Sunday 10 August 2014

A Product | Mac Prep and Prime Highlighter.

Now, where do I begin with the MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter? I am still very new to the whole highlighting and contouring malarkey, and have been dabbling around with many different products. Previously, I have been using my concealer to highlight under the eyes, around my nose and slightly on the forehead. However, I did not always notice much of a difference.

It was during one of my numerous YouTube tutorial watching sessions that I heard about the MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter in ‘Light Boost’, and from the moment of first application I was won over.


The product is dispensed by twisting up the base of the pen, where it comes out in the bristles. This makes applying the product easy and precise. ‘Light Boost’ is a thin consistency, which means that it is really easy to blend. I have been using my Beauty Blender to mix the product into my foundation seamlessly. There are three other shades available, but the yellow tone in ‘Light Boost’ makes is perfect for illuminating the skin for a natural finish.

I have been using this product in conjunction with my concealer; however, I also use the MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter on its own as a sheer coverage concealer and brightening. I tend to use this on its own when I am having a good skin day, along with my Benefit Big Easy.

One of the only downsides I have found with this product so far is that it can get very messy. The product can end up all around the tip of the pen, so after every use I just use a tissue to wipe off the excess.

I would highly recommend this product, particularly for those who are new to highlighting (like me) and are looking for an easy to use highlighting product!

Have you tried the MAC Prep and Prime Highlighter? What did you think?

Sunday 3 August 2014

My top picks for summer time lips!

That magical time of year is upon us. Sunshine, BBQs, cider, tan lines all mean that it is summer! Summer is the time of year when I ditch the foundation and ‘Russian Red’ replacing with those lighter bases and pink glosses.

For the last 3 weeks I have found myself reaching for these three lip products to finish up my looks. They are all pink, fresh and scream summer!
 
 

The first product is a new one for me. I was lucky enough to receive it as a birthday present from one of my very good friends. I have seen the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector on various blogs, but I have never tried it until now. I have got the shade ‘Apricot Shimmer’ which is a gorgeous baby pink. The product had a very creamy texture, and applies giving a sheer colour. It is perfect for an easy summer day and has all those nourishing qualities all lip products should.

My second pick is a Tanya Burr lipgloss in the shade ‘Picnic in the Park’. Tanya Burr is probably one of the first YouTubers who I subscribed to, and when she announced she was releasing a line of nail varnished and nail polishes, I was intrigued. I ordered two, and the first thing that struck me was the smell. It literally smells like strawberries and cream. This gloss is a much brighter pink and the colour is much more pigmented than the Clarins. I have found that I need to pat in the gloss to make sure I get even coverage, but once it’s there it lasts a good few hours.

My final product is a bit of a blast from the past. The NARS Lip Lacquer in the shade ‘Chelsea Girls’ has been in my collection for a while now, but I have been giving it a wide berth. The main reason for this is I find it really hard to apply from the pot. However, as I was putting together a smokey eye, it cropped up on my radar. Once I applied it, I fell in love with the product all over again. The colour is more of a peachy-pink which creates more of a nude lip look. It is a great all rounder, and I believe it pretty much goes with every eye look and skin tone.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourite picks for summer?

Sunday 13 July 2014

Arbonne - A product review

This week, I was lucky enough to have been given a couple of products to try from the company Arbonne*. I had never heard of this company before, but it works a bit like an Avon, you have your friendly local consultant, or you can order online with a consultant’s code.

I was given the It’s a Long Story Mascara and the eyeliner in the shade Ebony.
 
 

Let’s begin with the Eyeliner (£17). This product comes in a crème stick formula, not very dissimilar to the Avon Glimmerstick. It applies very smoothly, with no tugging or pulling, and blends out easily. The colour is not so intense on first application, but it can be built up if you are looking for a harsher black line. This Arbonne eyeliner also comes with a very handy sharpener at the end, so it is really easy to maintain a point. I did like this eyeliner, however, I think that there are others on the market which are cheaper, that will do as good a job!

I was more impressed with the mascara I was given. The ‘It’s a Long Story’ Mascara (£25) is one of Arbonne’s newest products.  The applicator wand is made up of silicone spikes arranged in a squareish formation. There are also some spikes on the very tip of the wand, which are useful to separate lashes. As consistencies go, this mascara is very thin, which makes it prefect for creating spidery lashes. I found that it did give my lashes a dramatic lengthened look and did not clump them together. It also worked great for my lower lash line, and I loved the end result.

Overall, although I liked these products (particularly the mascara), the only reservation I have about them is the price. They are very expensive. Arbonne is cruelty free and try to use as natural ingredients as possible, so if you like these kinds of brands this may be one you want to give a try!

Have you tried any Arbonne products? Which ones would you recommend?

If you would like to order any products from the website, https://www.arbonneinternational.co.uk/, you can use the consultant ID: 441218632. Contact consultant Emma Richardson at emmarichardson1@outlook.com if you are intrigued and she will happily arrange for some samples to be sent over to you!

*Disclaimer: Although I was given these products free of charge, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog entry are all my own. I was not paid to write this post or to feature these products.

Sunday 6 July 2014

Top 5 According to......Me!

I’ve wanted to write a series like this for a long time, and I thought it only apt that I start with myself. We all have different routines, techniques and favourite or well used products. Reading about what different people wear, use and how they apply is what makes beauty blogging great, and what makes us all come back for more.

The plan with this series is to take you through a variety of people’s top 5 beauty products. You never know, it might show you something new, or rediscover old favourites.

So here are my top 5, in no particular order:
 
 

1.    A decent cleanser. I can have really spot prone skin, so it is important for me to keep up a regular skin care routine. At the minute I have been loving this First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay. It has a rather peculiar smell, and quite a thick texture when it comes out of the bottle. However, once mixed with water it becomes a milky consistency and leaves the skin feeling fresh and clear.

2.    Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. The rest of my top 5 is focussed around the eyes. During the week when I am at work, I do not bother with base. I always start with this Primer Potion. My eye lids can be oily and eyeshadow only lasts a few hours without this miracle product. When I use this, my eyeshadow is not only brighter and more pigmented, but also lasts all day. As you can see, mine is very well loved however one tube lasts a really long time.

3.    Urban Decay Naked palette. I have only had this since Christmas but I think I have used it pretty much every single day since. It is the perfect collection of natural eyeshadow colours, 10 shimmer and 2 matte. You can create all sorts of looks with these eyeshadows, daytime to evening. All of the shadows are packed with pigment and, although I know some people have had different experiences, I find there is little fallout. It is also perfect for those who are just starting to experiment with makeup.

4.    MAC 217 Blending Brush. If you only ever buy one eyeshadow brush, this has to be the one! It is the ultimate in eyeshadow brushes. Not only does it help to blend eyeshadows with ease, but it can also be used to apply and pack on colour. The 217 is so versatile, and I have even used it before to blend out my concealer. I actually have 2 of these because they are so amazing!

5.    Mascara. As a blonde haired lady, although my eyelashes are quite thick, they are not very visible. I truly believe that a good mascara is one of the most important products you can own. There is such a variety available, all for different looks and there are decent ones available for all budgets. I have been using this Arbonne It’s a Long Story Mascara – expect an in depth review on the blog next week!

So there you have it, my top 5. Have you tried any of these? What did you think? Which products would make it onto your top 5?

Sunday 29 June 2014

My June 2014 Favourites!

On this bright and sunny weekend, I thought I would bring you a ‘favourites’ post. I had a few random bits and pieces that I really wanted to share, so I pulled them all together to write about at once.


The first item I want to talk about is this gorgeous scented candle from Lily Flame, in ‘Party Time’ (£12). This is going to sound a bit strange, but the first thing I loved about this candle was the fact it was white. When I buy candles, they have to be the same colour as the colour scheme of the room – resulting in me, more often than not, putting down a lovely scent for the sole reason that it is not the right colour. The fragrance is musky, without being over powering, with zesty undertones. It has a masculine feel that is perfect for me! I have put this candle in my bedroom and the smell fills the room! I will definitely be buying more from Lily Flame!

It will come as no surprise to see that my beauty favourites today come from MAC. I featured both of these in my last post (Lazy weekend makeup) and I have found myself reaching for these frequently this month. The first is MAC’s Bronzing Powder in the shade ‘Golden’ (£20). I am quite a fair skinned lady, and I have found this powder gives the perfect hint of warmth, without looking dirty or orange. In the pan, there are visible flakes of shimmer, but once applied they blend out into the skin giving a sought-after dewy effect.

The lipstick comes in the form of MAC’s ‘Sunny Seoul’ (£15). The fabulous (on-off) weather that we have been experiencing of late, has drawn my eye to the coral shades in my make up collection. I have particularly been reaching for this Cremesheen lipstick. It is the perfect coral with pink undertones. It is bright and summery and matches perfectly to both pink and coral blushes. This lipstick is a great all-rounder. Even if the weather is looking a little dull, ‘Sunny Seoul’ does the job at brightening everything up.

My final favourite is another book. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I absolutely adore books and I have been lucky enough to have lots of time to read lately. This one is ‘The Luminaries’ by Eleanor Catton. Not only was this novel the longest to ever win the Man Booker Prize (2013), but Catton was also the youngest author to ever receive the prize. The book is set in New Zealand in the 1800’s in a town during the height of the gold rush. It is based around 12 men whose lives are intertwined by woman, fraud, thievery and murder. The style of the language is written in keeping with the time it was set, which did take a bit of getting used to. However, once I got over and used to it, I found myself sailing through the book – I just could not put it down!

So there you have it, my June favourites. Have you tried any of these? What have you been loving in the month of June?

Sunday 22 June 2014

Lazy Weekend Make-up


Waking up on Saturday morning to a clear sky and bright sun left my boyfriend and I yearning for a garden and a BBQ. So we packed up our things and headed to sunny Kent, where we decided to spend the weekend with his parents (in their garden, eating their BBQ).

Now this heat leaves me with all sorts of problems. No, I am not going to be doing much, but I would still like to look semi decent for any kind of pub gardening which might be going on. These are the products I chose to take with me and use when I was soaking up the rays, and getting sunburnt.

 
Benefit Big Easy in the shade ‘Light: I grabbed this product because not only is it light wearing, but it also has an SPF 35 which I found very useful.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade ‘Vanilla: It’s been a long week; I don’t think I need to say any more.

MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in ‘Light Plus’: I put this over top of the Big Easy to set it in place, and also used it for touch ups during the day.

MAC Eyebrows in ‘Fling: Even when sunbathing, one needs their eyebrows  J       

MAC Bronzing Powder in ‘Golden: I have really gotten into my bronzing recently, and I find this gives me just the right amount of coverage, without looking dirty. It is also slightly shimmery which creates a lovely sun-kissed glow.

MAC Mineralise Blush in ‘Dainty: This colour is a gorgeous pale pink, giving me a light flush of colour, perfect for a lazy day.

No7 Intense Volume Mascara: Normally, I do not go a day without using one of my beloved Urban Decay Naked palettes, but this weekend I just could not be bothered. I found that a few coats of this lovely mascara was enough to define my eyes and work wonders on my lashes.

Maybelline Baby Lips: Extra hydration out in the sun J

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in ‘Sunny Seoul’: Don’t be silly, I did not wear this lipstick just in the garden, but it did come in handy when we went out to the pub. It is a perfect pinky-coraly shade, which went really well with the blush and bronzer I chose. Look out for a more detailed post on this lipstick in the near future!

Have you tried any of these products? What do you recommend for a hot, sunny afternoon?

Sunday 8 June 2014

My Secret to Flawless Foundation.

Over the last few years I have tried many different combinations of bases, with a variety of application techniques. Everything from creams, liquids, powders with brushes, fingers and cosmetic sponges.

That is until I found these three miracle products. I have found that when I use this combination, my foundation looks simply flawless, and it is so easy! If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that simplicity is a must for me!


I begin the routine by priming my already moisturised skin. For this look, which I would normally save for evening or a special event, I use my Benefit ‘The Porefessional’ primer. I take a pea-sized amount and press it into the skin, starting with my chin and t-zone, then blend the product out to the cheeks. ‘The Porefessional’ is a favourite with many of the bloggers I read, and it deserves all the praise it gets. My pores are not particularly large, but I do find the primer blurs imperfections and provides a great base to easily blend in the foundation.

Now for the foundation. These next two items are probably some of my greatest purchases. The NARS Sheer Glow foundation and Beauty Blender may not be the cheapest items on the market, but boy are they worth the money! NARS Sheer Glow is also infamous in the blogging world. It is a medium to full coverage foundation and is easy to build up over problem areas. I have also found it covers a multitude of skin sins, such as redness or breakouts. A couple of pumps on the back of the hand is all I need, so I find a bottle lasts a long time. When using the Beauty Blender I find it works better damp. I wring it out under the tap and squeeze until the sponge has almost doubled in size. Using a hand towel, I dry the blender off until it is just slightly damp. Then I pick the product up with the Beauty Blender and dab it over my face, working the product into the skin.

Viola! The flawless foundation look is complete! I do like to set with a dusting of my MAC Mineralise Skinfinish, and obviously copious amounts of my concealer is also required to cover my bags!

Have you tried any of these products? How do you create your flawless foundation look?

Sunday 1 June 2014

First Aid Beauty - Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay

First Aid Beauty is a company that I have been dying to try out for a long time, so I was very excited to make my first order recently. I was actually recommended the Skin Rescue range by the lovely people at First Aid Beauty, after I tweeted my desire to try their products. I bought the Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay from the Feel Unique website – here.



I have used the Deep Cleanser with Red Clay twice a day for the last few weeks, and I can safely say that I have been really enjoying it. I have normal/combination skin, dry patches on the cheeks but oily t-zone and this formula has worked a treat at balancing it out. You apply to damp skin, massaging the gel into the skin creating a slight foam. It is then washed off, leaving the skin feeling clean and fresh.

The price of the product did put me off slightly. At £18 it is the most I have paid for skincare before, but the Deep Cleanser with Red Clay has really proved itself worth the bucks. You only need a small amount of the product too, so I would expect it to last a long time! I cannot wait to try some other First Aid Beauty products after sampling this one!

Have you tried any First Aid Beauty Products? What did you think?

Sunday 18 May 2014

Exfoliating Face Masks - LUSH vs. The Body Shop

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I am still a novice when it comes to skin care. It has only been recently that I set myself up fully with a morning and evening cleansing routine, which you can read about – here.

A few months ago, I started trying face masks. My skin was in pretty bad shape, breakouts and clogged pores galore – immediately I reached for the exfoliating masks. I brought two; LUSH ‘Mask of Magnaminty’ and The Body Shop ‘Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask’, both of which claim to give my skin a similar treatment, deep cleanse and unclog pores.

LUSH ‘Mask of Magnaminty’ £9.25

 A multi-purpose mask with a mixture of gentle yet effective ingredients to clean, calm and clear the skin. Easily smoothed over the skin, this mask is made with peppermint oil to stimulate, marigold oil and chlorophyllin to treat the skin; evening primrose seeds and aduki beans to gently exfoliate as you remove it. You can use this mask anywhere.’


The first thing that struck me about this mask was the gorgeous smell. I really enjoy anything with a peppermint smell, and this really came across in the mask. You apply to a dry face, and it was very easy to smooth out and cover. The primrose seeds and aduki beans do mean that the texture is quite course, however I didn’t find that it scratched the skin. When applied, I found there to be a slight heating sensation, often found with mint products, but no irritation. However, if you have sensitive skin I would be careful, my sister tried the mask and found that it stung her.

It is recommended that you leave the mask on for about 10minutes. In that time, the mask dries and becomes crumbly. To remove, wash off with warm water using circular motions, which is where the texture does its job. The ‘Mask of Magnaminty’ was very easy to remove, leaving my skin significantly improved. Afterwards, my skin felt incredibly soft, clean and it did a fantastic job of unclogging my pores.

The Body Shop ‘Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask’ £10.

‘This three-in-one cleansing mask cleanses, exfoliates and moisturises normal to oily skin.

  • Gently cleanses the skin
  • Removes dead skin cells, excess oil and impurities
  • Moisturises, leaving skin feeling soft
  • Weekly treatment’

 
What I really like about this mask is the results it produced. I don’t think my face has ever felt as clean as it does after I have used this mask! It unclogged my pores and, as with the LUSH mask, left my skin smooth and soft. This mask is applied to damp skin, and has a smoother texture to the ‘Mask of Magnaminty’ with the exfoliating elements being a lot finer. Once applied, I did feel a slight tingling sensation but it was not so bad that I had to remove the mask straight away. Again, when left for around 15minutes, the mask dries to the skin.

The ‘Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask’ dried a lot faster than the LUSH mask, which made it slightly harder to remove with water, but the results are worth it. One element of the mask which I was not particularly keen on, was the scent. It has a slight musky, floury smell which isn’t offensive, but not as yummy as the peppermint of the ‘Mask of Magnaminty’.

Overall, both of these masks provided great results. When used weekly, they helped to stop breakouts and to clear up my skin! If I had to pick a favourite however, I would definitely have to go for LUSH ‘Mask of Magnaminty’. It was slightly kinder on my skin and that scent! Just perfect!

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?

Sunday 11 May 2014

Jumping on the Beauty Blogging Bandwagon.

One of the hardest things I have found about blogging is finding products to talk about, which other have not already written about. As a blogger, you want to be original but at the same time, if a product is new, good and exciting, then it is inevitable that other people will share your opinions and also want to express them.

So I have given up. I am just going write about what I want to, and enjoy it. Here is my first post, openly jumping on the bandwagon, and giving my opinions on some highly raved about products from the blogging circle.

 
Benefit’s ‘Big Easy’ £27.50

This is Benefit cosmetic’s latest ‘bigger than BB’ cream offering. I have racked my brain all week to try and find the right words to describe this product and failed. This is how Big Easy is described on the website:

‘BIGGER than BB! Why? Two reasons. First, big easy balances moisture & controls oil. Second, the cushiony liquid-to- powder formula melts in like a cream, yet finishes lightweight & velvety like a powder.

This multi-balancing complexion perfector gives light-to-medium natural coverage to even out skintone and conceal imperfections. Even better, it contains ingredients known to soothe & comfort the skin and help fight free radicals. One & done…
big easy saves the day! Non-comedogenic. Oil-free.’

Personally, I think that makes some very bold statements. The coverage, yes, is light to medium. However, I found it to be more on the light side, with the option to build the product up to more of a medium coverage. I have ‘Normal to Dry’ skin, and I have found that a decent amount of moisturiser underneath helps the product to blend in. It can also be used with a primer. I put Benefit’s ‘That Gal’ brightening primer underneath and loved the dewy look it gave. Big Easy definitely evened out my skin tone and banished redness, but it did not really cover my imperfections. There was still a need for concealer over spots.


Overall, I loved the product. I have never tried any of the Benefit foundations before, but this is exactly what you need for Spring/Summer time. Big Easy also makes for a great everyday product you can apply with your fingers, and rush out the door. I was very happy with the coverage it gave me, and it wore off nicely throughout the day. This product is a keeper!

Garnier ‘Micellar Cleansing Water’ £4.99

Ever since I first heard about the miracle product that is the Bioderma Micellar Water, I have been itching for a drugstore brand to make a dupe. Personally, I have found that this Garnier version does not disappoint. It removes ALL make up, even a bold red lipstick. Granted, those harder to budge products such as gel eyeliner do need a little rub, but there is still minimal effort needed.


This Micellar Cleansing Water is powerful, you only need a small amount, and you get a lot of product for your money. Another positive for me is the fact that although the product is oil based, there is little oily residue left on the eye. At the modest price of £4.99, you cannot go wrong.

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think?

Sunday 4 May 2014

A Beauty Blogging Bookworm.

I thought I would shake things up a bit on the blog this week, and instead of talking about beauty products, tell you about another love of mine - books.

I am an avid reader, always have been and probably always will. I love everything about books, the feel of the pages as they are run through your fingers, and the sound of the spine bending for the very first time. My favourite books are so precious to me, that I reluctantly lend them out, even to family!

This month I have read two books which I have loved, and have blown me away. I am drawn to books which tell the tales of the character’s lives, following them as their paths cross and merge with others. Both of these books tell such a story.
 
 

The Book Thief – Marcus Zusak.

Wow, what a novel. I have to start with issuing a warning – at the end of the book I was a big pile of howling mess. Literally shaking with tears. It is that emotive and incredibly breath-taking.

‘The Book Thief’ tells the story of Liesel Meminger, taking place in the middle of Nazi Germany. We meet Liesel at the beginning of her journey. She is being taken to live with foster parents, and follows her every-day life under Hitler’s rule, finding her power through books. Narrating this story is death personified, a man with a job.

This book is beautifully written, the personification of ‘death’ is pure brilliance. He begins as a cynical and a-political figure, but by the end of the book is changed through his experiences with Liesel. I was hooked from the first chapter and found myself engrossed by the characters and their experiences through the war time years. This is certainly a must-read and will firmly have a place on my bookshelf for years to come.

The Secret Keeper – Kate Morton.

This is another page-turner which is partly set during the war. The story starts with 16 year old Laurel, who witnesses her mother, Dorothy, murder a man in the garden, on her baby brother’s birthday. Fast forward to 2011. Laurel’s mother is dying in hospital and with the memory of that day still haunting her, Laurel determines to find the truth.

The narration in this book changes between the past and present, and the different characters in the book. Personally, I love this style of writing, as you can see the same events but through the eyes of the different characters. You can also be more observant as to where, when and why their thoughts and opinions change. You can also discover their motives.

I became completely immersed in ‘The Secret Keeper’. I was reading at super speed, because I wanted to find out what happened and changed my mind on a few of the characters several times. I just could not work out the mystery of the characters and how they were all linked, yet at the end it all became obvious!

I would highly recommend either of these books to anyone! Have you read any of these? What did you think? Let me know your thoughts and opinions.

Sunday 27 April 2014

Latest Lipstick Love - MAC's 'Flat out Fabulous'

If you would have said to me a year ago that I would not only be wearing, but actually enjoying a bright fuchsia lipstick, I would have thought you were a crazy person.

Yet, here I am, penning (or is that typing?) a blog post on my latest favourite lipstick, which is none other than a bright fuchsia colour.

Introducing MAC’s ‘Flat out Fabulous’, and isn’t she a beaut!


This is a beautiful bright pink with purple/blue undertones, which just screams Spring/Summer to me. I would recommend this as the perfect lipstick for those who are new to the bold lip bandwagon. The pink in the shade means that it is not offensive and extremely wearable. I find that the blue/purple hues suit my pale complexion, and I have also heard that blue makes your teeth look whiter!


The colour pay off is incredible. I was able to get the full colour to photograph with just one swatch. The longevity of the colour is very good; I wore the lipstick on a night out and did not have to touch up once. However, this is a ‘Retro Matte’ lipstick and as with all mattes, I did find it quite drying on the lips. To counteract this, I topped up with some of my Maybelline ‘Baby Lips’ and I found this made it better. Despite the dry texture, it did not drag when applied. I applied it straight from the bullet, but I think I would feel more confident using a brush. It is not very forgiving if, like me, you do not have a very steady hand.  On my night out, I wore a simple make up look to counteract the bold colour of the lips; a simple pale purple in the crease and black winged eyeliner.

I am not sure if I am brave enough to wear this for any day time occasions, but this does not mean it can’t be done. As I have said, it is a pink base which means it is versatile for night and day. This lipstick oozes confidence and undeniably gave me some when I wore it! 'Flat out Fabulous' definitely lives up to the name!
 
Have you tried this lipstick? Are you a fan of a bold lip?

Sunday 20 April 2014

Something about 'Torrid' - A NARS Product Review

I am going to hold my hands up here, and say that I had never heard of the make-up brand NARS until about a year ago when I first started obsessively watching YouTube videos and reading beauty blogs. I kept reading about their products and all of them sounded luxurious and gorgeous, I just had to give them a go!

Needless to say, I could not wait to purchase their Creamy Concealer and the infamous Sheer Glow Foundation, both of which have now firmly secured a place in my make-up collection. As you can imagine, it came as no surprise that I found myself heading straight to the NARS counter on a recent shopping trip, to potentially find my next ‘new favourite’.

I knew I wanted a coral blusher, and after looking at a few suggested by the assistant, I decided to buy a powder blush in the shade ‘Torrid’.

 
This blush is incredible and exactly what I was asking for! I am really annoyed at the picture because it really does not do the pigmentation in the pan justice. In the image, it looks really pink, but I can assure you it is the perfect mix of warm pink and orange tones. Initially, I was not so sure about the blush when the assistant pointed it out to me as it seemed to be quite glittery, here are specks of gold visible throughout the blush. But, when applied to the skin the glitter blends beautifully and is hardly noticeable, creating a gorgeous flush of colour. I was surprised to find that it applies quite sheer, but the colour is easily buildable and the blush is very buttery which makes blending a breeze.

 
I have tried this blush with a variety of looks; simple day time, evening makeup and even with a bold lip. I have to say that the blush really worked with all of these looks, but I particularly enjoyed it when matched with simple winged liner, and a bold fuchsia lip.

Torrid’ has now become my staple blush, and I have used it every day since I purchased it three weeks ago. I would really recommend it if your stash is missing a coral blush (or even if it’s not!)

Have you tried any NARS blushes? Which shades are your favourite?

Sunday 13 April 2014

Spring Pub Lunch Makeup Look.

Friday was one of those rare occasions, where my boyfriend and I had the same day off. The weather looked semi-sunny and dry, so we decided to go for a pub lunch. Whilst the boy was making some conference calls (in his pj’s!), I experimented with my makeup. I really liked the look I achieved so I thought I would share with you what I did.


I always start with my eye makeup, just in case there is any fall out which may ruin the base. I began by applying my favourite eye shadow primer, Urban Decay’s ‘Eyeshadow Primer Potion’. Then, I reached for my Naked palette, also by Urban Decay. Using the brush provided, I took the shade ‘Smog’ and placed it on the inner and middle third of the lid. I then took the shade ‘Darkhorse’ and placed on the outer third. I took a MAC 217 brush to blend the edge and where the two colours meet. The colour ‘Smog’ was also placed under the eye. I curled my lashes and applied the No7 Intense Volume mascara. I love this mascara at the minute and you can read all about it in my blog post here.

Now moving onto the base. I started by pressing in Benefit’s ‘Porefessional’ primer, concentrating on my t-zone. I then applied my MAC Mineralize Moisture foundation in the shade ‘NC20’, buffing in using my Real Techniques Stippling brush. I covered any blemishes with a bit of MAC’s Studio Finish concealer in the shade ‘NW20’, continuing to blend using the Stippling brush. My bags were banished by blending some of NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade ‘Vanilla’ under my eyes and brow bone, using my fingers. Finally, I set it all using MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in the shade ‘Light Plus’.

I do not tend to do much with my brows. On this occasion, I gave them a quick brush and then filled in using the MAC Eyebrows in the shade ‘Fling’. I do not have to fill the middle much, but I did use it to create an arch.

I added some colour into my face by using MAC Pro Longwear Blush in the shade ‘Stay Pretty’ on the apples cheeks.

The look was finished with the lips. To create this colour I used MAC’s Lip Pencil in the shade ‘Hip ‘n’ Happy’ as an all over colour. I then went over top with MAC Cremesheen Glass in the shade ‘Japanese Spring’.

I was really happy with the look, and felt confident stepping out of the house.

Have you tried any of these products before? What would you wear for a pub lunch date?

Sunday 6 April 2014

Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who has the best lashes of them all? No7 Intense Volume Mascara Product Review.

This week’s blog post is going to be a review of a product I mentioned in my ‘March Favourite’s’ blog, which you can read – here. I brought this product in a flap, having spend ages trying to find a new mascara in Boots, and struggled to narrow down to one out of the vast range on offer.

 
On first application, I was struck by the thinness of the formula. It feels very light when applied. However, I was blown away with how well the lashes were coated and separated with just one sweep. I can often rush out the house with just one coat, and still feel good. It is also very buildable. Be careful though – you really do have to let each coat dry before applying the next, otherwise the lashes do tend to get stuck together.

With a name like ‘Intense Volume’, it is natural to expect big things. ‘Did your lashes look like they had more volume?’ I hear you cry! Hmmm. Volume? I’m not so sure. My lashes looked full and very well defined. However, a ‘false lash effect’ mascara this is not – or maybe I’m wearing the wrong falsies?! I applied this after I had curled my lashes and it held pretty well. I was happy with how my lashes looked at the end of the day. There were no clumps and no flaking.

 
Now I want to take a little time out to talk about the wand. I am completely puzzled over this new fascination with ‘flexy’ wands. I am just going to put it out there – I do not like them. I don’t see how they help, they just annoy me. I like my wand to be straight and inflexible – and this wand delivers. There is nothing different or gimmicky about this wand.  The spoolie is nice and long, with a tapered end. It is very easy to use and quick to apply.

I don’t really have much to say about the packaging for this product. It comes in the curved shape which is synonymous with most No7 mascaras. I do like the bronzed colour, but I am not jumping up and down over it. Anyway, it’s what’s inside that counts.

To my surprise, I absolutely love this product. Considering I purchased it, without much thought, I did not expect big things. I was pleasantly surprised by how great this product is, and at £9.95 it’s a ‘no-brainer’. You can purchase it online here, where it is part of an offer. If you buy 2 selected No7 products, you get a free gift!

Have you tried this mascara? Have you ever had any pleasant surprises when buying make up?

Sunday 30 March 2014

March 2014 Favourites

So I thought I would end the month with a ‘Favourites’ blog. I love reading these kind of blogs and watching the videos on YouTube. I like the idea of having a quick overview of products, and I spend the next day deciding on which ones to buy myself. I also think they are a fantastic way of getting to know beauty bloggers a bit more, as they often include items that may not be beauty related. It’s also just pure luck they all publish around payday ;).

My first March favourite will be the Sleek Blush in ‘Rose Gold’. I bought this blush having seen all the hype around the internet about it. I must admit, I was unsure of what to expect, but I thought for the price I would give it a go. I was not disappointed. This blush is a beautiful pink shade, which can be sheer when first applied. However, the colour is really buildable, so if you want more of an impact this blush can satisfy. Mixed into the shade, are flecks of gold shimmer. They look quite daunting in the pan, but blend out nicely on the skin. However, if you do not like shimmery blushes, this may not be the one for you, as it does make quite an impact. The packaging is also simple and inoffensive – a black case which is very NARS-esque. I also read that this blush is a dupe for NARSOrgasm’ blush, but I cannot confirm this. I have been wearing this blush with statement eyes and nude lips.

I also want to take a little bit of time to divert your attention to the No7 Extreme Volume mascara. I am not going to talk to you too much about this, and leave you on a cliff-hanger. I will be doing a full review on this product on my blog next week, so make sure you come back to read that. All I will tell you today is that it is AMAZING. I have never had so many compliments about my eyelashes than I have, since wearing this mascara.

Now for my non-beauty related favourites. This month I have been reading ‘Labyrinth’ by Kate Mosse. This book is set both in the Middle Ages and in 2005, where the stories of Alaïs and Alice are told in parallel. What unites these two ladie’s stories is their families – the protectors of the Holy Grail. As a reader, you follow Alaïs’ struggle to complete her father’s task of protecting the secrets of the Grail, as she is betrayed by her sister, husband and closest servant. You are then taken to the future to meet up with their direct descendents (of which Alice is one of Alaïs’) to continue the duty. I love books about people, and I am also partial to a little history, so I have been completely gripped by this book. There is a little bit for everyone, action, thrills, sadness and even a hint of romance. Definitely worth a read.

Finally, I would like to take some time to confess to you all a guilty pleasure. I love Taylor Swift. There, I said it. I am partial to a little country music (I am obsessed with the show ‘Nashville’), and Taylor satisfies this. I currently love her latest album, ‘Red’, which I listen to in the car, on the way home from work. She just has this ‘feel good’ factor, which is exactly what I need after a long day! My favourite tracks are ‘Red’ and ‘Holy Ground’. So, wind up the windows, crank up the volume and sing all your cares away - loudly!

Have you tried any of my March favourites? What do you think? What is your guilty music pleasure?