June Bellabox Review

Hello gorgeous friends!

Before July creeps onto us too quickly, I thought I'd ought to do my June Bellabox before my July one arrives! This month, I was extra lucky to receive quite a bit of stuff which is super cos it means a fun review!



As seen from the gorgeous little juxtaposition above, the box last month was indeed a combo box regarding box "girls night in and girls night out" which personally, I think is a fabulous idea!

The Kiss Nail Dress nail accessories are so cute. I'm not sure if everybody got different nail stickers, or the same or whatever, but I'm so glad I got these glitzy nail stickers. You probably won't know this but its my birthday on the 21st, meaning that I'm going to have a glitzy 16th party, and naturally, these nail stickers completely fit the "dress code" - thus I haven't actually used them yet so I can't provide a complete review on it, but when I do I'll let you know.

They're for both finger and toe nails, and supposedly last up to 10 days which, if this is true, proves very durable. I've used nail stickers before so I'll definitely be interested in comparing the two of them :)

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with this face-mask from Montagne Jeunesse. Firstly, I was curious to try this on as I'd never heard of the brand before, nor seen it in Australian stores, however, I was looking forward to trying on the face-mask as it looks natural and organic (see the next picture for the deal) which is right up my alley, but when I applied it, I noticed a strange red tinge spreading across my cheeks. 

My face rashed from this for some reason. It stung and I'm not sure why. I know I have very sensitive skin, though not oily nor dry, so I think for now, I'll stick with the fresh ingredient face-masks that I make at home or buy at Lush.

I got a whole pamper packet of these little samples from Brazilian Butterfly:

- tea-tree body lotion

- aloe and witch hazel body lotion

- gentle exfoliating body scrub

- BB soothe ingrown hair treatment

- aloe and witch hazel body wash

The ones I probably liked the most were the aloe and witch hazel wash and body lotion. The one I was least inclined to use was the tea-tree body lotion as it reminded me of the lice-treatment smell that the one kid in your grade 5 primary school class reeks of! Maybe that's just me? No? Okay. haha

Regardless of having said that, each of the products did their jobs well; the hand creams leaving my skin soft as heaven and the exfoliators/scrubs getting rid of impurities but not damaging the skin.

It was almost funny getting this packet as I used to work at Toni and Guy, and using this product on people all the time! While it states its purpose for an "androgynous hold", my personal style doesn't necessarily use texturising hair glue (as I tend to go for a more...natural, feminine look...but hey, whatever floats your boat, right?), but I actually gave this to my brother to try out and he came back with the results for me - who knew siblings could co-operate in such a polite manner? 

His deliberations included:

- firm

- not gluggy 

- smells like a hair salon (thanks Charlie.)

- durable

I received the baby pink (209) lipgloss from Streetstar. 

I love the colour. I love the smell. I love the sparkles. It's perfect for adding a little bit of shimmer to a night out, but not overkill. Plus, I don't really have just a pale pink sparkly lip gloss so this did just the ticket.

I was a bit concerned about this product because apparently, some of the customers to this Bellabox received this lipgloss, though it was out of date, and just coincidentally (and rather stupidly), I threw out the packet before finding this out, so I don't really know if it's out of date, however, it smells, looks and applies as though it's fine, so I'd say it is fine.

Love Bioderma...enough said. 

Haha, just kidding. I found this product smooth and silky. The part that got me was the Paraben free, fragrance free part for sensitive skin, as I do have sensitive skin, thus it worked wonders as it was gentle and ...forgiving...?

The only downside was the packet was only 8mls in product so I didn't really get much to try it with in total. I don't know if i'd purchase it yet, though I'll give the other one a try and see what I think.

Perfect. I'm almost tempted to put this underneath the sparkly nail accessories above as I think the gold and red would go nicely as a statement for my 16th. What do you think? I've kind of gone off the colour red, though this had me hooked.

It's almost a fluorescent red which is different from the passionate (whaaat?) and deeper reds I'd go for, so when I applied it, I found it added some pizzazz into my life! I've used many Natio products before, though never a nail polish so I was interested to see what it was like. The only thing was that it was a bit watery, but other than that it was smooth, pigmented, and just generally a nice colour.

Like one of the products above, I've never actually heard of this product brand before, so when I tried it on, I was curious to see what it was like.

I really liked it. I found it perfect underneath make-up, as well as perfect on its own to give one a bit of a dewy and glowing look, which I really liked about it. It wasn't thick, nor heavy. It didn't have any SPF (of which I could see), which would have been a downside for me as I tend to burn quickly in the sun, however, the product was generally really nice. 

So that's it! Sorry if it sounded a bit negative today, for some reason, I'm just not motivated at the moment. I've been in Melbourne again for the week so I'm still in the "holiday" zone.

Have a nice week everybody!

Xx

EASY STEP-BY-STEP HOW TO: Add me to your Bloglovin'

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4524149/?claim=pftbky2zcne">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

So Google Friend Connect is kind of closing down which is a bummer, but the good news is that I've finally found the motivation to update my Bloglovin page after a few months of just have some basics and such...

(READ IN THE CHIRPY-OPTIMISTIC-HIGH-ADVERTISING-WOMAN'S-TV VOICE)

Hello friends!

To make sure we can keep in close contact, there are a few small, yet vital steps that you need to take in order to get regular updates on my blog...

STEP NUMBER ONE)
To start this procedure, you must click this link HERE

And it should take you to a page that looks like this:

Yes, my follower's number is shameful...

STEP NUMBER TWO)

You must then move your mouse across the page until you see this button:

You must then click this button, and it will soon magically evolve into this button:

STEP NUMBER THREE)

You then have the majestical choice to do one of the following:

             a) Close the window with the assurance that whenever I update my blog, you will receive a little notification, as well as a follow-back from me!

OR

             b) Add me to your favourites by simply clicking the "Add to a group" and choosing one of the following:

Thank you for following my blog on Bloglovin'....I promise I will follow back. So sad about GFC...Alternatively, you can just click the button on the North-Right side of my blog...The flashing Eiffel Tower!

Xx

How To: KICK SOME SERIOUS BUTT

ICED WATER BOOSTS METABOLISM ;)

Well hello lovely friends!

At the start of this year, it is accustomed in my family to always make a list of new year's resolutions, of things to sort of aim to achieve within the year. As usual, I started my list off (And if you want to see the post, click here) with the usual "be kinder, be gracious, be elegant..." all that kind of stuff, and by the end of the list. "loose a tad of weight"

After all, what is a new year's resolution without it, eh?

But seriously, they are new year's resolutions. Who actually follows through with them? You say.

This year, probably one of my main resolutions was to follow through with my resolutions.

I've never been particularly sporty...in other words, you know that kid that always manages to somehow get a ball to the head, or fall over when they're just standing still...well, that was me. And it still is.

So, I've decided to take matters into my own hands by aiming to go to the gym at least three times a week, and for about four months (at the start of the year), this went so well. I felt so much more confident with the way I looked, and I felt like a better person.

Doing this was possibly the best thing I'd ever begun to do, so today, I'm going to kind of make a post explaining how I achieved this.

***I am by no means a nutritionist, personal trainer or expert in any field of fitness, I am merely a teenager who is aiming to get healthy. :) ***

STEP NUMBER ONE: Cut the emotional dreaming crap.
I was used to spending nights sitting up in my bed until two a.m. literally whining about my body, my fitness, all that kind of stuff. I would complain and be depressing and everyone else would be all "Shut up, Lucy". And by the time the new year rolled so slowly around when it kind of hit me that I was never, ever going to tone up or lose weight if all I did was sit in bed complaining. And my Mum then came in an gave me a huge lecture about it.

It's good to dream, but you're never going to get somewhere unless you take action into your own hands.

And with that, I literally decided that I would turn my life around (HALLELUJAH). It is a bit of a crude wake-up call, but in all seriousness, it is quite true.

STEP NUMBER TWO: Cut the calorie crap.

Yummy

I'm not a diet analyst or anything of the sort, but of course if one were to be eating high calorie, fat, carb foods, then naturally, one would put on some.

One needs to have a good ratio between eating healthily and exercising, and my mum told me (and this is the part where I'm not sure about) that 60% of a health/fitness kick comes from cutting down on unhealthy foods. Having said that, exercise is totally important, especially if, like me, you want to tone up a bit more.

I'd highly recommend looking up at blogs for quick and easy to make foods, of which are all very healthy and go on websites like:

http://pickyeaterblog.com/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/

http://www.veggiesandme.com/

http://wolfandwillowblog.com

On the topic of food, it's so important NOT TO CUT MEALS!!!!DDDDOOOO NOOOTTT CUT OUT ON MEALS!

I know my teenage friends think that cutting breakfast and going on an empty stomach is the highway for skinniness, but it is so not.  Here are the reasons why:

1. Cutting meals slows your metabolism (slower metabolism means it takes a longer time to lose weight)

2. Oh my god, you will be so hungry!!! I can't go more than about two hours without sustenance.

3. While you may get off for about a week or two of not eating specific meals, in the long term, it encourages binge eating not a week later, consuming a high amount of calories in a short time span

4. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it enforces concentration and focus in the brain. If you are going to have a big meal, have it at breakfast, that way you can burn it off over the day naturally.

STEP NUMBER THREE: Get Motivated
I always find that the hardest part of getting into motivation is..... getting into my gym gear, though once I'm in my gear, I'm determined to do a good work out. For me, should I be totally slap-on-the-couch unmotivated (as I was about a month ago), I go out and buy some fabulous gym gear from shops like Lorna Jane, Lululemon, Victoria's Secret, etc.

This not only gives me an excuse to shop, but also motivates me to actually work and exercise in something comfortable and lovely at the same time.

Saw this, thought it was cool.

STEP NUMBER FOUR: Make Time

One doesn't find time to work out, one makes time.

As you know, I am still in school and that takes up a huge amount of time - schooling, co-curricular, homework, test prep, assignments, friends, and other things. Last year, I used to get up at five to go to the gym before school, but who on Earth was I kidding? I was absolutely shizzled after about a month of that.

Now, I go after school between about four to seven depending on what I have on that day.

Before finding out what times I could go, I wrote up a plan of which days I had to do what, and when I could slot in a work-out.

I've been ill for the past week, however, I still exercised even though today  I only went for half-an-hour. Putting in to perspective, doing something is better than doing nothing.

If you can't go to the gym, do those fabulous little 30 day ab workouts or conduct home workouts like Pilates, yoga or running around the block with the dog.

The Perks of Outside Exercise

STEP NUMBER FIVE: Stick With It!!!!!
The second hardest part (which ties in with motivation), is to stick with it. Once you're in it for about a month, you get this feeling when you begin to crave exercise and being healthy. Because I have been sick, this has been the worst part of it all because its this gut feeling when I could have done something, and I haven't.

I go to the gym with my mum and it's so much better than going alone. Grab a pal and hit the gym or go for a run and then go for a smoothie afterwards. I feel so much more motivated to exercise when I have a friend to exercise with! It passes the time so much quicker, and it keeps you going in the long-term, setting you into a habit.

In a nutshell, the year will go on whether one does exercise or not, but in the long run (<~~~ hehehe punny right there), how and where do you want to see yourself when next year rolls around.

I know where I want to see myself.

Somewhere Summary: A Wednesday

Took this in New Zealand last January from the balcony of the hotel.

Outside my house - autumn leaves

A jolly little puppykin.

Taste of home.

*Hello*

Jean-Baptiste Maunier -- French, Singer, Actor...beautiful...Angel...Perfection. (look him up!)

Dad bought some sunflowers :D So I took a photo of them and edited it with

A Beautiful Mess's new app. Highly recommended BTW!

When I saw this, I kind of skipped a heart-beat. If you like

All Too Well by Taylor Swift, you'll understand!

My favourite candle on the planet. Smells like caramel and winter!! Perfect for

cold, rainy evenings with hot chocolate, music and Harry Potter!

Feeling: Nostalgic 

Wanting: A cuppa vanilla tea and maybe Jean-Baptiste Maunier or Ryan Gosling

Needing: A cuddle <3

Listening to: "All I Need" - The Icarus Account (A magical band! Check them out!!!)

Reading: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Weather Outside: 7:32pm - cold, raining

Going to...: Have a bath, read, sleep...

P.s. Elle Fowler tweeted me yesterday. So happy! <3 I love her in case you don't already know..she's such an idol for me haha!

Xx 

P.p.s. Hope you enjoy these kinds of posts. I kind of do, so I hope you might also!!

Style Icon: Olsen Twins

Hello hello.

This is going to be a quick post today because my brother is being a dick and is pissing me off to the absolute maximum, thus making me really, really unmotivated to write anything at the moment.

In case you haven't guessed, my June style Icon(s) are the Olsen Twins. I have loved these girlies since reruns of Full House which is so old, and now I feel so old having just said that!

I love their curly hair, its so casual and generally looks very healthy and somehow it looks so ...(trying to find a word...) effortlessly chic though I'm sure they went through a particularly lengthy process on how to get it done. Having recently worked in a hairdresser, I believe that they would use a salt-spray to get such a summery just-come-out-of-the-sea look.

I also love their make-up. They have really pale eyes so I reckon that a smoky eye looks fantastic on them, especially with a dark red lip.

While their style is more boho/grunge and mine is a bit lighter and slightly more girly/preppy, I do admire how effortlessly they can piece things together.

Tell me what you think of them? I just love them haha!

Xx