Spring Edit: SKINCARE

The second part of my Spring Edit series which I am featuring on my blog, which I have been really enjoying writing, It you missed the first post of this series it was my beauty post which you can read here.

I recently went on a little trip to Boots and picked up this Original Source Skin Quench Shower Gel it was on offer for half price so it was just £1.50, the scent is Watermelon and Jojoba Oil. These shower gels come in lots of different scents but this one was refreshing and not too overpowering, it contains the little gritty bits which are great for exfoliating the skin. I have been trying to get myself into a proper skincare routine recently as my skin has become quite dry but oily within my T-zone. I have been cleansing my face morning and night using the Garnier Micellar Water, which is proving to be a great comparison to my much loved Bioderma. I have the sensitive skin version which is brilliant, it glides over the skin taking your makeup off your entire face instantly - so simple. This also comes in a version for combination skin which would probably suit my skin type more so I may try that out once this one has finished, heads up this is on offer in Boots for £3.33 at the moment. To take off my makeup using the micellar water I use the the Boots Cotton Double Oval Pads, these are just the best addition to cleansing your skin. I recently tried the Superdrug equivalent to these and the texture was so rough and itchy on the skin, I instantly went back to the Boots version. There is two sides to the pads a lighter texture which I use for my cleansing, and a more compact surface which is perfect for nail varnish remover. The surface of both sides is soft and does not lint as it is packed tightly within the pad, and are an absolute must have as they are just £1.89.

I have started using the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm recently as a double cleanser at night. The balm is solid in its original form and transforms into a silky fluid when applied to the face. It really offers a thorough cleanse and once it has been rinsed off, my skin is really soft and very clean. It is great for all skin types as it is non-greasy as well as non-drying. It is expensive at £22, but Clinique is known for their great skincare products and this does not disappoint. I have recently got back into using the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisturiser  as it is brilliant at adding hydration back into the skin, which is exactly what I needed. It is soft and light and absorbs easily which is great for in the morning when you haven't got time to sit about and wait for it to work its wonders. It is £11 which I think is a mid-range price for a moisturiser, but it is much cheaper than some of the high end ones which can be £30 and upwards.

Lucy

xoxo

Spring Edit: BEAUTY

Here is the first of my spring edit series which I have decided to do, welcoming my favourite beauty must haves to use throughout spring.

My Laura Mercier Foundation Primer has been a little gem since I started using and featured in my recent favourite post. It gives you a nice dewy base to help your foundation to cling on to, and keep it as well placed as it possibly can. The sunnier months mean I always turn to my bronzer a little bit more to contour my cheekbones in the sunnier seasons. Nars Laguna Bronzer is my staple bronzer as you can see I have hit pan, and I don't use any other product expect this one as nothing compares to it.

Amelia Liana is always talking about the Maybelline Super Stay 7 Nail Varnishes, I picked two up a few months back and recently reached for Hot Salsa which is a great orangey/pink. I had this on for four days with one coat and I did not have one chip, I was literally so surprised and it is such a good price. Nars Sheer Glow is my new go to foundation it is perfect for spring as it is light, dewy and glowy, everything which I want for my dry/combination skin. It is medium coverage and instantly adds an overall glow and perk to my skin which is great, it is also incredibly easy to blend.

Last up is the lipsticks, I got a free sample of the new Burberry Kisses range which has now launched. I picked up a bright red colour called Military Red as it just looked like a perfect red which would not be to overpowering with my pale skin. I have not yet tried it so I will get back to you on this. MAC Fabby is a great everyday colour, whether you wanted to tone down a heavy eye look or add a finishing touch to a golden shimmery simple eye. The colour is a pale pink with shimmer running through it, it is just a go to grab colour for when you are in a rush. Straight up the best thing about the Maybelline Colour Drama Lipstick in Minimalist, is how easy it is to apply you could literally do it with your eyes closed, I just feel like I am applying a lip balm. The colour is a pretty pink, which adds a pop to the lips. I am definitely going to pick some more shades up on my next trips to Boots.

Coming on Sunday is the Skincare Spring Edit so please keep your eyes peeled for that, you can follow me on Twitter to keep up with everything going on on my blog.

Lucy
xoxo

Viktor & Rolf BONBON

 


I recieved Viktor & Rolf BONBON  as a Christmas present off my mum this year as I had been wanting it for ages! When it comes to scents I will always choose more fruity scents over anything else. To me you can definitely pick out the orange and peachy fragrance notes which are at the heart of the perfume. This is great going to into the summer months as a refreshing fragrance with tones of caramel running through it.

I understand that this is a higher end perfume but I think it is expensive, for the eau de parfum 30ml it is £50, and the 50ml is £69. But compared with something like Jo Malone it is much more affordable. 

This has a great longevity as it stays on your skin all day, when I get home from work or whatever I have been doing with  my day I can still smell it strongly. This makes me think that you are definitely getting your money's worth. 

Lucy

xoxo

April Favourites

April has been a month of trying out new products for me, and here is my pick of the bunch in the form of my April Favourites.

First up comes from Collection's Eyes Uncovered Palette in Nude Bronze which contains six golden shimmer shades. This is a great little palette for the price of just £3.99, I find there is a tiny bit of fall down from the shadows but nothing too significant. The pigmentation within this palette is really great and a little goes along way, similar to Urban Decay's Naked Palettes. I highly recommend this if you are on a budget, or just wanting to add some new eyeshadow shades to your collection. 

Next up, is two products from Maybelline which I have been absolutely loving. The Master Precise Eyeliner in Black/Noir, this has been the best find of the month with out a doubt, I am planning on doing a separate post with some up close shots showing you just how great it is. It does just as it states it is perfect for precision it does not flake at all and stays put literally all day which is exactly what I am wanting for £5.99 it, is a real gem. I have loved having the Colour Drama Lipstick in Minimalist in my handbag this month, as it is brilliant for when you are on to go. The chunky end allows you to apply it simply, a great plus is there is not as much precision needed compared with a standard lipstick. The colour is perfect as it is a pinky/nude and goes with any kind of makeup look. I am really wanting to try out some other colours from within the range. 

The Becca Compact Concealer in Parfait (not available online) has been a pleasant addition to my makeup collection this month, I bought it in a blog sale at the start of the month for just £5 and it has proven to a really great product. The consistency is similar to MAC concealer Studio Fix in terms of the thickness and it's consistency, I like that there is two different shades and they both match my skin really well. I use the lighter shade to highlight under my eyes and my cheekbones, and the darker shade to cover those pesky blemishes.  I do not own any other Becca products as they are usually really expensive and I don't know much about the brand, I will definitely be checking out the brand in more detail this upcoming month.

Last up is the Real Techniques Blush Brush, this is my go to brush for applying powder. The brush is technically made for applying blusher, but it is quite a big brush I find it functions perfectly at applying powder and bronzer. I got this in Sam's Picks last year which was an excellent value set, but this is able to buy individually for £9.99.

What has been your favourite products in April?

Lucy
xoxo

Pretty Little Thing

I have been lusting after a Kate Spade phone case for a long while now, they're just so beautifully made with really lovely girly designs on them which is exactly what I wanted. I was holding off buying one as I was waiting to upgrade my phone. So when I recently did it was the perfect opportunity to pick up the case of my dreams!

After a lot of decision making and stressing the poor sales person out in Selfridges out I decided on the rose gold case with the words 'pretty little thing'. They are pricey at £35, but I think that it's something which is on display every single day of your life, and when you spend a lot of money on your phone I wanted a case which makes it look even more beautiful. I am also not a person who swaps my phone cases up regularly, probably only every year or so, so it will definitely be getting it's money's worth. The only downside is that the very bottom of the phone is not covered so I am going to have to be extra careful, as I hate it when I get little scratches on my phone ( I am very protective of it!). It's unfortunately not featured on the Selfridge's website, but there are many more fab designs available.

Lucy
xoxo

L'Oreal Colour Riche

A few weeks ago whilst browsing my Twitter feed, a Superdrug offer popped up advertising the L'Oreal Riche Lipsticks. I have to say I was drawn in by the offer which was any 3 lipsticks from the range for just £5. I instantly visited the website and realised that the offer was finishing that evening, so as predicted I placed a little order. I have never actually tried any lipsticks from L'Oreal, but I do really like some of the other products from the brand. I was not quite sure what colours to go for and its always hard to choose from the colour range pictures, but as I could not pop in to the store I just  had to chance with what I choose. Thankfully, I think I made a good choice and I think that all the colours which I choose suit me.

The colours are Greige Amoureux, Fuschia Declaration and Erotique. I wanted to choose a variety of shades which I would be able wear come the spring months. Greige Amoureux is a really lovely everyday nude with shimmer which is exactly what I wanted it to be, I know this is going to be one of those go-to lipsticks which you no you can rely on. Fuschia Declaration is a bright pink with shimmer, it is not too over the top bright so can be worn to add a little brightness to an everyday makeup look, it reminds me of MAC Milan Mode. Erotique is the darkest of the three, and has a matte finish. I am not sure if I would have picked up this shade if I had been swatching all the different shades within a shop, as it is not a shade which I would naturally gravitate to. But, it is actually a really lovely nude somewhere between orange and red, the matte shades look very intensely pigmented as with one swipe you can get a lot of colour on the lips.

An extra bonus was that when I got to the checkout page, and put my Superdrug points card number in it told me I could redeem a £1 worth of points. Overall it ended up costing me just £4, as delivery on click and collect to the store is free.

Lucy
xoxo

The Lakes

                

                     

     
Over the Easter holidays I managed to squeeze in a little visit to The Lakes which was absolutely delightful. The sun was shining which is rather unusual for this time of the year as Easter is usually a holiday filled with showers.

These pictures were taken in Ambleside and Bowness, which were both towns which I haven't visited since being a small child. I am not a massive lover of walking, but spending a few days in the Lake District made me feel so relaxed which is exactly what I needed. There is something so special about walking along the coast side with an ice cream and the sun beaming on your shoulders, and everything being so tranquil.

Lucy
xoxo

MAC Fabby

MAC Fabby is a pink toned shade with a gold pearl shimmer running through it. I think if someone was to make a lipstick to describe me and my personality it would be just like this, as its pink and shimmery and the perfect medium between being not too pale and not too dark. It has fast become a go to lipstick as it is just so reliable, and it goes with everything. Usually when I go into Selfridges and visit the MAC counter I stand and stare and feel overwhelmed at all the shades, but this time I was instantly attracted to this colour. I have been really into lighter nude toned lipsticks for the daytime, as it adds an overall effortless look to a simple eye which is what I have been trying out in a variety of ways. Amongst all of my lipstick collection pink toned lipsticks are a firm favourite, but I own nothing like this which makes me very excited. It is a perfect spring time colour, as I always choose more pinker tones as we head into the sunnier months. It has a frost finish meaning that it has a high shine and a frosted shimmer running with it.

Lucy
xoxo

ELF Cosmetics Haul

ELF Cosmetics is leaving the UK for the meanwhile anytime soon, as the current distributors no longer have the contract with the suppliers in America. Therefore this called for me to do one final last order as I am probably not going to be willing to pay the extortionate price which it will now cost to pay for shipping. As you can see from the pictures I picked up a variety of everything which was on offer. All of this cost £16.50 (plus £1.95 UK shipping), which even if I say so myself seems like an absolute bargain. The prices consisted from 45p for an eyeshadow to £2.55 for the blusher, with everything else somewhere in between.

I have ordered from ELF twice before and I have been surprised at how good some of the products are. I tend to find that some products are really great and some are not so, I get on great with the lipsticks and nail varnishes. I find that the face products which I have ordered previously such as the foundation, concealer and powder have not been half as good in comparison to some of my other drugstore products. It is of course down to personal choice but in my opinion I usually stick to certain products which I can rely on to be good.

The prices are even cheaper since I made my order although stock is now limited, so if you are wanting to get your hands on some goodies then I suggest you head to the website here.

Lucy
xoxo

Recent Drugstore Pickups

I recently went to Boots and Superdrug and picked up a few bits which I have been meaning to get for a while now. Every blogger has been raving about the new Collection Eyes Uncovered palettes which I picked up in Nude Bronze, and I have to say I have been using this all week and the range of colours are perfect. It contains six colours which you can tell have all been handpicked in order for you to be able to achieve a variety of eye looks including the inevitable smokey eye. It also comes in Nude and Nude Grey, which I am definitely going to pick up as I have been so impressed. For just £3.99 it is such a bargain and I highly recommend it, it is great for travelling as it fits into your makeup bag with ease. In Superdrug they have an offer on which was when you spend £3.99 on any Collection products you get any lip balm free which is a fab deal. I choose the Orange Burst scent as it was sweet and it was tinted to produce a natural looking gloss to the lips.

The next products I bought were from Boots, Maybelline had an offer of buy one get one half price on any products. I needed a new liquid eyeliner after my ever-so-reliable Eyeko eyeliner ran out a few weekends back, at the time I was in a predicament as I literally had no other liquid eyeliner in my collection to my astonishment. I picked this up after looking at all the stands and eyeliners from other brands and not being inspired, what drew me to this particularly was the nib. I like thin nibs which allow you to control the thickness of the line. The name Master Precise sounded right up my street and the £5.99 price tag was a added bonus. The other item which I bought on the offer was the Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil for £4.99 in the colour Minimalist, I have also been testing this out over the weekend and it has been a instant favourite. The colour is pigmented and long lasting, and a great everyday pink/nude colour. It is so easy to use as I just lined my lips and then filled it in, the crayon is thick making the process very quick.
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Lucy
xoxo

Gilette Venus Snap

The Gilette Venus Snap Razor has been featured in a few of my favourite YouTubers videos recently who have picked it up whilst visiting America, they were realised over there a few months back. But now they have been launched in Boots and when I saw it on the promotional stand, I quickly snapped two up as they were on an introductory offer of £4.99. I bought one for myself and one for my sister as we are both off on our holidays this week. I think they are such a great invention as they are such a handy size, and will take up barely any room in your suitcase. Also I think that if you take a brand new razor usually there is always so much packaging which comes with it, so I take it all off. I then have the worry of it snagging my clothes so I usually pop it in my toiletries bag but then I still worry about about it ripping something along the way! The ultimate gold star to this product for me is that it comes in a very handy hard case, maybe I am just a bit over percautious but this means everything in my suitcase and the product is safe so puts all my worries at bay. It it not too bulky and can fit into your toiletries bag or just into your suitcase with ease.

Aside from using it on holiday you can pop it in your gym bag or anywhere else that you think you might need it on the go. Another great bonus is that the mini handle is interchangeable with the blade refills which is great meaning that each time you do not have to rebuy the entire product. There is a protective ribbon of moisture around the 5 blade meaning it is really simple to use and makes the skin soft at the same time which is just a little extra which makes this product just about perfect.

Lucy
xoxo

March Favourites

March is the season which welcomes spring which excites me hugely as I am totally done with winter now. I have had a good look through my collection and pulled out some old favourites which have proven to become staple pieces once again in my makeup routines.

This Works Pillow Spray has been an absolute dream this month trying to sleep after night shifts hasn't been as easy as I thought so this has been an absolute gem. I have been recommending this to all of my friends who have been struggling to sleep with their similar out of sync sleeping patterns. I got this for Christmas in 2014 so it has lasted a good while. I spray it all over my pillow as well as my wrists and neck, which is probably not recommend however it definitely works. The scent contains Lavender, Vetivert and Camomile, so all lovely soothing ingredients. To me all I can smell is the lavender which is quite overpowering and is not my favourite scent, but works a treat at knocking me out to sleep! It is £16 from Boots for 75ml which is excellent value for how long it lasts.

MAC Brave instantly popped to the top of my mind when I was thinking about what to put into this post. It has been this lipstick which I have instantly reached for when I can not quite decide what colour to go for, as it is so reliable and literally goes with every makeup look. As I am quite pale skinned is the perfect shade of in between purple and pink. It is not too dark meaning that it is everyday appropriate, and adds a pop of colour to a simple eye and base. It is the standard price of £15.50 for lipsticks from all MAC stockists.

MAC Lingering Eyebrow Pencil, has been part of my makeup routine most days this month. I have been very much into the strong brow, channeling my inner Cara Delevingne. I have been through numerous amounts of this eyebrow pencil as I can just always rely on it to get the job done. It is slightly too dark for my complexion, but it is very easy to blend out into a lighter shade which is perfect for me. The nib of the brush is fine and helps with precision, so you do not end up with too much product on your brows. For £13.50 I actually think this is one of the cheapest of the high end brands in terms of eyebrow products as some can be up to £20 at the moment.

This month brought me to the end of my ever so reliable Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, I wrote about this a few months ago as it was featured as a freebie with Elle magazine. It was instantly a favourite and I have been using it ever since. The nib is very fine and is the perfect size for just a thin line, allowing you to build it up thicker where necessary. One morning last week it just stopped working and it had completely ran out, I have been eyeliner less ever since. I will definitely be picking another one of this up when I can, it is now stocked on SPACENK and is £12.

The Laura Mercier Foundation Primer has been sitting in my makeup collection since Christmas when my sister bought it me. I brought it out this month as I needed something to make my makeup last as long as possible as my foundation and concealer had seemed to only be lasting a few hours. From what I have seen so far it works really well, it is a cream based formula which applies very easily. You only need a tiny bit, as a little definitely goes a long way. It is £29 from Selfridges which is steep but it does get the job done.

Lucy
xoxo

Current Everyday Makeup Staples

I thought I would do an updated makeup staples featuring everything in the top drawer of my new Muji drawers. These are products which I have been grabbing for on a daily basis and I would recommend to all, many of these have featured in many of my posts mostly within favourites posts over the past few months.

First up, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Blusher in Stereo Rose, this unfortunately was a special edition in one of MAC's many collections. I featured it as it does pop up every now and again in new collections and it is always a best seller, they should really just include it in their regular line. Many bloggers have compared this to Nars' bestseller blush in Orgasm, and my sister actually owns it herself and I can safely say they are practically the same. It's a great pinky toned blush with some glitter running through the pigments, it is great to wear any day of the week and for any occasion.

Next up, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, since this landed in my possession last November after my sister picked it up in NYC for me I have been in love. I always take this with me whenever I am travelling because it contains three beautiful shades, if you want the full low down then there is a post fully dedicated to this beautiful palette here. The good news is SpaceNK now stock Hourglass yeh! but they do not stock this palette as it was bought from Sephora. The good news it you can buy the blushes individually if there is one particularly that you have your eye on.

A bold statement but it has to be made, my favourite ever mascara is the Maxfactor False Lash Effect. I think this must be at least my tenth one of these no joke, I have been wearing it since high school so at least five years if not longer. It is probably my most staple item that I own, due to how reliable it is. I think that I have quite short, stubby lashes but with this they look so much longer. It is an all round mascara and also adds volume which is exactly what I want. Every time I see a new mascara advertised I always want to try them, however they just seem to be as good as this one. Whilst writing this post I have just realised I have never done an individual post on this mascara, and just do not why so expect that to be coming your way very soon!

Lastly, is my MAC palette which I put together myself and I just could not be happier with it. You will be able to see that the eyeshadows are running very low. I am seriously considering venturing into a 12 pan palette as I always see so many shadows that I want, but I always convince myself not to go for it when it comes to making a purchase. I use thispalette on a daily basis and I am in a routine of how I apply them. Firstly I take Naked Lunch which is a beautiful highly pigmented pink which I use all over the lid to brighten everything up. Next I take Woodwinked which I think may be my favourite eyeshadow to have ever been created. It is just a great warm gold with shimmery tones running through it which adds an extra dimension to the overall look. Finally I take Satin Taupe and apply this through the crease and to the outer section of my eyelid to add a little smokiness. It is a dark grey rather than black which is what I like the most about this shade as I am pale skinned it adds just the right amount of darkness. They all blend super easy which is just what you want when you are in a rush which is almost everyday for me!

Is there anything you think I should add to my everyday staples?

Lucy
xoxo

MAC Cinderella

The highly anticipated Cinderella collection finally hit MAC stores last week, and I don't think they have anticipated for it being as popular as it has been. For me I was definitely in the right place, at the right time. I had already pre-planned to go shopping in Manchester last Friday, which in fact was the launch date of the collection within Selfridges. I got there at about ten o'clock so the store had been open an hour and surprisingly there was still the majority of the range left. One of the girls said that they had 6 full drawers at 9, and by 10 they had half a drawer left! l I managed to get the Royal Ballet lipstick for myself and my sister which is what we wanted. I had also seen the Cinderella Beauty Powder in Mystery Princess which look very beautiful and was wanting to pick it up but that had unfortunately already sold out.

So to the lipstick and my verdict, it is a lovely spring nude colour with shimmer running through it which is what you would expect from a Cinderella inspired lipstick. It is smooth on the lips as it is from the Lustre range.Yesterday me and my sister both had it on and the first thing she said to me was that it looked different on me and she was right. It looked very nude on me, and more pinky toned on her which was quite strange as we are very similar in skin tone. I like it and I will be able to get a lot of use of it, but unfortunately it is not very long wearing. I also expected more of a darker pink colour like the colour which she wears to the ball, to be within the collection. The two lipsticks which they realised are nudes and are very similar in colour, and Royal Ballet was the more darker and pinker of the two. I think that MAC can be cheeky when it comes to the price point of their collections as it was £17 per lipstick which to me is expensive. On a brighter note the packaging is delightful and just as I would imagine it to be, and looks lovely placed on your dressing table.

I no people have been very disappointed with MAC and how they have realised this range especially in regards to the stock level. Distributors have also not had the best success when realising the range especially Debenhams, unfortunately I don't think they quite anticipated the amount of people wanting the products. I can not attach any links are it is sold out literally everywhere.

Did anyone manage to pick up anything from the range? If so what is your thoughts?

Lucy
xoxo

L'Oreal True Match Foundation

I have been meaning to pop up a post about this for a while now about this little gem from L'Oreal which is featured in our drugstores. I have seen a few different bloggers pop up posts about it recently, but I am actually on to my second bottle. I saw it featured in one of Vivianna Does Makeup YouTube videos at some point last year, and then Amelia Liana also recommended it. In my recent The Boots Shop post I featured this as I had repurchased it on my last trip to Boots. I mentioned that I had originally bought the True Match foundation in the Golden Ivory shade as I had originally thought that it was a perfect match for my skin. This time I tried out the Rose Ivory shade and realised that it actually did match my skin perfectly, and I did in fact have a pink undertone to my skin. This for me is the drugstore version of Nars Sheer Glow, I would not go as far as to say that it is a dupe as it does have it differences. I find the texture is soft and smooth, and is very easy to blend leaving a great even look to the skin . It is a medium coverage which is buildable but with just two pumps I have the right amount of coverage for my desired look. The main difference between this and the Sheer Glow is that this does not last as long on the skin and it does not quite have as much 'glow'. But all in all, for the price of £9.99 is something which I would definitely recommend to those wanted to try a new foundation which you can pick up on the high street. It has 20 different colour shades to the range so hopefully there will be one that matches everyone!

Lucy
xoxo

Spring Primark Haul

I took a trip to the big Primark in Manchester city centre last week and picked up a few bits for Spring. Primark is so good at picking up the basics and new essentials when moving into a new season.

I was debating on picking up the shoes as it is only the start of March, but you can never be too early and in Primark you have to pick it up when you see it as the stock changes so frequently. I can report that they are majorly comfy and the heel is just the right height. These will be great going into summer especially if you are jetting off to somewhere sunny this year. I can see myself matching these with a cute little summers dress or a short and tee combo. They also had these in black which I was debating on picking up. However, I thought the white is a much more spring/summer colour and all my shoes all winter have been black and I wanted to venture out. These were £12 which is such a steal and I am really hoping to get a lot of wear out of them.

Accessories in all shapes and sorts are known for being cheap in Primark. Saying that the jewellery is always so on trend and they have such a vast variation. The silver flower and gem necklace is really dainty, I thought this would be great to dress a simple outfit up taking it from day to night, and it was just £2! I love statement necklaces and the five different coloured flower necklace was right up my street, I would also wear this to add an emphasis to an outfit and was once again a steal at £3. As an avid headband lover I just could not leave this cute flower and pearl combination on the shelf, I love the stretchy style as they do not hurt or dig into your head. This was just £3 which I love, as in Topshop this would cost at least £10.

Have you picked anything up from Primark recently?

Lucy
xoxo

The Boots Shop

Boots is essentially the best drugstore within the UK hands down. It contains all of the best beauty brands at budget friendly prices. I had ran out of my trustworthy L'Oreal True Match Foundation so I took a little trip and came out with some other bits and bobs.

I had previously picked up the L'Oreal True Match Foundation in Golden Ivory and I thought that it had been a really good match to my skin. After taking a trip to Nars though and picking up the Sheer Glow Foundation which features in my February Favourites post, the makeup assistant told me that I have more of a pink undertone to my skin which I had never previously realised. Therefore, when I went to pick up a restock I reached for the Rose Ivory colour and realised that it actually did match my undertone more. I love this foundation so much and I have never found a foundation with the £9.99 price tag attached to it which is as good as this. The formula is great and creates a lovely glowing effect to the skin, it is super blendable and is a medium coverage. It has SPF17 which is always a hidden bonus and helps keeps your skin protected even in the winter months. You get 30ml and my last bottle lasted me three months, which is excellent value for money. The colour range is huge and caters from pale to dark skin as well as different colours of undertones.

My skin has been feeling like its in need of a good moisture boost, working long shifts is not the best for your skin and I often feel like I need cleanse more thoroughly. I have previously used Sanctuary Spa's 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask and got great results as it draws everything out of your pores and really gives you a deep cleanse. However, this time the Moisture Boosting Mask sachet caught my attention and when I read the words "ultimate moisture boost to revive thirsty skin for glowing finish" it eagerly took a place in my shopping basket. These are not cheap as they are £2.50 for 15ml but I wanted to try it out before I bought a bigger version, and they are so convenient for a one stop fix.

Amelia Liana is always mentioning how good the Maybelline Super Stay 7 days Gel Nail Colours are. At just £4.49 I was intrigued to see how good they really are. One of Amelia's go to colours is Divine Wine which is a beautiful grape coloured, vibrant purple. The other one which I picked up was Hot Salsa which is a beautiful bright pink (looks more orange in the photo!), this is just a classic colour for me to be attracted to, as I love a pop of pink on my nails. They have a great flat brush which makes application so much easily, the colour range us huge making choosing a colour so much harder. They also have a high shine finish which makes the colour look more glossy.

Lastly, on my way to the tills I reached for my ever so reliable Blistex Relief Cream. My lips have been so chapped and I needed to move from a lip barrier balm to a lip treatment. I pile this on to my lips as often as it is needed to help to instantly repair my lips. My most sore and cracked area at the moment is the top of my lips and it can great incredibly sore. I should have bought this earlier to help it prevent it getting to this stage, but I no that it quickly works it wonder and I can not recommend it enough. You get 5ml for £2.65 which is a fab price considering how great the product is.

Have you picked up anything new and great from Boots recently?

Lucy
xoxo

February Favourites

This post is actually on time! I always aim for it to be on time but I always seem to be a couple of days later into the next month. I have done individual posts on four out of five of those items which shows that they really have impressed me within February.

If you read my recent Top 5 MAC Nudes post which you can see here this lipstick will look familiar - yes it is the lipstick that had no name and I have now identified it as Cosmo. I popped into MAC over the weekend, me and the makeup assistant searched the stands and managed to match it perfectly. My mind is now at ease for when I need to repurchase it as I was worried it had been discontinued. It is the perfect colour for day to night and is my reach for lipstick when I am in a rush.

Garnier Micellar Water Cleansing Wipes, there is also a post on the wipes here. But since that post I can confirm that they have continued to do the job perfectly, I have used them most nights when you want to quickly remove your makeup. They are so gentle over the face and eyes and remove all stubborn makeup easily. To me there is really nothing else I would expect a facial wipe to do, and have been recommending these to everyone and I do the same to all of you!

Charlotte Tilsbury Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil this is a beautifully pigmented pencil which contains glittery pigments which glisten on the eyelids. It is a thick formula which can crease if you do not blend quickly all the details are here . I have been using this on a daily basis as it adds a quick pop of colour to the eyelid and when I have time it looks perfect with a thin line of eyeliner and lashings of mascara.

Real Techniques 201 Crease Brush has been used on a daily basis this month in order to apply my eyeshadow. The name applies that it is a crease brush but it actually does a great job at applying eyeshadow all over the eyelid as the bristles are packed tightly and pick up the product perfectly, more details here . This however does works equally as well as a crease brush as it blends together different colours perfectly,

Finally Nars Sheer Glow Foundation, so there is currently no individual post on this as I only purchased it last weekend so it is currently under review. But I included it in my favourites as I have been using it everyday this week since I purchased it and I have been absolutely loving it! It differently lives up to it's expectations and has a huge price tag attached to it at £31, and I kind of didn't want to fall in love with it but I have done and I don't want to stop using it. It creates such a beautiful dewy, glowing effect on the skin and is long lasting throughout that day. A post will be up soon and I am expecting rave reviews.

What have you been loving in February?

Lucy
xoxo

Elizabeth & James - Nirvana White

I got this for Christmas off my parents, I had been longing over trying either the black or the white fragrance since their release. Well I'll let you into a secret which I am not one bit ashamed of. Since childhood I have been obsessed with the Olsen twins, it all started with the films, the books, the tv series. They even had a line of clothing and makeup in Asda and I used to always pick something from it on a special occasion just because I thought that they were it. I think at the time idolising them was the norm within girls my age just because they exploded on to the scene and were such a global success. There is no denying that I still watch the movies because they were just great and bring back only happy memories. Me and my best friend still call each other MK & A till this day when we're being cute!

So now you know I was a pretty big fan you probably have guessed the reason why I wanted to try the perfume. After their teenage success they have gone on to be incredibly well known in the fashion industry and have a variety of clothing lines. Elizabeth and James (their younger sister and brother) is the name of one of their clothing collections, and they have branched out from there with the realise of the perfumes. I think people were intrigued to find out the scents they had chosen for the black and white fragrances. There has been a buzz around the white fragrance in particularly on the blogging front. I tried to get this back in Sephora in Majorca last August but they did not have it, so I am not sure if this is exclusive to Sephoras in America. As this came from Sephora in New York I didn't personally have the opportunity to smell for myself the difference between them. I am one of those girls who loves fruity scents and this is the absolute complete opposite. Therefore it took me a good few days to get use to it and decide whether I actually liked it or not. I continued to apply it and every morning I would intensely smell where applied to see if I had grown to love it anymore. I kept asking friends their views and they were mostly positive. But I think if it had been one of my friends asking me it would of initially of been a negative response from me, due to it being so different to my usual choice. The scents of the perfume are musk, peony and mugnet which make a perfect blend. The perfume is long lasting and settles into the skin nicely, I would describe it as a feminine fragrance. I came to the conclusion that I do really love the perfume, it is just polar opposite to what I usually wear but that's a great thing and to me this is just something which took me time to get used to. There is three sizes of the perfume a rollerball which is ultimately a perfect size for your handbag. I got this for my best friend for Christmas and I felt like it was a really thoughtful present. I would definitely pick this smaller version up for myself if anyone was taking any Sephora trips any time soon, as it's just so convenient to pop into your handbag when your on the go. This rollerball costs $22 for 0.34oz. The size which I got was the 1oz which costs $55, and there is a 1.7oz for $75. Lastly I would like to mention the bottle because I think it's really lovely and looks expensive sat on your dressing table, with the intercut detail.

Have you tried either of the Elizabeth and James perfumes? 

Lucy 

Xoxo 

Top 5 MAC Nudes

MAC are known for their phenomenal range of lipsticks, and they are the brand which I always head to as you know that there will be always be that perfect colour which you have been lusting after on the display. From left to right I feel give you a run down on why these are my favourite five and I hope I give you some lipstick inspiration!

Velvet Teddy featured in my New York Haul as after Kylie Jenner stated that this is what gives her huge lips it is now very hard to track down in the UK. Thankfully my sister managed to get it for me from Macy's. It is a matte nude which can be worn as an everyday, I have found that matte does not suit me as much as something with a sheen running through it. Although, I think that is just preference and it does look lovely on the lips. If you do not want such a strong nude you can pat it out to make it more suitable to your liking, it is also has excellent lasting power on the lips. If I was to imagine a 'nude' lipstick it would be this, it has a slight bronze tone but all round the description of it in one word is nude.

Brave has a satin finish which means it in between the matte and the lustre finish. On those days when I am not feeling Syrup this is always my opposing pick as it is just a little darker and adds a most bolder lip to a simple look. This is also a long this Kylie Jenner vibes and it creates a stronger look and I prefer the texture of this to Velvet Teddy.

Now after I had taken the pictures for this blog post I discovered that the name of this lipstick had rubbed off to my delight. I have searched the internet for hours trying to find what the name of it is but I just do not know what it is, and my memory seems to have been swiped. All I know is that it is an amplified finish but on the MAC website under the amplified finishes section none of them matched this one. Which means that I have concluded that it must have discontinued unless, someone clever reader has this and can put my mind at rest - pretty please!! There is barely any of this left so I am going to have to go to MAC and solve the problem if possible because it is such a lovely colour. It has pink tones running it and is the darkest of them all.

Syrup has purple and pink tones running throughout, and is my favourite on the whole bunch, it is my go to in the morning when I haven't got time to think about what colour I want to wear that day. You can tell its my most worn as out of them all it has the least amount left. It is a lustre effect meaning it is soft and creamy on the lips.When someone asks me to suggest a new lipstick surrounding a nude/purple toned I would always suggest this without a doubt. I do not think anyone would not like this, which is a strong statement, but I am yet to find someone who disagrees.

Patisserie the lightest of the bunch and a Lily Pebbles recommendation. It is lighter than I thought it would be but it really lovely for a pretty girly everyday look. Another lustre finish which is my favourite as it leaves a sheen gloss across the lips. This has lighter pink tones running through it making it perfect if you don't like anything too noticeable or overpowering. Worn with a gloss it can create a great combination, I usually go with Charlotte Tilsbury in Sweet Stiletto.

Have you got any other shades which you think would fit into my collection perfectly? if so please leave your suggestions below.

Lucy
xoxo

Love Tanya

Whether you love the idea of beauty bloggers releasing books or loathe it, out of them all to me Tanya Burr is the person who I always can guarantee to rely on with when it comes to makeup advice and tutorials. So when she brought out the book, I was intrigued to find out what it was all about, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. She has had so much success with her blog and YouTube channel lately, and her audience is obviously loving what she is doing, so why not realise a book all about it.

I like how the book starts letting you into Tanya's childhood and her upbringing as it makes you feel like you are able to relate to her throughout the book and the ins and outs of her life. The part which I most enjoyed was the Beauty section as it is something which really interests me, and Tanya always has the most glowing skin. She does delve into her skincare routine in depth and explains her top tips for creating great skin. I find that she always manages to produce such beautiful makeup looks in a matter of minutes and nothing is ever to complicated or over the top. She gives a lot of advice throughout this section and features her favourite products both skincare and makeup. I love how much recognition and how grateful she is to Sam and Nic Chapman for encouraging her to follow her ambitions, and giving her the opportunities at the start of her career which really helped her to get to grips with the basics to the makeup artist role. She tells the story behind her Tanya Burr Cosmetics line, I am a personal fan and her lip glosses are really great and such good value at £6.99 which are sold in Superdrug. I am a sucker for a good love story and her and Jim's is just so cute and you can tell how much they love each other through how shes portrays him within the book. She shows so much personality within the book and I love how within the Fashion section she says how she has her own individual style and it has taken her a while to be get used to her shape. I think all girls can relate to this as it does take time for you to distinguish what does and what doesn't suit you and sometimes you just have to understand that not all things are going to show you off in the best possible way. The book also includes a Baking section and Tanya always says on her vlogs how popular her baking videos are, and it seems to have taken a firm place within her channel. She expresses how much she likes to bake and I think there are some really lovely bakes in her book which I am looking forward to trying out.

All in all I think that because there has been many YouTubers releasing books in whatever form within weeks of each other it has received a lot of negativity, which I think is a shame. The publishing company's have been clever they know the amount of millions of followers these guys have and they also know how well they could potentially sell. In reality if you got offered the opportunity to write a book like Tanya on something you feel passionate about then why not! Lastly don't bother going to WHSmiths or Waterstones and paying full price for it, head to Asda or order it online as it is currently only £7, and it won't be a waste of money.

Lucy
xoxo

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

It has taken my a while to get round to blogging about this palette of absolute beauty. Blush is definitely not something that I naturally venture towards when makeup shopping, I seem to have only own two or three which I stick to as I no I can rely on them. But this palette really caught my eye and I have been wanting to try Hourglass products for a while, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. There was a hell of a lot of hype around the realise of this palette since the success of the company's Ambient Lighting Powder. I was lucky enough that my sister managed to pick this is up for me whilst on her trip to New York as I had been lusting it over it since its realise. In Sephora it costs $58 which is approximately £37 compared to UK stockists such as Space NK and John Lewis  where the price tag is £56, quite a hefty difference. You are able to buy these individually for £28 for 4.2g or in the palette each shade is 3.3g. The three blushes from left to right are Luminous Flush, Incandescent Electra and Mood Exposure. I love how the three colours are completely different shades going from a baby pink into a lilac shade.

Luminous Flush is the one that I would class as my classic go to shade when I am out shopping for a new blusher to add to my collection. It contains the pink shimmery tones and adds a lovely pop of colour to the cheek bones. I swatched it to compare it to my two previous go to blushes both from MAC, which are Stereorose (not online) and Peachykeens and it falls somewhere right in between, which pretty much makes it the perfect shade. Its light and looks radiant on the skin adding a glow which reflects perfectly on the cheeks.

Incandescent Electra is exclusive to the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette. This is the lightest shade within the palette and I think you can wear this as a pretty girly shade to the cheeks, or wear it softly above the cheekbones as an illuminate/highlighter. It is a great addition to the palette as if you do not like a flush of colour on the cheek that is worn to be seen then this is the perfect alternative.

I was very intrigued by how Mood Exposure would show on the skin, I have never seen a shade of blush containing this amount of  purple tones running through it. On the skin I can safely say it looks completely different to how it does in the pan, it definitely has a lot more pink tones running through than at first glance. It is the deepest colour of the three but it still wearable for daytime, it adds a lot of depth to the cheeks.

The texture of these blushes are so smooth and glide on to the skin with ease, the pigmentation is excellent and transfers on to the skin perfectly. This palette contains such different shades that you can carry and use this on all occasions depending on if you prefer lighter more subtle cheeks or a more stronger and heavier look. Lastly, I have to say that these all contain more shimmer than I first thought, so if you prefer a matte blusher these are differently not something for you to choose. But if your like me and adore shimmery cheekbones then I suggest you get ordering from Sephora. These are also great for any flash photography as the finishing powders are made and formulated to enhance the skin in any kind of light and refine the appearance of your complexion.

Lucy
xoxo

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil

I recently took a little trip to the Charlotte Tilsbury counter in Selfridge's. I took an instant like to the stand containing all the eye products and the colour chameleon eyeshadow pencils looked very interesting. The stand had great organisation and it splits the products into eye colours as Charlotte has created specific shades to suit each eye colour - what a perfect idea! She has also created a day and night look for each colour of eye, so everyone has two options. So naturally I started to look at the blue eyes part of the stand and the colour Champagne Diamonds instantly caught my attention, it was the daytime colour. There was some other great shades for all the different eye colours on the stand, and I would definitely venture out and would not just necessarily choose the colour which it is tailored for. The formula was smooth and incredibly pigmented with one swipe. The lovely makeup assistant told me that they are quick drying so once applied to work fast and quickly blend it to your preferred look. The formula is quite thick, meaning it does stay where it is suppose to, on the eyes this adds a real pop of colour and looks really lovely with a thin line of eyeliner along the top lash line. It has a shimmer running through it, which is a personal preference as I prefer something more shimmery for daytime than matte. This does not come cheap at £19 but I think it is a definite investment for your makeup stash, it will also last a while as you do not need much to create the acquired wash of colour across the eye. I have already added one of the night time shades - Bronzed Garnet to my never ending makeup wishlist.

Lucy
xoxo

La Roche Posay Serozinc Toner & Cicaplast Lips

I recently made a sneaky order on Escentual.com, I have ordered from there previously and have always experienced excellent service. If you are a regular reader you will no that La Roche-Posay is fast becoming one of my favourite brands for products which get the job done. Throughout the year the site has 15% of all French pharmacies so I thought I would take advantage and order a few bits which have been on my skincare wish list for a while.

Serozinc is a much anticipated toner which has become globally well known for it wonders, my skincare bloggers have repeatedly recommended it as something to in cooperate into your daily skincare routine. It states it is for oily blemish prone skin, my skin is more dry than oily, but it definitely falls into the blemish prone category without a doubt. I have been trying to establish a more defined skincare routine. This is usually costs £8.50, but with the current discount it is £7.20, which I think is an absolute skincare steal. This only arrived in the UK at the beginning of the year and there has been a lot of hype surrounding its arrival. Many people used to buy in bulk when on vacation in France, but thankfully this site has taken it under their wing. I have been testing it out this week after cleansing and before the application of my moisturiser, I have noticed that it leaves your face feeling refreshed and cooling. It contains three active ingredients - soothing water, zinc sulphate and sodium chloride. This combination aims to target blemishes and get rid of excess oil, all sounds very impressive to me.

Cicaplast  states to intensively replenish chapped lips. It is a step up from the Ceralip which I recently reviewed and you can have a read of that post here. I changed it up and started using this as I had not used any lip treatments in a few days and the soreness had started to flare up again. It was particularly sore right at the top of my lips at my cupids bow which was very dry. I applied this heavily and it has quite a thick consistency but it is so soft and it feels like it is working instantly. It does not have a flavour or have any kind of tingling effect, it just feels like a thick balm. It clearly claims to be a barrier repairing balm and that is perfect description for it. The main difference between the two is this one feels a bit thicker in consistency but I think this has helped them repair that little bit quicker s it a more intense treatment. This is usually £6.00 but with the current offer it is £5.20 which to me is definitely a drugstore price, and I think it is much better than anything currently out there on the high street with this price point.

Have you tried either of these products?

Lucy
xoxo

Real Techniques: Bold Metal Collection - 201 Pointed Crease

This collection have been at the very top of my wishlist since I first heard Sam and Nic talk about their release. There was a lot of speculation surrounding the price of this new collection, if you would like more detail about the brushes Pixiwoo themselves they made a YouTube video which you can watch here. Within the video they state how since the release of the original line they have always wanted to bring out a line which is a little  bit more luxury. They explain the increase in price of the new line is due to the quality of these new brushes, and these are to essentially compete with the more expensive rather than drugstore brands. They are still sold  in Boots as they want them to still be widely available, which I think it great meaning everyone is able to get their hands on them. On the Boots website  you can have a more in depth look at each brush, and you can also order them and have them delivered if it is easier or your Boots does not have the stock currently in.

Due to the demand and the release of this range three weeks ago they have been sold out online and in store, but thankfully they seem to be restocking at the moment. I looked in the Trafford Centre store and they had the entire line stocked to the brim on the shelves, which meant it took me approximately twenty or so minutes to decide exactly what I wanted to pick up. For once I was good and told myself just to pick up one for now as I can always buy more. I finally made the decision and picked up the 201 - Pointed Crease Eye Brush. The price was £12 which is still much cheaper than the £18-£25 which most high end brands charge for a similar style of brush. The reason I went for this one was I thought it could be a perfect combination along side my staple 217 MAC eyeshadow brush. As this is a crease brush I am hoping they work like two peas in a pod along side each other. The brush is so soft and you can tell that the bristles are densely packed and different lengths going into the arrow shape. This collection of brushes to me do look more luxury and look great perched on your dressing table.

Whilst I was in Boots I also fell in love with the 300 - Tapered Blush Brush even my sister who likes make up but is not too fussed about brushes said that she really wanted it! It just looked so soft and the shape was perfect for applying blush to the cheeks. So I will definitely be picking that up come next month's payday which excites me hugely.

What is everyone's thoughts of the new line have you been liking it? Any recommendations to other
products I should pick up from the line?

Lucy
xoxo

Garnier Micellar Extra-Gentle Cleansing Wipes

When I saw these advertised in one of my weekly magazines I was instantly intrigued as I hadn't heard too much about the realise of this new Garnier skincare product. Now I currently had on trial before this, Garniers micellar water and the boat is still out on this at the moment. I have got a kind of love/hate relationship currently taking place. Previous to the Garnier wipes I have been using either the ever so loved Boots Essentials Cucumber Wipes or the Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Wipes. I have enjoyed using both of these so I was interested to see how these compare.

I have been trying these out every night this past week since I picked them up from Tesco as they are currently on an introductory offer of just £1.63 and it states that they are also currently exclusive to the supermarket brand.

My first night of trying out the wipes I had just face makeup on and no eye makeup that particular day. The very first thing I noticed was how smooth the wipe felt across the skin which makes its very soothing. I then noticed on the packaging it states that it contains silky fibres so I'm guessing this has something to do with it. I felt like it did give my face a good cleanse and it feels refreshing as the wipes are really moist. They definitely live up to their extra gentle status, which is great for at night time. The only negative aspect first noted was that after the wipe made my skin feel a little sticky and not quite as smooth as I expected. 

The second night I had had a gold shimmery eye going on that day with a few layers of mascara. The wipe gently eased over the eye and my eyes are sensitive and can sometimes sting and go red after using some facial wipes. This was such a relief! Taking the rest of my makeup off again, it once again emphasised just how soft the wipe is. It feels slightly foamy and glides around the skin effortlessly. 

After continuous use throughout the week the overall judgement is that these are a little gem which I have found. I will be popping off to Tesco to stock up whilst the half price offer is still on. They do the job perfectly and they have no overpowering fragrance. If you have sensitive skin like me I would recommend these, but I think all skin types would be fine. Like I said at the beginning the only downside it that it leave a slightly sticky residue to your face but nothing to off putting. 

Has anyone else tried these yet? 

Lucy

xoxo