Cosmetic Review: Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint By Barry M

When it comes to a good drug-store nail varnish I find that it is hard to find a consistant brand but as soon as I tried the Gelly Hi-Shine nail varnish's I knew that I have found a very reliable brand.

The nail varnish's apply like a dream, not too thick, not too thin and I apply 2 coats, for good measure, which makes the finish incredible for such a good priced varnish. 

There are so many different colours to choose from and each colour is consistently brilliant. If you apply a top coat the varnish can last for around 5 days, maybe even up to a week but without a top coat it lasts 3 maybe 4 days which is incredible for a nail varnish which costs less than half of a high end brand (plus superdrug and Boots usually have a 3 for 2 offer on so you can get the varnish even cheaper!). If you are ever looking for an amazingly priced varnish I have to recommend the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine varnishes!

I have only photographed a few of the varnishes in my collection. The green (cardamom 30), burnt red (chilli 33) and mustard yellow (mustard 31) are from the autumn range whereas the turquoise blue (green berry 12) and white (coconut 28) are more for all year round but maybe more summer suited. 

 I have only managed to find a link to the autumnal colours online but you can buy other colours in store instead http://www.superdrug.com/search?text=barry+m+hi+shine#.VJ7qk14gKA

This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own :) The link above may be affiliated.

Lauralaura 

Candle Review: Yankee Candle 'Christmas Cookie' and 'Snowflake Cookie'

Yankee Candles are my absolute favourite brand of candle; they smell amazing, are amazingly coloured and relatively good priced. I love the Yankee Christmas range.

 I always buy the 'sample' size because I like to burn my candles in a pretty tea-light holder I have and I can never find a use for the big glass pots after I've burnt the whole candle as well as the trouble of trying to light the damn thing when you cant fit your hand in the pot! 

These two flavours are very similar in scent but however the 'Snowflake Cookie' is slightly sweeter smelling than the 'Christmas Cookie'. The 'Christmas Cookie' is also quite heavily vanilla flavoured with hints of buttery softness whereas the 'Snowflake Cookie' is almost icing flavoured (it would make sense since it is a 'cookie' flavour) these are definitely my two favourite scents of the Yankee Candle Christmas range! 

http://www.boots.com/en/Yankee-Candle-Large-Jar-Snowflake-Cookie_1505611/

http://www.boots.com/en/Yankee-Candle-Large-Jar-Christmas-Cookie_1505603/

This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own :) Some links above may be affiliated.

Lauralaura 

Film Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1

Finally, after just under a year, the 3rd Hunger Games film has been released to follow 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'. The standards were set very high and there were very high expectations due to the many speculations of where they were going to cut the book in half to make the two parts of the films ('Mockingjay- Part 1' and 'Mockingjay- Part 2'). I confess, I have never read any of the books but honestly, I prefer it that way because I had no clue what to expect apart from a few spoilers that my friends had told me...

The film was directed by Francis Lawrence and based on the book 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay' by Suzanne Collins, it has an age rating of 12A due to the mild violence.

When Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) was rescued during the 75th Hunger Games (the ending of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), she got taken to District 13, an underground rebel District which had been built under the ruins of District 13.  Katniss was then reunited with her mother and sister, Prim (Willow Shields). 

While recovering she got introduced to President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), the leader of the rebels in District 13, and got told that because of her actions, she had sparked riots against the Capitol, and she needed to be the 'Mockingjay' or the 'symbol or rebellion'. Katniss declines, stating that they had left Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) - her fellow District 12 tribute- behind in the arena. Katniss then, after visiting the makeshift hospital in District 8, agrees to be the 'Mockingjay', this then sparks a huge rebellion in District 7. Then when the Capitol found out what Katniss and District 13 had been doing they launched an attack on  District 13. 

You will have to watch it to find out what happens to District 13 and whether Peeta and the other surviving tributes are rescued! 

I absolutely loved the film, the music was empowering, the graphics where astonishing and the acting was just incredible. I would definitely recommend this film, especially if you have seen the first two you, will love this film. But even if you haven't seen the first films, you may not understand some of the character's roles or small links to the previous film (if you spot the pearl that Katniss frequently has in her hands, Peeta gave it to her in the last film), you will most likely be able to understand it by the end of the film. 

I would give this film 4 stars out of 5 as  the story line was easy to follow and you could feel the tension in the room which was created due to amazing writing, directing, editing and acting. 

This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own :)

Lauralaura