April 2014Cherry Pie : April 2014

30 April 2014

Good Things Skincare Manuka Honey Daily Moisturiser

Good Things Skincare Manuka Honey Daily Moisturiser
Good Things Skincare Manuka Honey Daily Moisturiser - £7.99*


Good Things have done it again! I am a massive fan of the brand and now have fallen even more in love with it thanks to its new Manuka Honey range, which smells absolutely divine.

I've been looking for a new moisturiser for a little while, just to change things up a bit, and I'm so happy to have found this new one from Good Things. The moisturiser contains manuka honey, royal jelly, beeswax and bee venom, all of which aim to improve skin hydration. Bee venom is known to help boost collagen levels and manuka honey can help skin renewal and skin ageing. Thankfully I'm yet to really need products that tackle ageing but I suppose now is the perfect age to start using them as they say prevention is better than cure.

I have to admit I was a bit sceptical about using a moisturiser that smells so good because usually to get some kind of scent there's lots of horrible chemicals included, which don't usually agree with my skin, but this moisturiser is free from parabens, mineral oils and sulphate and leaves my skin feeling extremely soft all day long. My cheeks also feel lovely and plump after use. After application you also get a gorgeous whiff of honey every now and then, which I absolutely love.

I tend to really slather this all over my face yet it doesn't take too long to soak in, which is impressive. I think this is definitely going to be a staple of my daily skincare routine and I'm really interested to give the cleanser, face mask and the refining scrub a go.

This post contains PR samples
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29 April 2014

Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner

Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner
Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner - £16.46*


There's been a lot of talk lately about co-washing. I've never tried it before until I was sent the Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner but I have to say I'm a fan. I must admit to you that I do wash my hair every day. I know I shouldn't but I'm stuck in that annoying in-between place where I can't bare to leave it unwashed for days on end in order to get past the greasy stage. Maybe I'll give it a go when I have some time off work or something. However, I don't use many, if any, products on my hair during the week simply because I don't really have time to.

On the weekends I do use hair masks, fancy conditioners and serums to tackle split ends and generally damaged hair due to heat use so it does get a bit of a treat every now and then. I've been using the Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner about once a week and I'm loving it. The conditioner is a six in one product that aims to cleanse, condition, reduce blow-drying time, detangle, enhance volume and eliminate frizz. I would definitely say it cleanses and conditions well as after use my hair feels lovely and squeaky clean as well as being extremely soft all day long. I wouldn't say it's particularly voluminous but as my hair is pretty long it could be that it's bottom heavy and therefore doesn't hold volume well. I also wouldn't say blow-drying time is reduced very much, but again as I've got such long hair this is probably why.

It's also lovely to brush afterwards so it definitely lives up to its detangling claim and I usually spend all day running my own fingers through it because it feels so great.

On application the product comes out much like a mousse that doesn't foam or produce any suds, which I always find weird because I never think I've used enough, however that's not the case. It does feel weird using a shampoo and conditioner all in one as I'm just used to picking up various bottles but this product is fab because it does everything you need in one! I would certainly recommend it as my hair is left in great condition after use.

Have you used this? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

This post contains PR samples
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28 April 2014

The Sunday Catch Up #16


Easter cake and gingerbread man making / Dinner at Za Za Bazaar / Boats! / Waiting for Derren Brown

Follow me on Instagram - @Cherryp13


This week has absolutely flown by! On Monday it was a Bank Holiday so I had the day off and I spent the morning making some questionable gingerbread men, which subsequently burnt to a crisp, and some Easter cakes with Daisy and my sister. Of course we made a right mess! The Easter nests tasted really yummy but the gingerbread men weren't very tasty, we had fun decorating them though.

We headed to our parents in the afternoon and spent a while there and then the rest of the day flew by quite uneventfully. I was back to work on Tuesday so only a four day week for me, well more like three and a half actually as I had Wednesday afternoon off. Vince and I had tickets to see Derren Brown at the Hippodrome so we spent the afternoon in Bristol, did a teeny bit of shopping and had some dinner before the show. Obviously I don't want to give anything away but it was amazing and I came away just so confused and mind boggled about what I saw and how he did it!

The rest of the week went by in a flash. Yesterday I didn't get up to much. I did go to the doctors about the extreme tiredness and I've had to book a blood test to check everything's all ok. Fingers crossed it is. Ironically I spent most of the afternoon napping before going to my mum and dad's for the afternoon.

Next weekend I'm hoping for my parents to come round and help me out with the garden. There's not that much to do (I don't think!) but it just needs a tidy. I'm not really growing anything in particular, it's just been sort of growing on it's own and it could do with a tidy and perhaps some proper plants and flowers planted. Hopefully the weather will hold out so we can get out there.

What have you been up to this past week? Did you enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend?

Before you go be sure to catch up on the past week:

  • Revlon Parfumerie scented nail polish in Lime Basil
  • Barry M Summer Love Palette
  • Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel
  • Trend report: When life gives you lemons

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    25 April 2014

    Trend report: When life gives you lemons...



    In a couple of magazines and on some blogs recently I've been spotting a bit of a trend for lemon yellow and lemon print in general. It's the perfect shade for bringing summer straight into your wardrobe even if it's miserable outside. It's also a trend championed by Kate Spade in her spring 2014 collection.

    It's perfect for a pop of colour teamed with another plain shade, or if you're brave enough, why not pair it with more yellow or a wild print. I personally would go for the New Look Crop Tshirt worn with a pair of Black Polka Dot Shorts or a plain black skater skirt, however you don't want to go too bumblebee-esque so be careful. Yellow and white are the perfect partner if, unlike me, you can pull the colour off without spilling anything down it!

    One of my favourite bloggers has teamed the ribbed crop tee with a pair of gingham jeans, which looks fab. Check out her look here. If wearing such a bold colour isn't really your thing but you still want to incorporate it into your look you can do so with accessories. A vibrant yellow bag is fab for added colour, maybe something petite like the above or a big bright shopper.

    What are your thoughts on the lemon/yellow trend? Let me know in the comments.
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    24 April 2014

    Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

    Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel
    Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel - £14*
    Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

    It has been a long time since I have used a Clinique product. I'm not sure why it's been so long but I'm glad the brand is now back in my life.

    I was recently sent the Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel*, which was released back in March and I have been trialling it for a little while. I have used Clinique spot targeting products in the past but found them a little harsh on my skin, however I'm a big fan of this clearing gel.

    The gel has a four in one clearing complex consisting of the following:


  • Anti-Blemish: Salicylic Acid clears away dead surface cells that clog pores to help resolve and prevent breakouts.
  • Control-oil: Laminaria Saccharina helps normalise the excess production of oil.
  • Non-irritating: Sea Whip Extract calms and soothes skin and helps reduce surface redness.
  • Exfoliate: Salicylic Acid promotes healthy cell turnover.

    The gel can be used all over the face or as a targeted spot treatment. I personally haven't tried it all over my face just yet but have been using it to target the odd spot that has reared its head. You simply apply a small amount to the blemish and let it work its magic. The gel forms a thin layer over the irritation but unlike a lot of other spot treatments it doesn't dry out your skin or the area surrounding the blemish. It is fast drying and I've found it to work pretty quickly in reducing redness. If I feel a spot coming on I'll quickly whip this out and apply and it's pretty much gone in a day or two.

    For £14 I think this is probably at the very top end of what I would spend on a spot treatment. You do get your pennies worth though as you really only need a tiny amount for each application. I've yet to use this on a really nasty spot but I have certainly seen it successfully work in a flash on smaller ones and it's perfect for applying when you feel one coming on too.

    I usually get a few spots brought on by my hormones/tiredness or stress and this is perfect for popping in your make-up bag or hand-bag so you always feel confident about your skin.

    Have you tried this blemish targeting treatment? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

  • This post contains PR samples
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    23 April 2014

    Barry M Summer Love Palette

    Barry M Summer Love Palette
    Barry M Summer Love Palette - £6.49

    Barry M Summer Love Palette

    Barry M Summer Love Palette

    Barry M Summer Love Palette

    Barry M Summer Love Palette

    Barry M Summer Love Palette

    Barry M Summer Love Palette

    On first glance of this palette I thought these shades probably aren't for me, but something still made me put it into my basket and buy it. It might be the fact that I adored the original natural palette that was released last year (check out my review here) and thought I should just give this one a go, because you never know!

    I'm really glad I did because despite this being a summer palette, it does actually contain a couple of neutral shades, which are all very me. I feel most comfortable wearing these types of shades but after I gave the other shades a go I have to admit I'm slightly swayed…

    All of the shades are lovely and shimmery and while there is a little fall out, they do still have great staying power and will last the majority of the day. On first glance the pastels looked slightly wintery/frosty and I was worried they wouldn't be very spring like but I think they're perfect for a clean, fresh make-up look and a hint of colour on the lids.

    If you want a more vibrant colour then I'd suggest using a bit of primer on the lids but overall I'm quite happy with how these have turned out. For £6.49 I think the palette is pretty reasonable. There is also a highlighter in the palette, which I've yet to use, but if you think about it you do get a lot for your money here and each pan will last a pretty long time!

    Have you used the Barry M Summer Love Palette yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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    22 April 2014

    Revlon Parfumerie scented nail polish in Lime Basil

    Revlon Parfumerie in Lime Basil
    Revlon Parfumerie scented nail polish in Lime Basil - £6.49

    Revlon Parfumerie in Lime Basil

    Revlon Parfumerie in Lime Basil

    Revlon Parfumerie in Lime Basil

    Most of the time scented polishes are a bit of a gimmick. They usually don't smell anything like what they're supposed to and if there is any scent then it's usually mixed with the horrible chemical scent of the nail polish, not nice. When I heard about Revlon's new scented polishes I instantly wanted to try them and I will happily admit it was simply because of the pretty bottle and nothing else…

    I recently popped into my local Boots store and I saw a row of these little pretties staring back at me. I wasn't sure what colour to go for so instead I made my choice based on the name of the scent. I opted for Lime Basil as it sounded fruity and fresh and it didn't disappoint.

    I was really, really impressed with the scent of this polish. It actually smelt of lime and it was lovely and strong too. It didn't have a horrible chemical waft to it and the smell lasted absolutely ages, at least a day before it wore off. It was great as every now and then I'd get a lovely whiff of lime. It didn't smell so much of basil but it didn't really matter to me as the lime was so delicious.

    The polish itself is lovely to apply and I only needed two coats. It has a super shiny finish and I've been wearing it for over a week now and there's still only minimal chipping. To say I'm impressed is an understatement and I think it's a really lovely little product for the price. I would be interested to try out the rest of the range just to see what they smell like. I would definitely recommend picking these up, if not only for the pretty bottle tops!

    Have you tried this range? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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    20 April 2014

    The Sunday Catch Up #15


    Fave new moisturiser / Healthy (ish) dinner / Animals at Puxton Park! / Lovely new flowers /
    Daisy and Oscar enjoying their Easter eggs / My own Easter egg!

    Follow me on Instagram - cherryp13


    As predicted the past week went pretty slowly but my extra days off have gone quite fast. Typical. On Friday I went to Puxton Park with my mum, sister and my niece and nephew. Puxton Park is pretty much a farm with lots of play areas for children and basically it's my worst nightmare. Children running around all over the place. I can handle my niece and nephew as they're lovely, obviously, but other people's children… no thanks.

    After lunch I started feeling pretty tired. Not your usual level of tiredness though, like ridiculously tired and headachy too. I got home afterwards and fell asleep for about four hours. I'm not sure why I was so tired, but I always seem to be these days. My mum said it might be a good idea to make a doctors appointment in case I have low levels of iron or something. I've bought lots of fresh meat, fish, green veg and fruit to try and help so will see how it goes. I felt like I spoilt everyone's day to be honest as I just didn't have any energy.

    I did feel better on Saturday though and I spent the entire afternoon at my sister's with my mum, dad and nan while they all sorted her garden out for her. I just sat back and watched, haha! The weather has been pretty good and I quite enjoyed sitting outside for a couple of hours.

    Typically it's raining today but I still spent the morning round my mum and dad's. Daisy and Oscar enjoyed their Easter eggs and we had a nice lunch of dad's lovely cottage pie! Yum, yum. Vince and I have been napping for most of the afternoon and I've been munching away on my Easter egg. I need to get on with some cleaning as my sister is coming round tomorrow with Daisy to make some cakes!

    I didn't really get half of what I wanted to do, done, on these days off. Absolutely no blogging at all. Luckily I have a bit of a back log of pictures that I've taken so have plenty to review. I did want to get some outfit photos taken and I even sorted out my wardrobe but I'm just not very fashionable and I don't have anything worthy photographing! I'm in desperate need of a shopping trip.

    How have you been enjoying your Easter? Let me know in the comments.

    Before you go be sure to catch up on the past week:
  • Easter nails
  • Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian

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    18 April 2014

    Easter nails

    Easter nails

    Easter nails

    Easter nails

    Happy Easter everyone! Well nearly…

    I'm so very happy as I now have a lovely relaxing four day weekend, yippee! Typically yesterday went extremely slowly but we're finally here. Today I'm off to Puxton Park with my mum, sister and my niece and nephew. I'm hoping the weather holds out as we're hoping to take a picnic along with us.

    Other than that I don't really have much planned except household chores and blogging. Hopefully I can get lots of posts written and photographs taken but knowing me I'll sit on my bum all weekend, oopsie!

    I don't really do much for Easter if I'm honest. I suppose I have been celebrating slightly with my Easter-themed nails. What do you think? They're obviously a bit wobbly but overall I really like them, I just wish I could do the same on both patterns, but unfortunately I'm absolutely useless at using my left hand. Boo! I was pretty surprised I had all of the colours I needed. It actually made me want to do more nail art in future so hopefully I'll feature more on the blog soon.

    Hope you all enjoy your Easter break, let me know in the comments what you're getting up to.
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    15 April 2014

    Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian

    Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian
    Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian - £3.99 each

    Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian

    Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian

    Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian

    Barry M Aquarium Nail Polishes in Mediterranean and Arabian

    Not long ago the day finally came where I stumbled across the new Barry M Aquarium nail polishes. I had £20 worth of vouchers on me at the time so I picked up these two polishes as well as two more from the collection, which I will be featuring very soon!

    When I first spotted the polishes they reminded me a lot of the Models Own Beetlejuice collection, except these are, of course, more inspired by the sea and so the collection contains blues/greens and other very mermaid-esque two-tone shades. I couldn't resist the gorgeous orange/red of the Mediterranean polish and I thought I was in need of a bit more green polish so picked up Arabian too.

    They're beautiful to apply, really silky smooth and one coat is more than enough to get the desired look. They catch the light really well and have the perfect amount of shimmer/sparkle too. They also dry nice and quickly and the best part is, they last absolutely ages with minimal chipping.

    If you're a regular reader you'll know I often test out a nail polish using the washing up test. Basically if a nail polish survives the dreaded washing up then you can pretty much guarantee it's a keeper. I'm glad to say the Aquarium polishes stood up very well against the washing up and there was pretty much no chipping at all so I was extremely impressed!

    I've had the polish on for a good week now and while there is some chipping on some nails there are also ones that haven't chipped at all. I've worn both shades together and they look fab but of course would look equally gorgeous individually.

    I think I picked these up for two for £6 but even if they're not on offer they're very much worth the money. As usual Barry M have brought out a fab new collection and I'm really interested to see if any more shades come out later in the year.

    Have you tried these or any of the other polishes from the range? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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    13 April 2014

    The Sunday Catch Up #14


    Cheeky Jasper / my first and probably only piece of Easter chocolate / Oscar blue eyes! / Spring! /
    Hair products in awesome packaging / The best smelling nail polish / Easter nails!

    Follow me on Instagram - @cherryp13

    I can't believe another weekend is almost over, but this time next week I'll be enjoying a nice extra long Easter weekend, woo hoo!

    I don't have much planned to be honest, except making cakes with Daisy and my sister at some point on Friday, which means I need to buy baking supplies sometime this week. I might try and get on top of blogging and catch-up with the back log of products I have lined up to review. I have also lacked on the outfit posts during the last two weeks, but to be honest I don't really have any interesting outfits to show you all. I'm in dire need of a shopping trip!

    Yesterday I woke up ridiculously early at 6.30am as Vince had to go to work but I thought I'd get up and get a few things done. I'd had my chores done by 10.30am and was napping by 11am! Haha! I spent the afternoon at my mum and dad's house, which is what I do most weekends, but the time flies by when I'm there as Daisy is just always on the move and wanting to play.

    It was pretty much more of the same today as well alongside some blogging and nail painting. I decided to have a go at some Easter nails and I think they turned out pretty well! I'll be featuring them properly on the blog this coming week, so keep an eye out for them. I also finally got around to using the new Revlon scented polishes, which are really amazing. I picked up Lime Basil, which smells great! I'll be reviewing it on the blog soon too.

    Let me know how you've spent your week and weekend! Are you looking forward to the Easter break?
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