Barry M Textured Nail Effect Polish

I think Barry M nail polishes are great! They have a great finish and have staying power, plus they are fab value for money and normally retail for between £2.99 and £3.99.
While in my local Boots store recently I picked up a new Texture Effect polish.

The polish comes in great Spring Summer shades.

Light Blue - Atlantic Road
Baby Pink - Kingsland Road
Yellow - Station Road
Mint - Ridley Road

Each polish is named after famous haunts where Mr Barry Mero began his early working days in the markets of South and East London.

I opted for Ridley Road but will probably end up purchasing all colours.
Two coats of the polish are required to give the best coverage. But no top coat is required for to the matte textured effect the polish provides.
It does take a little effort to wipe off but nowhere near as bad as glitter is to remove.

This polish is a bargain at £3.99 and is great for the Summer! I will be wearing mine when I go on holiday in May as they look extra fab with a tan.

Have you tried this polish? Which shade did you opt for?

Rhian Xx

London Beauty Halls - Which One Rules The Roost?

Last weekend I headed to London to enjoy a special break with the lovely Sheenie.
Whilst shopping on Oxford street I visiting four separate beauty halls within department stores.
I visited; John Lewis, House Of Fraser and Debenhams and basically they are next to one another. The brands they offer are much of a muchness and as the prices are fixed by the counter, so which do you choose?

Now this may seem like a rather unusual blog post, but being a buyer in my day job, retail and all aspects of the shopping experience captivate me. And while I walked these halls I wondered which shopping experience I enjoyed the most.

Firstly - John Lewis
This is definitely the most glamorous and comprehensive of the three. And having undergone a make over last year which included a launch event, I was hardly surprised that this hall would win the style stakes.
Certain brands have specific areas, more like shop in shop concepts than just consignments e.g Jo Malone.
I was greeted by a number of people handing out perfume samples, which I happily took.
I also hovered around a few brands stands to see which brands would approach me.
Now the store was busy, it was Saturday afternoon after all, but the staff did not seem approachable nor helpful and while I browsed one brand, three staff members chatted not once looking up to acknowledge me. At this point I should add that nothing annoys me more than this.
The additional space that this hall offered too smaller sections which were sat in product category e.g nail polishes was great and key brands were featured which is just what you need from a department store. - I will point out that the reason I was particularly impressed by the nail polish is because in my local John Lewis (Cardiff) the product is so poorly displayed it almost seems like a local pharmacy where they have just plonked it on and end and forgotten about it.
Another great point was that they included electrical beauty product within the beauty hall including hair straighteners, this is something I've not seen executed well before so was a definite bonus!

Next Stop - House Of Fraser
This store also seemed to have had a face lift since my previous visit.
It was not as large or as impressive as John Lewis but the staff were second to none.
Each brand I looked at had a helpful and polite member of staff offering help and advice on products, even when staff were busy with other customers I was still acknowledged.
The brands were very similar to John Lewis, but in terms of the type of brands that appealed to me, it had an Urban Decay counter which John Lewis did not. (this could be down to customer profile, I would imagine John Lewis and House of Fraser have a very similar overall customer profile, but in terms of fashion and beauty may be slightly younger - just my opinion)

Finally - Debenhams.
Now I guess this was just poor timing,-Debenhams were in the midst of a beauty hall face lift (understandable in order to keep up with their neighbours) So it is a little hard to judge it on appearance. However, I will add that as I mentioned I was impressed that John Lewis had featured electrical in amongst beauty product, Debenhams very randomly had a hair concession in the middle of their shoe department!????
Now I will let Debenhams off with their appearance as it is unfair to judge them in the middle of renovations, and I'm sure it will eventually look fab as Cardiff store has definitely improved.
What I will not forgive Debenhams for is their customer service or lack of it.
Despite walking around and taking an interest in certain brands I was only acknowledged an approached by one brand - Benefit.
This is very disappointing.


Which would I choose?
Tough call, as they are all much of a muchness in terms of product offering. But if I could combine the John Lewis shop floor with the level of service I received in House of Fraser it would be perfect!
If I was purchasing a brand which was on all three stores, I would purchase at House Of Fraser - it's all very well and good to have a beautiful beauty hall but if the customer service level isn't there it just doesn't appeal to me.

So well done House of Fraser you won me over due to service.

Rhian Xx

Lush - Lip Scrub

I'm a fan of anything bubblegum flavoured, and someone recently posted a pic on Instagram of the Lush lip scrub which was bubblegum flavoured.
I knew at this moment I had to have it.

I've never bought anything from Lush before. I've heard lots of good things, but sometimes the smell can be a little bit overpowering I'm store for my sensitive nostrils.

The girl that served me in store at the London, Brent Cross branch was very helpful.
The instructions for the use of this lip scrub was simple.
Take a pinch.
Close Lips
Scrub
Lick off (my favourite part)

I'm not someone that suffers with chapped lips. (Luckily) but I do always like to keep them moisturised and smooth.

The product is simple. The primary product is none other than Castor Sugar - hence why you can lick it off.

I've used the product for a few days now and my lips are always soft after use (they advise it is best used after a shower)
Bubblegum isn't the only flavour though. It's also available in Mint Julep and Popcorn.
You only need a little so it should last a long time, just make sure you always seal it back up properly.
I'm even going to recommend this product to my friend Kirsty who tends to suffer with chapped lips and I think I will give her some of mine to try, and ask her to talk to you about the results!

The lip scrub retails for £5.25 and tastes delicious.

Rhian Xx

Benefit Fake Up! Concealer

So recently I was lucky enough to be invited to a Benefit Cosmetics blogging event in Swansea for the launch of Benefit's latest product. Fake Up concealer.
At first I found it a little strange that it was held in Swansea rather than Cardiff, but as it turns out the Benefit counter I'm Swansea is the No.1 in the country! Who would have thought it hey!?
At the event we were greeted with a champagne reception, along with canapés and fresh strawberries, this accompanied by the views of Swansea bay from the 27th floor of the Meridian Tower only added to the event - delicious!
An introduction to the Benefit team quickly followed and then the whole reason we were there, Fake Up was revealed.

Fake Up is marketed as a hydrating, creaseless concealer, and is available in three shades.
•Light
•Medium
•Deep

The concealer itself is surrounded by a hydrating ring, Lisa - Benefit's Head Make Up and Trend Artist (and Brow Expert) demonstrated the product, applying in a 'V 'shape on the under eye area, a little provides excellent coverage and instantly brightens the under eye area while feeling soothing too.
The product can also be used in your laughter lines (if you have any that is) down the centre of your nose for a slimming effect or anywhere else that you may wish to highlight. - The brow bone was another great tip, along with around your nose for a little pick me up if suffering from a cold or redness.
I was colour matched as 01 - Light
But Lisa also demonstrated a great trick using the mid and deep shades to contour the cheekbones, a process I have become fond of. The product blends seamlessly with the rest of your make up.

I was impressed by the concealer and it definitely does work!
I'm not someone that has particular issues with darkness in the under eye area but I have used this product every day since I've had it, along with the deep to contour.
The concealer retails for £18.50, so it's not cheap but it is less that YSL's Touché Éclat and dare I say it - I think I prefer it to the cult favourite.
If you do usually purchase Touché Éclat I would recommend giving the Benefit one a go!

The event itself was great, we were colour matched to a Hello Flawless foundation shade which we also got to take away as well as being left to try out other Benefit product.
I also got to meet lots of other amazingly lovely welsh bloggers!

Benefits Fake Up concealer hits counters on the 30.03.13 and as I mentioned retails for £18.50
It was released in America last week and has already sold out so it you are looking to grab one be quick!

Rhian Xx


Images of the event are posted below;

Boots No.7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish - So Simple

I don't really have much of a relationship with Boots' No.7 range... I've only ever really purchased it when I've had a voucher for £5 off, in all honesty I find it a little pricey for an own label make up brand and would rather purchase Boots' Seventeen range instead.

As nude nails are on trend this season I thought I would talk to you about a No.7 polish which I previously purchased (using the £5 off voucher you get given at the till) £2 for a nail polish is a bargain!

So Simple is a lovely shade, and has a very subtle sheen undertone which is barely noticeable unless you hold the polish up to the light.
I always apply a base coat to my nails first, so the application of this polish should have been care free.
The coverage on the first coat wasn't great and I was a little disappointed. If I was paying the full £7 for this polish I would expect an at least half decent first coat. Two coats did give an all over coverage which looked great when first applied and I was happy with the result.

Upon waking up the next day - SHOCK HORROR... I had a chip!
Now... I'm the kind of girl that does not leave the house without nail polish - also if required I will paint my nails twice a week as I cannot stand chips in polish.
I was not happy :-(
Now I would like to say that this was the only chip... A good polish normally lasts me five days this barely lasted me one before more chips started to appear! Now three days after first application my nails are a sorry state of affairs and this polish has to go!

I would not recommend this product to any one considering paying the full £7. There are much cheaper better alternatives.
For a product calling itself "Stay Perfect" it leaves a lot to be desired.
The only plus point is the shade, it is a great classic nude.

Rhian Xx