Fabulous Nails - Magnificent Metallics

Hi guys! At this time of year there's only one nail look you should be thinking about - to help you pick the perfect shade here are some magnificent metallics from my collection.

L > R:

MUA Stormy Skies, Collection Hot Looks All That Jazz, Seventeen Navy Glint, Barry M Silvery Lilac

L > R:

Maybelline Silver Speed, Collection Hot Looks Jitterbug, Models Own Indian Ocean, Nails Inc Great Tichfield Street, Miss Sporty 312

Are you a fan of metallic nails for the party season? Which is your favourite?

xx

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Soap and Glory Flake Away

Hi guys! Today I am reviewing one of my all time favourite body scrubs - Soap & Glory's remarkable Flake Away.

I have been using this product for absolutely ages - years and years! So I'm not sure how I've managed to forget to review it on little old Bee's Knees for so long. That said, autumn is the perfect time of year to review a scrub because I don't know about you, but my skin is so flakey and dry - it's pretty disgusting. I have been using Flake Away on a weekly basis since the onset of the cold weather and it's rocked my world.

As you can see, this product is one of those gorgeous, thick body scrubs that you can feel working when you rub it into your skin. Ingredients include shea butter, sweet almond oil and sea salt. The smell is pretty damn amazing - I absolutely adore using this after soaking in a steaming bath in the winter months, it's very luxurious and rich. Although it is quite grainy and coarse, the texture isn't too harsh on my skin - it's the perfect balance which leaves my skin soft but not scrubbed raw.

After use my skin is not only exfoliated but also moisturised - I think the shea butter helps to avoid that dry skin feeling can be a problem after using  a lot of other body scrubs I've tried. Instead you could easily use this on the go without any moisturiser, although I recommend for best results following up with an intensive body butter. That combination will leave you with the silkiest legs you've ever had! The 300ml tub is massive and will last you months and months depending on how often you use it. You don't need a lot of product for each use and a little goes a long way! For the price I'm not sure if there's anything better on the market.

Flake Away is available in a 300ml full sized tub for £7.50 HERE or if you'd like to try a smaller size, the travel version is 50ml for £2.50 HERE.

Are you a fan of Soap & Glory? What's your favourite product?

xx

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Bourjois Happy Light Primer - Luminous

Hi guys! Today I am reviewing my first ever product from Bourjois - I have never used anything from the brand before for a number of reasons but picked up the new Happy Light Primer in Luminous a few weeks ago and want to share my thoughts with you!

I'm not really the kind of girl that has time for primers - if you work full time you'll understand how precious a few extra minutes in the morning can be - they can be the difference between being late to work or arriving on time, or even just having enough time for a cuppa before heading out! For this reason I have always been sceptical about using primers because they seem like an unnecessary step in my make up routine that I could do without - until now.

Bourjois Happy Light Primer comes in two options - Matte or Luminous. As I am currently using a powder foundation I didn't think the Matte primer would be beneficial because I don't really have problems with shininess on my face, so I opted to try the Luminous one. I had heard good things generally about this primer, and hoped it would add a bit of a glow to my tired skin and stop me from looking like a corpse this winter!

The effect of using this primer is ever so subtle - it's not something I noticed immediately but once I applied a full face of make up with the primer underneath, I did notice a difference in my skin which appeared smoother and the annoying fine lines around my mouth and eyes were a  bit less visable. It's not a miracle worker and won't make you look like a supermodel, but this primer does give my skin an ever so subtle glow and radiance that simply applying foundation fails to deliver. I only apply 1.5 pumps to my face after moisturising and before applying concealer and foundation, which means this product is going to last me a long time.

I'm not currently using this every day but when I do use it, I notice a difference. It's not a one-product-miracle but if you're on the market for a radiance primer I recommend giving this a go. It's quite pricey at £10.99 - I picked it up on an introductory offer in Superdrug and I'm not sure I would buy it full price, but if you're the kind of girl that uses primers regularly it may be a more worthy investment.

You can pick up the Bourjois Happy Light Luminous Primer for £10.99 in your local Boots or Superdrug, or online HERE and HERE.

Have you tried this primer before? What did you think?

xx

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Fabulous Nails - Gorgeous Greens

Hi guys! In the month of December you may think it's all about golds, glitters and reds but of course let's not forget the greenest Christmas symbol of them all - the Christmas tree! In celebration of this timeless icon of festiveness let's have a look at some gorgeous green polishes..

L > R:

Maybelline Color Show in Green, Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Watermelon, No7 Totally Teal

L > R:

Barry M Teal, Revlon Top Speed Emerald, elf Teal Blue

How do you feel about green nails at Christmastime? Are you a fan? What's your favourite?

xx

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Pure Anti-Ageing Super Active Overnight Oil

Hi guys! Today I'm reviewing a product I haven't read much about in the beauty blogging world - the Pure Anti-Ageing Super Active Overnight Oil. I picked this up a month or so ago from Marks and Spencers' magical beauty department after reading some pretty amazing reviews online... for only £6 it's definitely a more affordable option for those of us who are concerned about keeping our skin young and moisturised.

I hadn't heard of the brand Pure until I found this product, but after reading around a bit I quite like them and I'm keen to try other products. They offer natural and paraben free products at pocket-friendly prices. What's not to like?!

I was on the market for an overnight skin oil and had considered other hyped about products (most notable the Kiehls Midnight Recovery range) but I just couldn't justify spending so much on something I wasn't certain would work for my skin! Enter Pure Anti-Ageing Super Active Overnight Oil. This was a bargain £6 for 12ml from M&S HERE.

The product is designed to nourish and restore dry skin overnight, whilst also fighting against the much -dreaded ageing process. Exactly what I was after. I haven't used a facial oil before but I have found this really easy to use, and not at all scary. I apply 2-3 drops to my face before bed using my fingers to softly massage into my skin. I don't use this every night but once every two to three days in place of my usual night cream. I find that this is often enough to keep my skin hydrated without suffocating it, and honestly it really does work. The fine lines I've noticed on my face are less obvious and whilst my skin is usually dry and tight at this time of year, instead it's normal and nourished.

I haven't been using this long enough to advise on the long term effects but so far so good - I'm really happy with how well my skin has taken to this product and will continue to rely on it throughout the winter.

Have you tried anything from Pure before? What's your favourite overnight skincare saviour?

xx

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Fabulous Nails - Lush Lacquers

Hi guys! Today's Fabulous Nails post is a bit of a brand focus on Lush Lacquers (now known as Polish Me Silly) - an independent polish brand you can buy from Etsy (HERE).

L > R:

Snow Angel, Silver Bells, Festival of Lights, Birthday Cake, Snow Globe

Have you tried any indie nail polish brands you think I'd like? Let me know in the Comments!

xx

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Festive Friday - Best Places for Presents

Hi guys! Today's Festive Friday post is all about where to find the best Christmas presents for the loved ones in your life. I put a lot of time and effort into finding the perfect gifts for my nearest and dearest and pride myself on being a bit of a bargain hunter. So instead of sharing a general gift guide that might not be helpful for everyone, here are a few pointers to help you get started if you've still a few people to tick off your Christmas present list...

First up is TK Maxx - one of my favourite shops all year around this place usually contains some amazing little gems for you to root around and find! Most people think TK Maxx requires a lot of time and dedication to find bargains and I think that is true to an extent, but it totally depends on what you're looking for. This Christmas I've picked up a few presents for different people from TK Maxx, from a Ralph Lauren jumper for my Dad to a Fred Perry one for my brother, and some delightful homewares for my Mum and sister! If you're after clothes then it might take some time to find what you want but I always pop in on my lunch and browse through the candle section and the beauty section - there are almost always well known brands with huge discounts and the candles especially are a great low price stocking filler for Christmastime.

Wilkos definitely isn't the kind of shop most of my friends would think of when it comes to present buying, but actually it's a great place to find little somethings for your friends and family. I really rate the homeware offerings from Wilkos and they've stepped up their game considerably in recent years. Instead of splashing cash at John Lewis or House of Fraser get the same thing from Wilkos for half the price and your loved ones will be none the wiser! Genius. Wilkos is also fantastic for Christmas decorations and wrapping paper - so much cheaper but great quality.

Last but not least is BHS. This is the kind of shop I was dragged along to as a child when my Mum was school uniform shopping, but in recent years I've picked up so many brilliant gifts from there! The Christmastime gift section is full of anything and everything you can imagine and the stock is really similar to Debenhams, just marginally cheaper and BHS frequently have special offers on in December. This year I've treated my other half to a bobbly hat and a soft knit cardigan from BHS that you would think came straight from Topman, and I've also bought some food gifts for the in laws. Take a peek and you might be surprised, with free delivery on orders over £10 you don't even have to leave the house!

Where do you buy your Christmas presents from? Are you all sorted for this year?

xx

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Dove Style+Care Soft Styling Range*

Hi guys! Today's post is all about the new Dove Style+Care Soft Styling Range* for your hair which I was lucky enough to be sent to try out! Dove isn't a brand I would automatically associate with hair care so I was intrigued to see what these products would be like...

Apologies for the stock photo - if you're based in the UK you'll know we have had really dull weather in the past couple of weeks and I haven't been able to take any decent photos for this post! I received the Heat Protect Spray, the Refresh+Care Dry Shampoo and the Frizz-Free Shine Cream Serum. 

You might know that my hair is currently really damaged from originally dying it blonde and then back to brunette again over the course of a few months. It's really not been great so I started using the heat protect spray and cream serum as soon as I received them hoping for a miracle... and honestly? I have been seriously impressed. I found the products worked together perfectly to give my hair shine and moisture that wasn't greasy and didn't weigh it down. After washing my hair I spritz a bit of heat protect spray over my hair and then run a pump of the serum through the lengths of my hair before drying and styling as usual. Just adding the serum to my routine has made my hair unbeliveably soft and much more manageable which makes me wonder what I've been doing to my hair until now! Add to that the gorgeous traditional Dove scent and I am completely won over by these products, my hair smells delicious all day long.

As for the dry shampoo, I can't claim to be much of an expert in this area because I don't really use these kind of products too often. But I have given this one a go and really liked it, it gives my hair texture and oomph without leaving a sticky or thick residue which is something I've come across with other brands. The Dove dry shampoo contains starch instead of powder, which makes it stand out from other brands available and might be why I noticed a difference in the texture of my hair after using this. Again the scent of this product is just yummy and I am getting a little addicted to it after using this range so much lately!

Overall I would definitely recommend giving the Dove Style+Care range a whirl - if you're looking for a couple of products that will be easy to incorporate into your routine but give noticeable shine and moisture, the heat protect spray and cream serum should be top of your list. If you're a frequent user of dry shampoo it's really worth popping the dry shampoo into your basket too, it could completely change the texture (and smell!) of your hair on those lazy no-shower days!

The Style+Care range retails from Boots and Superdrug for around £4.50 in your local store or online HERE.

Have you tried any hair care from Dove before? What did you think?

xx

*PR sample

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Fabulous Nails - Glamorous Glitters

Hi guys! I think it's safe to say I have an obsession with glitter nail polishes all year round, but at this time of the year I'm especially bad! Why don't you have a nosy at some of my most glamorous glitters?

L > R:

Ciate Halo, Models Own Snowflake, Kiko Sparkle Touch 230, Kiko 273, Kiko 271

L > R:

Revlon Stunning, Rimmel Precious Stones Diamond Dust, Technic Carnival

L > R:

Ciate Twilight, MUA Seahorse, Essie Beyond Cozy, Topshop Tingle

Do you love glitters too? Which is your favourite?

xx

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Festive Friday - Five Things

Hi guys! Today's Festive Friday post is going to be a bit of a Christmas overload... now it's officially December and our tree is up I have been going absolutely nuts over festive things! I thought it would be nice to share five things I bought in the past couple of weeks...

You might recognise this from the background of my other Festive Friday posts - it's one of Primark's cosy fleece-style blankets that they bring out for only £5 every year. I have one from last year that's looking a bit dog eared so I treated the house to a new one this year and I adore it. The print is so pretty and festive and it's so comfy to snuggle up with on a cold night.

Another amazing festive print (are you beginning to notice a theme?!) - this onesie was absolutely irresistible when I spotted it in Tesco's whilst doing a food shop. I saw a couple I liked in Primark last week but they were made from a strange material whereas this one is just nice soft jersey. I love the fur-lined hood and pom poms, and it was a bargain at £16. I'll definitely be wearing this whilst unwrapping presents on Christmas morning.

How cute are these little slipper socks?! They're so unbelievably warm and cosy because they're lined with fleecey fake fur, and they're a great alternative to regular slippers because they have anti-slip pads on the bottom. I haven't taken these off since I bought them, I'm really impressed especially as they were only £3 from Primark!

And of course whilst in Primark I had to pick up some Christmassy pajama bottoms! I love the reindeer print on these and of course the navy/red fairisle print goes with absolutely everything else in this post. They were £6 and are made from a lovely flannel material, just perfect for cold winter nights.

Last but not least is this little early Christmas present for myself. I had a really bad day at work a couple of weeks ago and had to escape at lunchtime for some retail therapy. Of course I found myself in the beauty section of TK Maxx and spotted this gorgeous festive Deborah Lippmann gift set for only £14.99!

In the set are these three full sized polishes - Run, Run Rudolph is an amazing fine glitter polish that I will be wearing this weekend. Let it Snow! is a pretty light silver/white colour that's a real classic and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree is definitely going to be my Christmas day polish this year because the red and green glitter in a black base is just amazing! Love it.

I've never tried any polishes from Deborah Lippmann before so I'm intrigued to see how I get on with these. I've heard lots of good things about the brand, and for £5 per polish it's hardly breaking the bank!

What do you think of my five festive things? Have you been shopping for Christmas themed treasures recently?

xx

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Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in 'Plum Jam'

Hi guys! Plum Jam just sounds lovely, doesn't it? It's the kind of lip shade that sounds autumn-appropriate, and Soap and Glory have really hit the nail on the head with this berry coloured Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick!

I have reviewed a Gloss Stick in the shade Fuschia-Ristic before (HERE) - I'm a big fan of S&G anyway but these Gloss Sticks are absolutely brilliant for days when you just can't be fussing with lipstick. They offer a decent amount of colour payoff, a lot of gloss and some hydration, all in one easy to apply, vanilla flavoured stick!

I know the make up market has been somewhat oversaturated with products that look exactly like this - there have been so many I would be here all day if I mentioned them all! But in my opinion the S&G Gloss Sticks and the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains are the best of the lot, and this shade from S&G might just be my all-time favourite..

It's a deep berry shade that you can build up as much as you want - the photo above shows a light wash of colour over my lips but if you prefer a darker lip you can layer it up easily. The glossy sheen might not be everyone's cup of tea but I really love it - sometimes a more matte finish can make a berry lip colour look a little bit extreme. These last well and are easy to apply without a mirror, and even for my super-dry lips they're moisturising and not drying at all.

Overall I really recommend giving the Gloss Sticks a try, especially the ever so delicious Plum Jam shade! You can pick them up for £8 from your local Boots instore or online HERE.

Have you tried the S&G Gloss Sticks before? Which is your favourite?

xx

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