skin is soft to touch. The Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash was very similar with just a different scent - blue fig and orange blossom. This is definitely one for early mornings when you need to wake yourself up! 

Overall I am really enjoying using these in the shower, especially on days when I'm in a rush and don't have time to moisturise after I've had a shower because they are so moisturising. I reckon they'll be great in the winter months when my skin is suffering and tight and dry. I also think these will last a long time because they're so rich that I barely use any product. 

You can buy Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash and Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash for £2.99 from Boots in store or online HERE or Superdrug in store or online HERE (but these are both on offer at the moment). I am really tempted to try the Shea Butter one next!

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

*PR sample

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray

Hi guys! Today's review is a product I've been using for a few months now, ever since my Moroccan Oil spray ran out. In fact the Macadamia Healing Oil Spray featured in my July Favourites HERE.

I picked up the Macadamia Healing Oil Spray from Buyapowa when it was on offer a really long time ago! It's taken me a while to get around to using it but now I am addicted. The 60ml bottle is really teeny tiny which was quite disappointing on first impressions but it's lasted really well so far and is quite a lot of product. The bonus of having a small bottle is that you can easily travel with it and pop it in your handbag if necessary.

I tend to spritz 2-3 squirts of this into my hand and scrunch it into my hair before blow drying - at first I used it after drying but I find if I use it before it helps absorb the water in my hair and it dries quicker. My favourite thing about this product is the smell, I thought I wouldn't be able to find something that smelt better than Moroccan Oil but this does! It's a really sweet scent that might not be a favourite for everyone but I love it, and it lingers on my hair for most of the day.

In terms of locking moisture into my hair and keeping it strong and healthy, it definitely does the job. I recently went blonde and was worried that my hair would become damaged and unmanageable but using this every time I dry my hair has helped to ensure that my hair is still shiny, healthy and strong. It's quite impressive how much difference a couple of squirts of something so small can make to my hair!

Price-wise, this isn't the cheapest oil spray you can get for your money but it's marginally cheaper than Moroccan Oil and I believe definitely worth investing in. One bottle will last you a few months (depending on how much hair you have and how often you wash it). You can get 60ml for £12.65 from Feel Unique HERE.

Have you tried anything from Macadamia before? What did you think?

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

My Favourite Blusher (guest post)

Hello everyone!

Today I'm bringing you one of my favourite blushes! 

Sleek do some really great blushes and they are so cheap, At only £4.50 they are amazing! They come in a matte black packaging with sleek written across the front. They have a mirror inside so super useful when you are out and about! The shade I am going to be talking about is flamingo, it is a gorgeous bright matte pink that gives such a lovely healthy glow to the skin. This colour can be applied really lightly for a hint of colour or really built up for a strong look.

I highly recommend this blush, you get 8g of product so it will last you a really long time!

Thanks for reading!

Georgina x

Today's guest post was brought to you by Georgina from PicturePerfectMakeup06!

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Fabulous Nails #51

Hi guys! Today's post is about one of my all-time favourite pastel nail colours - you might recognise it from my post on Spring Pastels earlier in the year (HERE). I am a massive fan of pastels all year round but this was a staple in my summer nail looks this year. 

This is Models Own Lemon Meringue. Yellow isn't a colour I wear very often on my nails although I do have a few yellow polishes in my collection. But this pastel, buttermilk yellow is a whole different story - I love the colour and I adore the way it looks on my nails. I added some subtle white polka dots to my nails to give this a girly edge (using my Models Own white nail art pen of course...!) and really like how it looks.

As with other Models Own nail varnishes I've tried, this one applies easily with a well-designed brush that's easy to grip because of the size of the lid. Unlike pastels I've tried from other brands, Models Own are really great in terms of consistency and longevity. I usually apply 3 coats for a truly opaque colour. Although we've definitely had the best of the sunshine this year, if you'd like to inject some sunshine into your life I really recommend this polish.

You can pick up Models Own Lemon Meringue for £5 from Models Own in store or online HERE, or from Superdrug or Boots in store.

What do you think of this pastel polish? Do you like pastels all year round too?

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

My Top Drugstore Lipstick Picks (guest post)

With apologies for how late this is going up (internet problems) - here's Georgina's latest guest post!

I love natural collection products and their lipsticks are such at steal! At only £1.99 they are creamy and super pigmented! The two colors I have are rose bud and raspberry, a light rosy pink with gold shimmer running through and a mid toned raspberry shade. Such beautiful shades and they last really nicely on the lips, they don't bleed into the lips they just leave a light stain.

Revlon do amazing lip products, so many people love them and the two products I'm going to talk about have been hyped so much and they are definitely worth it! First up I have a Revlon lip butter in strawberry shortcake, these are so smooth and really do feel buttery on the lips. You have to be careful with this shade as it can end up looking a little cakey and as its a true bubblegum pink it wont suit everyone's skin tone! My Revlon kissable balm stain in lovesick is one of my all time favourite lipsticks. I love a long lasting product and this guy stays put for a good 4-6 hours and isn't drying on the lips one bit! Lovesick is a bright blue based fuschia. Revlon can be a bit more expensive then a lot of brands in the drugstore, both of these cost £7.99 each.

I don't own too many products from Rimmel but their Apocalips have me hooked! They are insanely pigmented and again last for an amazing amount of time. Between me and my sister we have have a few shades but my favourite has to be Apocaliptic, It's a bright deep pink shade. These can bleed a little so I would recommend you use a lip liner underneath. These also have a bit of a strange smell so if you hate smells I would give these a sniff before you hand over your pennies! Priced at £6.49.

Lastly we have my favourite red of all time! Although this may not be classed as drugstore it's under £10 so I'm going to add it in! It's from Topshop and it's the most gorgeous deep matte red. At £8 its a bit higher up on the price scale but has good staying power and feels creamy on the lips. This is a must for you if you love matte lipsticks that are not drying and isn't the typical 'classic' red.

Strawberry shortcake, Rose bud, Lovesick, Rasberry, Apocaliptic, Hazard.

Thanks for reading!

Georgina

x

Today's guest post was brought to you by Georgina from PicturePerfectMakeup06!

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

My Top 5 Foundations (guest post)

Hello everyone! I never used to have much makeup and never wore foundation. About 2 years ago I started to notice my cheeks were always red so I decided to invest in a foundation! I now have over 10 foundations and my collection is growing by the day! Enough blabbing, today I am going to talk to you about my 5 favourite foundations.

First up we have Bourjois healthy mix. This bad boy costs £9.99 and is number one on my list. It offers a light coverage but can be built up. I have dry skin and this doesn't collect in any dry patches, it glides on smoothly and gives me a lovely natural satin finish. It contains numerous fruits which are meant to give radiance, hydration and a few other claims. As this foundation is perfumed it has been known to break out a few people, I haven't had a problem with that but just keep that in mind if you are going to buy it. Also it lasts on my skin for about 6-8 hours. I really like the packing, it comes in a plastic bottle and has a pump. You can easily see how much is left in the tube so you know when to rush out and get a new one!

Next up I have is Illamasqua skin base, this is the most expensive foundation I own coming in at £27 however I got mine for £18 when I went on a makeup course. I like to wear this foundation when I want more coverage, it has a medium to full coverage. This foundation comes in an amazing 25 shades so I'm sure there will be one to suit you. Again this comes in a plastic bottle and has a nozzle so easy application. coverage wise it doesn't look thick or cakey, it just looks like skin. Also this foundation does not sit on my dry patches.

My third choice is my No7 stay perfect foundation. This foundation is long lasting and has a semi matte finish. It comes in a glass bottle so can be risky when travelling. This foundation has SPF15 which is great for sunny days and I haven't noticed any flashback in photos. There is only one thing I don't like about this foundation, the shade I have in it leans slightly more pink then I wish it did. As I am yellow toned this can be a problem but as long as I blend properly I'm all good! This is a great foundation for everyday wear that gives you natural looking skin. Retailing at around £14/£15.

Although this next one is more of a tinted moisturiser I thought I would still add it in. Maybeline's dream fresh BB cream offers a very low coverage but gives a gorgeous healthy glow. Not the most long lasting on the skin but great for when your just popping out somewhere. This BB cream comes in a squeezy tube and contains spf 20. The colour selection is awful with only 3/4 shades, I can just get away with the lightest shade when I'm tanned so will be no good for all the pale girls! Pricing is around £6-£8 depending where you buy it from

Finally I have my L'Oreal foundation. I count this one as just my bog standard foundation, for days when I'm just going to work I will use this one. The shade selection is great in this range and they also do 3 tones, cool, neutral and yellow. With this foundation I do have to make sure I apply a lot of moisturiser as it can sit in my dry patches. This one has more of a matte finish then my others but is not completely matte. I do like this foundation but I don't love it, a good one to try if you are just starting out. I got mine from boots and it cost £9.99.

Thank you all so much for reading!

Georgina

X

Today's guest post was brought to you by Georgina from PicturePerfectMakeup06!

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty

Sports Direct Sportswear Haul

Hi guys! Today's haul post is from Sports Direct - not somewhere I shop very often but because I'm doing so well with my recovery from my knee surgery I am now allowed to exercise! I thought I would kick off my 'new' fitness regime by investing in some new workout gear - I used to exercise a lot before my surgery and I already own some fitness clothes but there's nothing like some new stuff to inspire me to exercise!

My old trainers are a little old and tired, so I decided to buy some new ones! These basic grey and white Slazenger ones are actually tennis shoes but they work fine for me as I usually work out in my living room and just need trainers that absorb the shock and protect my knees. These were a complete bargain and only £19.99 - HERE.

Of course when wearing trainers you need trainer socks, and I like these super cheap coloured ones because it's easy to keep them in their pairs! £2.50 for 5 pairs HERE.

I usually wear crop tops when exercising because I get so hot and sweaty doing cardio, but I sometimes do a bit of pilates or yoga and prefer longer tops, like this one which was £9 HERE. It has a 'built in' sports bra but I also wear my own sports bra because built in bras never have sufficient support. 

I love wearing 3/4 capris when exercising, but I only have bright turquoise ones at the moment! I spotted these simple black Adidas ones for £12 and thought they would go with everything! Link HERE.

To satisfy my addiction to crop tops I picked up this Karrimor one - I love the colour and it's also a little bit longer which is a bonus because a lot of crop tops ride up when I'm exercising and show the bottom of my sports bra - not a good look! This was a complete steal at £4.50 so not breaking the bank HERE.

The sports bra I wear is by Freya - I really recommend Freya for sports bras if you're bit fuller in the bust area, I have tried a lot of other brands and nothing else gives me the same support. It's important that when you exercise your bust does not move at all, otherwise you're damaging your breast tissue which can cause all sorts of problems. So my advice is, regardless of what else you wear when you exercise, make sure you're supported in a good sports bra!

I hope you enjoyed reading this haul, which is a little bit different to my usual hauls but it's really relevant to my current lifestyle. If you have any tips about fitness wear then please leave them in the Comments below!

xx

Bloglovin  Twitter  Facebook  She Said Beauty