CreaClip - Review

Hello everyone, I hope you are well!

Today I am going to be reviewing a hair product called the CreaClip.

The CreaClip is a tool you can use that helps to make cutting your hair at home a lot easier! You can use it to keep on top of your current hair styles between salon visits, or if you are like me and you prefer cutting your own hair regularly rather than spending a lot of money at a salon. I prefer styling my own hair and have been doing it myself for a long time now.
 

I was so happy when I came across this product as it has made cutting my hair so much easier than my usual routine.

CreaClip set* - £19.99

What they say:-  

Cut your own hair at home with professional results. For easy and precise cuts everytime! Great for cutting children's hair, trimming bangs, creating layers, or just maintaining a hairstyle between cuts-anytime, any place!

   

In the Creaclip set you get:-

• One small CreaClip - For short hair and fringes/bangs
• One Large Curved CreaClip- For long hair and layers

The CreaClip set contains 2 products that help you to cut length off your hair, trim your fringe or add layers.

Each clip comes in two sizes, they both have a rotating level which means you can cut your hair straight so you aren't left with uneven styles.  You can lock the clip into place which helps to secure your hair without the hassle of the clip moving around.

(pictures taken with Canon A3300is)

General instructions for using the clip:-

1. Use on clean, dry hair.
2. Use mirror when trimming your own hair.
3. Comb out all knots and tangles.
4. Use sharp haircutting scissors.
5. Sit or stand straight.
6. Make sure the level is balanced by checking to see if the bubble is between the two lines. 

Instructions for cutting hair (one length)

1.  Tilt chin forward to chest and clip the long curved CreaClip as close as possible to the hair roots.
2. Adjust the clip until leveled (use a mirror for this step) and slide clip down to desired length you want to cut.
3. Bring the hair forward and trim along the bottom of the clip using horizontal or vertical cuts.

*For thick hair you will need to section your hair. I usually split my hair into three sections.

Also if your hair is curly, cut off less! You need to remember that curly hair springs back and will look much shorter than it would on straight hair.*

I did find it a little difficult to cut my hair own my own at first but there are many step by step videos on the CreaClip website and YouTube that will help to show you how to do it and once you get the hang of it, it is very simple!

Pros

• Lock to secure product whilst cutting your hair
• Rotating level for precise cuts
• Teeth to help comb out hair and distribute evenly 
• Easy to use
• Saves money

Cons

• Only available online

Overall this product is brilliant!  I have used it a few times already and I love it! 

If you want to try out the CreaClip and you live in the UK or Europe then you can visit the CreaClip website, they have a warehouse in the UK for fast shipping and no customs charges all over Europe.

What do you think about this product? Have you used anything similar? Let me know!

Natasha Carly x

Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Bloglovin'

Follow in Instagram @prettylittlelives 

*Disclaimer PR sample - My opinions are still 100% honest

Garnier BB Cream - combination/oily skin

Hello everyone, I hope you are well!

Today I'm going to be sharing a review on the Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector for combination to oily skin.

Garnier BB Cream combination to oily skin (Light) - £9.99 

(I got this on offer for £7.49 from Superdrug however I would happily pay the full amount!)

I was slightly apprehensive about trying this BB cream at first because a while back I ordered a sample of the original Garnier BB cream and didn't have a very good experience with it at all. It didn't agree with my skin whatsoever and the consistency was far too thick and I found it to be quite greasy! 

Luckily this BB cream is nothing like the original which is a pleasant surprise! It has a more watery and runny consistency which in my opinion is much better. It hasn't broken me out! (woohoo) and it also manages to keep shine and oil under control for much longer than my regular foundation I was using previous to this (double woohoo!)

I have COMPLETELY cut out foundation from my make up routine... yes that's right! No more foundation for me and my skin is definitely enjoying the benefits of being 'foundation free'. The texture and appearance of my skin has transformed majorly since using this product. I'm not saying it is 100% spot free and my skin is in now way perfect, but the change is still very noticeable!

Directions

Smooth Miracle Skin Perfector on to clean skin, as you would your normal moisturiser. 
To increase coverage, just add another layer!

• I apply this using my fingers after cleansing my face, I do use this alongside my regular moisturiser as I think it applies much more evenly and it glides onto the skin much better.

Summary 

Pros:

• Oil free
• Non comedogenic
• Keeps shine at bay
• Contains SPF 20
• Light to medium coverage
• Evens skin tone

Cons:

• Limited colour range (only available in light or medium) 
• I think the packaging could be improved slightly as the product tends to leak out into the lid.

Overall I think this product is brilliant and definitely worth a go! I would recommend this product to anyone with combination to oily skin who is wanting to try a BB cream for the first time but is unsure about which one to try.

(Pictures taken with iPhone 4s)

What is your favourite BB cream? Have you tried this one? Let me know!

Natasha Carly x

Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Bloglovin'

Follow on Instagram @prettylittlelives

*Please be aware that any offers or prices mentioned in my posts may have changed by the time you read them.*

February Favourites

Hello everyone, I hope you are well! 

Here are my favourite products of last month. 

Face

Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes (normal & combination skin) - Superdrug £2.99
I usually use the Simple Cleansing Wipes but they were out of stock when I went to the store, so instead I picked up the Nivea wipes and I'm glad I did! I have been enjoying them a lot more than the Simple facewipes, they smell amazing and leave my face feeling clean and soft.

Maybelline Colossal Volum Express The Rocket Mascara (Very black) - Superdrug £7.99
I went into Superdrug to repurchase my usual mascara which is the Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal Cat Eyes (the yellow one - these names are far too long for my liking!) When I got to the till I was asked if I wanted to try the Rocket one as it was on offer, after requesting to take a look at the wand before purchasing and with very little persuasion I decided to give it a go! At first I was a little unsure about this mascara as I'm not really a fan of the 'plastic bristle' wands but I find this wand is much more flexible than the other harder plastic brushes I've tried in the past and now I am in love with this mascara! It spreads out my eyelashes without clumping and gives me great volume and length - although my eyelashes don't look quite like they do on the advert!

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara - Fragrance Direct £6.50
My boyfriend gave me this as a gift from as part of a Wowcher deal and it was love at first sight! This mascara is brilliant, my eyelashes always look amazing after using this. I tend to use this mascara alongside my main mascara - this is my personal preference as I like the look I get when I layer up my mascaras. However I do wear this on its own on days where I'm not wearing much makeup or if I want a more subtle, natural look.

Hair

Edward Beale Ultra Gloss Argan Oil (normal/coarse thick hair) - TK Maxx £9.99
I found this in TK Maxx last year when I was browsing through the hair care and beauty section. I think this store is amazing, I always find something new to try out and everything I find is usually very reasonably priced!
I have tried many hair oils but it's always nice to try out more! The thing I like about this oil is that it is very lightweight on  my hair and doesn't way it down, it also smells good! I use this on towel dried hair and then go ahead and style my hair as usual. It always feels soft and looks shiny after using this.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Conditioner - TK Maxx £12.99
My boyfriend's sister bought this back from America for me and I fell in love with it, it seriously is a miracle product! I didn't want to like this product as much as I do because it's not easy to get hold of in the UK (as far as I know) and I know I would have been rather upset when it had ran out. Luckily TK Maxx came to my rescue just in the nick of time! I noticed them when I was Christmas shopping in Manchester so decided to stock up on a few! My hair has never felt so good! I use this every time I wash my hair, it detangles my hair in no time and leaves it feeling soft and extremely moisturised.

Lips

I have had extremely chapped lips for the past few months and these lovely products have been getting me through! As well as my homemade sugar and honey lip scrub! 

Nivea Pearly Shine - Superdrug £1.49
I like this lip balm as it gives me a sheer pink tint on the lips which means I can have a hint of colour on my lips at the same time as moisturising them.

EOS Summer Fruit Lip Balm (organic) - Amazon £6.99 
Boots now stock a different version of these lip balms called 'Balmi' they cost £4.99 and contain SPF. I don't know how good they are as I haven't tried them for myself but I'm sure they do the same job if not, better!

Vaseline (with Aloe Vera) - Boots £1.99
This is my favourite Vaseline out of all of them mainly because of the smell!  It also works really well under lipsticks.

Nails

(pictures taken with Canon A3300is)

Essie We're in it together- available at Boots £7.99
I have been loving this nail polish as you probably know from my previous blog posts! (take a look here). The colour is gorgeous and I love how it looks on my nails. I actually got this when it was on offer on the Fragrance Direct website but I'm not sure if they stock this colour anymore.

Barry M Diamond Glitter - Boots £2.99
I love the Barry M glitter polishes, I really need to get more! They are a simple way to jazz up your nails when you don't have time for fancy nails designs and patterns.

Nail Art Fine Painting Brushes - Ebay £2.69
I have been looking around for more nail tools in the hope that if I practice nail designs more often then I'll get better at them. These are really easy to use and the fine brush tips make nail designs much simpler to do if you're a beginner like myself I would definitely recommend getting some brushes like these.

What were your February favourites?

Natasha Carly x

Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton 

Follow on Instagram - @prettylittlelives

*Please be aware that any offers or prices mentioned in my posts may have changed by the time you read them.*

Simple Valentine's Day Nails

Hello everyone, I hope you are well!

As it's Valentine's Day tomorrow, I thought I would post a picture of the nail design that I will be wearing.

I have been LOVING  triangle accent nails recently so instead of going for my usual heart designs, I decided I wanted to do something simple and a little different. 

 This is the design that I came up with:-

(Taken with iPhone 4s)

I used a baby pink and a shimmery purple for this nail design. I think the two colours go really well together and I like them of my traditional pink nails with hearts.

The polishes I used are both from the Essie range, I used 'We're in it together' and 'It's genius'. This design is so simple to do and works with many different polishes and colours!

What nail designs have you come up with? Comment below and let me know!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! 

Natasha Carly x

 Prettylittlelives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton

Follow on Instagram - @prettylittlelives

We're in it together.

Hello everyone, I hope you are all well!

Today I'm sharing my current favourite nail polish/nail looks with you, featuring Essie's 'We're in it together' - This cost me just £1.99 from the Fragrance Direct Website I ordered a few other colours too as they were such a bargain!

This is such a beautiful colour, to me this is THE perfect pink! I've been enjoying mixing it up with other colours and glitter polishes epecially Barry M 'Diamond Glitter' and China Glaze 'Champagne Bubbles' (as shown below).

(pictures taken with iPhone 4s)

If you would like to see a step by step tutorial of how I did this triangle design then let me know in a comment below. There are many videos on YouTube that show you how to do this but it's really simple to do and I would love to share my tips with you.

What are your current favourite nail designs?

Natasha Carly x

Prettylittlelives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton

Follow on Instagram - @prettylittlelives

Let It Rock!

Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas holidays!

I certainly did! I ate a lot of food and and spent lots of quality time with my family, just what I needed!

Today I'm going to share a perfume that I got for Christmas that I have been loving!

Vivienne Westwood - Let It Rock 30ml

 (Pictures taken with iPhone 4s)

When I opened this I instantly fell in love with it as the packaging is to die for! The bottle is extremely cute! It's tall with a 'lipstick effect' logo on the front along with the signature Vivienne Westwood orb on top!

This is a very feminine fragrance, which smells sexy and woody - it's divine!

Top notes: bergamot and freesia

Heart:  jasmine

Base: patchouli and amber

Let It Rock is available on the Fragrance Direct website.

Have you tried this perfume? 

What has been your favourite perfume this season?

Natasha Carly x

Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton

Follow on Instagram - @prettylittlelives

INIKA - Review

Hello everyone, I hope you are well.

I have now finished all my assessments at university and have come home for Christmas! It has been a while since I last posted as I had so much work to get through.

Today I am going to be reviewing three INIKA Mineral eyeshadows and a skin illuminisor.

Mineral Illuminisor* (3g) £17

(Close-up of illuminisor powder on the skin)

I wasn't overly impressed with the illuminisor, I didn't find it gave my skin a natural glow as I felt it looked far too glittery on my face. I prefer products that are more shimmery than glittery, I did find that the illuminisor worked really well as a highlighter on my brow bones.

Directions

• Apply to the highlight areas of the cheeks, brow bone and temples.
• Dust over cheekbones and decolletage to enhance complexion and create an all-over healthy glow.
• Mix Illuminisor with moisturiser for glowing legs and arms.

Summary

Pros:

• Non-comedogenic
• Lovely packaging

Cons:

• Too glittery
• Pricey

 Mineral Eye Shadow* (1.2g) £14.50 each

 (Left to right: Coco Motion, Gold Dust, Gunmetal)

I was extremely impressed with these eyeshadows, I have enjoyed experimenting with them and have come up with some really lovely makeup looks.  The colours are highly pigmented, they are easy to apply and they blend beautifully!

Here are the 3 colours I tried out:
Coco Motion -  a divinely earthy matte brown.  Perfect for creating depth and definition. 
Gold Dust - a pale, shimmery gold. Great as a highlighter or blended with other colours. 
Gunmetal - a metallic silver (with a hint of purple) which looks like mercury when applied wet or over black eyeliner.

Directions

• Pick up a little powder, press the product into the brush, tap off the excess and apply as desired.
• Create amazing metallic or iridescent looks by layering one colour on top of another.
• Add water for use as a liquid eyeliner.

Summary

Pros:

• Highly pigmented
• Can be used wet or dry to add different textures
• Multi-purpose can be used as eyeliner as well as eyeshadow
• Blend well
• Natural ingredients - suitable for people with sensitive eyes
• Lasts a long time 
• Lovely packaging

 Cons: 

• Slightly pricey

Overall I've had a good experience with the products, I think the eye shadows are fantastic and I will definitely be purchasing more of them in the future! I like that all the INIKA mineral products are non-comedogenic, this means they don't clog your pores or cause breakouts! 
These products are slightly pricey but for the quality of the product, I think it is worth it. They are in a similar price range to MAC eye shadows and think they are just as good, they will last me a while too as a little bit goes a long way!

Have you tried any of the INIKA cosmetics?

Natasha Carly x

Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton

*Disclaimer PR sample - My opinions are still 100% honest