Bristol Blogger Meet Up (BBMeet)

Hi all!

Hope you're having a great week! If not...never fear as it's well over the half way mark and the weekend is nearly here woop!

You've probably seen some posts and tweets about the Bristol blogger Meet up last weekend (#bbmeet) so we thought we'd our own two cents to the mix.

I had been to an event and met some other bloggers before but M hadn't so this was a great thing for us both to go to, especially as it was in Cabot Circus which I was yet to go to since it was built (shocker!)

We agreed to go a few weeks before but due to us both being so busy we hadn't had much chance to read the tweets about it and so had no idea who was going, how many nor that there was a goodie bag!

We turned up at Frankie and Benny's at 11am along with everyone else and were so shocked to find that there was around 35 of us taking up 2 rather long tables!

We sat down and started chatting to some really lovely girls, all with their own blogs and got chatting about our nails, hair, favourites etc as I'm sure you can imagine.

It was great to network and meet with so many new people, and meet up with others I've met previously (aka Georgina from Twinklin Pixi)

We were both far too busy chatting and eating to take any photos (oops!) so instead I will show you a few quick snaps of the goody bag that we received:

I genuinely couldn't believe how much stuff was in there, it was such a shock considering we didn't even know we were getting them!

A massive massive thank you to Sasha and Alessia for arranging this, it surpassed any expectation I had as I just imagined it was a few of us meeting up for food and drinks.
I am SO EXCITED to start using these you would not believe!

Also a big shout out to Alessia's mum for the absolutely gorgeous tags that she made for each bag, how cute are these??

The only downside was the fact that there were so many people that we didn't get to meet everyone, nor exchange links as I'm sure there are some great blogs/bloggers that we've missed.

So we were thinking of compiling a list of everyone who attended so you can 'meet' those that you never got around to talking to :)

So comment below with your link if you attended and I'll add them into this post so everyone can see!

If you could share this post through twitter etc as well I'd be really grateful as through the hashtag I've seen some lovely blogs that I didn't know about before.

I'll add as many as I can and the rest is up to you!
Comment, tweet, share etc etc. Let's get everyone who went on this list!

It was lovely to meet everyone that we spoke to and cannot wait for another meet up again!

Fancy arranging another one soon Sasha and Alessia?? ;)

L and M xxx

Review: Benefit BrowZings

I've been on the quest for perfect brows for a while. I thought I'd found it in Eylure Shape and Shade (reviewed here) I thought I'd found it. While it was perfect for my blonde hair when I died it pink I thought I needed a bit more. 

After a trip to town for some Christmas presents it somehow ended up being purchased. I'd heard so much about BrowZings and only positive things so I thought it was about time I tried it. I asked the lady on the counter to try it on me and I was instantly sold.

I love that Benefit products come with instructions on how to get the best results from their products. I love that it's also boxed. I like the black packaging it's sleek and even though it's slightly rubberised it's remained pretty clean.

It comes with a wax and a powder which was one of the main reasons I wanted this. I really wanted a wax as I felt like it would help give my brows a neater more defined finish. It's handy that it comes with tweezers but personally I don't like the brushes.

This is in the shade light. I do feel like I need quite a light hand with it as even though it's light I do end up with quite dark brows some days. At the moment my hair is dark so it's not a problem but I do worry it may be a bit to dark when I go back to blonde.

If I'm going out I do the lines to create the perfect arch like the Benefit MUA showed me and how the book shows to do it. I find this easiest to get the perfect brows but it's time consuming so I don't do it for everyday. I then use a cotton bud to remove the lines.

This is the product applied rather lightly to give a subtle definition. I find it best to dip the brush in the wax then into the powder and apply onto the brow. If I want them darker or more defined I use the wax first followed by the powder.

I love that I've been using this since December and the powders aren't even dented really. You use so little it really will last a long time.

It's great to be built up and using either more powder or more wax can adjust the colour to suit my ever changing hair.

BrowZings retails for £22.50. Even though it's a little expensive I'd definitely say it's worth it as it will last ages and I love the results it gives. I use this most days now it's so quick and easy to use.

What's your favourite brow product?

Love M

xxx

Spending Ban Update 5

I've been meaning to write a spending ban update for a bit now. It's been a while since I've done one. You can read my last one here. I've not been doing them weekly as not much has changed.

So far I'm pretty proud of myself. It's been 56 days and I've still not bought any make up. The Saturday before last when L and I went to LFW I forgot to pack my flat shows so picked these up from Asda. For only £10 I wasn't too annoyed at spending. I love the stud detail and the nude colour. They also come in black, you can see them here.

So in 55 days to have only bought these which were truly something I didn't need. I have bought shampoo and conditioner and some DVDs but at least I haven't added to my make up collection.

Last week was probably my hardest. I was moody and all I wanted was a new lipstick. It was so hard to actually resist. So far I have, the thing keeping me going now is that me and L are going to go to MAC and have our makeup done for her birthday. It is before the spending ban is up so I'm going to add on a few extra weeks for those purchases.

I feel like I'm getting past the not buying thing now, it was making me moody at first as I couldn't shop but I'm starting to feel more proud now when I put things back.

L and I went to a Bloggers meet up on Saturday. I did resist buying anything but I did get my brows done. They were bugging me as they were uneven.

For the next 4 weeks (prior to L's Birthday) my plan is to not buy ANY make up, clothes, skincare, dvds, starbucks (this may be hard as on Thursday's I'm in uni all day and my flask isn't enough to last me). I'm also going to make sure I buy food to keep in rather than buying junk food and lunch.

I think my spending is getting better but I'm still not as good as I can be. I think for me the spending ban needs to be a more permanent only buy if I need things.

I've also signed up to my local pool which is £26 a month so that's money I need to stop wasting now. 

My Wishlist.

MAC Brick-O-La (this has been there since the beginning. I've still not seen it in person)

Urban Decay Setting Spray

MUA Eyelid Primer (my mum got me one so I've taken this off)

Illamasqua Pigment Base

Origins Cheeks and Balance

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo (L has offered me both of these this week as they are cheap. It's hard to tell myself I don't need them)

Daniel Sandler Water Coloue Blush

Elf Brush Cleaner

Elf Blush and Bronzer Duo (we were very lucky to get an amazing goody bag from the Bloggers meet so I don't feel like I need this now, post coming soon)

Stocking Tights

Maybelline Colour Tattoo

Rimmel Appocolips

This time I'm adding

Laura Mercier Undercover Pot Concealer 

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation or the Tinted Moisturiser. I want to get samples of both of these.

How are your bans going?

Don't forget to check out Marvelle's blog here to see more of the lovely ladies doing the ban.

Love M

xxx

Review: Glo Tan Tan in a Can

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to be sent a can of Glo Tanz Tan in a Can*.

This is a new style of fake tan which isn't in an aerosol, and you do not need to shake it before use.

Both of us are regular self tan users, being naturally pale if we plan a night out we spend around a week before preparing tan. It seems to take us both a good few coats to build up tan onto our skins. It's fair to say we've both tried a fair few of the ones on the market at the moment. L's favourite currently being Vita Liberata and M's being Lauren's Way Darker than Dark.

This was a tan that appealed to both of us after reading the press release on it. It's paraben free, alcohol free, environmentally friendly and not tested on animals. It also boasts to be fast drying, non sticky and to have a light tropical fragrance. 

The can has a list of instructions that are important to follow. This tan is really not like any spray tan I've ever used. I think it may be due to the fact it's a non aerosol can. There is definitely a temptation to shake the can but it really is best not to. With spray tans usually you layer them on and spray over an area a few times. This isn't the case with this tan. If you do you'll end up with this.

L and I both ended up with results like this the first time. We wondered if we were doing something wrong with the tan. I washed it off straight away and stepped away from the tan. The first time I used it I found it quite difficult. It's hard to go against what you normally do and only spray over each area once. The product is a really fine mist and does disperse onto the skin pretty much by itself. 

After my first attempt I'd emailed the company and asked for some advice. The next day I reapplied it all over as L and I were off to fashion week and I wanted a tan. I was so surprised by the different result I achieved. This tan will last ages as you really use so little when you apply it. This time I held the can basically as far away from my body as my arm would let me. I found this gave the best even application. I lightly sprayed each body part and was careful not to spray the same area twice.

Pre tan skin colour in natural light. 

I had a few dark spots on my stomach so lightly dabbed these with a tanning mit. I did find that even though it didn't look fully even when applied I was surprised as it dried it evened out and I was left with a gorgeous colour.

Immediately after application  in natural light.

As you can see it doesn't look that even but once dried it's amazing. It's feels really light on the skin and is really quick drying. I find on my skin it needs to be left at least 4 hours before washing it off. I tend to leave it over night. (don't do this on white sheets, I've now learnt)

once washed off in the bathroom light.

As the photo shows and when compared with my skin above you can see the glow it gives. I found this tan unlike any others I have used so it was hard to get used to but since the second time I have done 3 full body applications and the can still feels reasonably full.

A few tips

• Don't shake the can
• Apply a sheet a double sheet (one you don't mind ruining) down where you apply it. 
• As it's a fine mist it does disperse far hence the sheet but it gives it an amazing finish
• Apply with socks on. As the tan go everywhere the first time I ended up with dark feet. Now I wear trainer socks then apply tan to them last
• Put vaseline on spot scars and brows
• Only spray each area once. Tan can be built up over a few days
• Keep a tanning mit near by and dab if necessary

I'm now converted. The tan is messy but the results are worth it. When slept in the tan I'm left with a gorgeous even colour (I've had no streaks yet) that lasts around 4 days all over and then leaves a glow for up to 7. I absolutely love that it DIDN'T smell of biscuits!!!! How amazing. I find some that don't smell on application start to smell as it develops. Not with this one. I noticed a slight tan smell the next day but nothing that all other tans have left.

This also makes a great face tan. Where it is fast drying and a light mist it doesn't break me out. It's handy being able to use the same face and body tan. 

Overall it's an effort the first time you apply it but great afterwards and I've used it a good few times now. It does take getting used to but it's really worth it for the colour you get an how long it lasts. 

Love M

xxx

My first attempt at using this was admittedly a disaster. 

I got into my shower as it was the easiest place to spray tan onto me without making a mess.

However a shower cubicle provided the first problem, you need to hold the can a bigger distance from your skin than I ever have with other tans and my shower cubicle simply wasn't big enough for me to hold the can far enough without it running down my legs!

The tan feels quite wet and so you definitely need to hold it far away to allow the spray to settle onto your skin without running and leaving patches.

After my first attempt I was a little put off, but tried it again by getting into my bath and trying it again.

This was much more successful as there was much more space, though a little more scary as the dark coloured tan looked black against the white bath tub!

The effort to apply the tan was well worth it though as the colour is very natural and lasted a good few days.

I think as we are used to shaking a can, applying it and rubbing it in it took a few goes to get the technique right but the outcome was worth it.

I will definitely be using this again for the colour that it produced.

L xxx

This is a new product that is currently being prepared for sale by a company who previously only dealt with professional air brush tan. It can now be purchased for £26.39. 

This was a PR sample but both of our opinions were honest