First of all you need to prep your nails. I like to use a hand cream and massage it into to the nails as the cuticles can get very dry. Then shape your nails using a nail file. The max factor nail file* also has a buffer on it which helps get rid of the ridges on your nails and smooths any rough edges made from filing.

Now you want to use a base coat to protect your nails from staining. The one I use if from Make Up Academy which also doubles as a top coat and it's only £1 from Poundland. Time to pick your colour. These Max Factor mini nail polishes* are the perfect size for traveling and have a great range of colours. Cappuccino is a dark grey with a hint of brown which seems to be the in-colour at the moment and is my favourite one of the bunch.

Finally, tidy up edges with either a cotton pad or a small paintbrush and some nail polish remover. This Ambray nail polish remover* does the job great and costs a fraction of some high street brands, Just 79p for 250ml. I like to change my nails quite a lot (when I'm not at work) so having a cheaper alternative is brilliant. You can find it in Poundstretcher stores or online at McBride-Direct.co.uk. As you know I''m all about the little savings, and the little savings you make here could amount to having an extra special pamper day out!

What's your favourite beauty pick-me-up?

Thanking you,

Naomi

x

*Products were sent to me to be included in a post, the main product to be reviews is the nail polish remover. All opinions are my own. Want your product/company featured on my blog? Email me at naomijoyhollands@gmail.com

1. Make a list.

And stick to it! I often go in to a shop actually needing some bits and walk out with totally the opposite. This isn't just for clothes or beauty, food shopping as a student can be very exciting as you can get whatever you want without your parents saying 'go put that back!' but then the mountains of sweets and chocolate seem to pile up and there is no actual substantial food...so yeah make a list and stick to it!

2. Don't be drawn in by offers.

Yes, 3 for 2 is very tempting, but you only needed a replacement foundation, do you really need another mascara just so you can get that lipstick for free? It is great getting an offer, but it does mean spending unnecessarily with money you may not even have. Also some offers don't actually save you that much money, so always do the maths before you spend.

3. Only get what you need. 

This is linked in with making a list. Only write down the things you really need. Make a plan of meals you will have that week and from that write down all the ingredients you need. Lets be honest, do you really NEED that lipstick? And you already have one that's similar, so for this shopping trip, leave it at the counter.

4. Not sure at first? Don't get it.

This applies more to clothes. Stop trying to convince yourself you need it if you're not sure at first. Chances are that you probably wont wear it. SOME SAY... that we only wear 20% of our wardrobe so why add to the 80% that we don't already wear.

5. Have a budget.

And stick to it! If you just want a bit of retail therapy or to treat yourself, don't become to indulgent so you have no money to do the weekly food shopping. set a budget of say £20 and stick to it.

That's all for today! Check out the links below for the other posts in this series!

#1 - Saving money on-line

#2 - In store savings
#3 - Budget friendly websites 
#4 - Blogging on a budget

Let me know if you have any other ideas for these types of posts, and I really hope you enjoy them!



Thanking you,

Naomi

x

I wash my make up brushes with my face wash - Tea Tree and Witch Hazel foaming face wash from Boots. I just pump a little into the palm of my hand, swirl my brush around in it and swill it out under the tap, and it works brilliantly! I've not actually used an actual brush cleaner such as Elf's daily brush cleaner as I've always found that my face wash is good enough. Also some from mac and other high end cleaners cost £10+ which I think is a bit ridiculous. Using my face wash instead of brush cleaners also means I get the added effect of having tea tree in it, which makes my brushes smell great and tea tree is also great for combating spots. 

It's also really easy to use as you just pump it out into your hand and gets deep into the brushes. As for as I can see the Elf one is just a spray which isn't great for getting right into the brush where bacteria builds up. It is meant to be a daily cleaner so a spray bottle is good for just a quick clean, but I would definitely advise doing a deep clean at least every fortnight. 

Pricing of brush cleaners vary. For this Elf one it's £3.95 for 60ml (not including p+p), and for higher end ones, Mac is £10 for 235ml. The Boots face wash is only £3.59 for 150ml! It also means you only have to buy one product instead of a separate face wash and brush cleaner. 

You can get the products mentioned here:

Tea tree and Witch Hazel foaming face wash by Boots.

Elf Daily brush cleaner.

Mac brush cleanser.

So which one would/do you prefer? How do you clean your make up brushes?

Thanking you,

Naomi

x

Why, hello there...

This is my 3rd installment of my save your pennies series! Check out the last one here.

So this post is all about websites and on-line options for finding those bigger brands for a lot less and being budget friendly. Hopefully you'll find this useful, lets get started!




1. Fragrance Direct. I couldn't write this post without including this. This is a blogging favourite, including Calvin Klein to Maybeline at such massive discounts. Obviously they sell discounted fragrances as well, so it's definitely something to check out!

2. Everything 5 Pounds. I personally haven't used this site but I've seen some items from here which are amazing, and yes EVERYTHING is £5! Shoes, dresses, trousers, everything! Some of the designs are brilliant, but you do find some amazing gems!





3. ASOS Marketplace. This is a brilliant place to find unique pieces that you wouldn't find on the high-street. It has independent unique brands but also gives the chance for people to sell their unwanted jewellery/clothing, so you can always find a bargain!






4. Ebay/Amazon.  I use amazon all the time to buy things like converse and vans because it's so much cheaper than buying them in store. They do so much! And they both stock things that aren't available in the UK such as wet 'n' wild e.c.t.


5. Sales section. To be honest, I always go straight to the sales section on any website first. You can always find a hidden gem that no one has snapped up yet, or something that has just been added which no one has seen yet! Places like New Look and topshop always have something amazing in their sales, so I would deffo recommend having a look before buying full price!


That's all for this post, if there's anything I haven't included let me know in the comments and I'll add it as soon as possible!

Do any of you use these/buy from these places?


Thanking you,

Naomi

x

Why, hello there...

Shaving our legs is often seen as a chore, especially when you need so many things to keep them in check: Razor, razor heads, shaving gel, moisturiser. So saving money but still getting smooth legs is always a plus. Some shaving gels/foams can be quite pricey, and even the standard ones such as Satin Care by wilkinson sword cost about £3.49. But recently I've seen that quite a few people have said about using conditioner instead. It's actually really good! Alberto Balsam's conditioner is really creamy and they have a range of amazing smells, and they're only 99p! They also give you the same amount (200 ml) so it's a massive saving. Although it doesn't foam or lather up like a gel does, it still leaves your legs feeling smooth. There isn't much in terms of packaging apart from the fact that Satin Care is in a metal bottle so it's more sturdy, but I like the fact that I can see how much is left in the Alberto Balsam one so I know when it's nearly all gone.

You can get Satin Care from here, and Alberto Balsam here.

Have you ever tried this? Do you think you will now?

Thanking you,

Naomi

x

I've done 2 other Save Vs Splurge posts! 

Battle of the Cocoa butters.

An alternative to Scrubs? 

Why, hello there...

My last Save Vs Splurge seemed to be quite popular, so here's another one! This time we're talking about scrubs/exfoliators Vs massage sponges.

I personally have never used Soap and Glory (shocking for a beauty blogger, I know) but I have used other scrubs such as St Ives and Natural Source. But one thing I have been using for ages is the massage sponge. It basically does the same job as a body scrub, but is cheaper and doesn't have little bits getting everywhere. I use mine particularly on my legs and if needed on my face if it really needs a good scrub. Some scrubs can be quite thin in terms of amount of beads/granules in the product, which effects how abrasive it is. Massage sponges when you first get them are quite strong and abrasive but get softer over time, so it's mostly down to personal preference.

 Although the sponge obviously doesn't smell nice like a scrub, you can still put your favourite bath/shower gel on the sponge which means you're washing and exfoliating at the same time! This Soap and Glory sugar crush retails for £8 where as the massage sponge from Boots is only £2.89 and I'm sure you can get cheaper ones from the supermarket. The one down side to the sponge is that you'll need to replace it more often to keep it hygienic, where as with a scrub they can last quite a long time. But you would still need to buy at least 2 sponges to match up to the price of the scrub. I still use a scrub for my face, but I find it more effective using a massage sponge for my legs depending on how abrasive I want to be.

What's your opinion on scrubs? Do you use a massage sponge? 

Thanking you,

Naomi

x

Why, hello there...

I've been wanting to start these types of posts for a while now, it was just a matter of getting all my ideas together to get it started. This blog is about finding the cheaper side of beauty/fashion, so these Save Vs Splurge posts are going to show you alternatives for the higher end or more expensive products on the market at the moment. Lets get started with the first post!

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula has been a cult winter product for quite some time now, with bloggers and their mothers all using it. It is great for dry skin, even eczema, over the winter months and has a great smell, but the Skin Systems Cocoa body lotion is exactly the same for a fraction of the price. This Palmer's bottle is only 250ml and costs £3.99 at Boots. The Skin System one is 400ml and is a steal at only £1.04 for ASDA. It still has a nice smell and does the job. I don't really care about the packaging, as long as it's easy to use and does its job. But if you are concerned about what it looks like, I would say Palmer's has the edge on this. The one difference I would say is that the Palmer's one is slightly thicker which you may prefer, but if you're trying to save a few pennies then the Skin Systems one is definitely worth a try. I personally get dry skin on my face and this has been good at keeping it under control and is also great for my legs. You can't go wrong at only £1.04.

Have you tried either of these products?

Thanking you,

Naomi

x

Why, Hello there...

I thought for my first actual beauty/fashion related post I would start with one that I can do fairly often or that can be done once a month. Charity shops are awesome. You can find some really good bargains and can sometimes find some familiar high-street labels for a lot less. Also you're doing your little bit for charity, which always makes you feel good. I used to work at my local 'Mind' charity shop so I got to see all the items that came through first and got first buy before they went out on the shop floor. 

These pieces are ones that I've had for a while from a variety of different charity shops, some of them I've actually never worn so I might be setting up an Ebay account to sell some of the items I buy, hopefully giving some of the money back to charity and the rest to running this blog (purchases, travelling out to buy thing, e.c.t). It's still very early days for this blog so we will have to see how it goes. Hopefully you will enjoy this post, please feel free to leave comments on whether you liked it or how to improve it!

thanking you,

Naomi 

x

Dont forget to follow this blog!
:)