Wishlists in the form of a Word Document

Am I the only one that does this? Yes I create Word documents full of copied pieces of clothing/accessories/shit that I don't need and then I attempt to fill my real life wardrobe with such items. I really don't think I'm the only one does this - am I? Those 'WishLists' you make on eBay and Amazon, same thing - potay-to, potah-to. 

So, I started wearing a lot of black recently. What is up with that? Is it because I am now not classed as an under aged pregnancy pregnancy should I decide to have a baby - no plans as of yet -, is it because my next big birthday is the big flirty 30, or is it because I've just turned into a boring, fashion-lazy, skint ass mother f**ker? Who knows.

All things here are from the Topshop website within the last few weeks.

This seasons 'mood board' I have made a choice to reduce the blackness. Yes there is a significant lack of bright colours in there, but heck it's January people. Who needs colour, hell who WANTS colour at this time of year? Certainly not me. I need to hide my extra 10lbs with dignity - and some M&S Shapewear. Hit that link. We all know that sex is the last thing we wanna be doing right now, ain't nobody gonna see your pants woman.

Oh I also have a million things 'Saved for later' on ASOS too. My alter ego is clearly rich.. and deluded.

Sorry for the bluntness of this post. I'm finding it difficult to start and end posts since I've 'lost my way'.

Does anyone else do this?

I post a lot of sh*t on my Instagram if you're interested - @jenhorsburgh
Some on Twitter too, but not as much - @inordinateplush

Announcement

Inordinately Plush will be up and running regularly again within the very near future. I have not found something better to do, or gotten bored of blogging, or gotten bored of beauty for that matter, I have just genuinely had a lot on my plate recently.

 

I say this, but I actually have had the most boring summer of my life; I've been unemployed, I finished uni and I become BFF's with my Dad. I've had a major life-shift, so to speak, and it's been really weird adjusting to firstly becoming a non-student, secondly having no income -yes that's right, no more student loan- and thirdly having to get a real life job - dun dun dun.

 

We all know that beauty blogging is an expensive hobby in both a timely and a costly sense, and I have just not had the time, money or even inspiration to work on IP the past few months. It makes me sad that I have missed out on a lot over the summer and that I haven't been communicating with the lovely blogging community -I miss #bbloggers!!.

 

Without rambling too much I am going to keep this post short and sweet, and to anyone who reads it I would like to say this: I am still thinking about Inordinately Plush and am wanting to continue posting, but until the inspiration arrives then I cannot contribute to it. Afterall there is no use in posting if my heart is not in it and I think as bloggers we all know when a post has been rushed, or written half-a*sedly. I don't want anyone to read any of my posts and think this.

 

So basically, I will be back and if you have come across my blog as a new visitor then please visit back very soon and hopefully IP will be flourishing. In the mean time I am always on Twitter @inordinateplush tweeting about things no one cares about and posting photos of my face.

 

Lots of love.

What’s in my shower?

I’ve seen this sort of post in YouTube form –I especially enjoyed the one done by the lovely Ingrid aka. MissGlamorazzi- and so I decided to do one myself in boring old photograph format. I actually seem to be having some form of writer’s block at the minute – blogger’s block?- so I do not have much to note on here. Also before I go much further I should probably explain as to why my blog has been a little empty recently. The past month or so has been a massive adjustment what with finishing university, not having a job, I literally felt a little lost. The many hours spent revising in front of my laptop meant I could not stand to be near it for a wee while. I’ve also been very distracted by the good old job hunt and so blogging has unfortunately taken a bit of  back seat. I actually feel guilty about it, as it’s a hobby I love, but hopefully I will be employed soon and can relax a little again. Anyway, shower post!

Everything here can be bought from Boots with the exceptions of Ocean Salt which is bought from LUSH, and the ayuuri body wash which can be bought here.

I took these photos literally after stepping out of the shower so everything is still a little soggy.

The ayuuri body wash was actually part of the Natural GlossyBox and I have loved using it. Usually shower gels and all that don’t excite me much and rose scented items aren’t always my cup of tea, but this is subtly scented and very gentle. The St. Ives scrub is just there to use up, I originally bought it to use as art of my morning skincare routine but I find I can only use it in the shower otherwise I find that the scrub goes into my hair, up my nose, in my ears and it’s a pain in the arse to get off with a mere flannel.

I use the Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment about once a week now and I love it. I bought the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner after seeing Gemma from gemsmaquillage rave about it and I actually really enjoyed using it – I have now ran out of it but I keep my Split Remedy conditioner in there to help make things easier when my hands are bad. I bought two when they were buy one get one free at Boots and will definitely buy them again as my hair gets really dry, and these are awesome quick fixes. The TRESemme Split Remedy shampoo and conditioner are new to my shower routine and I find the conditioner so creamy! The conditioner however is very difficult to squeeze out of the bottle when my arthritis flares up –note to TRESemme, make these bottles old lady friendly and I am sure I’d buy them more often.

There’s a Radox bubble bath in the back too, I always buy this as it’s cheap and cheerful. LUSH Ocean Salt I use on my face when it’s feeling a bit cloggy and generally a bit crap, and the Botanics Moisturising scrub I use on my body. This stuff is the most moisturising scrub I have ever owned. In fact I never even knew scrubs could be moisturising! Definitely recommend, think it’s about a fiver.

Items which I use which I have not photographed include my Venus Spa Breeze Razor –literally the best razor I’ve ever used-, a couple of pink loofahs and the harshest most scratchy exfoliating sponge I have ever had the pleasure of using. Oh just Google’d it and it’s correct title is a Sisal Sponge. Well Sisal Sponge, you have left me red raw on occasion, but god damnit do you sort out those streaks from Garnier gradual tan –bitch of a tan.

This is the first in a sequence of posts I have planned, next up is my skincare routine followed by my tanning routine and also general after-bath body care. I thought saying as I have been absent for a wee while, that I should start off with some stable posts. I was also thinking of doing some fashion related posts. Outfit shots and some hauls maybe? I may have not been blogging myself but I have obviously kept up to date with my favourite blogs, tempting me as ever! I hope everyone is doing fan-dabby-dosey and congratulations to anyone who has finished college/university this year!! I got my results through this week, such a relief!! Until next time!

SUPER–Inspired by Nature, Backed by Science

SUPER Sun Kissed SPF 25* - £32.50 at Boots

SUPER is a new range of cruelty-free skincare created by the infamous Dr. Nicholas Perricone and is described as a preventative, effective and complete new skincare line thatharnesses the power of Superfoods + proprietary technology in a topical formulation.

Perricone has transformed the skincare industry with his patented skincare technology and his three-tiered approach to healthy ageing. PerriconeMD online boasts that the three tiered philosophy to healthy aging and beautiful skin will not only make you look good, but also feel your very best at every stage of life, and involves a diet of anti-inflammatory foods -good for the rheumatic arthritic patients like oneself – wink-, targeted nutritional supplements and topical supplements. You can read more about the philosphy of Perricone’s products here.

The SUPER range is a slightly more inexpensive line which can be bought in Boots, Selfridges, Boots online and Getsuper.co.uk; it contains a range of ‘Superfoods’ to encourage healthy ageing and radiant skin by offering anti-inflammatory benefits and assisting cellular repair function. Superfoods include: Ginger, Turmeric, Olive, Melon, Red Algae and Chilli.

I was recently sent a couple of products from the SUPER line to try out for myself, I was dubious at first of the tinted moisturiser; it looked really dark and I had previously opted for crazy coverage MAC foundation. However, the Sun Kissed tinted moisturiser surprised me and I have been using it daily every day for the last 3 weeks. The product contains Tumeric, has an SPF 25 –ding dong- and comes in a glass bottle along with a pump to dispense the product accurately. Oh and it smells divine! Not sure what it is but it beats the smell of any other foundation I’ve ever use, it’s just so fresh!

Here’s a rundown of some of the features/key nutrients of the product:

It perfects, reflects and protects. Tumeric is loaded with the antioxidant Curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory known to help reduce psoriasis and heal damaged skin caused by UV rays. Zinc Oxide is a natural mineral that provides non-chemical sunscreen protection. Vitamin C Ester is a fat-soluble nutrient that visibly improves skin tone and texture. Mica and Iron Oxides are natural minerals that add a translucent tint for even coverage.

In comparison to my MAC Studio Sculpt NW15, this product is extremely dark and a lot more water based; obviously I wasn’t expecting full, or even medium, coverage but it does give a gorgeous glow to my skin once applied – I apply it with my Real Techniques buffing brush by the way – and because it is low coverage the colour doesn't come out too dark, in fact, it settles into the skin beautifully. With the addition of my concealer and bronzer my skin looks healthy and radiant, and come 5 ‘o’ clock there are no creases or clusters of foundation anywhere to be seen.

Overall I’d the Sun Kissed moisturiser has opened me up to trying other products instead of a heavy foundation; I love this product so much, however it is a little on the pricey side. I always though that foundation was my life saviour and that I couldn’t go a day without it, when actually, a dab of this tinted moisturiser and a good concealer is all I need. If I bag myself a job within the time it takes for me to use this up then I may have to treat myself to it again.

What are your thoughts on tinted moisturiser? Are you a foundation girl forever, or could you be converted?

*PR sample

GlamorousUK.com

Glamorous dresses above: price ranges from £24.99 to £33.99 and are part of their core collection.

I was recently contacted by Glamorous, a brand that I previously didn’t know a lot of, and was taken aback by their feminine and on trend pieces. I especially loved the dresses and just had to show you some of them today – my favourite has to be the orange one. Glamorous also have a True Decadance which houses beautiful floral and floaty pieces, perfect for the ‘summer’ – if we ever get one.

Glamorous are currently giving you guys free worldwide delivery and 20% off your purchases with the code:

‘Glamorous20’

So get yourselves over to GlamorousUK.com you’ll love it!

Collection Hot Looks Fast Dry Nail Polish

Collection (2000)* Hot Looks Fast Dry Nail Polish 8ml - £1.79 at Boots / shade 48 Candy Floss (a pastel pink) and 49 Angel Wings (a light grey similar to the Rococo polish worn by Lily in this post on llymlrs.

If there is one thing I could never be tempted into spending more than I have to on, it would have to be nail varnish. Never have I paid more than five quid on a polish that I will no doubt be picking off within 24 hours of having it slapped onto my short nails. Admittedly, I do own a few Nails Inc. polishes which I do feel extremely posh using, but I got those free with Glamour magazine. As much as I enjoy the totally unnecessary colour names by O.P.I. I have never added one to my ‘must buy this before I die’ list. If I literally had money to s**t on then I would more than likely buy some posh polishes, but I don’t and so I stick to Collection, Rimmel and Models Own to accessorize my finger nails.

I get sucked in by cheating advertising schemes and good product reviews when it comes to foundation, perfume, skincare, heck even toners! But I always find that the cheap polishes do what I need them to – stay shiny for a few hours whilst I’m out, and then gradually chip away whilst I forget that I even put it on. It is one area of beauty I am not too bothered by; I do love ooh-ing and ahh-ing at nail art sites, like Wah Nails, but as long as my nails are short, neat and clean then I do not mind what fancy brand or shade they are. At the end of the day, no one’s really going to notice if I have Chanel or Dior on my nails are they? – are they?

I’ve got a few of these Collection Hot Looks polishes, they’re really small and cute and are only £1.79 so if I urgently need a colour that I don’t have, I just pick up one of these. If I want to treat myself, I go for Models Own or the Rimmel polishes. I’d love to have some Wah Nails nail art done on my nails if I ever visit London again, but this would be a serious well-earned treat in my eyes! Maybe one day –when I get a real world job- I will be buying O.P.I. and Nails Inc left right and centre, but for now, I have a five pounds limit on treating my nails. What polishes do you use? Am I being totally naive? Do the higher brand polishes actually have staying power of more than a couple of days?

 

P.S. I’m sorry about the bad quality images, I didn’t realise at the time that the top image is slightly blurred.

*I bought these polishes whilst Collection was still Collection 2000, I hear that they are now rebranding themselves as Collection.

The POREfessional*– Pore Zapping Ray Gun not included*

The POREfessional is on the left compared to the new Hello Flawless foundation on the right.

Benefit The POREfessional pore minimizing Pro-Balm - £23.50 at Benefit counters

I always wonder why anyone would use a primer over make up. The instructions always say something like ‘use alone, under or over make up for silky smooth skin’ but I thought the rules of a primer were to use before applying foundations so that your make up would stay put all day. That was until the day I spent fifty quid at a Benefit counter in Boots in order to receive my eye cream freebie – desperate times. As I mentioned in my last post, I patiently awaited the release of the Hello Flawless foundation and when that day arrived, the little blue plastic was used and my best friend caught me as the Benefit lady handed over my bag of goodies into my slightly psychotic –gimme gimme – and clammy hands – busted.

Sales techniques worked on my poor naive little brain, and I fell for the ‘I’ve been wearing this foundation since last night at like 10PM and it’s STILL on 7PM TODAY. You NEED the primer, I’m telling you’ line. Oh em gee, fifty pounds later and I was the proud owner of three new Benefit items. Proud until the moment I realised I’d spent a month’s worth of travel, on approximately 55ml of coloured liquid. However, luckily for me, the products actually do what they say they do. Of course, the obvious thing happened and the thing that I originally wasn’t too bothered about, was actually the thing I grew to love most.

I apply a pea sized amount of The POREfessional over my t-zone and cheeks with the Real Techniques buffing brush, and even before applying foundation over it, the difference in my skin is already visible. My pores are smoothed and my face looks brighter. In terms of how long my foundation lasts with this compared to without, I couldn’t tell you, what I’m most impressed about it this: you know there comes a time of day when we look in the mirror and foundation has begun to crack –!?- and cling to areas of your face where quite frankly, you wish it would not. At this point, we’d usually whack out our powder, concealer and foundation and get buffing. Three weeks down the line and we’re due a new foundation –who knew all those ‘touch ups’ would require so much foundation? One day, I followed the Primer recommendations and buffed a small pea of primer onto my cheeks and over my nose. Amazingly, it smoothed out my foundation and I looked like it was 8am and I’d just applied my whole face.

Next time you leave the house, leave your foundation at home and instead, take your primer – if you use one, as I’m sure they all do the same thing really. Only I decide to spend almost twenty five quid on one…. hm. When that time of day comes just gently sweep over some primer with your foundation brush and see if it works for you. I’m amazed with my new discovery, and I am sad to admit that I will be spending my money on this again when I run out.

 

To see my skin when wearing the primer check out my most recent FOTD here and I tend to upload a lot of facey photos to my Instagram and Twitter – @inordinateplush for both.