Initial Impressions: Instant Whites

Teeth whitening is something I've been a little obsessed with over the past year or two as I do drink coffee once a day and since doing so I have noticed that my teeth are definitely not as white as they were. I have tried four at home teeth whitening kits now and I am still on the hunt for one that doesn't produce any sensitivity at all but in the mean time this one is definitely the quickest, easiest and most comfortable kit I've tried.

I was kindly sent the *Instant Whites 7 Day Whitening System (£29.99) which is a safe, peroxide free teeth whitening system that claims to have zero sensitivity; also you are supposed to be able to see visible results in less than five minutes which is a very impressive and bold claim. Unlike the other teeth whitening products I've tried, it is not a strip or a mouth guard - just seven neat swabs with the gel inside.

Myself and my sister tried one each as an initial test and to be honest I am always a little sceptical about teeth whitening products as well as a little cautious so naturally I volunteered my sister to try it first - she is a very good guinea pig. To use, push the top part with the swab down into the neatly contains gel in the bottom half of the swab and some of the gel will appear on the swab which you then lightly rub into each tooth. This system has to be the easiest, quickest and fuss free at home teeth whitening product I've tried!

My sister saw results within about four minutes or so of applying the gel to each tooth and we were both definitely impressed with the results *although it wasn't a dramatic change*. I did notice a change on my teeth but it wasn't as noticeable.

Overall, my initial impressions of this teeth whitening system are surprising and very positive. I love how incredibly easy and quick the process is, unlike most other teeth whitening kits which are usually messy, time consuming and uncomfortable. I also love that as they are individual swabs, all of your teeth aren't affected at once, you can apply more to some areas and less to others which is great for me as some of my teeth are naturally whiter than others. We were both happy with the initial positive results and even though I did experience a small amount of sensitivity (my sister didn't at all), I'm looking forward to using them fully and to see the results. I will have a comparison post between the at home teeth whitening kits I've tried on my blog next month so stay tuned! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5 although my sister would definitely rate the kit 5/5.

Have you tried this kit or any at home teeth whitening kits? Have you had your teeth whitened professionally? 

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New in @ Debenhams

Debenhams is one of my go to places when it comes to sales, gifts and of course beauty products, especially recently as they have started to stock new products that I cannot seem to find elsewhere and also new brands such as Make Up For Ever as well as exciting brands that I've loved for a while including Burberry, Kiehls, Mac Cosmetics and Too Faced.

Vince Camuto Fiori EDP 

I don't need any excuse to indulge in my favourite hobby...trying out new beauty products but new products always entice me! Vince Camuto is a brand I haven't heard of before but as well as fragrances, they also make gorgeous boots and heels, some of which are in the current sale. The *Vince Camuto Fiori Eau de Parfum (£55, 100ml) has one of the most beautiful fragrance bottles ever, especially as it is rose gold and as you know, bloggers love a bit of rose gold! The notes are as follows: pink grapefruit, white nectarine, iris, freesia, sandalwood and cedarwood.

The perfume is gorgeous, musky and feminine with sweetness; perfect for everyday wear and I know my mum has been looking at buying this fragrance since I received it! It is a hit with everyone who smells it. The longevity is reasonable at about six or seven hours on me. I'd definitely recommend this fragrance, it would be a lovely valentines present or just a treat for yourself. When you are next in Debenhams, give it a sniff. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette

Next up, a couple of new launches for one of my favourite brands, Too Faced. The product designs are very appropriate considering what holiday is coming up soon! I have the Too Faced Semi Sweet Palette which I adore and use so much but their latest one is even cuter. The *Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette (£39) contains 16 eyeshadows shades ranging from mattes to metallics and shimmers. As with the two previous chocolate bar palettes, the eyeshadows themselves are infused with rich cocoa powder *how amazing is that!*.  Here's a breakdown of the shades:

- Almond Truffle: Mink Brown (matte) ★★★★★
- Satin Sheets: Champagne Beige (metallic) ★★★★★
- Sprinkles: Soft Baby Pink (satin - matte looking with micro shimmer) ★★★★☆
- Molasses Chip: Bronze Brown (shimmer) ★★★★★
- Malted: Rich Cocoa Brown (shimmer) ★★★★★

The first row of shade is just gorgeous and besides the soft baby pink shade, they are all so wearable and shades I would reach for time and time again. The matte shade blends just as well as the shimmer and more metallic shades which isn't always the case as matte can tend to be patchy but not in the Too Faced palettes I've tried. The Almond Truffle, Satin Sheets and Molasses Chip shades are my favourites from the first row.

- Cashew Chew: Light Beige (matte) ★★★★★
- Cotton Candy: Bright Candy Pink (metallic) ★★★★☆
- Cafe Au Lait: Silver Taupe (metallic) ★★★★★
- Bordeaux: Red Toned Deep Brown (matte) ★★★★★
- Mocha: Milk Chocolate Brown (matte) ★★★★★
- Blackcurrant: Rich Aubergine Purple (shimmer) ★★★☆☆

The Too Faced shadows on the whole are incredibly buttery, smooth and so easy to blend, however the Blackcurrant shade does have fall down and the shimmer feels chunky - all of the others shades are a dream though. My favourites from this second row have to be: Cashew Chew, Cafe Au Lait and Mocha as they are all so wearable and versatile.

- Dark Truffle: Dark Rich Brown (metallic) ★★★★☆
- Pecan Praline: Beige Grey (matte) ★★★★★
- Totally Fetch: Vivid Electric Pink (metallic) ★★★☆☆ *Means Girls nostalgia moment*
- Earl Grey: Grey Toned Navy (shimmer) ★★★★★
- Divinity: Light Cream (matte) ★★★★★

A couple of slightly disappointing shades on this row as the Dark Truffle shade isn't as buttery and smooth as all of the others and the Totally Fetch shade is too soft and produces fall down - although it looks so pretty with a gorgeous iridescent shimmer. However the Earl Grey shade is all kinds of beautiful and it's quite unique too, I don't think I have a shade like it in my collection. My favourites from the final row of shades: Pecan Praline, Earl Grey and Divinity.

Overall, the palette is incredibly cute, versatile and it would be great for travelling as you have such a great range of shades and finishes to create countless looks. The majority of the shades are a dream to blend, pigmented and buttery smooth although there are a few shades that are a little disappointing, in my opinion. I would recommend this palette, even just for the heavenly chocolate scent and freakin' adorable packaging!

Too Faced Hangover Primer 

Last but not least the *Too Faced Hangover Primer (£27, 40ml), now as with all Too Faced products I am kind of in love with the packaging - it's so cute! The primer contains coconut water, probiotic-based ingredients and skin revivers and best of all for me is that it doesn't contain silicone...yes, that's right, a primer that does not contain silicone. You can probably guess that I am not a fan of silicone primers - they feel so greasy on my skin so this primer is fantastic!

It has a pump dispenser *praise the makeup gods* and it has a light lotion consistency which is such a nice and welcome change to the heavy, greasy silicone primers on the market. It absorbs almost instantly leaving my skin feeling smoother without greasiness so it leaves my skin looking like skin. I find that it does make my makeup last all day and then some, I haven't been as impressed with a primer before. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

This post contains affiliate links.

Here's a short video of the products as well as swatches of all the shades in the palette - sorry for the awful lighting *damn English weather*:

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the Debenhams beauty section?

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De-Clutter January

Image from Google

De-cluttering, tidying and organising are in all honesty some of my favourite things to do every few months and especially at the start of a new season or new year as it makes space for christmas presents or new buys, it keeps everything looking tidier and neater and it keeps my mind clearer and less cluttered too, if that makes sense. I find that if I have too many things on my desk then I can never concentrate, having my desk neat and tidy means that I can carry on with what I need to do. Here are some of my de-cluttering tips:

1. Don't hold onto things if you haven't used them in a year: I am not very sentimental about most things but oddly when it clothes, bags and shoes, I cannot seem to get rid of them very easily. So every two or three months, I go through my wardrobe and I get rid of at least a few items to sell or to donate and it keeps my wardrobe less cluttered and it means that I have space for new clothes.

2. Buy a file box: I recently sorted through uni, student finance, banking and blog paperwork and shredded lots of it that I didn't need and the rest I put into a file box (I bought this one from Amazon) and I'm really happy with it. It stores all of my papers in a neat and tidy way that doesn't look or feel too bulky. I'd definitely recommend a file box!

3. Get rid of old or worn out items: This point is similar to the first one although I include bathroom and beauty products. As a blogger I am very kindly sent products on a regular basis so the items I don't want or don't have room for go to family and friends. However I always end up with half used products piling up so I have to throw them away as they just take up room and they will quickly be replaced by newer products.

4. Give products/items to friends, family or sell them: eBay, blog sales and Amazon trade in are great for selling your unwanted products - especially blog sales as then you don't have to pay eBay seller fees! I'm awful at holding onto items for 'just in case' reasons and it's usually best to just give them away to friends or family or sell them.

5. Make the most of your storage and use dividers: I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to storage and organising - gotta love organising. So I have lots of boxes and dividers for items - H&M have great storage boxes/tin/plates as does Ikea and Muji. Instead of having items laid out, I put them together in a box as I do with DVDs, makeup and items to review/photograph. Also during the winter I keep my summer clothing in storage boxes on top of my wardrobe so they don't clutter up my wardrobe then every season I change it around and end up discovering new items that I forgot I had!

6. Don't tackle everything at once: It can be a little overwhelming if you have a lot to sort through, organise and then potentially to photograph and sell so try dealing with one area at a time such as the bathroom cupboards, papers or your wardrobe.

Check out this quiz by Wardrobe storage system provider Bedroom Storage Maker to see what your wardrobe says about you! This is a sponsored post.

What are your organising and de-clutering tips? Are you, like me, having a new year de-clutter?

*sponsored 

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15 Beauty Favourites of 2015 *well almost*

I cannot believe and I refuse to believe that it is 2016, that's madness, it's like 2015 didn't ever exist! Anyway, as it's the end of 2015 I have put together my 2015 beauty favourites and instead of having a product or two for each category and the post being very long, I thought I would just pick my top 15 products of 2015 which is so difficult to do as I've bought and I've been sent so many amazing products this year - so I have cheated slightly and at the end I have five honourable mentions. 

Skincare

Firstly, skincare and the one brand that has stood out throughout the whole year has been Antipodes. I adore all of the products I've tried, I never thought I'd be able to find a complete brand or skincare range that my temperamental, sensitive, eczema prone and sometimes incredibly dry skin would love but I have! I would highly recommend their products, especially the Hosanna Serum, Vanilla Pod Day Cream and the Butter Cleanser. I need to purchase the day cream as soon as possible!

Also for skincare, I was kindly sent the Oilixia Brilliance Facial Oil back in September and I have been using it on and off since and my skin loves it. Eczema can make my skin feel incredibly tight and dry but this facial oil instantly relives that uncomfortable feeling and it gives my skin a much needed boost of moisture - I cannot stop raving about it. 

Lastly for skincare, the Jurlique Balancing Mist which is such a fantastic multi-use product. I use it as a toner, refreshing facial spray and to give a boost of moisture to my skin before applying my foundation. I'm so surprised that I haven't finished the bottle yet as I use it so much. 

Bodycare and Fragrance 

I was over the moon when I was able to work with Molton Brown this year, I did squeal a little when the email came through. I received three products from their gorgeous ylang ylang range which smells heavenly and all of the products are so luxurious and work so effectively - especially the body lotion which is one of my most reached for body products of 2015. A close runner up was the Clarins Tonic Body Balm. 

The final bodycare product is also from a luxurious and famous brand, the Mio Liquid Yoga and yes, I was initially just drawn to it because of the name but it is such a surprising product. To me it is a green bath milk which doesn't really add bubbles or anything special to your bath but the effect of it on my muscles and my mind too was so unexpected and amazing! It leaves me more relaxed and less tense than any other bath product I've tried - highly recommend. 

I have two fragrance favourites this year although I love perfume so I could have mentioned pretty much all of my collection. My first fragrance favourite *say that ten times fast* is the Library Of Fragrance Lavender Cologne which is so cheap, it smells amazing and even though the longevity isn't great, I loved it and used it up within about one month - I do need to buy it soon. My second fragrance favourite is at the opposite end of the price range, the Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb EDP which has to have the prettiest bottle ever! I've wanted to try it for ages and I'm so lucky to have been sent it last year; it smells so unique, feminine and gorgeous *that's vague I know* so you definitely need to give it a sniff next time you are in House of Fraser. 

Hair and Makeup Tools

I don't have many hair product favourites this year but one of my main favourites was Moroccan Oil...again. I adore Moroccan Oil as when I use it on my damp hair and leave it to dry overnight, it transforms my hair and makes it so much smoother, softer and tangle free and the results last for days. 

My final hair product favourite is a relatively new find, The Wet Brush which I have been using every other day and it works so well. Gone are the days of wincing and watery eyes when I brush my knotted, thick, long hair all thanks to The Wet Brush. 

I've been loving Tweezerman products throughout 2015, not only because I was one of their ambassadors but I genuinely love their products - I've had my mini Tweezerman ladybug tweezers since before I started my blog and they are still going strong. I also love their lash curler, as I have fairly deep set and almond shaped eyes, it can be difficult for lash curlers to fit properly but these ones do and I definitely prefer them over my expensive Shu Uemura lash curlers *gasp*. 

Makeup 

Now onto the main category, makeup! I have five makeup products that stood out to me, some have been included in multiple favourites posts in 2015. First up, the Benefit Gimme Brow which initially I didn't like but now I love it. When I want a no makeup day or I want very natural but beefed up brows then I'll reach for this as it adds volume, colour and definition but it's so natural and so quick/easy. If you love brow products or if you are just starting out using products like this then I'd definitely recommend the Benefit Gimme Brow - you won't be disappointed. 

Sticking with the brow theme, I have also been loving the Eye of Horus Brow Pencil when I want fuller or bolder brows. The shade matches me so well, it is quick and easy to use, it can be built up to Cara Delevingne level brows and the brow gel on the other end of the pencil is the best brow gel I've ever used! If it can tame and hold my unruly brows in place then it can hold anyones in place. 

Kiko has been one of my favourite cheaper brands since I discovered the brand in Taormina, Sicily about six years ago and I've been obsessed ever since. One of my favourite products from Kiko is their shadows. In 2015 I made up my own palette using their Clic system which sadly I don't think you can buy anymore which is a shame as it's such a great concept and I love the neutral palette that I made. 

Even though strobing was a big trend last year, I was never really that interested in it as I'm pretty much addicted to contouring and I really don't think that strobing can give you anything like the shape, definition and dimension that contouring can - unless it's a strong editorial look. The main contour product I used last year was my trusty NYX Taupe Blush but it has been surpassed by the MAC Sculpt and Shape Powder in Accentuate/Sculpt which is amazing for my super pale skin. 

The last makeup favourite is the much raved about Maybelline Fit Me Concealer which I finally bought and I've been using it almost every time I wear makeup since. It works well on my dry skin, on the whole it doesn't emphasis dryness and it covers pretty well too; also it's SO cheap and I'd definitely recommend it. I don't think it's a dupe of the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer which I also have as the coverage isn't as good, it isn't as thick and it is more suited to dry skin in comparison to the Nars concealer. 

Honorary Mentions 

Now onto the products that didn't quite make the cut but I've still been loving and I would still definitely recommend:

YSL Touche Eclat: I wasn't sure about this product for a while when I received it back in September but now I don't know what I did before it; it adds so much brightness and radiance without glitter or greasiness. 

Elemental Herbology Hydrator: I had a tube of this for a while but when I started to use it, it changed colour so I emailed Elemental Herbology to ask if it was still ok to use and they were so kind and generous to send out a full size (worth about £40) to me! I've almost finished that tub and I need to repurchase sometime this year as it is an amazing facial moisturiser. 

Dermatique Recuperating Cream: I have eczema on my face and also on my hands which can be awful as it means that my hands are usually bright red, very dry, tight and horrible to look at so I'm always looking for something to help. When I tried this cream on my hands, I was shocked as the next day the eczema on my hands was so much better than the day before. 

EOS Lip Balms: One product I'm very good at hoarding is lip balms, I have quite a few and most of them are fantastic, as the EOS balms are. I have three now and they are all so quick and easy to use especially on the go and they are very effective too. 

La Vanilla Deodorant: Last but not least, the deodorants I've used solely last year and I'm surprised at how long they actually lasted were from La Vanilla. La Vanilla deodorants are raved about by American youtubers, I know Essie Button used to talk about them all of the time and I had wanted to switch to natural and aluminium free deodorants for a while. Thankfully you can get these from Net-a-Porter at £10 each *wince* and they are fantastic. I have used up my 'fresh lemon' one and I'm now onto my lavender one, both of which I would highly recommend. 

Phew, that's a lot of typing and a lot of products although I think I've done well to narrow it down to twenty products from the whole year. If you have any of these let me know your opinions! What were your favourite products from 2015?

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Initial Impressions: Mr Blanc Teeth Whitening Strips

Teeth whitening is something I've always been interested in since I started drinking coffee about four years ago as it does stain my teeth so they become slightly yellow which I don't think most people on a day to day basis would really noticed but it's something that I noticed often and it does bother me so when I received the *Mr Blanc Teeth Whitening Strips (£24.99) from Boots late last year I was so excited to give them a go!

As much as I want to try new and exciting teeth whitening products I am a little cautious about it as I don't want to have any negative side effects and I have slightly sensitive teeth anyway and I don't want to make it worse. The Mr Blanc strips do NOT contain hydrogen peroxide (bleach) which most teeth whitening products do which is fantastic as it can be harmful and cause sensitivity. It contains ingredients that are enamel friendly, safe to use and they have been tested and approved by EU and UK cosmetic laws. I think the price is fantastic, I thought they would be much more expensive.

The strips come in individual packets so you can use them as and when you want to and they would be great for traveling. The strips come as a bottom strip and top strip and you peel them off the plastic and place onto dry teeth. It looks and feels strange as they have gel on them so it looks like jelly sticky tape to me.

For my first use, I left them on for about 15 minutes which is half the time that is recommended as I hadn't tried them before and I'm glad I did as I experienced some sensitivity which lasted for a day or so but it wasn't that bad. Also I noticed a couple of whiter areas on my teeth which I can occasionally get anyway, even when I'm not using any teeth whitening products and after a quick google search I didn't have any answers as to what it was but on the Mr Blanc website it says that it is normal and temporary. After a day or so the white marks on my two front teeth had faded so much.

Even just using the strips once and for half the time I should have, I noticed whiter teeth! My two front teeth were about a shade lighter and my other teeth were also lighter but not as much. In terms of the whitening effects, I'm incredibly impressed. However the sensitivity and white marks that appeared on a couple of my teeth does put me off using them daily but I will continue to use them and I'll report back. Also the gel that is left behind is so gross, I washed it off in record time!

Have you tried the Mr Blanc teeth whitening strips? Do you use any teeth whitening products, if so do they work? 

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3 Quick + Simple Hairstyles ft. Cloud Nine

Back in October you may have seen my halloween mermaid look featuring Cloud Nine which is a brand I have wanted to try for so long so I was very excited to work with them! I was very kindly sent the *Cloud Nine Original Curling Wand (£99.95) which is a multi-award winning curling wand. 

I have created three very simple, quick and easy hairstyles for the winter months as I don't know about you but I don't want to spend a very long time on my hair as it is exposed to heat for a long periods of time and my arms start to ache after about ten minutes! The wand is so easy to use, it creates lovely waves and it is quite versatile too as depending on where you wrap your hair around the wand, the tighter or looser the effect will be. 

Firstly, just curling my hair transforms it and makes it look so much more presentable than straightening it or leaving it natural. I have no idea why my hair looks purple in this photo! I love the waves I get with this wand. I use a small about of the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Creme Contour to my hair to add definition and to smooth down flyaways. 

Next, I leave my hair to dry naturally then add Moroccan Oil to the lengths which makes brushing out tangles easier and it adds shine and moisture to my naturally thick and unruly hair. I then curl two small sections on either temple and pin away from my face as sometimes I want to have my hair down but I don't want it in my face. 

Lastly, I randomly curl sections and set with my hairspray, I use the Kerastase Laque Couture Hairspray. Then I tie it into a ponytail with a cute hair tie - this rose gold bow hair tie is from H&M. Adding a small amount of hairspray means that the curls or waves will last all day and into the next. 

Overall, I love the Cloud Nine Original Wand, it is so quick and easy to use and the heatproof mat and heatproof glove are so useful and prevent me from burning my fingers or the carpet! I'd definitely recommend the wand and I hear nothing but good things about their straighteners too. 

Have you tried the Cloud Nine wand? What do you think of my super simple hairstyles?

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