Tweezerman Ambassador Programme

Tweezerman are my absolute favourite brand when it comes to tweezers and in my opinion, they do the best tweezers full stop. I've tried so many different brands of Tweezers over the years but nothing compares to Tweezerman so when I noticed that they have a Tweezerman Ambassador Programme for bloggers and vloggers, I knew I had to apply as I'm such a big fan of the brand. I think it's amazing that a brand like Tweezerman recognise the value of bloggers/vloggers by creating this scheme and they'll choose a selection of members to receive their new and exciting products, so I was excited when I was approved as a member.. and even more excited when I opened my parcel. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the incredible Tweezerman Belt packed with their tools.. it was heaven let me tell you, and I've been loving trialing everything out and exploring the other products that Tweezerman do in addition to Tweezers.

The first item is the Tweezerman ProCurl Lash Curlers £20.95* which is a beautiful rose gold colour. The Lash Curlers come with a little pot of three replacement pads for the curler which I think is amazing and something I've never received with previous lash curlers. The ProCurl is said to be designed with unique control with a large opening, with reworked angles to create an excellent, pinch proof access to lashes and the narrow top bar is designed to fit most eye shapes. Whenever I use lash curlers, I'm always worried about them pinching my eyelids as it really hurts and I have to agree, I've not had any pinching whatsoever with these curlers which makes them a winner in my book alone.

It might be a strange thing to comment on, but I really like how thick and spongy the pad is on the lashes as it cushions your lashes whilst they're being curled so it's more comfortable and I find the curl it gives my lashes is exactly that.. a curl, instead of creating peculiar kinks. I also like the design of the handle, with the double bar that curls round for the finger holes.. it gives good grip to the curlers which makes me a lot less nervous about slipping as they really do sit securely on your fingers whilst curling.

Next is the Tweezerman Neon Filemates £6* which is a three pack (I got two of the three designs) of files as well as a plastic case. The neon colours are fab and they'd be easy to find in an handbag as the colours are so bold. These files have 100/180 grits which means they're great for filing natural nails as well as the medium filing of acrylic files too. I think £6 is such great value for three large nail files and a case.. the case is such a genius idea for keeping your file protected inside your bag, and they're really good files too.

When I saw the Tweezerman Brow Mousse £11*, I was expecting a tinted brow gel with a mousse-like consistency but I was surprised as it's actually clear. Tweezerman describe their Brow Mousse as being a lightweight styling gel that shapes and tames the brows with longlasting hold without stickiness or flaking. The brush is a mascara sized wand and the gel is very lightweight like the claims, it doesn't feel 'wet' like other brow gels I've tried and I like that the brush isn't loaded with product either so you can go back and add more gel should you need to. Once the gel sets, it doesn't leave my brows feeling hard or crispy which I've very pleased with. I really would love if Tweezerman did tinted Brow Mousse with this formula as I imagine they'd be very popular indeed.

The next item within my kit is the Tweezerman Pushy and Nail Cleaner £15* which is such a little gem to have, and I find myself using it everyday since I got it. It's a 2-in-1 tool with a 'pushy' cuticle pusher at one end, and the other end is a nail cleaner for keeping your nails clean and neat. I've tried other nail cleaners and they tend to have a sharp point which can be painful, but the polished cleaner effectively cleans the nails without knicking or pulling the skin away from your nails. It's such a simple tool but it is so effective at pushing my cuticles back without scratching my nails, and keeping the underside of my nails free from dust and debris which is essential for those with long nails in particular.

When I saw the Tweezerman Grip & Snip Spiral Spring Cuticle Nipper £30* for the first time, I was a little overwhelmed as it's quite big. The looped spring handle ensures maximum precision and no-slip grip which is essential with blades as sharp as these.. just look at how sharp they are. I cannot even begin to describe how effective these nippers are at snipping loose cuticles and hangnails.. in just one tiny snip, they're completely gone. I'm awful at picking at my hangnails especially when I'm stressed, and it always ends up in them bleeding and being sore for days but these are incredible as I simply snip as soon as I see one and it's gone without inflaming the skin, or leaving any scratches or cuts like some cuticle cutters do. I know that these are a pricey investment to make but if you're a 'picker' like me and you end up making your fingers/nails look awful, I cannot recommend these enough as they're the best cuticle nippers I've tried and my nails look so much better for it.

When it comes to cutting my fingernails, I always use scissors as I like how much control I have with scissors, so I was very happy to see the Tweezerman Stainless Steel Nail Scissors £22.95* within the kit as the scissors I had been using were very basic. These scissors are very sharp, with great curved blades which are perfect for cutting the finger nails and they're heavy duty enough for the toe nails too. The stainless steel blades have been cut in a way that that they are guaranteed to stay sharp too, so you have peace of mind knowing that they're not going to go blunt within say six months of use. 

This Tweezerman Combo Clipper Set £13* is such great value as it contains both a large toenail clipper and a smaller fingernail clipper in a sleek, matte black and silver design. Both of the clippers have precision blades for sharp cutting, and they really are sharp and make light work of clipping the nails. I've given the smaller clipper to my other half to use on his fingernails as I said above, I prefer nail scissors for my fingernails but the nail clippers are without a doubt the best I've tried and take very little pressure due to how sharp the blades are. I know toenails aren't exactly pleasant to talk about, but this is a fantastic little duo and the blades are so sharp that they don't leave rough edges behind.

I was so excited when I spotted this Tweezerman Brow Shaping Scissors and Brush £22* as I've been contemplating buying it the last couple of weeks - fate or what. The scissors have a custom contoured body which is designed for comfortable maneuvering around the brows. The scissors have super sharp, ultra-thin blades so you can isolate each hair with optimum accuracy and control, especially with the spoolie brush which helps to hold the hairs whilst your trim. The shape of these scissors really is fantastic as you get up close to your brows, and shape them. I think this duo might be my favourite item from the whole kit, it's just superb for shaping the brows.

The kit included two pairs of Tweezerman's iconic tweezers, firstly the Tweezerman Point Tweezers £21.95* which are the sharpest, pointiest tweezers I've ever seen. The Point Tweezers feature perfectly aligned, hand finished, ultra sharp points that are designed to grab the smallest of hairs with ease, and the finely tapered designed is ideal for stubble, ingrown hairs and baby fine brow or facial hairs. I've been loving these tweezers for catching the pesky ingrown hairs, but you can even use them for splinters. You really can tell how much work has gone into shaping them, they're of incredibly quality.

Alongside the Point Tweezers, I also got the Tweezerman Animal Print Slant Tweezers £22.95* in the zebra print. The Tweezerman Slant Tweezers are multi-award winning and have been going for over 30 years. I've had my current pair of Slant Tweezers for nearly three years now as they're genuinely as sharp as they were the day I bought them.. they really are worth their money and whatsmore, Tweezerman offer free sharpening of their tools, so if yours were to blunt a little, you could have them resharpened for free which is such a great offer. The Slant Tweezers are slanted so they grip every hair, with the smoothest precision and I love that they can pick up multiple hairs in one go too if you're short on time or lazy like me. I never find that brow hairs snap whilst using Tweezerman tweezers as they're the sharpest, precise tips and they really go hold onto the hair securely whilst you're tweezing it - serious holy grail product!

The last item within my Tweezerman belt is the Tweezerman Folding iLashcomb £9.50*, which is an handy little comb with super sharp, gold plated teeth to glide through the lashes to remove excess mascara without clumping. I have a few lash combs and the teeth are much thicker than those on this comb, and they tend to make the curl in my lashes drop but the these teeth are tapered and very sharp so they remove excess mascara without making my lashes drop, or causing ugly clumps. I really like that it folds away and is so compact and I use it everytime I apply mascara as it offers such good separation without removing my mascara.

I seriously cannot thank Tweezerman UK enough for this amazing belt, I am so grateful and I've loved trying all of these products out. Tweezerman are known for their fantastic tweezers, but they have so many other great products, and there wasn't one disappointing within the whole kit. If you love Tweezerman and you're a blogger/Vlogger, I'd recommend applying for the Tweezerman Ambassador Programme, as you could be lucky like me to be chosen to join and discover some new Tweezerman gems.

Glossybox April 2015 Contents and First Impressions

There was quite a lot of buzz around April's Glossybox as Glossybox announced that the box would be a Collectors Edition Iconic Hollywood Box and that it will contain three full size products. To coincide with the Hollywood theme, the April box* is a decorative box in lemon, peach, mint or blue with the iconic Marilyn Monroe on the front. I got the lemon box, and I loved that the ribbon inside the box matched the yellow box; simple but cute. Incase you're new to the Glossybox concept, it's a monthly beauty subscription box that costs £12.95 and you cancel your subscription at any time.

The beauty traits Marilyn is perhaps most known for are her love of black liner and red lips, so Glossybox have included both a black liner and a red lipstick within April's box which I love. The liner is the Pop Beauty Kajal Eyeliner Pen (full size worth £6.50), which is actually a pencil even though its name is a little misleading. This is a super creamy eyeliner with a sponge on the other end for blending, although it's not the most pigmented liner I've ever used and it can disappear with thorough blending. 

For the red lipstick, I got the Lord & Berry Lipstick Pencil in the shade Kiss (full size worth £10). I have a few of the Lord & Berry Lipstick 20100 Lipstick Pencils, but I've never tried this format with a wooden pencil rather than plastic with the other range. Kiss is an orange toned red, and the pencil has a really smooth and creamy formula. Once applied to the lips, the lipstick has a satin finish and it really packs a punch in terms of longevity as it leaves a tint/stain on the lips.

I was happy to see something from Darphin within the box as I've never tried any of their products before. I got a 15ml sample of the Darphin Exquisage Beauty Revealing Cream (worth £13.70). Firstly this cream smells divine, and I absolutely love applying it at night as I can smell the cream on my skin for a good hour after application. The cream claims to quickly replenish the skin, enhancing firmness and boosting luminosity, whilst softening wrinkles and lines. It's a very rich cream that leaves my skin feeling very soft and plumped, and I really would be tempted to buy the £65 full size (ouch) even after only three uses.

Next up is another full size.. the Color Club Nail Polish in the shade Barely There (worth £4.10). I love a good nude polish so this is a very welcome addition to my nail polish collection.. it's such a pretty brown toned nude that I know I'll get a lot of use out of, and I really like using nude polishes as bases for glitter topcoats. I have a couple of Color Club polishes and I really like them and their formula.

The last item inside April's Glossybox is another full size.. a 35g bag of Nougat London Soothing Bath Pearls (worth £6) which is a new launch. They're to be used a teaspoon at a time to scent the bath and they claim to leave shimmer on the skin. I think these are a nice idea but the scent isn't really for me so I'm going to give them to someone else to use.

I really like this month's box, and I think Glossybox did well interpreting the theme with the products. The value of the products inside the box is £40.30, and I'm happy that there were four full size products inside the box and I especially like the Lord & Berry Lipstick Pencil and Darphin face cream.

Skincare Sunday | Organic Surge Ultra-Light Oil Control Lotion

Organic Surge Ultra-Light Oil Control Lotion £18.50*

The Organic Surge Extra Care line is such a lovely range and I'm a big fan of their Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser. Over the last few weeks I've been trialing their Ultra-Light Oil Control Lotion which is suitable for normal to dry or mature skin, and is designed to protect the skin from environmental influences, allowing it to develop and maintain a balanced level of naturally produced protective oils. The lightweight lotion is packed with skin loving nutrients to replenish and soothe the skin by infusing it with a superior blend of argan leaf, damask rose, geranium, safflower and sweet orange oils.  

Packaged within a clear, glass bottle with a pump dispenser. I really like the white and metallic red colour scheme as it looks really luxurious compared to their main line. The white lotion has a gel-like consistency, which absorbs into the skin almost instantly and it really is lightweight, without leaving any residue or stickiness on the surface of the skin. To begin with, I didn't know how best to introduce the lotion into my skincare regime but I've found that it's best to use it after my serum in the place of my moisturiser in the mornings as it's quite moisturising. 

My skin is very dry so I don't struggle with oily skin, but I imagine that this lotion would be really effective at combating shine as it has a mattifying effect on the skin which is ideal before applying foundation. Even though I don't have oily skin, I struggle with shiny skin as my moisturiser and serum are so intensive, so this helps to keep that shine at a minimum. I like that by adding this into my skincare regime, I'm protecting my skin and it also happens to smell very lovely too which makes application even more pleasurable.

Benefit Hervana Blusher

Benefit Hervana £23.50* is a beautiful multicoloured powder blush which Benefit describe as being a good karma face powder that contains four complementary shades; lucky shell, divine peach, heavenly rose and berry delight which swirled together create an orchid blossom blush. Just like all of Benefit's Box O Powders, Hervana is packaged within a card compact, with a magnetised lid containing a mirror, and a brush nestled on top of the powder. I've read a lot of reviews where people slate the enclosed brush, but I happen to think it's quite effective due to its angled shape of the bristles, which fits nicely against the contours of the cheeks.

Hervana is such a pretty powder, with a kaleidoscope pattern of the four shades. To use the powder, Benefit recommend swirling all four shades together but you could technically use a small brush in one specific section, although I haven't found that to be very effective so I just use them all together. Hervana isn't super pigmented which might disappoint some but I actually love that Hervana is subtle as I can wear it that way, or choose to build it up to be slightly more intense. When blended together, Hervana is a pretty rosy plum shade which imparts a soft yet natural satin flush which is ever so flattering for my pale skin and it suits every lip and eye colour, making it one of my most worn blushes.

Stylfile Infuse Moisturising Nail File

Stylfile Infuse Moisturising Nail File £12.99*

This year I'm making a very conscious effort to look after my hands and nails, and I've been trialing a fair few nail files in a bid to find the 'perfect' nail file. When it comes to nail files, I am a complete and utter weirdo as I cannot stand to touch or use glass or crystal nail files, even though I know they're said to be the best files for your nails.. they make me feel physically sick - I know, I'm weird. I have tried a few Stylfile nail files over the last couple of years, and I've always liked them so I was most intrigued by their newest launch; the Stylfile Infuse - the world's first nail file with cuticle oil. 

The Stylfile Infuse is really unique as it combines the trademark curved shape of the Stylfile with specially developed almond cuticle oil to hydrate and nourish cuticles and strengthen nails. The Stylfile Infuse was created as the dust from filing your nails dries your cuticles out and almond oil is known for its nourishing and strengthening properties making it an ideal combination with the Stylfile for looking after the nails. 

The box comes with two nail file attachments and a handle, which each of the files click into. Each of the two file attachments are said to last upto three months, so you have six months of nail filing covered with the Stylfile Infuse. To use the file, Stylfile recommend filing from the nail edge to the nail centre, using the tougher outer side of the file to shape the nails, and then use the softer, inner side to smooth them. Once you've filed your nails, it's time to apply the oil which you do by pressing the black button once on the base of the golden handle. The oil dispenses through the holes in the white cushioned pad, so you simply remove the clear lid and massage the pad around your cuticles in circular motions and then use your fingers to rub in any remaining oil. One click of the button is enough for each hand, and it only takes less than a minute per hand.

I am really impressed with how effective the Stylfile Infuse is.. it files and buffs my nails so quickly and smoothly without damaging my nails as it's very gentle, and it makes applying cuticle oil so much quicker and easier as it's an all in one. If I'm honest, I rarely apply cuticle oil as I find it to be a little bit of a faff, but to have the oil within the file without having to use a separate bottle is a lot more fuss-free and I never neglect to apply the oil after filing when using the Stylfile Infuse. I also really like how ergonomic the design is with the handle as it makes filing my nails incredibly quick and enjoyable and less of a chore.

Riemann P20 Once a Day Sun Protection Review

I am seriously pale, and covered in freckles so it's safe to say, my skin isn't particularly sun-friendly. Due to my skin tone, I burn very, very easily and I always wear a minimum of factor 50 sun protection every single day. When I was on holiday in Ibiza nearly ten years ago, I ran out of my factor 50 and used a friends factor 15 whilst we were on a boat trip (I was young and naive) and I got so badly burnt that in the evening I had to go to the local emergency centre as I had huge weeping blisters all over my legs and I was very poorly. Fast forward ten years, I still have scars on my thighs as the burns were so severe. That was definitely my worst sunburn incident and was entirely my own fault, but I am now always so exceptionally careful with my sun protection.

Last year I bought the Ambre Solaire Dry Mist as I liked the prospect of a non-greasy and a non-sticky suncream. However the formula was so dry that I couldn't tell where I'd applied it, so I ended up using so much per application to ensure I was thoroughly protected, that it only lasted for a small amount of uses which is pretty pricey considering it's £16 a bottle. This year I decided I wanted to try the Riemann P20 Once a Day Sun Protection as I've read so many rave reviews, and it has really impressive claims.

Riemann P20 is available in four different SPF factors, and I opted for the highest that they do; SPF50. There are also two sizes available; 100ml and 200ml with the 100ml bottle costing £13.29 and the 200ml bottle costing £24.49, and I chose the 200ml bottle as Superdrug had it on offer for £19.49, and I knew it would cover me for the whole of summer. Riemann P20 is definitely pricier than the likes of Nivea and Ambre Solaire, but seeing as skin cancer runs in my family, I would pay anything for good quality, sun protection that I can trust especially as I'm so fair skinned.

Riemann P20 is such a unique product as it provides up to 10 hours of sun protection from just one application, and is very water resistant even with frequent swimming which is amazing if you're going on holiday. What really impressed me is that it is active after only 15 minutes from application, so there's no waiting around before going out in the sun like other sun protection. 

Other claims/benefits include: non-greasy, fragrance free, broad spectrum photostable UV protection covering both UVA and UVB rays, lightweight consistency, more economical than other suncreams as it doesn't need to be reapplied during the day, absorbs instantly, no white streaks and can be used on both the skin and scalp.

Riemann P20 uses to come in a bottle which you'd tip into your hand to apply, but the bottles now have a spray applicator which makes application very easy. I like that the bottle has a pump dispenser rather an aerosol as it covers a good area of skin with each spray, and it sprays a good amount of product so you know you're thoroughly covered.

The texture of Riemann P20 is unique to any other sun protection product I've tried as it's like an  oil and lotion hybrid with a yellow tint. To apply the liquid, I simply spray the skin and massage it into the skin until it's fully absorbed, and for the face you have to spray into your hand and then apply to the skin. The liquid absorbs quickly and strangely leaves a very subtle yellow tint to the skin whilst it absorbs, and once it has absorbed, it really is non-greasy and non-sticky.. it leaves my skin feeling like skin which I absolutely love. I hate using suncreams as it feels quite suffocating and heavy upon the skin, but this is the complete opposite.. you can't feel it on the skin at all, nor smell it as it is truly fragrance free. It feels so much more comfortable on the skin, and as it's not sticky, it doesn't stick to any clothes or make me feel sweaty and uncomfortable like other suncreams.

Obviously the most important feature of a sun protection product is their efficacy at protecting the skin from the sun, which Riemann P20 excels at. We've been having some beautiful sunshine recently and it's been pretty warm for April, and I've not burnt once whilst wearing it which is pretty huge for someone as pale as me. Rob, my other half as even ditched his Nivea suncream in favour for Riemann P20 as it's such an amazing product and ideal for him as he does a lot of long distance running in all weathers. I am so incredibly impressed with Riemann P20, it is without a doubt the best sun protection product I've ever tried, and I honestly cannot recommend it enough.. it really is worth the money, and I love the peace of mind it gives me knowing I am fully protected all day without having to carry suncream around with me.

Clarins Aquatic Treasures Summer Collection 2015

How beautiful is this weather we've been experiencing here in the UK lately? It's definitely made me excited for the Summer, especially as beauty brands are now releasing their Summer beauty collections. The Clarins Aquatic Treasures Collection is an absolute beauty of a collection and really does encapsulate Summer. The Aquatic Treasures Collection is said to capture the textures and shades of the ocean; a harmony of rich gold and bronze to reflect the silky sands, iridescent shades to mirror the glimmering pearls scattering the ocean floor, and a splash of glittering grey echoing the water as it sparkles in the sunlight. I was lucky enough to be gifted a few pieces from the collection, which I've been trialing out recently....

First up is the Clarins After Sun Shimmer Oil £32* which is absolutely incredible. Described as a lightweight beauty-enhancing oil with a subtle iridescence that nourishes and illuminates the body with a soft golden shimmer. The oil is said to contain fine, flecks of golden shimmer to leave a beautiful veil upon the skin to enhance a tan without an oily texture. The packaging alone is stunning, with a weighty clear glass bottle and a gold metal lid. Before using the oil, you have to shake the bottle to thoroughly blend the oil before application. When you move the bottle, the golden flecks which are suspended within the oil almost sparkle with the movement of the oil

Some body oils tend to be rather messy, but the bottle has a dropper on the top so when you tip it upside down it drops out onto the skin rather than just pouring out everywhere which I love. The oil contains hazelnut oil which nourishes and softens the skin whilst protecting against dehydration which is ideal for skin that has been exposed to the skin. Hazelnut oil is also known for its soothing benefits, and provides comfort after sun exposure whilst Vitamin E protects the skin from external aggressions. The oil also contains a blend of fragrant essential oils; mandarin, grapefruit, ylang ylang and tonka bean for a truly tropical scent.

The Clarins After Sun Shimmer Oil can be used in a number of ways.. it can be applied to the face, arms, legs and decolletage to illuminate the skin and enhance a tan. It can also be applied to dry or damp hair for extra nourishment, and for a subtle fragrance. The oil really is lightweight like it claims to be, and feels like a dry oil which massages into the skin easily with little effort. The oil not only leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, it also leaves a subtle gorgeous golden glow that can be built up for a more intense tint should you want to and not to mention its divine scent; it's like a holiday in a bottle.

Clarins also released two new shades to their existing range of Ombre Shadows, which I'm already a massive fan of. The two new shades are in a new finish Ombre Iridescente whereas the other six shades are matte. The two new shades are; Aquatic Rose and Aquatic Grey*, and I have the Aquatic Grey shade. The Clarins Ombre Iridescente Shadows are £19 each and have a cream to powder formulation which contains a blend of soft-focus pigments for pure colour, and bamboo powder for longevity. The Ombre Matte shadows all have a gold lid, but I really like that the new Ombre Iridescente Shadows have a lid to match the shade of the shadow inside.

Aquatic Grey looks almost like a dark denim blue within the circular pot, but when applied to the lid, it's a matte brown base with stunning grey shimmer which makes a truly beautiful combination. I love that Clarins have included a more muted pretty pink gold shade for the day, and then this gorgeous smokey grey for evening looks. The formulation of these shadows are truly lovely.. they're ever so creamy and smooth, and I've found that they're best applied with a synthetic brush for maximum colour payoff. Aquatic Grey is even more beautiful when applied with a damp brush, as it creates an amazing foiled effect.

As part of the Aquatic Treasures Collection, Clarins have introduced two limited edition new shades of their already super popular Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base £26.50* in; 04 Apricot and 05 Golden Bronze. The Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Bases help to eliminate imperfections, giving the skin a flawless finish. It contains the Clarins Anti-Pollution Complex to keep the skin protected whilst maintaining luminosity all day long. It also offers hydrating and soothing skin care benefits due to katafray bark extract, whilst the High-Lumitec Complex brightens the complexion and optically corrects imperfections.

I have the shade Golden Bronze which is a matte, shimmer-free bronze shade which is very similar to the new Benefit Dew The Hoola except it's perhaps a little more bronze in tone. The swatch above is just one generous pump, and as you can see a little goes a long way. It begins as a very dark bronze shade against my skintone, but once thoroughly blended, it adds a gorgeous bronze glow to my skin. You can use choose to apply this before your makeup as a base, or you can blend it in without foundation should you need a slightly darker shade of foundation during the summer months which is perfect if you're going on holiday. Alternatively, you could add a little to your moisturizer and create your own custom tinted moisturiser to suit your skintone if you prefer a lighter base during the Summer months.. it really is a versatile product, and I imagine it'll be the best-seller from the collection.

My last product is the Clarins Waterproof Eye Liner Pencil £17* which is one of their existing lines, but very fitting for their Aquatic Treasures theme with its waterproof formula. This is one of the best eyeliner pencils I've ever tried.. It's incredibly creamy and smooth, with intense pigmentation with very little pressure needed which is ideal for my sensitive eyes. The pencil has a blending sponge on the opposite end to the pencil, which can be used for smudging and blending the pencil for a more lived in liner look which is what I tend to prefer during the Summer. What I particularly like about the formula of this liner is that even when smudged out, it remains well pigmented and doesn't blend into nothing like some liners do and it really is waterproof, smudgeproof, budgeproof and tear-proof and will be my eyeliner of choice throughout the Summer.

What do you think of the beautiful Clarins Aquatic Treasures Collection?

Blog Design Update & Mobile Template

If you're a regular reader, you may have noticed that I've undergone a little blog makeover. I've been wanting to get a new blog design for quite a while now, but my favourite blog designer doesn't do blog designs anymore so I've been looking for a new blog designer for a couple of months. I wasn't particularly in a rush to get a new blog design, or I wasn't until Google announced their new 'Mobile-Friendly' update which will take effect on the 21st of April. Now I'm no expert when it comes to technology, so please forgive me if I make absolutely no sense but... from the 21st, Google will be now be ranking blogs which are 'mobile friendly' higher than blogs that aren't 'mobile friendly' when a reader views a blog on a mobile device. The lovely Elaine explains it much better than I ever could here...

This worried me a lot because according to my Google Analytics, 53.8% of my readers access my blog via a mobile or tablet so I would have potentially taken a considerable drop in traffic if I hadn't made any changes to my blog. Blogger does give you an option to use their mobile template but in all honesty, it's ugly and I did change to this template for six days and my bounce rate went from 1.83% to 36.6% as readers were leaving my blog so quickly. I then decided I needed to purchase a blog design that included a mobile template so I didn't have to use Google's ugly alternative which was a little overwhelming. I was planning on using Etsy, however I decided to use Pipdig's services after having eleven separate recommendations on just one day.

Pipdig offers a huge selection of premade templates that you can purchase as well as custom options for both Blogger and Wordpress. What really impressed me is that all of the templates include a mobile template within their price.. with Blogger premade templates costing only £29 each which is incredible value. I opted for the Tundra template as I had my own custom made header, and I've been blown away by the service I've received from Pipdig. I was initally worried about purchasing a premade template as dozens of bloggers could have the same design, but you can edit fonts/colours etc once you've downloaded the template to give it a more unique touch which was the deciding factor for me.

I am absolutely over the moon with my new layout.. I can't believe it cost me under £30, and I am so happy that my blog is ready for the new Google update on the 21st of April and I won't lose any traffic for not having a mobile friendly blog. If like me, you don't have a mobile template or hate the unsightly Blogger mobile template, I cannot recommend Pipdig enough to get your blog ready for the changes and for professional blog designs. I just want to make it clear that this is not a sponsored post, I've paid Pipdig for my design work myself but I just had to write a post about my amazing experience in case any of you were looking for a new blog design.

I have kept my old blog header for the time being, but in the coming weeks, I'll be getting a new illustrated header commissioned by the amazing Carly who created my current one as I love her work and the personality an illustrated header gives to my blog. If you're looking for a personalised, illustrated header, I really recommend Carly as she's so talented and very reasonably priced too.

If you don't know if your blog is 'mobile friendly', Google have a free checking tool that you can enter your blog address into and find out if you pass...

Esqido Unforgettable & Lashlorette Lashes plus GIVEAWAY

After trying Esqido Lashes for the first time last month, it's safe to say I absolutely love them. I've reviewed both the Miss Dolly and Little Black Lash style lashes, which are both quite natural in their appearance so when Esqido asked me if I'd like to try another two styles, I knew I had to try some of their more glamorous style lashes. Esqido Lashes are completely cruelty free, and are made from mink hair which have been naturally shed. Until trying the Esqido false eyelashes, I'd never tried any mink lashes so I didn't know what to expect but now I've experienced them for myself, I can't imagine ever going back to synthetic lashes as they're just incredible and of amazing quality.

The two styles that I chose were; the Lashlorette Lashes $38/£25* and the Unforgettable Lashes $36/£24*. The Esqido Lashes are a lot pricier than synthetic lashes as they contain hundreds of natural hairs which are stitched into a cotton band, and they can be worn upto 25 times so it works out at only £1 per wear which is incredible value as I always find that synthetic lashes look ropey and unattractive after one use no matter how careful I am with them. Obviously these lashes aren't for everyone, but if you love luxurious, beautiful lashes that look a lot more convincing than synthetic lashes, then I cannot recommend the Esqido lashes enough. Even though they're a US based company, they have a warehouse within the UK that they're shipped from so if you do order from their website, you don't have to worry about being stunning with customs charges which is excellent.

The Unforgettable Lashes feature a natural gradient of increasing length and thickness across the lash band which creates a pretty winged out appearance. These are seriously pretty lashes and they'd suit any eye makeup look, especially winged liner due to the winged out design. If you like wearing lashes on a daily basis, I think these would be perfect as they're not super voluminous or dramatic. I love the gradient effect on these lashes as it makes them so comfortable to wear, and the natural curl in the lashes is stunning and you can't help but feel pretty when wearing them.

The Lashlorette Lashes are so unique to any other lashes I've owned, as they have a gorgeous criss-cross design with straight lashes in between the criss-crosses. They look so fluttery and full, whilst managing to be lightweight on the lashes. The lash hairs are so wispy due to them being naturally tapered in their shape, which synthetic lashes aren't. In the box the Lashlorette lashes look so dramatic, but on the eyes they actually look quite natural as if I'm wearing eyelash extensions due to their wispiness.

GIVEAWAY

Esqido have very kindly given me an extra set of the Unforgettable and Lashlorette lashes to giveaway to one lucky winner so if you fancy winning these lashes, please enter via the Rafflecopter form below after reading the terms and conditions. All entrants that enter this giveaway must complete the following entry steps as a minimum;

All entrants must follow Miss Makeup Magpie via Bloglovin'

All entrants must follow Esqido via Twitter

Terms and Conditions

- This giveaway is open internationally.

- One winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter, and the lucky winner will win a set of Unforgettable Lashes and the Lashlorette Lashes.

- Entrants under 18 must seek parental permission before entering this giveaway.

- There is no purchase necessary to enter this giveaway.

- ALL entries will be checked and verified, with any incomplete, false or duplicate entries being removed from the giveaway entirely.

- Esqido have very kindly provided the prizes, and I will be posting the prizes to the winner myself.

- The winner be notified by the email address given and will have 48 hours to respond. If the winner doesn't respond within 48 hours, an alternative winner will be selected via Rafflecopter's randomiser.

- This is not a sponsored giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway