Heavily Pregnant At A Summer Wedding, Reviewing My Outfit Choices And How I Coped


Being Heavily Pregnant At A Summer Wedding,

Reviewing My Outfit Choices And How I Coped During The Day

I very recently attended a family wedding, which was really lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed the day and the evening. However being heavily pregnant there were some precautions that I needed to take for my safety, and also some decisions I had to make that some people might not have considered for themselves.

I wanted to write this blog post for two reasons, one is to review the items that I bought for my outfit and why I chose them. And reason two is because I hadn’t thought about some things until I was being a sensible adult and realised that quite a lot could be over looked. So I am sharing my experiences with you all today in this honest post.

Firstly I want to talk about my outfit. I’ve been quite lucky in regards my pregnancy, I haven’t put on a great deal of weight and I am mostly bump! However this proved tricky for me when I was shopping for maternity wear dresses…

Most places have taken into consideration people who may have gained weight all over, especially on certain areas like the bottom and boobs! However this isn’t me, and I tried on several beautiful items that sadly just made me feel like a sack of spuds! They gave me no shape or were too baggy in most areas…

So… then I decided to do a BooHoo order of two of their Maternity dresses, and there was one dress that fitted me well and I finally got some of my confidence back. Any pregnant woman will tell you, your confidence goes down after the second trimester, because everything makes you feel like your bump is massive (even if it isn’t) and I just wanted to flaunt my great figure and my bump too! But I just had to find something that made me feel like that.

Out of the two dresses I had from BooHoo the first fitted perfectly when I had my shoulders back and I stood tall, it was however a little low cut with a v-neck style. I knew how I wanted to fix this and decided to take myself off to New Look.

New Look always have what I want, I very rarely go into the store and come out empty handed. What I wanted to buy was either a crop top, vest or cami top that was pretty and high neck, and something that suited the dress too! My plan was to wear the top underneath and it look like it was just part of the dress. I wasn’t disappointed when I found the perfect top, and not only was it a great price, but I also got into my pre-pregnancy size because (as I mentioned) I haven’t put much weight on on my chest at all…

Finally I needed a pair of shoes to go with the dress and a cardigan if it were to be a cooler day. It was a good job that I bought a nice cardigan in the end because it turned out to be a rather windy day! And as for the shoes… well I got these gorgeous pregnancy friendly flat ballet shoes half price! What a successful shopping trip.

My ensemble of these items ended up looking like this… and I was very happy and comfortable (which was my main aim!) with what I chose. This is the practice dress up, I had leggings on in this image but swapped for tights on the actual wedding day. I also decided to add a white rose accessory clip in order to hold the dress snugly to the top underneath it.

✩ Clothing Reviews ✩


Name: White Maternity Polka Dot Wrap Smock Dress
Details: Available in White, Black or Terracotta. This dress sports half sleeves and an all over Polka Dot style. Total length is 92cm (36.5″). Available in Sizes 8 to 16.
Materials: 95% Viscose and 5% Elastane.
Purchased: Online at BooHoo
Price: £15.00
Link BooHoo Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 4✩
Value for Money 5✩

I really liked the overall style of this dress and I would most definitely wear it again. The material might be a little thin but it’s just what you need for summer. It’s soft and comfortable to wear and the skirt section flows just enough to make you feel feminine – even with a baby bump!

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Name: Pink Sheer Lace Bow Ballet Pumps
Details: These type of shoes are available in many Colours and Styles but the Pink has Low Stock online – check your local stores. Available in Sizes 3 to 8. Sheer Design with Bow on the front. Black still available online.
Purchased: In Store at New Look
Price: £5.00 – £8.00
Link New Look Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 5✩
Value for Money 5✩

I really like the pretty lace on these shoes, they aren’t just attractive though they are so comfortable to wear too. The price was excellent and I would happily wear them throughout the summer with any outfit they would go with. I already own many different colours and styles of this exact fitting shoe, I always go back to New Look when I need new versions, usually this is to match one to an outfit that I don’t already have a pair for.

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Name: Pink Jersey Longline Cardigan
Details: Available in many Colours and Styles (online currently in Pink or Pale Blue). Available in store in Sizes 6 to 18. These cardigans are soft and have two nice large pockets one on either side. They are long sleeved and lightweight, ideal for Summer.
Materials: 96% Viscose and 4% Elastane.
Purchased: In Store at New Look
Price: £12.99
Link New Look Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 5✩
Value for Money 5✩

These cardigans from New Look wash and wear really well. Would you believe me if I said I owned fourteen of these now? I have collected this style for over the past ten years, and whenever New Look release a new colour I usually buy it! I wanted this lovely light pink to go with my outfit and I am always pleased with this type of cardigan.

 

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Name:
 Black Crochet Neck Ribbed Cami Top
Details: Available in the Colours or Black, White, Olive and Pink. Available in Sizes 8 to 18. A pretty top that is ideal for Summer, Crochet is in this year. Wear alone on a hot day or pair with other clothing to add a textured touch (like I did with my dress).
Materials: 95% Cotton and 5% Elastane.
Purchased: In Store at New Look
Price: £8.99
Link New Look Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 5✩
Value for Money 5✩

I was impressed with this cami top. Due to my baby bump I wouldn’t be able to wear it on it’s own this summer. However underneath other clothing to fill in gaps like I have done with my dress for this particular outfit, it works perfectly. It fitted really well and was comfortable too. Being mostly cotton I expected it to be of a good quality and it certainly was, it washed well too.

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How I Coped During The Long Day

My main tips for coping during long days out are to carry a water bottle with you. In the summer it’s even more important to stay hydrated. Make sure that you take regular seated breaks to avoid any unnecessary swelling of your feet and ankles, especially if it’s a warm day. Make sure those who are attending with you know how to help you if you need it.

It’s a good idea to bring your hospital bag and notes with you in your vehicle if you’re going to be a long way from home for more than a few hours. At my stage of pregnancy I could easily have gone into labour, better to be prepared. Also look up your nearest hospital or maternity unit just in case!

I made sure that my outfit was lightweight overall and that I was comfortable from my head to my toes. Nothing was too restricting or tight. Another top tip of mine is make sure you do a test run of the outfit before the day, that way you can see if there are any issues with it that you may want to fix.


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I hope you have enjoyed reading this post today. Have a great day!

✩ Sabrina 

 

Spectrum Collections Marbleous Set Review


✩ Spectrum Collections Review ✩

I have reviewed many Spectrum Collections Brushes over the past few years. I love their style, quality and variety. They make for incredible pictures because of their unique colour and styles too!

This year I really wanted a set of the Marble ones. After I won some money on a Postcode Website and I received some points on the Spectrum website for my reviews and recommendations, I managed to get a substantial amount off this beautiful set. Not only that but I waited for an special offer weekend too! Perfect timing!

So why the MarbIeous Set? I had wanted this set for a while, it has been on my wish list for a long time. I think the white and grey is beautiful and it also matches the white furniture and makeup pots that I have in my bedroom. Another reason is because the set comes with its very own makeup bag, and also contains a brush of every type to suit every sort of makeup application.

Spectrum Brushes are Vegan and Cruelty Free, another reason why I love them. Having tried many brush brands I always seem to go back to Spectrum, I cannot rave about them enough! So yes I am doing yet another review on my blog about their quality. I won’t bore you by going through every single brush, but I will say that their variety is excellent. In a set like this one, you can use some brushes for more than one purpose. While I don’t pretend to be a makeup expert because I don’t even apply it every day, what I do know and recognise is the great quality makes a big difference.

✩ White Marbleous 12 Piece Set ✩

The 12 Piece Marbleous Set are gorgeous white handled brushes finished in a stunning rose gold ferrule. The bristles are grey and white in colour and are incredibly soft. The set consists of 5 face brushes and a collection of 7 of Spectrum’s best selling eye, brow and lip brushes. Not only that but the set comes complete with its own white and marble makeup bag for you to store them in. They are the perfect tools for creating makeup looks, starting with a flawless base and then a perfectly blended eye look, the brushes can be used with ease. Some have multiple purposes too.

The Marbleous set includes the following:

A00 – Luxe Powder
C07 – Luxe Tapered Sculptor
A02 – Angled Foundation
C02 – Flat Top Contour
A05 – Precision Blush
B05 – Luxe Blender
B06 -Tall Tapered Blender
A07 – Stubby Shader
A12 – Fluffy Pencil
A13 – Short Smudge
A14 – Brow Definer
A15 – Lip Definer

Here is the link to this set on the Spectrum Collections Website

White Marbleous 12 Piece Set

The Website Price is £69.99


So do you like the look of these brushes? If not then why not check out the website to see all of the other types available. The colours and sets are incredible! The more recent ones include Mean Girls, Star Sign Sets and even Disney! Why not check out my code below and the website for more details!

Some of the brushes can be purchased individually and others as just sets. The prices have a wide range for those who don’t have a lot to spend but who want quality products.

If you would like to get 15% off your own set of amazing brushes then click my link below and use my unique code on your order.

Sabrina’s 15% Off Code


When your order arrives you will find your brushes all sealed and wrapped up, brand new and smelling as such! Remember to always clean your brushes before using them including new ones!

I was particularly impressed with the delivery, my brushes were neatly wrapped and safely transported to me. Spectrum have excellent packaging and I always recycle the plastic afterwards too!

Thank you very much for reading this review! I cannot wait to see what Spectrum bring out next! And I hope to continue using these brushes and taking gorgeous photographs of them as well. Check out my Instagram and follow me to see them most often!

If you do decide to order some brushes using my 15% off code then leave me a comment and let me know what you bought!

Have a great day and thank you for coming to Severn Wishes Blog!

✩ Sabrina 

Primark Beauty Items – Tried, Tested and Compared

REVIEW WEEK ON SEVERN WISHES

Primark Beauty Items – Tried, Tested and Compared

I’m not usually one for buying cheap products, and especially when it comes to using them on my skin because mine is classed as sensitive. However I have seen so many good reviews about these particular items that I felt the need to give them the benefit of the doubt. So I went out to get some, to test them for myself.

This small Primark Beauty “PS…” haul cost me just £5.50 towards the end of 2017 for these 5 items. One is a Tapered Brush, One is a Brush Cleaner Tool, One is a Facial Cleanse and Massage Brush, and One is a 2 Pack Beauty Blender Sponge Set.

Because I wear makeup so infrequently it has taken me a good while to compare these items to other products that I might use on a regular basis.

Now that I have however I feel that I can rate the items accordingly as I do with all of my reviews, and also offer some brand alternatives that I have and do use, and therefore do a short comparison on a few of them.

✩ The PS… Items ✩

Name: Tapered Powder Brush
Design: Black and Gold
Information: A Tapered Brush Used To Apply Powder To The Face
Price: £1.50
My Rating: 3✩’s

Review: This brush is soft and pretty, it is a nice length to hold but the brush itself doesn’t hold a great deal of powder product. it is definitely not the best brush I have owned, neither is it the worst. I would use it to apply my powder if i didn’t have another brush that was clean for example. I really like the design and the colours, it looks lovely in my brushes pot! Overall I don’t think I would buy it again because I have better brands, I love Spectrum Collections Brushes for their quality. These PS… Brushes are more than good enough for infrequently makeup applications however, or for taking on holiday with you…


Name: Makeup Brush Cleaner Tool
Design:
 Pink
Information: 
A Tool Designed To Aid The Cleaning Of Makeup Brushes
Price: 
£1.50
My Rating: 4✩’s

Review: This item is used as a tool for helping to clean makeup brushes. The ridges are very useful for gently rubbing your brushes up and down over it. When used with a mild soap or even Micellar Water the tool worked well to remove dirt.
I have a Spectrum Collections and a Makeup Revolution London Brush Cleaner Tool, and they all work in a similar manner. Some are just manufactured better, they have better grooves and designs and are made from better quality plastic so they are more hard wearing. But I have to say this PS… cheaper alternative still did a decent job with my brushes.

Name: Facial Cleanse and Massage Brush
Design: 
Pink and Cream
Information: 
A Brush And Tool Designed To Help Cleanse The Skin On The Face
Price: 
£1.00
My Rating: 2.5✩’s

Review: This item is used as a cleanser, however I didn’t notice a huge amount happening to my skin when I used it. The product is okay, the brushes are not as soft as I would normally use for my delicate skin. Therefore I didn’t press too hard when using it. I do prefer to use other forms of skin cleansing such as gentle massage with products on my fingers as opposed to bristles on brushes.

Name: 2 Pack Beauty Blender Sponges
Design: 
Orange and Yellow Shaped Sponges
Information: 
Shaped Sponges Used To Apply Makeup To The Face
Price: 
£1.50
My Rating: 3✩’s

Review: These sponges are designed to apply makeup, however the quality isn’t like that you would expect from a brand such as Real Techniques. The sponges are okay until you have used them and washed them a few times. Then I find that they are losing texture use after use. Sponges aren’t supposed to last forever though, and replacing them regularly is a good thing. I would only ever use them to apply concealer under my eyes for example. And with how infrequently I put on makeup they aren’t a bad buy really. If you can afford a better brand then do, because these PS… sponges won’t last you as long. But they still get the job done!


✩ In Conclusion ✩

Would I buy these items again? Probably not, they are definitely affordable and good value, but they aren’t for me as an every day staple. I would however consider this range if I didn’t want to take my best items with me on holiday for example. These cheaper alternatives that still work and are designed well, they are ideal for this sort of thing, long weekends away or holidays abroad…

I have to say the brush cleaner was a good tool, overall I would say this was my favourite item out of everything I purchased, and I would consider getting another if I ever needed to replace the ones I have. It’s handy for a quick clean or to throw in my travel bag for a weekend when I haven’t had the time to clean my travel brush set!

You can find the PS… Beauty brand at your local larger Primark stores and the range is always changing too, so be on the look out!

✩ TOP TIP ✩
Need something cheap but cheerful for your handbag or holiday that you could still rely on? Check out the latest PS… items in a store near you. For the prices I think the quality is better than you might think…

Until next times review, that’s it everyone, thanks for reading!

 Sabrina 

Spectrum Collections C00 Rain Glow Fan Brush Review and Photography

Spectrum Collections C00 Rain Glow Fan Brush Review

Time to talk about a very special brush created by a very special British company. It is of course the Spectrum Collections C00 Rain Glow Fan Brush… and yes it has rather a long name!

Spectrum Collections began with pink brushes, and it went from there, now the collection is incredible, with complex and thoughtful designs, not to mention beautiful.

I purchased this particular brush in my local Boots store rather than from Spectrum online. It costs around £19.99.

I will include purchasing links at the end of my post.

The brush is Vegan and made to be Cruelty Free. Designed for Contouring (hence the C in its name) this beautiful brush delicately allows highlighter or bronzer to applied to the face and body (such as collar bones). The brush has this rounded shape to ensure the application is both light and precise.


The stunning rainbow effect of the brush and its bristles means it really stands out for photographs. It’s bristles themselves are soft and thin. The handle is a lovely sky blue colour and has a silver ferrule.

The brush came in its very own packet which is great for keeping it clean.

So I will be totally honest with you all, I haven’t really bought this brush so that I can put highlighter on my face… I have however bought it because it’s beautiful and I want to use it in my blogging photography… I will of course review the quality of the brush while showcasing some more of my favourite images that I have created using this stunning piece in the ensemble…

I have been using the brush as a blog prop and most images can be seen through my Instagram posts. Like from my The Body Shop Review in the image below…

Overall this brush is gorgeous and I’m happy I purchased it, although on its own I thought it was a little expensive. I guess you are paying for the quality though that is for sure!

Appearance 5/5
Quality 5/5
Value for Money 4/5

You can purchase this brush at the Spectrum Collections Website or at Boots stores and online. Here are the links for you.
Spectrum Collections
Boots

The ladies at Spectrum do an incredible job with their business and they’ve had a tough year too! I follow them all over social media and they are so passionate about the environment, making great products in the best way, and this is one reason why I love to support them. Keep up the awesome work!

Thank you very much for reading this review today and I hope you liked the photographs.

 Sabrina 

The Body Shop – My Latest Winnings And Some Reviews

The Body Shop – My Latest Winnings And Some Reviews of Products.

I have been pretty lucky lately and won a Instagram competition with the @thebodyshop where I won a hamper of items, two of each thing to share with my best friend. The comp was called #1inaMillion and I was very pleased to have won.

To say I was excited was an understatement, but there was one thing holding me back. And that was that some of the products contained nuts within them, and my husband is deathly allergic! And before any of you think, but you don’t eat the products, I know that, it’s actually the smell of the nuts in them that can also make the person unwell. So I had to sadly pass on these gorgeous smelling (yes I still smelt them) items on to my mother! As you can imagine she was then ecstatic with this!

First off I wanted to share her thoughts, so here is what she has said about the items that I could not try…

1. Almond Milk & Honey for Sensitive & Dry Skin – Soothing & Restoring Body Butter
200ml Tub
“This body butter made my skin feel very soft and nourished, the best thing was that it lasted all day until I showered and then I put it on all over again. The scent was also gorgeous and I could smell it on my skin even at the end of a long working day”.

2. Moringa – Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub
250ml Tub
“This body scrub is easy to use and after I had tried it a few times my skin felt really soft. I noticed the softness and scent didn’t last as long as the body butter one had done. Over all my skin felt good the times after I had used it”.

Overall

When I asked my mother if she would go out and purchase either of these products after having used them now, she said this, “I loved how my skin felt after using the Almond Milk & Honey Body Butter and would consider buying a pot, but it goes a long way, so this sized pot will last a while”.

Now on to some of the other products that I won, that I myself have tested in these past few weeks since I won them. I will be scoring the products I have used.

3. Strawberry Shower Gel with Cold Pressed Strawberry Seed Oil
250ml Bottle
“A beautifully smelling shower gel that made my skin smell lovely all day long, I put the scent down to the natural ingredients used within it”.
Score 4/5

4. Vitamin E Moisture Cream – All Skin Types – 48 hour Moisturising
50ml Tub
“This cream smells delicate and is exceptionally light as it melts into the skin. I used it to moisturise my face after cleansing in a morning, it wasn’t greasy at all and my skin felt soft after it had sunk in”.
Score 5/5


5. Mascara – Lash Hero Fibre Extension Mascara
“This mascara was surprising, the brush was nothing special a very straight cut with fairly short bristles, however the combination did make my lashes look longer. It was also easy to remove with Micellar Water at the end of the day”.
Score 4/5

6. Himalayan Charcoal – Purifying Glow Mask
75ml Pot
“Wow, were my first thoughts after using this mask. The Himalayan Charcoal was interesting, I have never put anything like this on to my skin before. The mask took only seconds to dry and was easy to wash off with warm water after the time frame. I have to say it made the areas of my skin that I had applied it to very soft, and I also noticed that my pores looked less noticeable. The thing I liked the most was its ease of application and removal. I will definitely be using this product again, I want to get into a habit of treating my skin better, and this could be just the product to help me to do that”.
Score 5/5

(Mask on My Skin).

(Charcoal Mask Ingredients and Information).

My Favourites Overall

Overall my favourite two products from the win are the Vitamin E Cream and the Himalayan Charcoal Mask.

I loved both of these equally and for different reasons. I loved the natural ingredients used in the Mask and the Vitamin quality in the Cream. I would keep using them both and consider purchasing after they are all used up too (providing nothing better came along in the mean time). I think both items would go a long way, the Mask especially because you need very little to spread on to the skin.

I hope you have liked reading about these prizes. If you have any questions feel free to leave me a comment and I will answer it if I can! Thank you again to The Body Shop for picking me to win all of these lovely products. I have really enjoyed testing them, and I still have some to try! I also cannot wait to pass the other half of them on to my BFF.

Check out The Body Shop on their social media to make sure that you’ll be in for a chance of winning the next time they have an awesome competition!

I hope that all of you have a Happy and Safe Halloween. Have a good one!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Review of Black Military Coat from Wallis.

My Review of the Black Military Coat from Wallis Fashion.

I’m ecstatic with my coat from @wallisfashion that I won in their “Wallis In Paris” competition last week on Instagram. It was a wonderful surprise to win! And I immediately offered to review the coat for them.

Finding myself really loving the Autumn Military trends this year, and this coat is just perfect. With it’s fancy golden buttons for some contrast against the thick black fabric, this coat isn’t just beautiful it’s also very well made.

There are two fairly deep pockets on either side and eight buttons on the front. It has a lining on the inside to keep you warm on cooler days. There are two buckles – one on either sleeve that add a nice three dimensional and shiny aspect to that part of the coat. The military style also has two button studs a top of shoulders, and it features two button studs at the back too.

For this review I have paired the coat with my Eden Skinny Jeans as you’ll see in this photograph, and a brand new jumper from Dorothy Perkins too. However this coat is so versatile you could pair it with a variety of Denim or a Skirt, long boots would look great. It would also like nice with a beautiful dress for an evening.

An Excellent Autumn to Winter Transition Coat.

This coat is made from a heavy black material, it is made from 64% Polyester with 33% Viscose and 1% Elastane. The inner lining is 100% Polyester and is rather shiny.

It has many nice features such as the gold Buttons and Buckles. A coat that is rather flattering when worn, because it’s fitted it works well with whatever curves you might have. I’m the top end of Petite but this coat still came to my knees, which is just how I like long coats to be. I loved that it was long enough to keep me warm and the arms were also long too, mind ended at the base of my thumbs.

The 8 front buttons add glamour and there are several nice features such as the double breasted style and the way the fabric has been cut. The shape of the front of the coat is really unusual and I liked how it falls when being worn.

It’s a great transition coat from Autumn to Winter because it’s easy to layer beneath it. I’m an 8 with jumpers, so I chose a 10 so I could wear a chunky jumper under it. The coat fits perfectly around my shoulders but is quite heavy over all.

The Wallis Military Coat seems to be a staple for any wardrobe, and I’m very glad that I now have one. Hopefully I will get many wears and many years of joy from wearing it.

In my opinion the one and only downside to the military coat is that it’s Dry Clean Only.

Overall Scores

Appearance 5/5
Quality 4/5
Value for Money 4/5
Fit True To Size 5/5

Black Military Coat
A military-inspired coat by Wallis Fashion.
Price £75.00.
Here is the link to the coat on the Wallis website if you would like to take a look at it, they have currently got a sale on too! (Correct as of today’s date with 10% off!) HERE

I really hope you have enjoyed this review. Thank you again Wallis for picking me to win this incredible item as a prize. Have a wonderful end of October everyone!

✩ Sabrina ✩

NYX Slide On, Glide On, Stay On, Eye Liners Review Part 2

NYX Slide On Eye Liners, Part 2! Because “Oh Yes!” I Bought More!!!

I loved my first three eyeliners so much that I decided to get some more colours. I also wanted to experiment with photographing them as well as making up a variety of eye looks too.

I now own seven shades of the NYX Slide On and Glide On Eyeliner. These range from a basic brown and gold shade, right through to the vibrant blue and green.

Here are the numbers and the names of the seven eyeliners I have bought.

SL6 Esmerelda
SL10 Purple Blaze
SL12 Azure
SL13 Jewel
SL14 Sunrise Blue
SL15 Brown Perfection
SL16 Golden Bronze

The new colours are perfect for creating looks that stand out, especially with the blue shades.

I decided to get mine from a local Boots Store, I love saving up my points from them you see!

Playing around with some of the colours… I drew a heart on my arm, can I get an aw?

You can tell on my fairly pale skin just how much these colours stand out, and they compliment one another well too.

The reason I decided to draw the heart on my arm is to show how vibrant the shades are next to one another. The liners have colours that vary so that you’re not getting some similar ones when you purchase them you get a specific shade, for example the two shades of blue are entirely different, as you can see in my photograph.

Here are some of my different looks that I have created recently with these liners. I have uploaded others to my Instagram from time to time as well.

Above; Subtle Natural Makeup Look; while using SL15 and SL16.

Above; My take on a Mermaid Look while using SL10, SL12 and SL14.

Two separate occasions using the darker shades to create these looks.
Top one is mainly SL15.
Lower one is mainly SL16.

Now I’m going to show you some more photographs of the liners themselves, they look great in their vibrant and accurately coloured casings!

These are now my “go-to” eye liners and I haven’t used any other brand since getting them. If you see me with my makeup done online, look for the tags to see if I used the NYX ones!

These eyeliners are so easy to apply, I absolutely adore using them. I sometimes blend them on my eye lids using my Spectrum Brushes too…

During my last review I scored these Eyeliners a massive 5/5! Here are my scores below for this review, now that I have had time to test them more thoroughly and while using more shades.

Quality of Items 5/5
Effectiveness 5/5
Appearance 5/5
Value for Money 4/5

The only point that these liners loose out on this time, is a Value one. Because when I went back to buy more the prices had all gone up, by quite a lot actually. So I was gutted but I still ended up purchasing them, that is dedication, and it is all because of the NYX Quality!

Thank you for reading this review today, I really hope you have enjoyed it.

 Sabrina ✩

NYX at Boots Website

Birchbox August Box Reveal and Review

Having taken note of several Birchbox reviews and recent boxes I have been waiting for the right time to sign up and I chose this month for two reasons. The first is because they had a fabulous deal on with free gifts, and the box also contains a Spectrum Brush that is only usually available inside the set of its colour…

So I have had delivered a one off Birchbox to Reveal its contents and Review honestly for you all this week. This unboxing is the contents of the August Box, which has a theme of Mermaids. The box itself is beautiful, a detailed scales design of Blues, Greens and Purples, with a golden trim.

I will tell you honestly why I wanted this box, and it’s more for the Spectrum Brush than any of the other items. Though I was pleasantly surprised by the actual box design quality and the other contents, and I will of course try any product once, and plan to do so with what Birchbox have chosen to send me.

The Birchbox measures 18.2cm in Length, by 12cm Wide and 5cm Deep. The design really stands out against my white backdrop as I begin to photograph the unopened contents.

Now it’s time for the Reveal! Let’s open my Mermaid themed box!

The free gift that I managed to get with my order was a fabulous summery and rather stripey makeup bag, and a Nails Inc Nail Polish. The bag is lilac and yellow and measures 22cm by 16cm. It is adorned with a yellow rope and pink trim that includes zip and the word Birchbox in a clear plastic. The Nails Inc Nail Kale Polish is in the colour of Regal Close and is a nude shade.

Nails Inc is a good brand that I have tried and tested before. I was happy that I was receiving something that was well known. The makeup bag reminds me of Summer with the shades of its stripes. They are two free gifts that I will certainly enjoy.

Here is the full list of the items that I received in my Birchbox. I will be looking at them individually, and photographically, in just a moment.

Spectrum Clam Brush A05

Seba Med Clear Face Mattifying Cream

Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray

LOC Eye Shadow Stick

Merci Handy New Wave Love & Hand Gel


Spectrum Clam Brush A05

The A05 Brush by Spectrum Collections is designed for applying blusher or bronzer with precision. It is a beautiful brush that is part of the Spectrum Atlantis Collection, usually only supplied inside the Glam Clam. A turquoise handle and a brush end with bristles of lilac and pink, this makeup brush is finished with a rose gold ferrule.


Seba Med Clear Face Mattifying Cream

This Seba Med Clear Face Cream is designed to be free from oils, it is the ideal PH for the skin at 5.5. A non-greasy and shine-reducing cream, this is meant to be moisturising for oily skin. Containing Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid to keep your skin hydrated and smooth, without clogging pores. This travel size at 10ml is great for a handbag or for travelling.

Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray

The Oribe Spray can add texture and shine by adding a tousled waves to the hair. It has added proteins and vitamins to give the hair a boost, and can be applied to wet or dry locks. It contains ingredients that have a natural dose of UV protection and natural oils like sunflower and others such as marigolds and amber, to ensure the hair gets nourished. This can is a 37ml size, ideal for going away but be aware this might not be allowed in aeroplane luggage due to being an aerosol.

LOC Eye Shadow Stick

A Birchbox Exclusive, the LOC stick is a precise eye liner shadow pencil which claims to have 11 hours of crease free staying power. It is a compact size but I think from the swatch that I did it will go a long way. In my opinion it is an ideal base for other eye shadow colours to be built up on. Mine was named “Out of your Shell”. The One and Done Eye Shadow Stick is supposed to be easy to apply and comes in a travel size at 1.35g.


Merci Handy New Wave Love & Hand Cleansing Gel

A handy sized sanitiser which is great for handbags or travelling. A simple item but a rather useful one. I received this blue one, called New Wave. I like that it smells nice, it even has glitter inside it for a touch of glam, and it is also supposed to nourish your skin while killing bacteria because it contains Vitamin E and emollient beads. It smells like fruity and clean all at the same time, and is a ‘handy’ 30ml size.

My favourite items from the box are the LOC Eye Shadow Stick and the Spectrum Collections Glam Clam A05 Brush.

My reasons are because I will definitely use these pieces. I wanted the brush so badly to use in blogging and in my makeup. The other items I will all use and/or test, so I just see them as a bonus. I quietly hope that I can use them all despite my sensitive skin.

Here is another image of my items that were inside my August Birchbox.

And below is another shot of the free nail polish and the makeup bag.


Overall I am pleased that I did this Reveal, If I am very happy with any of the individual products then you will no doubt see individual reviews of the items.

Thank you very much for reading this blog post today, I really hope you’ve enjoyed this reveal and of course all of my detailed photography.

If you’re interested in some Birchbox products then please check out their website, they have a shop and you can subscribe to the boxes if you wish to.

Birchbox

If you liked this but want to ‘See’ more then check out my unboxing video, reveal and honest review of the box over on my YouTube Channel.

Thanks Severn Wishes followers, until next time!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Wilkinson Sword Quattro Review and Free Limited Edition Lipstick


When I recently purchased a new Wilkinson Sword Quattro for Women Bikini, I received a code for a Free Limited Edition Lipstick.

As most of you will know the film Wonder Woman has been in Cinema’s over this Summer, and although I didn’t get a chance to go and see it, I jumped at the opportunity to own a Lipstick with the Wonder Woman branding. Wilkinson Sword claims they were designed for Strong, Independent women, and I like to think I’m one of those people.

When I logged into their website I entered my details and I got to choose one of four lipsticks. I chose ‘Wonder’ because I thought it would better suit my complexion.

Unfortunately as the disclosure states, if they run out you get the next available colour. I have ended up with the lipstick shade of ‘Power’ instead, which was my third choice and not one I would have chosen because of my complexion.


This Red really isn’t my colour sadly, so I won’t be posting a ‘selfie’ picture, instead I will share a swatch of the shade. It might be used for ‘fancy dress’ but it’s certainly not an every day lipstick for me. I envy women who can pull off this incredible shade though.

 


The Wilkinson Sword brand is an excellent one that I have used for many years. Twice a year I make sure that I change my shaving units, and I was just lucky enough to be changing them while this promotion was on to take advantage of this freebie.


Overall Review of the Shaver and its Promotion

Value for Money 4/5
Effectiveness of Use 4/5
Promotion Item 3/5
Variety Available 3/5


Overall I believe this shaver to be a good one. It has good manufacturing quality to it, the unit comes with a battery to start you off with, and when the brand runs promotions they tend to be very good. It’s a shame that the shade of lipstick isn’t for me, because the quality of it seems good. The unit is nicely presented in a black case with the Wonder Woman logo and name of the lipstick shade on the side.

Thank you to Wilkinson Sword for running this promotion and for supplying me with this lipstick. I think, for anyone who wanted to know, the shaver was around £12 in Sainsburys but was on offer when I bought it.

Thank you for reading this post today, I really hope you have enjoyed it. Did you manage to pick up a promo pack for yourself? I would love for you to comment what shade you chose, and what you actually received, if you did.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

 Sabrina 

If you would like to see what Wilkinson Sword products are currently on offer, then you can visit their website HERE

SS17 Fashion Trends, How To Wear Them This Season And How To Combine Your Current Wardrobe

Welcome to today’s Blog Post, in this piece I am going to be discussing the main Fashions for this Spring and Summer. How you can wear them this season, and how you can combine new items with your current wardrobe to stay on trend.

There are several main trends this year, and the majority of them have been doubled up to ensure maximum ‘on trend’ efficiency. Brands seem to be fusing together different styles to create new ones. I will give you an example, Denim and Embroidery. A lot of companies are now uniting various denim styles with patches and sown on patterns. Of course this relates back to some of the 1990’s fashion trends that saw embroidery on a variety of things, including jeans. But now it seems to be on everything, from T-Shirts to Jackets, Jeans to Coats… Other examples have been gradually making a come back, hinting on 1920’s and 1930’s fashion, with cold shoulders, bardot tops and dresses and of course lots of lace.

I will now list all of the trends that I have come across through research, personal shopping trips and reading about what is appearing on the latest catwalks, so that you can see what I’m talking about. Here are most of the current trends…

✩ Denim and Embroidery ✩
✩ Embroidery and Lace ✩
✩ Denim and Pink ✩
✩ Lace and Cold Shoulder ✩
✩ Cold Shoulder and Gingham ✩

✩ Gingham and Silver ✩
✩ Bold Prints and Glitter ✩
✩ Floral Prints and Stripes ✩
✩ Stripes and Studs ✩
✩ Ruffles and Mesh ✩
✩ Mesh and Sheer ✩
✩ Sheer and Florals ✩
✩ Stripes and Cold Shoulder ✩
✩ Florals and Gingham ✩
✩Gingham and Bold Prints ✩

Now I’m going to talk about a few of the trends that I like the most, and give examples of my fashion and any styles that I myself have worn during the summer so far.

Stripes are a go in my wardrobe at ALL times of the year and in all seasons. I have striped tops, dresses and various other items, striped pieces in my opinion don’t ever go out of style! Check out my latest Fashion purchases on that named category to see what my latest fashion spends have been on. Mainly T-Shirts if I’m honest, some of which are very much on trend right now…

So what I noticed more about this summer more than any other in recent years, was how many brands got on the ‘Floral’s for Summer’ idea. This is a simple one of course, everyone knows how much flowers thrive in the warmer months of the year. Yet it was different somehow. People were combining unusual colours and prints that had never before seen each other. Next time you’re shopping take a look at Floral Fashions…

Let’s get down to some of my examples now, and how I have recently styled them.

✩ Florals and Gingham / Gingham and Florals ✩

I adore Gingham, and until a couple of years ago I barely had any of it in my wardrobe. These Shorts I already did a separate review on, but I wanted to explain why they were so on trend still. They combine two trends, Floral Print and the Gingham Print, in one item. Not only that but depending on what you choose to partner them with, could mean your outfit ticks several ‘On Trend’ boxes in one go!

Shorts from BooHoo (See My Individual Review For More Details)

Here I am in my Gingham and Floral outfit. I love how the flowers really stand out on the pattern.

✩✩

✩ Sheer and / or Mesh in Fashion ✩

Sheer Mesh T-Shirts are also on trend right now, I had this lovely Floral one from New Look. Check out my review of it by clicking New Look on my categories.


✩✩✩

✩ Florals and Bold Prints ✩

A really good example of Bold Prints and Florals are these other Shorts I got also from BooHoo. Comfortable and affordable, these excellent shorts have such a vibrant pattern, and really stand out. I would pair them with a plain black bardot top, a double Fashion ensemble to ensure a great looking Summer outfit.


✩ Gingham / Chequered Print and Bright Colours ✩

I absolutely love to recycle old clothing into new trends. This year I’ve been able to dig out my ‘vintage’ chequered pieces, such as these two skirts. And then pair them with new items such as bold print and brightly coloured T-Shirts. One is around twelve years old and from New Look, the other is around eight years old and was from Primark (and yes I can still fit in them both). Recycling your older items is a great way to stay up to date with the latest trends, plus you never know when items such as these will be in fashion again, sometimes it’s not very long at all!

(Primark Original)

(New Look Original)

✩ Embroidery and Denim ✩

Another trend I particularly like is the embroidery one. I am really getting into this, it brings back all the 1990’s Fashion from when I was growing up. What I actually plan to do is make my own shorts, but I have cheated slightly, and gotten a pair that was already started with patches. I am going to add my Iron On Patches that I have received inside my various Treat Boxes, on to these shorts to make them unique. Here is a shot of them with the patches, but I have yet to decide on my final design.

You could choose to put patches on any kind of Denim item, I liked how these would brighten up the black, but they work just as well with blue too!

These shorts will look great this Summer with either a crop top or with a white tee with very little pattern to allow the embroidery to take central focus.

Another way Embroidery has been used in Fashion in recent months is to line T-Shirts, on either the hems or the sleeves, or both. Here are examples from Dorothy Perkins that I have purchased this year. They go excellent with a variety of Denim colours. Check out my DP section on the main page for my reviews.


✩ Cold Shoulder / Bardot and Lace ✩

Finally, another style I want to discuss is the Cold Shoulder one. As I mentioned earlier in the post, the Bardot style and the Cold Shoulder trend have both been reinvented for modern day fashion, and I have to say I really took to both. I never thought it would suit me, but actually I am happy to wear both tops and dresses. Here is one example, where I have paired my BooHoo Gingham Shorts with a Lace Cold Shoulder Top from Dorothy Perkins.

Here I am in this outfit. I really like combining trends like these to make my own style.

Thank you for reading this Fashion post today, I really hope you have enjoyed reading about the latest trends and my takes on how to make them unique for yourself.

 Sabrina 

Title Image taken by Megan from Makeup by Megan