review
Nutri Advanced Magnesium Glycinate Tablets | Review
24 July 2017
I’m always open to anything that will improve my health. After
all, good physical and mental health are incredibly important, and both have to
be maintained! When I got the opportunity to try Nutri
Advanced’s Magnesium Glycinate tablets*, I jumped with excitements because
it’s a mineral I’ve never tried before, and experimenting is always fun.
ABOUT MAGNESIUM AND THE TABLETS
I didn’t know much about magnesium before trying the tablets
because I didn’t pay much attention in science, and had no idea the body even needed it. But I found out, magnesium is
essential for the production of energy within every cell in the body, and it
contributes to the electrolyte balance within the body. Shocked? Same.
Magnesium is also an essential for the normal functioning of the nervous
system, the psychological function and the muscle function.
The tablets I tried were high-strength magnesium glycinate which
is a superior form of the mineral that is well absorbed. Plus, it’s very easy
on the digestive system and wonderful for those with a magnesium deficiency. Fun
fact: almost 100% of people in the UK are not meeting the recommended daily
allowance for magnesium, mainly due to poor soil and processed foods, so pretty
much the whole UK has a deficiency. Magnesium deficiency can result in poor
mood (from anxiety to insomnia), low energy (like fatigue and poor memory), and
bad physical performance (such as very low energy and even muscle cramps). I’ve
struggled with fatigue and tiredness, as well as anxiety so these tablets could
not have arrived at a better time.
MY THOUGHTS ON MAGNESIUM
GLYCINATE
I took the tablets for three weeks straight, twice a day (with
meals) and continue to take them today. At first, I didn’t notice any
different. But that was expected. After a week, I started to feel a difference
in my muscles and athletic performance – bear in mind, I am not an
athletic person. As I’ve recently started running and jogging multiple times a
week, my body is developing and getting a lot stronger. Magnesium itself helps
keep calcium within the bones and teeth, and so far, my bones haven’t suffered in
the slightest – and I know the tablets have aided this. Similarly, I usually
feel drained throughout the day and was worries running would amplify these
feelings. Luckily, after a week, the effects of more magnesium began to kick in
and I had energy through the day, as well as post-workout.
By week two, I was actually feeling extra energy, not just
enough to get me through the day. I also felt an improvement in my sleeping
pattern, in the sense that my pattern basically fixed itself. A couple of weeks
ago, I used to wake throughout the night, which is incredibly annoying when you’re as lazy as I am. Then I was feeling
lethargic and cranky during the day as my sleep was constantly disturbed. Now,
after weeks on the tablets, I’m feeling waaaaaaaaay
better.
I decided to continue with the tablets after loving the
benefits over a fortnight, and even another week before writing a full review. By
week three and four, I was feeling a complete difference regarding my “everyday”
anxiety. I’m a natural-born worrier, or a “chronic worrier” as Rebecca
puts it ;) Stress always triggers some form of anxiety for me, whether it’s
social or OCD. I’ve found the tablets have truly helped with day-to-day
anxieties. It’s no cure, but things that would usually make me irritable or
distressed aren’t that big of a problem anymore, which in turn is helping me on
my quest to be more positive. And more, I’m feeling a lot calmer each day.
For example, a customer started effing and jeffing down the
phone at work, which would usually result in me feeling like I’m on fire,
before wanting to throw-up or cry… whichever comes first. Yet, over the last
week (when an incident like this happened), I ended the call thinking “eh,
whatever” and continued with my day. It didn’t play on my mind, I wasn’t
feeling tense, and I didn’t feel the need to self-combust. A huge improvement
for me. The tablets have helped many
others too, check out the results on the product
page!
OVERALL
I really like the tablets and found them very soft on my system. My body can be
quite sensitive, but these tablets haven’t cause my skin, attitude or muscles
to suffer. They also haven’t affected my asthma, which has happened with other supplements.
Nutri Advanced’s product came is brilliant time, and arrived with a whole load
of information for me to read beforehand. The only downside to the tablets is
the size, they’re quite large, but can be broken in half for easier swallowing.
I’m very happy I got the chance to try magnesium glycinate and feel even
happier with the outcome. I’m so glad I discovered Nutri Advanced!
Have you ever tried magnesium tablets? How did you find
them?
New In: Happiness Boutique Jewellery
7 October 2016
Ripon, UK
I recently received the Luminous
Feather Ear Crawler Asymmetrical Earrings*
and the Angelic
Feather Crystal Ear Crawlers* from
Happiness Boutique and just had to share my opinion of the earrings on my blog.
I have a love for earrings because they’re an effortless piece of jewellery. They’re
easy and light to wear, and half the time I forget I’m even wearing them. I
only have two piercings in my earlobes, so I don’t always get to be
experimental with earrings, but I have found that there are earrings out there,
like crawlers and cuffs, that can really spice up a look.
Happiness
Boutique believes in being happy and spreading happiness every day. They
want their store to be a place where people would not only look good but also
feel good, which I really like as I also believe confidence is key. When I got
the opportunity to browse their store, I was so excited because some of the
pieces are perfect for the upcoming season. A lot of the earrings in particular
have a charming vintage touch. The company offers free shipping (always a
bonus) and a customer
reward programme, and a bi-monthly giveaway to win the
occasional statement goodies. Now that you know about the company, let’s talk
earrings.
The Luminous Feather Ear Crawler Asymmetrical Earrings drew
my attention due to the rose gold colour. I have always been more attached to
rose gold jewellery, not only because it looks super chic with any outfit, but
also because the tone is something different to the regular silver and gold. I
have no idea why, but feather have also become a recent obsession of mine,
especially for the autumn-time, so I can’t wait to wait these asymmetrical
earrings with my new wardrobe. One thing I love, is that the earrings aren’t
identical, which is exactly what makes them unique. The bling bling makes them
dramatic, but not too over the top.
Similarly, the Angelic Feather Crystal Ear Crawlers are
light and elegant, but still hold that bedazzle value. I have long dark hair so
I like to have a little shimmer in my ears; the angel-like feather pair are
perfect. I tend to stick with silver, white gold and rose gold for jewellery
because I feel like it brightens an outfit a lot more than the simple gold. I
love the shape of these earrings because they’re unlike anything I’ve worn
before and could enhance my already-dull office outfits, or become the perfect
accessory to a night out ensemble. I’ve noticed that both earrings are sturdy
but light – an essential.
If I had to pick a favourite, I think it would be the
Luminous Feather Crawlers, simply because I’m a huge sucker for anything that’s
rose gold or copper, and I love that the pieces aren’t identical. I would
totally recommend Happiness Boutique as the quality of the products are worth
the price and I loved the customer service/ordering process!
Psssssst! You can receive 10% off your order by using my discount code, "anikamay" at the checkout!
Irresistible Me Remy Clip-In Hair Extensions | Review
4 October 2016
Sheffield, UK
Since wearing full and part weaves, I have always worn remy hair. When I was around fourteen years old, I had my very first weave and I was excited; I would literally parade around school and tell people “my hair is basically going look like Beyoncé’s” because I was under the impression everyone’s weaves look as A-star as hers. Obviously, I didn’t rock up to school with £3,000 extensions, but I did fall in love with them. For a long while, I’ve tried multiple stores for extensions, and often switch between sewn-in and clip-in. Sometimes I even switch the two, just so I had add extra layers if needed. I recently received some remy extensions from Irresistible Me and couldn’t wait to try them out.
I can be quite sceptical of extensions as I’ve had some sent to me before, and didn’t even bother to review them because they were so bad. I’ve also ordered extensions myself in bundles online, and they ended up being really thin, lighter than the colour I always order (1B), or wavy when I prefer to have my hair straight. Little things like this really put me off online stores, and one bad experience can ruin it all for me. Last year I ordered a closure from Ali Express that was lighter than the site suggested, I still wore the lace closure with my extensions, and after I took it out and washed it thoroughly, it got so matted up, I couldn’t even get a comb into it.
Irresistible Me is a New York-based brand that specialises in 100% natural Remy clip-in hair extensions, hair accessories and hair tools. After receiving their clip-in extensions, I decided to try them with my own extensions to see if I could make them a little thicker and give my hair more body for an event. I already have a full weave, with a lace closer and bundles of hair that’s a mix of 16” and 18”. The great thing about the ordering process is being able to select exactly what you want, which I was impressed with. You can chose the thickness, colour, length & weight before completing your purchase.
I got the Silky Touch Natural Black extensions (1B)* and decided to clip them in during the day, and see how well they would attach to my hair as I partied the night away. Delivery-wise, they took a while to get to me, but I wasn’t in any rush to receive them. The hair is very silky, and the shine isn’t oily, nor is the texture too oily. Sometimes with extensions, you find the occasional wire within the hair, or a strand that’s bright blonde which looks very out of place, however all of the hair is 1B – luckily. I found the clips easy to attach to my own hair in between the tracks of my sew-in extensions and they felt very secure throughout the evening. One thing I loved is how ‘flowy’ the hair was, it felt real and not like the Barbie doll hair you can buy online. Check out the before and after above!
The clip-ins fit well with my extensions and matched the colour I already have, plus they are lightweight and only really feel heavy once they’re wet. One of the things I really loved, is that I could wear them with a weave, and they added to the body, not the weight. I did notice the extensions lost a little bit of shine after a wash, but they didn’t matte up or become coarse which is a huge bonus. The only downside to the extensions, is that after a while, they do start to wear. This is something I've found to be quite common with certain remy brands, and few YouTubers have also revealed that the hair can shed over a long period of time or can even become overly tangled. Despite this, I definitely think they're worth a try and work for me as I only wear clip-ins on a temporary basis.
Have you ever tried a product from Irresistible Me? What did you think?
W7 Colour Me Buff Eye Colour Palette | Review
21 September 2016
Harewood, UK
I’m crazy about eyeshadows. They’re becoming quite an
important factor in my life and I’m embracing the obsession. The number one
reason I love to collect shadows is because you can always mix it up,
especially with palettes. Eye shadows can be altered to suit any outfit, and
create any style. From the sexy smokey eye to a simple nude lip, I love ‘em
all!
I have a lot of bright colours with eye shadows, but a nude
palette is something I was lacking. I have reviewed both the Maybelline
and Collection
nude eye shadow palette, and finally decided it’s time to try another W7
review. I already have the W7 In
The Nude palette, which I loved, but I have to say I love the Colour Me
Buff palette that little bit more. The texture in Colour Me Buff is different
to In The Nude, as the shadows are a lot more silkier and apply very smoothly,
almost like a cream; whereas In The Nude is dustier.
The first thing I adore about the palette is that the shades
are much more like nudes. Although the shades in the In The Nude palette are a
little more pinky and are much lighter. I do like the shades, but as my skin
tone is quite dark, I’ve found that over time some of them blend together and
just look like the same colour. On the contrary, the Colour Me Buff palette has
the light shades but they have defined colours that show up well on my eyelids.
Sadly, I did initially swatch the shades on my wrist, but they didn’t show up
as well as I’d hoped (mainly because this skin on my forearms is a lot lighter
than my lids and a very different texture).
I managed to pick up the palette for £4.20 and a huge factor
for me is pigment, and luckily the palette delivers. The colours in the palette
are true to their shade and Onyx, which is basically black, actually shows up
black. I’ve used some palettes before that include black and it just shows up
as a dodgy grey. The shadows also stay put for a long time – very important. W7 is an inexpensive brand
so I wasn’t expecting a holy grail level of eye shadows but they definitely
work for everyday use. I’ve found that I don’t need to ‘top-up’ when wearing
them and they stay well for a night out.
I would totally recommend this palette to anyone who’s looking
for a simple set of colours that will work on all skin tones. They stay well,
and this could be because of a creamier texture in contrast to other W7
palettes I’ve tried. The twelve shadows are a lot of fun to play around with
them, and versatile for different looks - perfect for autumn!
Have you tried any W7 Eye Colour Palettes before? What did
you think?
Annika Nail Polish | Review
24 August 2016
Otley, UK
Since I stopped wearing acrylics, it’s my duty to now hunt
down as many nail polishes as I can. So far I’ve been doing pretty well, but I
do occasionally struggle with polishes that won’t chip within the first two
hours, like most I’ve tried. There are plenty of brands out there that provide luxurious
quality varnish… that costs more than a bottle of champagne. Barry M and Rimmel
are two of my favourite brands from nail polish, but I recently tried the Annika
Nail Polish line* by The Edge Nails it’s not just the name I’m obsessed
with.
I’m always open to trying new products, especially from
brands I’ve never heard of or bought from. When I received the Annika Nail
Polishes I was absolutely thrilled to try them out, and finally get some colour
on my bare nails. The line includes 30 different colours, from jet black to
bright yellow and I received Bella Ballerina, Pretty Pixie and Beauty Queen.
My first impressions of the colours was that they were
brighter than I expected and would look great on my nails as long as the formula
is strong enough. It’s really common to find nail varnish that’s a stunning
colour, but is almost like water when painted on the nails – major
disappointment. I get that quite a lot with glitter nail polishes, and hate
applying layers on layers, as I’m impatient and it takes too long to dry. With
the first layer of Bella Ballerina, the lightest shade, I was actually quite
surprised at how visible it was, despite the colour.
Regarding the formula of the Annika Polishes, it’s thick and
light without being too watery. The polish is easy to take off and doesn’t
stain my nails which is a big yes in
my book. I’ve also found that the varnish dries very quickly and doesn’t pool
on my nails. I don’t have the biggest and best nailbeds (hence why they’re not
splashed all over this post), so to have a polish that takes well to my nails
is a colossal advantage.
Luckily, the colours also dry the same shade when they dry,
and most importantly – they don’t chip. Overall, I would say Annika varnishes
have a lasting power of 7 to 10 days. I usually apply two layers, because the
colour is bright and pigmented enough for just two; plus I often find that
whenever I put on more than two solid layers on my nails the varnish struggles
to dry and ends up getting smudged no matter how long I wait. I wouldn’t go as
far as saying Annika Nail Polishes are chip-proof, but they last long enough
for me, as I get bored of the same colour quickly.
If I had to pick a favourite colour, it would be Pretty
Pixie, simply because I think I could wear it in almost every season and get
away with it. Beauty Queen is definitely more wintery, and Bella Ballerina is certainly
more summery – whereas Pretty Pixie is a happy medium for me. Overall, I would
totally recommend this nail line to anyone who is looking for an affordable line
of colourful polishes that are a great quality and so pretty! Plus, I absolutely love the name ;)
*The three Annika Nail Polishes pictures above were gifted to
me by The Edge Nails.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation | Review
15 August 2016
Leeds, UK
For as long as I’ve been wearing makeup, I’ve struggled to
find a good foundation. There have been some that work really well, but are
slightly too dark, a little too light or have the wrong tones in. I’ve even
mixed foundations to see if that works, but it is way too much effort for an
early morning. My skin has also become a lot oilier since suffering from acne, which
will also be due to the increase in moisturisers and creams I use on my face. After
a while of struggling, I almost stormed into Debenhams in search of a new
foundation.
My first stop was MAC, an obvious choice because it seems to
be one of the most popular makeup brands in the world. One of the first reasons
I didn’t buy from MAC is because the assistants are incredibly rude – they didn’t even help me! I asked for the most mattifying
foundation and the young woman showed me some eyeliner. So immediately, I
walked off and was kindly greeted by Lizzie at the Estée Lauder booth.
“What’s your most mattifying foundation?” I asked. Well,
this was the beginning of something special. After using the foundation finder
I received the best-selling Double
Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup foundation, skipping home to try it out. My first
impressions are really good, I like how well the product spreads and the
medium-to-full coverage it provides. The great thing is, that you can build on
each layer of the foundation, to provide full coverage. I used a brush to apply
the liquid foundation, and one thing I’ve found is that it doesn’t stick to the
fibres of the brush, making the brush easier to wash and the foundation easier
to apply.
Estée Lauder promises the Stay-in-Place Makeup (SPF 10 – bonus!)
has the ability to stay flawless for fifteen hours; through heat, humidity and
non-stop activity. So far, so good. I’ve used the foundation during a busy work
day, with and without powder, and it’s managed to stay in place the entire
time. The best thing about Double Wear is that I never have to top up, which
means I’m never worrying about creasing or any coming off. It was quite common
for previous foundation to come off on clothes, and as I have dark skin, I
never wore any white. Times have changed. Now I have Double Wear, I can wear
what I want!
The only downside to the foundation is the price, it is
£31.00 per bottle, quite steep in my opinion. I’m not much of a spender, so
when I have to really splash out on something it’s worth it. I’m on my first
bottle, so depending on how long it lasts, I’ll decide if I’d like another. The
lid is very simple but doesn’t have any sort of applicator inside, so it’s all
down to you. Luckily, not a lot of product stays in the lid (unless you tip the
bottle upside down), so I just tip a little only my hand – apparently you’re
not supposed to but it works for me.
My rating: LIFE CHANGING
I have to give this product five stars as it’s become my holy grail of makeup products. There are a crazy amount of shades available, and with the foundation finder – it must be impossible not to find the one for you. It’s without a doubt the greatest foundation I’ve ever used, no wonder it’s the best selling in the UK! Despite the opening, I love everything about this foundation, especially the way it dries so perfectly and can be applied even easier. The price is totally worth the product, and it’s Estée Lauder – how can I say no.
Have you tried out this foundation? What did you think?
W7 In The Nude Palette | Review
22 July 2016
Leeds, UK
When it comes to beauty and cosmetics, I love to collect eye
shadow palettes. It’s one of my
favourite ways to play around with colours and experiment with techniques while
spending little money and time. As much as I like to contour every so often, I
can’t always be bothered to do it every day, but a different shade of eyeshadow
can brighten an entire look. Since being about 12 years old, I’ve worn eye
shadow – bear in mind that was when I wore white eye shadow, or a navy blue
shade with absolutely no eyeliner or mascara. I know.
Now that’s I’ve matured (slightly), and have sat through
hundreds of make-up tutorials, from cut creases to smoky eye; I like to shop
for different palettes and try to collect a wider range of colour. On the
boring days, I stick to darker nudes (browns, maybe the occasional black), but
I have recently really gotten into pinks on my eyelids, as I think the blend
pretty well and can easily become a transition shade.
Shades from left to right: Teddy bear, Wonderland, Cracker, Happy, Lady Luck, Twister, Di Di, Delilah, Magic, It's a dram, Up in smoke & Dawn
I recently bought the W7 In The Nude Eye Shadow Palette from
Amazon
(only £5!) and was quite surprised at how much I liked it. Usually, when
cosmetic products are under £20, there’s a slight worry they may not be of a
high quality; but this palette could easily be a high street dupe for the UD
Naked 3 palette! I have never owned a Naked palette, simply because the price
is too high for me, but I think the selection of colours by W7 are perfect.
One thing I really liked about the palette was the pigment
of the eye shadows, it was incredibly strong, and I’ve been using quite a few
shades for a while, and have barely made a dent in it. I can use plenty of
different brushes and the shadows spread really well and don’t clump up on my
eyes. I have found that some eye shadows have a tendency to be too heavy which
becomes a struggle when it’s a time to apply liquid eyeliner, or they’re so
light and transparent, I have to apply layers upon layers which eyeliner
doesn’t respond well to.
Two colours I’ve been loving are Twister and Up in smoke as
they work really well together. However, it’s really easy to blend a few
colours together and create a girly and looks with the lighter shades, or a
darker look with the deeper purples. I sometimes worry that dark colours will
make my eyes look to small, but the shimmer in the shadows really helps to
bring out the bright in your eyes, and then I can use the lighter colours
around my tear duct if needed.
Overall, I really like this palette, I have been pleasantly
surprised by W7 (check
out my review of their setting spray) and I think, like Sleek, they’re
definitely a brand to keep an eye on as their products are constantly improving
and staying at an affordable price. My one wish, was that W7 products were
available in more stores!
Science of Skin: Solution for Scars Review
31 March 2016
Bingley, West Yorkshire, UK
As someone with quite sensitive skin, it can be really difficult for me to find products that are effective and work really well, without damaging and irritating my skin. I’ve tried countless different products, from some of the well-known cheaper ones and even a few expensive and designer names. My skin is prone to breakouts and even acne, which will leave scars. There are a few notable products on the market which help remove scars without causing damage, and I’ve discovered another one that works for me.
Rosie for Autograph Nuit Parfum - Review
3 February 2016
If you've followed me for a while, you'll know I am totally and completely obsessed with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. She's not only beautiful, but stylish, intelligent and talented. She has a great business head and ambition (plus a wardrobe) that's inspiring.
The Perfect Pressed Powder
29 January 2016
When looking for the right powder, it can be really difficult to find one that's the right colour, will blend well with foundation and has a light but long-lasting texture. After many months of use, I think I've finally found the right one for me.
The Superstar Setting Spray
17 November 2015
Soho, London, UK
I work pretty long hours during the week and I often find that around halfway through the day my make-up doesn't look as great as it did when I initially applied it. This is most likely due to the huge amount of rushing around I do, as well as the weather conditions and the complete mess I make when eating. Looking for a setting spray online was quite difficult as there are so many to chose from and a lot of YouTubers or beauty gurus recommend sprays that are just too far out of my price range.
Nudes Eyeshadow Review
13 October 2015
Recently, I've found myself becoming totally and completely obsessed with eyeshadow. Because I have a darker skin tone, finding colours that blend rather than contrast can be a challenge. I like experimenting with metallics and shimmers for a unique look, but for my everyday eye-style, I tend to keep it simple but interesting.
The key for me to keep a unique look on my eyelids without going to far is blending colours of a similar texture and palette. So rather than mixing primary colours or brighter shades, I chose this nude palette to try out as it has been immensely popular among bloggers and vloggers. The product has been on the market for a while and become very successful over the summer season. What I like most is the wide variety of colours that still blend well together. IT's very common to find palettes that have a load of shades just thrown together with very little thought. The multiple colours features in The Nudes Palette mean it's versatile for all skin tones and very easy to use for beginners. It's hard to go wrong when each shade matches the next.
I also adore the texture and tone of the eyeshadows. They're not sticky or thin, and aren't dusty either. If velvet could be an eyeshadow, it would be The Nudes Palette. It's rare I struggle to find faults with a lot of beauty products, but I have found this palette to be perfect for everyday and for night. There's a colour to match every skin tone and the shimmery option to spice up a normal look. It's a great palette to create a subtle smokey eye, the ideal eyeshadow style for autumn.
This palette has become one of my favourite beauty products to use on a regular basis and surely lives up to the extensive publicity it has received. Have you tried The Nudes Palette? Is it successful in your eyes?
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