*Book Review: Date Shark by DelSheree Gladden* 200th blog post!

Hello everyone! Today post is my 200th blog post! Yay! As always I hope you enjoy today's blog post.

 This week will be a book inspired week as I have plenty of reviews I want to share with you all of some fantastic reads! Recently I have upped my reading game. If you follow me on Goodreads here you will know that I am aiming to read 50 books this year. Fingers crossed that I get to that goal or anywhere near it! I was approached by the author DelSheree Gladden to read her book Date Shark. It sounded very interesting so of course I accepted!

Date Shark by DelSheree Gladden

Date Shark focuses on the dating life of Leila Sparrow and her quest to find out where her dating life is going wrong. Leila hires the help of Eli Walsh a date shark. Eli Walsh, as a side career to his therapy practice, helps women by going on practice dates and outlining the faults the women have during those dates. Don't we all wish someone could tell us the right way to bag the right one? Life would be so much simpler! 

Leila steals Eli's attention and focus in life. Eli is all of a sudden focussed on Leila and his growing infatuation for her. However further barriers come to light when Leila begins to date a guy called Luke. He wants to tell her of his growing feelings however will she feel the same way? Will his date shark business compromise Leila's feelings for him? More importantly who will Leila choose - Luke or Eli?

Firstly, I loved this book! I don't read a lot of romance novels however Date Shark really did appeal to me. I actually hadn't heard the term date shark before! The storyline is so engaging. I felt like I couldn't put this down. I read this within the space of 3 days before and after work. Whenever I had a free moment I would pick up where I left off! 

The characters are all characterised well. I felt like I knew about each character and their background which helped with the character development throughout the book. This is also helped by the use of changing points of view throughout the book between Eli and Leila. I loved this as I felt it helped me understand how Eli and Leila felt about each others choices and decisions throughout the book. It also gave a great insight into each characters growing feelings for one another. 

The story line was great. There are just enough twists and turns in the novel that keep the pages turning. I was very happy that the storyline, although romantic, was relativity clean. Sometimes romance books can become to heavy with over passionate chapters which leave you blushing however DelSheree handled this in a sensitive way which made me believe that the characters had a deeper love and connection that was developing rather than a relationship focused on passion.

Overall I loved this book! It has had a much different structure and storyline to the most recent romance novels I have read.

Have you read any books by DelSheree? What is your favourite romance novel/story? Let me know in the comments!

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*NOTE: The book Date Shark was sent to me to review however all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

*Simple Skincare: Kind to City Skin Giveaway*

Hello everyone! If you have been following my blog for a while you will know that when I first started I reviewed a few Simple products. I am in love with the brand Simple. For someone like me that has such sensitive skin you can't go wrong with a brand like Simple. Their products leave the skin feeling nourished and smooth without being too harsh on the skin. 

*Pictures provided by Simple with their permission*

So with that being said I am here to let you guys know about Simple's new competition! Simple have launched a Kind to City Skin campaign to let us know the effects that urban/city life has on our skin. I'm sure you will all agree that alot happens to our skin on a day to day basis without us really thinking or seeing the damage until much later on! The elements such as pollution, stress, weather and artificial environments can cause redness, dryness and flakey skin which are all signs of sensitive skin. I myself have eczema and sensitive skin so I can hold my hand up and say yes I suffer from this too!

Having a good skin care touting is crucial in combating the elements and the effects of city life. Simple is the brand you can trust to be kind to your city skin. Simple, as sensitive skin experts, are definitely the ones to go to! The Simple range contains no artificial perfumes, colours or harsh chemicals that will damage or irritate the skin.

Alongside their #KindToCitySkin campaign I have been asked to let you guys know of a competition they are running! You have a chance of winning:

• 1x Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes
• 1x Simple Kind To Skin Purifying Cleansing Lotion
• 1x Simple Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner
•  1x Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser
•  1x Simple Kind To Skin Moisturising Facial Wash
•  1x Simple Kind To Skin Illuminating Radiance Cream

Follow the rules below for a chance to win: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please also follow my blog for any future blog posts on competitions I will be running! Thank you once again to Simple for giving me the opportunity to help host their competition!

Let me know in the comments your favourite Simple product!

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*Simple contacted me to post about this giveaway to my readers*

Product Empties #13

Product Empties #13

I swear product empties time comes around quicker each time! Usually by the time I come to write these I already have a new bag of empties growing (currently the count is at 3)! Anyway I hope you all enjoy the 13th product empties post that I have written! Unlucky for some? Hopefully not!

Hair

Batiste Dry Shampoo - XXL Volume

Yes the usual occurrence is back. I go through more of these that I care to admit. I'd hate to total up the cost of them! Batiste XXL dry shampoo is crucial for me. Since I have such thick hair it can get weighed down very easily. Especially when it is due a wash. This helps to liven my hair up and also adds a bit of body to it. It is also great for those of you, like me, that have a full fringe and need to get rid of those annoying gaps that always occur! 

VO5 Heat Protect Styling Spray

This is actually my favourite heat protection spray currently. I am making my way through a TRESemme one which I reviewed at the moment however I have two of these waiting in my cupboard to begin re-using. If you are looking for my full thoughts you can check out my review here. All you need to know is that I love it!

Scents

Soft & Gentle Deodorant

Well you have to include the usual boring items don't you! Yes it is a deodorant. Yes it works. Yes I always use Soft & Gentle...NEXT!

Soap & Glory - Mist You Madly

I have reviewed this body spray from Soap & Glory here. I love this spray. It only lasts a few hours but it is perfect to re-apply throughout the day or for a nice light scent before you leave the house. It is also great to chuck in your overnight bag for a quick morning refresher. I always spray this amongst my hair and on my clothes to make the lovely feminine scent linger for even longer.

Diesel - Loverdose perfume

I should really explain why there are two of these! I have been meaning, for the longest time, to remember to put the first empty bottle of perfume in a product empties post. It just sat there on my bookshelf looking empty and sad. Then I finished ANOTHER bottle and thought I had to get rid of them! So here you go! I usually don't stick these in my little bag as I am afraid they will smash however I just had to remind myself! This is my everyday perfume and I absolutely love it. For those of you that find that perfumes give you headaches try this out! The Loverdose range have been the only perfumes which don't give me the worlds worst headache! You can check out my full review here.

Dolce & Gabanna perfume

I received a little sample of this and thought I would give it a go. It did give me a slight headache however nothing too severe. The scent was lovely, feminine and mature (can you tell I am horrible and describing scents?) I absolutely hated this sample packaging. The idea is that you pull up the little tab with the ^ arrow and then squeeze the card to apply the scent. 9/10 times it didn't really work and I had to strangle the packaging to actually apply any perfume! Not good!

Make-up

L'oreal Super Liner Eyebrow Pencil and Wax

I have been debating with my OH for the longest time how long I could leave this eyebrow pencil before taking a photograph of it. Needless to say it became a challenge of how small I could get this eyebrow pencil before it disappeared. The pencil itself is actual smaller underneath the two lids and yes it is still going and in my make-up bag! However I thought I would include it in this product empties since it is almost done. You can check out my full thoughts here. I really love this eyebrow pencil. It creates the perfect natural eyebrow and the wax that is provided helps perfectly set your brow. I have already purchased another!

Boots Natural Collection Concealer in Light

I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this product yet for you guys! Note to self: must review! For those of you that live in the UK Boots have their own brand called Natural Collection. For years now I have used their concealer because it is £1.99 (or 3 for £5) and it does the job! I can't recommend this enough!

Skincare

Soap & Glory - Peaches and Clean

I absolutely adore this product. You can read my full opinion on it here. As you can see I have pretty much dug the whole contents of the bottle out to use! I use this as a cleansing wash as well as a cleansing mask. This bottle I actually got in my Yule Monty Limited Edition set and I have only just finished it! I have already re-purchased another bottle and I plan on always buying this! I absolutely love it. It has really helped with oil control on my face. It also helps to clear up any spots or blemishes quickly.

Bits & Bobs

Cotton buds and pads

Yes once again. Good old cotton buds and cotton pads. Who doesn't go through these?

So there we have it! Another product empties post done and dusted! Have you tried any of these products? What were your thoughts? Do you write product empties posts? Let me know in the comments!

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Makeup Revolution - Iconic 3 Eyeshadow Palette - Review

Hello everyone! Today I am finally reviewing a brand that has caused a stir amongst beauty bloggers and fanatics. Of course I am talking about the infamous Makeup Revolution! I thought I would start out with a product that has gained a lot of attention - the Iconic 3 palette. 

Makeup Revolution - Iconic 3 

Just taking a look at the palette you can see that the colour selection is just beautiful. Many have noted that the palette is a fantastic, affordable dupe for the Naked 3 palette. The packaging is very sleek considering its small price of £4. You can check out the Iconic 3 palette on the Makeup Revolution website here. Makeup Revolution are also available through Superdrug too!

Here is a close up of the shades you receive. For the price of the palette you receive a generous amount. I love the idea of each colour being in a bar type shape rather than the typical circle pan of product you usually get. It just makes the palette look that little bit better! In the palette there are 3 matte shades and 9 shimmery shades. The palette also comes with a double ended eyeshadow brush. With that being said lets take a look at swatches of the shadows!

The shadows themselves don't have names so I will simply go in order! The first four shades are definitely the more subtle of the bunch. I have actually been using these shades as subtle highlights and to add a subtle touch of sparkle on my lid for work days. The first shade makes a perfect highlight, particularly for under the eyebrow. The next two are lovely golden skin tone shades that add that pop of glamour. I often use these two as an inner lid highlight for that extra sparkle to the eye. The fourth colour is a lovely flush of pink. The first and fourth shade are both matte.

Moving on to the net four shades! The fifth shade is a lovely shimmery taupe/bronze colour. The sixth shade is the prettiest golden shimmer I have seen in a palette so affordable! The seventh shade is the next matte shade in the palette; a matte brown. The eight shade is a lovely shimmery brown which works fantastically with the previous matte brown. 

The last four shades are absolutely stunning and my personal favourite. The ninth shade in the palette is an even darker shimmery brown. Again this works perfectly with the previous two shades. The tenth shade is a darker golden shimmer with a hint of brown reflexes. Moving on to the eleventh shade we get a beautiful shimmery grey. Lastly we have the twelfth shade which is my favourite of the whole palette. The final shade is the most gorgeous shimmery black which has red shimmer added. Absolutely gorgeous.

So there you have it! I totally recommend this palette for any of you that may be umming and ahhhing about if you should join the hype and buy it. Have you tried the Iconic 3 palette? What are your favourite shades? Let me know in the comments!

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Poundland Beauty: Argan Oil Hydrating Hair Mask Intensive Conditioning Treatment - Review

Today, once again, we will be exploring what poundland has to offer in its beauty range! This product is from an argan oil range that you make have spotted in the likes of poundworld/land before. Today's product is the Argan Oil Hydrating Hair Mask.

Argan Oil Hydrating Hair Mask Intensive Conditioning Treatment

As I have said this product is actually part of a range which offers shampoo, conditioner, this deep conditioner and an oil. I picked up this deep hair mask as I love a good hair masque! I also love having a nice little stash to try! If you have been a long time reader you will know I have very long and thick hair so products that look after and nourish my long locks are crucial.

This hydrating mask is a thick white conditioner which, much like other hair masks, you leave on your hair for the usual 5-10 minutes and rinse. I must admit I do like the smell of this range. It doesn't smell like argan oil which to be honest I am not shocked by. Looking at the ingredients there seems to be the bare minimum of argan oil in the mask. However the scent is very clean and fresh which I like as it lingers on the hair. The consistency of the conditioner is lovely. It is thick and luxurious and feels like a real treat to the hair. As for the results? Well I won't lie it isn't as intense as the usual weekly hair masques that I use however it is great to top up on your deep condition! 

I use a deep conditioner once a week. Sometimes when I am nearing the end of the week time-frame my hair is crying out for a deep condition. This is perfect to use and it adds life back to my hair without being as intense a normal hair masque. It definitely has more to offer than your usual conditioner but don't hold your breath for it being the most amazing hair masque you have ever tried!

Have you tried anything from the Poundland argan oil range? Are there any shampoos or conditioners you would recommend from there? Let me know in the comments!

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Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash - Review

Helle everyone! Today I thought it was best to take a look at all of the product reviews that I had let collect dust in my blogger drafts section! So you will have to forgive the return of the Iphone photography on the few posts I have left to clear out! Anyway! Today I will be reviewing a product that I bought over a month ago! The Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash.

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash

I have been using Neutrogena face washes for years. I think they are a fantastic basic to have because you just can't go wrong with them. I always like to use a good facial wash in the bath/shower and the Neutrogena range delivers. They offer a fantastic range of facial washes that all, in one way or another, help to clear up and improve your skin. 

I decided to pick the pink grapefruit option as I hadn't tried it before! I thought I would try it out and yes, much like all the others that I have tried, I love how clean it gets me skin. If I ever have any traces of make-up on by the time I hit the shower it always gets those last few bits! The product also lathers up beautifully and easily on the face. The only negative I can comment on is that I'm not the biggest fan of the smell. Initially I hated it however now I am used to it. I would much prefer if it had a lovely, inviting and soapy smell however to me it smells like the synthetic smell that most bathroom cleaners have. Not pleasant at all. I think I will skip on repurchasing this in the future because of the smell however for its purpose it delivers!

Have you tried the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit facial wash? Have you tried anything you have loved from the Neutrogena range? Let me know in the comments!

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Sally Hansen - Base & Top Coat - Review

Hi everyone! I hope you are all well as always! Today's review is of a product I have used over the last half term. One that my wonderful fiancé treated me to as he knows how obsessed I am with my nail varnish! As some of my avid readers and followers may know; I love doing my nails however I can only paint them when I am off from work. This is mostly due to not having the time! I really hate having to re-paint chipped nail polish so finding a good base and top coat is crucial. 

Sally Hansen - Base & Top Coat

Sally Hansen is a nail polish brand name that you can trust. I have yet to try a nail polish of theirs that I don't like. The formula is always fantastic, they don't chip quickly, the brush is fantastic... the list goes on and on! However this was my first time trying out one from their base/top coat range. I picked up this polish simply because it is a two in one product. Less fuss! The packaging is very sleek and you get a decent amount of product. 0.45 FL OZ to be exact!

The wand looks thin however when you apply it to the nail the bristles fan out leaving a lovely, even coat on the nail. Exactly what you want. So the real test... could I see a difference in how long my nail polish lasted? Yes! Recently I reviewed a Poundland magnetic nail polish - Filthy Gorgeous which you can check out here. Originally I applied that polish with a cheap £1 MUA clear coat polish. Needless to say the polish lasted a day... if that before literally coming completely off the nail. I repainted my nails again; only this time with the Sally Hansen Double Duty nail polish as my base and top coat. Seven days later the polish was still looking fantastic. By this time I had to take off the polish for work but it could have lasted tons longer! The shine is also beautiful from this polish!

Overall I love this base and top coat. I can't wait to try it more in the summer! Have you tried any Sally Hansen nail polishes? What is your favourite base or top coat? Let me know in the comments!

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