Hey Mr. Postman (Part I)

Over the past few weeks I've done a spot of online shopping from eBay and blog sales and won a few blog giveaways. I had some stuff sent to my home address and some to my uni address, in the hope that they would arrive while I was there during Easter/reading week or term time. However, I haven't seen some of the stuff until now!

Even though I've had some of the items for a few weeks, I decided to do accumulative posts instead of posting as soon as I received things. In order to stop them from being mammoth posts, I decided to split them into two posts - One with my eBay and blog sale purchases and one with my giveaway wins and LLYMLRS JWLRY purchase.

Sorry it's a mix of camera and Blackberry photos. My camera ran out of battery and I don't have a memory card for my new one yet!

Clockwise from left: Jelly Lens, Hair Spirals, Royal Wedding Mug and Glycolic Acid

Hair Spirals (£0.99 for 3) and Jelly Lens (£0.99): I was on the hunt for some cheap alternatives to the Goodys Spin Pins, which retail at nearly £5 for 2 (Extortionate much?!). I found the hair spirals, after typing in 'hair spirals' in the search bar, from a seller in China who came up trumps with 3 for 99p with free postage! I had a nosy through the other items they sold and decided to also purchase the jelly lens. It's a bit of a gimmick to be honest and since I received it, I've not actually used it! But at only 99p, I thought it'd be a bit of fun. The items only took about 10 days to get here from China, which I was super impressed with.

Royal Wedding Mug (£5.50): Out of all my friends, I was the only person that was super excited about the Royal Wedding last month. With all the build up to the wedding, I had a look at all the memorabilia that was being released. After seeing a lot of merchandise with subtle royal designs, I decided I wanted something that was rather in-your-face, so I hunted around on eBay and thought this mug was perfect! The pictures are from the day they announced their engagement and I just love how happy they look :)

Glycolic Face Peel (£4.75 + £2.25 p&p): Recently my skin has been looking a little dull and I was getting a bit sick of my acne scars, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I'm a bit of a DIY obsessive, so I did some research on face peels. In the end, I decided Glycolic Acid would be a good starting point and settled on 30% concentration. I chose this one over one with a free neutralizer, because the 'free brush' swayed me... But as you can see, the brush is tiny and pointless! Plus the instructions say to apply the peel with a cotton pad, so I don't understand why they include a brush!

(I have only linked where I got the glycolic acid from, because the sellers of the hair spirals, jelly lens and royal wedding mug don't appear to be selling the items anymore.)

Clockwise from left: MAC Lustre Drops from Ellie's blog sale, Essie Midnight Cami and H&M Blue My Mind from Product Pixie's blog sale and Cloud 9 mini straightners from Ann's blog sale

I never really used to buy from blog sales because I didn't have my own Paypal account and using my dad's wasn't really an option. I used to look at blog sale posts and think what I would buy if I had my own Paypal. Thinking back now, I wonder how many things I wanted but missed out on... Since setting up my own eBay account and therefore a Paypal, I've been a keen bean and bought a number of things. I think blog sales are good opportunities for people to get rid of the stuff they don't use and for others to try things without committing to the RRP.

Sorry this post is so long! If I haven't already bored you to death, I will have the second part of this post tomorrow :)

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

NOTD: Blackout

2 coats of Orly nail polish in 'Blackout' and 2 coats of Models Own nail polish in 'Champagne' (on the ring finger)

I realise that black nails aren't the summeriest colour, but for some strange reason I really fancied painting my nails a dark colour. I decided to paint my ring finger with Champagne, a la Lorraine Stanick, because I really liked the contrast of the black against the gold. I went to a beauty supply store and they had the mini Orly nail polishes on sale for £2.65 so I picked this one up. I restrained myself from buying the five colours that I had originally picked up and settled on this one, because I didn't own a black nail polish and own more than enough pink and glitter nail polishes.

The first coat was pretty uneven and streaky, but with the second coat, the colour became nice and opaque. Some areas were a little deficient and probably needed a third coat, but I just left it because unless you look closely, it's not obvious. This polish dried super quick and glossy. With the addition of a topcoat, my nails looked so glossy and I couldn't stop staring at them! I experienced a tiny bit of tipwear on the second day, but I have had this on my nails for 5 days now and I have experienced no chipping. All in all, I'm very impressed with Orly nail polishes and I will definitely be buying more!

Have any of you tried Orly nail polish? What colour(s) would you recommend?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream

What they say: (From Boots.com) Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream is an innovative new therapy specially formulated to intensively nourish and help repair your skins natural barrier. Oilatum Natural Face Cream is suitable for dry and sensitive skin and is free from fragrances, preservatives and emulsifiers.

Price: £7.65

Swatch:


What I think: I bought this after hearing the Pixiwoo girls raving about this moisturiser and I have to say, I'm impressed! My skin always gets really dry throughout winter, especially around my nose and cheeks and recently my combination skin has been veering towards dry. I mainly use this at night and find it to be extremely moisturising and soothing, without making my face look or feel super greasy. I occasionally put this on before applying make-up and found that it created a nice, moisturised base after allowing it to sink in. I'm just taking a stab in the dark, but I think that this moisturiser may be too rich during the summer, unless you have severely dry skin.

At £7.65 for a 50ml tube, it is expensive for a drugstore brand. But it is worth it, because it works! I have found that you only need a small amount to cover your face and it has lasted me for a good 4 months (approximately). I'm currently on the hunt for it, because everytime I go into Boots, it's either out of stock or not sold there at all. Has anyone else found that only certain places stock this? After rooting around online, I saw that Lloyd's Pharmacy sells it for £7.10. So if you can't find it in Boots, save yourself 55p and get it from Lloyds!

Have you ever tried this Oilatum moisturiser? What did you think?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Wardrobe Envy: Frankie Sandford

All images are from tfs I love Frankie's style and how she mixes high street (cough, that lovely red Zara dress) with beautiful designer bags and shoes. I love how her accessories aren't 'fussy' and that she keeps it nice and simple. There seems to be a trend in Frankie's casual wardrobe in that she wears jeans/denim a lot. This makes me want to break out of my leggings rut and wear jeans more! She always pairs them with cute shoes, a gorge bag and a mix of tops and jackets.

Who are your style crushes? Keep an eye out for more of mine! You can see more of my style crushes here.

xoxo, Joy

Top 5 Nail Polishes for S/S

I forgot to take a picture of all the nail polish bottles lined up, but I'm sure you know what they all look like!

I was painting my nails last night and decided to share the 5 nail polishes that I will be wearing a lot over the spring/summer months. They may not be the on-trend colours of the season, but these are my personal preferences :) I'm sorry to say that while these polishes are widely available in the UK, they may be harder to come by in other countries.

I have NOTDs with mini reviews posted for the majority of these polishes, so I will link those below.

Thumb: H&M 'Sunset Dreams' - 1 coat
Pointer: Mavala 'Samoa' - 2 coats
Middle: Rimmel 60 Seconds 'Rose Libertine' - 2 coats
Ring: Barry M 'Berry Ice Cream' - 2 coats
Pinkie: 17 Fast Finish 'Peacock' - 2 coats

What are your favourite nail polishes for Spring/Summer?

I just wanted to add in a MASSIVE THANK YOU to Jennie for including me in her latest "Blogs I Love Friday". It was such a sweet thing to do and made my day :) If you don't already follow her blog, why not? It's amazing, go do it!! SailorJennie.com

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

BLOG BIRTHDAY :D

It all began on this day exact day last year.

365 days and 139 posts later. Dear Joy is now 1!

I can't believe Dear Joy has made it to one year! I've made blogs before and none of them have ever lasted this long.

I started Dear Joy after finding a few beauty channels on Youtube, namely Lollipop26, Gemsmaquillage and Fleurdeforce, and then becoming exposed to the whole world of beauty videos and blogs.

When I first started my blog, I thought I'd be sick of it after a month or so (Like I have with previous blogs), but this time something was different. I was really enjoying writing and rambling on about things I love. I decided that I wanted this blog to be a place where I can post reviews about the things that I buy and try, along with a few other things beyond make-up and beauty. I'm by no means an expert, but sometimes a normal girl with normal views can be helpful. It's also created a record for myself about what products I've used, liked and disliked, so I can refer back to it at any time and avoid buying things I've tried and disliked.

I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting, reading and commenting on my blog. I really really appreciate it and it really encourages me to keep on posting and writing. It really warms my heart that people want to read what I write and you all mean the world to me!

Lots of love to you all. xoxo, Joy

All photos from We Heart It

Recent Purchases

I posted this earlier this week, but with all the problems on Blogger, it seems to have unposted itself... So I am reposting this!

I realised that my first two Youtube videos were collective hauls for February and March, but here's another one for the month of May. I find doing haul videos easier than haul posts with photos and text. Plus I find editing videos quite therapeutic. Haha.

One of the comments I received on Youtube was that I'm not smiling in the video, so I apologize for that now.




Thank you for watching. xoxo, Joy

Orelia Jewellery

Everytime I go into Topshop, I always take a longing look at the Orelia stand, but as a poor student I can't afford a lot of the stuff that they sell. Their jewellery is so pretty, with a mix of crystals, beads and charms. I've also noticed a lot of use of cord and tassels.

I recently went on the Orelia website and noticed there was a section with items on sale. I actually squeed when I saw it! I wanted to buy so many things, but I was good and restrained myself to only 3 things. I was super happy, because all 3 items totalled up to approximately the same as 1 full price item, plus delivery wasn't too expensive at £2.95. My order arrived super quickly today, after only ordering the items on Saturday evening and was sent by recorded delivery, meaning that it was less likely to get lost in the post.

When I opened the packaging, the box had a cute polka dot ribbon on it. Isn't that so cute? I almost didn't want to open it. Is it sad that I've kept the ribbon?


Inside the box, all my items were individually cased in little plastic bags and they were all enclosed within some pretty white and gold tissue paper. There was also a little card with some information about the company. I ordered 2 rings and a bracelet. Aren't they all so pretty? I love them :D

I thought it was a nice touch to include a little card about the company and their jewellery.

Alexandra ring, Tilly ring

I was so excited to try them that I didn't even cut the label off beforehand. I think the turquoise ring has a vintage feel to it. I've been wanting a ring like this for ages. I love the diamante ring, it's so pretty and glamourous!

Nora bracelet

I think that this would be so cute layered with lots of bracelets and bangles or on it's own. I love versatile pieces like this.

I just wanted to say that I'm not being paid or sponsored for writing this. I was just super excited and pleased with my purchase and how quickly it was delivered, so I thought I'd share it with you. Have you ever bought any Orelia jewellery?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Favourite Lip Combination of the Moment

I just thought I'd share my favourite lip combination of the moment with you all. Since the weather is starting to warm up and summer is almost nigh, it's the trend to wear bright lipsticks. I've been wanting to wear some bright lipsticks, but alas I've been scared! So I settled for a happy medium, where my lips are brighter than usual but not as bright as the trends.

Left: MAC lipstick in To Swoon For, Right: ELF Plumping Lip Glaze in Oasis

Left: Oasis, Right: To Swoon For

The combination looks a little brighter and darker in real life.

What are you favourite lip combinations at the moment?

xoxo, Joy

NOTD: Spearmint

2 coats of W7 nail polish in 'Spearmint'
The flash from my camera has made the colour look brighter than it actually is.

I've been wanting a mint nail polish for ages and Spearmint is a gorgeous creamy colour, so perfect for spring/summer. The formula of the polish is very thin and runny. It applies very streaky and with 2 coats, you get a nice colour which tends to look a little streaky/uneven. I guess that's what you get for paying £1.50 for a nail polish... However, I was impressed, this polish didn't chip for days, even without a top coat!

Can any of you recommend me any other mint/turquoise nail polishes?

xoxo, Joy

Review: MAC Face and Body

I've been meaning to write this review for absolutely ages now, but I kept putting it off. I thought now would be the perfect time to get it up, since spring is officially here and summer is dawning on us and I think MAC Face and Body is a perfect foundation for these seasons.


What they say: (From MacCosmetics.co.uk) A water-based, water-resistant foundation that provides natural coverage for face and/or body. Ideal for all skin types. Face and Body Foundation provides sheer, natural looking coverage in an easy to blend formula. Available in a wide range of colours. Contains several emollients to help moisturise and condition the skin. It delivers professional looking results that meet the exacting standards of beauty photography and is ideal for perfecting the face and body.

Price: £23.50

Swatch:

MAC Face and Body in Shade N2

Slightly blended out. Hopefully you get an idea of how runny/watery this is.

What I Think: I absolutely adore this foundation! It gives a lovely, natural finish which looks like your-skin-but-better. It has low-medium coverage, but it is also build-able and can be layered to achieve a higher coverage. I've tried using a variety of brushes to apply this, such as the Sigma F80 and a regular foundation brush, but I really like using my fingers to apply this for a lovely natural finish. The foundation applies quite runny, but after a minute or so, it becomes tougher to blend in - Almost as if it has set or something. I have areas of redness around my nose and chin that require some extra coverage and although the foundation doesn't cover these up completely, I don't mind and a little concealer is all I need to sort it out. I just love how natural this foundation looks.

I am impressed with how well this foundation lasts. I set it with powder and it lasts pretty much all day. My cheeks tend to be quite dry, while my t-zone gets oily throughout the day, and I have found that this foundation is perfect for my skin. Since this is a water based foundation, it gives my skin the right amount of hydration.

Due to this being a water based foundation, an oil free moisturiser would need to be used with it, since water and oil don't mix. If you use a moisturiser with oil in it, the foundation will slip straight off. I didn't realise this when I first started using this and since switching to an oil free moisturiser, I have found that the foundation lasts longer. I wouldn't necessarily say this is a disadvantage, but it's something that I wanted to flag up.

One disadvantage of this foundation is the colour range. In comparison to the countless shades of foundations like MAC Studio Fix or MAC Studio Sculpt, Face and Body only has 13 shades. They are either warm (N) or cool (C). The MUA in MAC matched me to N2, which I thought was strange since I'm rather yellow-toned and usually wear NC15/NC20 in Studio Fix. However I have found that because this foundation is so sheer, it is quite forgiving if you do end up with the wrong shade or can't find one to match your skin perfectly and it will still blend in seamlessly regardless.

Another disadvantage (which I've not encountered myself, but have heard about from other people's reviews) is that the foundation can tend to separate. I understand that separation is inevitable, since the foundation is water based and you do get a lot of product, but I've had this foundation for about 6 months now and have not encountered any problems yet. Hopefully I'll finish it before it gets a chance to!

Although £23.50 is quite expensive for a foundation, it is worthwhile since you get a whopping 120ml of product! This works out at approximately 20p/ml (In comparison to Mac Studio Fix - £19.50 for 30ml and 65p/ml). It will last you for ages! I have used this pretty much every day (or at least 3-4 times a week) since I bought this and have only used approximately 1/3 of the bottle.

I would definitely recommend this to people that like sheer foundations and/or wear tinted moisturiser. I can see this being a foundation that I will always have a bottle of! :)

Have any of you ever tried MAC Face and Body? What did you think of it?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy