Rimmel Good to Glow Highlighter

I had never seen or heard about this before I picked it up, I saw it on the aisles of Tesco and was instantly intrigued. It was on offer for just £2.49 so I quickly picked it up as my mum was rushing me as we just 'nipped in'. Unfortunately I cannot find it on the Tesco website but it is available here from Boots, the normal price is just £4.99 which is still really good value. Within my makeup collection I only own one or two highlighters as I am never sure of the best ones to go for. I love it when girls have lovely contoured cheekbones with a hint of highlighter just on the tops. It is something which I want to try and get good at over the summer, so this seemed like a perfect product to help me with this.

It is a two in one highlighter and illuminator and I choose the shade 003 Soho Glow. It offers a nice natural glow to the face, it is not overly glittery and adds just the right amount of shimmer. The consistency is a lightweight liquid texture which means you can apply just the right amount to the cheekbones. It comes in three shades and I actually picked up the darkest shade to my amazement. Soho Glow is a golden bronzed tone highlighter, which is perfect for this time of the year, and heading into the sunnier months. Another option is to mix a small amount of this within your everyday foundation to add a bit of an extra overall glow to your complexion.

Lucy
xoxo

Three Summer Base Staples

Summer is officially here! Not that this current British weather is representing it, but technically it has arrived. Today's post is all about my three must have summer staples

The Laura Mercier Foundation Primer is the perfect way to prep the skin, and create a base for the rest of your makeup. In the summer when it is hot, this will help keep your makeup fixed and in place. This is the first ever primer which I have continuously used and really liked. The cream consistency is smooth and fresh to the skin, and a little goes a long way. I have had this bottle since Christmas and I use it most days and I am probably about half way through the tube. It is expensive at £29 but it is a good quality product, and I am yet to find a drugstore alternative.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is currently my firm favourite out all of the foundations which I own. I just do not know what it is but it just makes my skin look so much more fresh and glowing. It is for normal to dry skin which is perfect for me as my skin is dry, it helps to hydrate and brighten your complexion. Once again this is probably the most expensive individual product which I have ever bought at £31, but I am so in love with this I will be wearing this throughout the summer.

Collection Long Lasting Concealer is a staple in most of my makeup essentials post. I am yet to find a concealer low or high end which I prefer to this. Although I have got my eye on trying the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer as I have read many rave reviews about it. The collection concealer is perfect for covering blemishes and imperfections, I also use it under my eyes. If for some crazy reason you do not own this, you must pick it up for the summer at just £4.19 it is amazing value.

Lucy
xoxo

Current Lipsticks in my Handbag

All girls will know that within your handbag you have those beauty products which are always rattling around in the bottom of your bag, and they are your go to, reliable products. Me personally I only carry around lip products as that is all I will ever reapply throughout the day. It is also what I forget to apply when I am doing my makeup, when I am rushing around trying to hurry before I have to leave the house. I thought that best thing to do for this post was to simply look at what is currently in my handbag.

First up, Charlotte Tilsbury Sexy Sienna , I go through phases of wearing this continuously and then placing it back in my collection and wearing it on the odd occasion. But recently it has made its way back into the depths of my bag.It is a beautiful coral shade which is completely different to any other lipsticks which are currently in my bag. This is a matte lipstick which does not dry the lips and stays put all day, which is exactly what you are wanting. These have become very popular within the beauty world, as they are highly pigmented and the range has a great colour variety, This is the most expensive lipstick in this post as they are £23, but they are definitely more of a treat purchase.

Maybelline Minimalist is part of the colour drama lip range, which is in a lip pencil form. I love how easy these apply and you require a lot less precision than with a regular lipstick. These are such good value at just £4.99, and I have been meaning to pick more of these up as there are a lot of other lovely colours within the range. What made my interested in this colour particularly was the nude undertone, which made me think that it would very wearable. This is exactly why it lies in the bottom of my handbag, as you can just grab it, easily apply it and your ready to go in an instance.

My newest addition to my handbag is MAC Please Me, I featured this in my recent Beauty Buys post. This is a beautiful everyday pink, it it not too bright and not too dark it is a perfect in between shade. I have wearing it on a regular basis and it is fast becoming a favourite of mine. The colour is very pigmented and adds a pop of colour to a everyday basic makeup. When I buy a new lipstick I always put it in my handbag as that way you get to trail it on a regular basis. Unless I am on a night out I really do not wear a bright lipstick and this is a perfect alternative.

Lucy
xoxo

Beauty Buys - MAC & Makeup Forever

Debenhams every so often do a 10% off all beauty and fragrance event, and I get to know first hand as that is where my weekend job is. As an employee we get discount on top of the offers so when this event comes around I take my wishlist and place an order of the things which I have been lusting after. This time around I think I did a brilliant job at holding back and just ordered two products.

The first being a MAC lipstick in Please Me, my sister has this lipstick and it is one which she often wears and I always comment on how lovely it looks on her. I sneakily 'borrowed' it to test out the colour on me. It is a really beautiful pink shade, to describe this it would be a classic matte pink. That might sound like a very vague description but that is exactly what it is. It is medium toned pink and is perfect for the summer. This week we have seen the sun finally make its debut in the UK, and this is just great to add some colour to your makeup which has been very basic for me at the moment.

Makeup Forever has just landed on Debenhams online, and if I am correct I think it is the first department store to sell the brand which is very excited. It is a huge well-known brand especially in America, and when bloggers and you tubers visit they always pick up must have products. I was really wanting to try a foundation from the brand as it seems to be as a staple. I had my eyes on the HD foundation but I am always skeptical about buying face products which need to colour matched online as it always seem impossible. I would much rather go into a store and have someone match me or just do it myself. But the brand has not been introduced into all stores, and I unfortunately do not think it is available within my nearby stores. The one thing which caught my eye this most is the Aqua Matic eye shadow pencil. There seems to have been a huge demand for this type of eye pencil at the moment on the beauty market, Charlotte Tilsbury, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier have all brought out this type of product and they have become favourites for many. This intrigued me as at £16 it was a little cheaper than most of the other high end brands and there is a great shade range available. After spending a lot of time choosing which one I wanted to try I finally settled on Metallic Pink. The colour tabs on the website are nothing like the real colour, I googled the exact colours and that helped me decide that this was the perfect colour. I can say that I have tested it out and I am in love, it is super easy to apply and blend. The colours are well pigmented and I love that this is a retractable pencil which means it is fuss free. I am already really wanting to try out the shade Metallic Golden Taupe which looks like a perfect golden everyday shade.

Within my package I got a free sample of the Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm, which was a great bonus. I have not heard much at the brand, but I am intrigued to try it as I love getting new skincare products. For the full size version of this it is £20 and doing a little research it looks like it is a deep cleansing type product and a great addition to my daily skincare routine.

Lucy
xoxo

May Favourites

This post is even later than usual as we are now ten days into June, but it just means I have had even more time to test out my current favourite products.

First up, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette this was expensive, but was definitely worth it. The three shades are all really wearable, the texture of the blushes are really light and the powder is fine so you don't get too much product on your brush. This is great for travelling as it gives options to your daily makeup, the palette is not too big and fits perfectly in my travel makeup bag.

The Zoeva 222 All Over Shader featured in my recent Perfect Combination post. It is a great all round brush, as with one swish you are able to cover all the eyelid with a wash of colour. It is a great staple to your brush collection, and I am looking into buying a few more Zoeva brushes as I am have been extremely happy with their quality. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! They fall into the same price range as Real Techniques, as this was £6.99.

This has been my overall 'find' of the month. The Rimmel  Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob has been a perfect addition to my lipsticks. I own two lip liners this, and one from MAC in Subculture which is a pencil. With a pencil I seem to struggle getting colour pay off and I found it quite scratchy on my lips when applying. The Rimmel one is a Amelia Liana must have, she compares it to the Charlotte Tilbury in Pillow Talk. It is a twist up product and the texture of the liner is really smooth and so much easier to apply than a pencil. Many bloggers compare this to MAC Soar which became a must have to get the 'Kylie Jenner lips', and consequently is continuously sold out. This costs just £3.99 which is a third of the price of the MAC liners.

Maybelline Super Stay 7 Days Nail polish in Divine Wine, has been on my nails throughout the month of May. It is a great berry purple, and adds a pop of colour to the nails. I love this formula as it really does last beyond anything else I have ever tried. The price of them is just £4.49, and there is a huge array of colours available. The brush is thick and flat which helps to make application a lot easier, and you can apply it quickly when you are on the go.

I keep putting this in posts and then forgetting it is no longer available, but I just cannot stop wearing it. It is the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso, it came in a set which I got for Christmas and it is unfortunately not available on its own which is very disheartening. It featured in my What's in my Makeup Bag post, as I bring it everywhere with me as it is such a versatile colour. It is a peachy coral, and come the summer I love corals! Last years obsession was MAC Vegas Volt and I think this will take its place. The texture of the Nars lip pencils are very soft, creamy and easy to apply and I love the bullet shaped applicator.

Lucy
xoxo

Rocking The Dungarees

I have been wanting a pair of dungarees for ages, and I have to say finding my perfect pair has not been an easy process! As I am only 5ft tall I often struggle to find a pair of jeans/trousers to fit, and usually rely on the petite department. But it seems that this season dungarees has not been featured within many petite departments, as I have literally spent hours searching online and in store with no luck. It seems to be the short dungarees which is featured in all the shops which makes sense seeing as it is June and the summer. The British weather however has not been representing the season and I think it would be too cold to wear them within this country, as well as me not been a massive fan of getting my pale legs out, so therefore opted for the full length ones.

Topshop was the only store who had a petite pair called the Moto Black Denim Dungarees and they were really lovely and I had my heart set on on buying them. The only downfall was that they had a hefty price tag of £48 attached to them, which for a soon to be unemployed student is pretty expensive. I never go in Matalan as it is just not a shop which I ever seem to find anything which suits me or what I like to wear. My mum wanted to have a look at their swimwear so I stumbled over to the denim department, where there was one pair of denim dungarees standing lonely on a rail. I had seen them online but I thought they would be far too long but I tried them on they were literally the perfect length. They had two roll ups in them already and I have left them that way as the touch just about my ankle. The fit is great and a nice light denim colour which is great for the brighter weather (if it ever arrives!). They cost £25, but there was a 25% promotion of the Falmer brand within the store over the weekend so they cost me £18.75 which I was truly thrilled about. I wore them the day after I bought them and they are so comfortable. I think they will become a staple within my wardrobe as they are just so easy to wear and they have great versatility. I can not find them on the website unfortunately for some unknown reason, but they are definitely still available in stores.

This is my first ever fashion post containing me wearing my clothes, I was very nervous to post this for everyone for read. Hopefully if it goes down well I will be featuring more fashion type posts. as I love fashion and I love reading other bloggers fashion posts.

Lucy
xoxo

Bomb Cosmetics

Bomb Cosmetics is a brand which I have seen popping up in various little independent stores across different cities. It is has the same brand concept as Lush Cosmetics, but the variety of bath products is bigger coming in different shapes and formed.

The Bath Mallows are smaller than your average bath bombs, they work the same way though by placing in warm water and it slowly fizzes releasing the fragrance. I picked up the version called Berried Alive, this has scents of all different types of berries as the name suggests. The main scent is blackberry, with hints of cocoa and shea butter. These are advertised as being smoothing on the skin and as a great addition when relaxing and unwinding in the bath. Online this is £2.24 which is slightly cheaper than Lush, but the product is smaller at 50g.

First of all this soap just looks super pretty in its packaging. It is a beautiful tiered pink with silver glitter pieces running through it. The top of the soap is pure white silver glitter with little pieces of the soap. It is very appropriately part of the Soap Cake  collection which contains an array of different soaps with different scents. The Sweet Star Surprise is unfortunately not featured online, but there are many different ones on their website which all look just as good! The soap which I picked up has a sweet scent of fresh lychee, ylang ylang and magnolia oils. which will be great to help leave your skin silky smooth when it is lathered in the shower or bath. This costs just £2.49 which I think it is an excellent price as you get a lot of product, and I think it will last a while.

I am excited to try out both of these products, and I will report back on how I get on. I have got high expectations and its great that all these products are made with natural produce and are vegan friendly.

Lucy
xoxo

The Perfect Combination

I have been using this perfect eyeshadow combination at the moment, and I thought it was time to share it. This Marc Jacobs Lolita Palette is just perfection, and it is just so frustrating that it is so hard to get hold off. But if you are heading to any Sephora stores this summer, or are planning a Sephora order online then you must add this to your list. There is not one colour in the palette which I do not use, it has great versatility in the different looks which you are able to create. It has a price tag of $59, which is on par with most high end beauty palettes. I was previously using the MAC 217 Blending Brush to apply this, but it has been recently replaced by the Zoeva 222 All Over Shadow Brush . This brush is brilliant as it is flat and allows you to apply the colour with one wash across the eyelid. The bristles are synthetic but are really soft which makes application so easy. It is such good value and so much cheaper compared to MAC brushes as it was just £6.95. I do still use the MAC 217 to blend out some harsh edges if I am creating a really smokey look. 

I have been looking and I not only want another Marc Jacobs palette I have my eye on The Lover Palette, but I also want a whole load of Zoeva brushes and I am currently lusting over the Bamboo Vol. 2 Brush Set. I need to get saving and add them on to the already very lengthy wishlist. 

Lucy

xoxo

Holiday Primark Haul

I finally took the plunge and started my holiday shopping - how exciting! My mum's rule in Primark is you buy it when you see it, which is so true as the next time you go everything's been moved round and replenished and you will never find it again.

I am lucky enough to be heading on two holidays abroad this summer - one to Lanzarote with my friends and one to Italy with my family. Therefore, I was in need of some summer additions to add to my wardrobe, and I was glad to see that Primark had all of their summer range now in store. The total of everything which I bought came to £38 which I thought was excellent value and you would pay that in Topshop for one item.

From left to right - playsuit - £5, pink vest top - £5, sandals - £8, earrings - £1, yellow shorts - £3, butterfly shorts - £4, headbands £3 each and the white tee - £6.

If you are looking for any summer pieces to add to your wardrobe or if your needing some holiday basics, Primark has definitely done well this year. Sometimes I find the huge stores such as Manchester a little overwhelming as there is so much stock, across a tiny amount of space, on many different floors. I think when you go to Primark, you have to go with a clear mind and vision of what you actually need. Otherwise you can just end up picking up things for the sake of it, just because 'its cheap'. I am very happy with everything that I bought and it will all be coming with me on both holidays. Hopefully if the UK gets a little bit of sun it might get some other wear, usually once a year but we never know!

Have you picked any summer essentials up yet?

Lucy
xoxo

Lush Ultrabland and Eau Roma Water

Having this time of uni is not have a great effect on my bank balance, as all I seem to be doing is spending money which I really don't have. I took a little trip to Lush with the plan of picking up a facial mask and a hair mask.

It was great going into a store midweek which was not overly busy, and being able to have a real browse of all of the products. I have previously only bought bath bombs from the brand, as I had been unsure as to what the best products are. The lovely lady helped me massively when I described that I wanted a deep cleansing facial product. She pointed me in the direction of the Ultrabland cleaner, she also showed me the 9-5 cleanser but explained that was more of a lighter everyday product which is not as deep cleansing as the Ultrabland. Before I went into the shop I had some kind of roundabout budget in my head as to what I wanted to spend. I was unsure as to the type of prices which they priced their products at, as I had never previously taken an interest. I was shocked at the range of the prices across the different products. The Ultrabland was £7.25 for 45g which I think is a rather small amount of product so I'm hoping it works wonders! This was the price for many products however there was some particular facial products that were around the £30 mark which I was really surprised at. I didn't think the brand aimed itself as a high end luxury on comparison with the likes of the prices in Space:NK. The lady also recommended the Eau Roma Water toner as it is for more drier skin types, which is what mine is. She explained to use this after the cleanser on a cotton pad to refresh the skin and add moisture back into the skin. She also said that this can be used on its own just for when your skin needs a little refresher throughout the day. I picked up the smaller 100g option which was a reasonable £4.25.

I didn't quite make it to the hair care section as I got carried away and lost track of time, but I will take another little trip into the store again next time I am there. I also spotted some new bath products which looked very intriguing! I am excited at the prospect of trying these two skincare pieces from the brand as it is something brand new to me. If they are a hit they will be featured in a favourites post at some point in the near future so keep your eyes peeled!

Is there any Lush products which you would recommend for me to try?

Lucy
xoxo

What's in my Travel Makeup Bag?

Heading home for two weeks means that it was time to pick out my must have makeup pieces and bundle them together in my Harrods makeup bag, which surprisingly fits a lot in it. Lay out like this it looks like I have picked a lot of makeup, but I like to have options and I am happy with everything which I choose.

My Marc Jacob palette in Lolita is my absolute favourite palette in my entire collection. It contains the most beautiful range of colours for any occasion, which means it is my perfect choice for travelling as everything is in one place. My Nars Laguna Bronzer is the only bronzer which I use as you can tell I have hit pan, therefore it comes everywhere with me and would never choose anything else as I think nothing compares to it. My MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder, is also the only powder which I have been using recently, it adds just the right amount of product to the face. My Hourglass Ambient Blush Palette is brilliant for travelling as it just gives you options depending on what look you are wanting to create.

I brought two foundations for the simple reason that I like to have an everyday foundation and a more high end version. The L'Oreal True Match Foundation is a great drugstore foundation, and the best which I have found it offers create coverage and they have such a great range of shades. Without a doubt my best and priciest purchase of the year is Nars Sheer Glow Foundation. It had been as the top of my wish list for a while and at the start of the year I splashed out and it is perfection, I don't use this as my everyday foundation as unfortunately at £31 a bottle I cannot afford to repurchase it as often as I would need to. But, I have a few occasions where I will be wearing this whilst at home for birthdays and nights out.

The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is a very well-known beauty must have amongst the blogging community, and it deserves the praise which it gets. It has a creamy consistency and is excellent at covering blemishes. My must have mascara is the Maxfactor False Lash Effect Mascara as it adds volume and length which is exactly what I want, I am yet to find something drugstore or high end which is as good at this. My new favourite eyeliner is the Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner,  it has featured in quite a few recent blog posts as I have been loving it. It has a pen nib which is exactly what I like and it is perfect for precision if you just like a little line of eyeliner. 

My latest addition to my brush collection is the Zoeva All Over Shadow Brush, and is such great value at just £6.95. It is my most recent and first Zoeva purchase and I am very happy with it, it is super soft and allows you to get a full wash of colour across the lid with one swipe. A perfect combination is to use the MAC 217 Eyeshadow Brush  to blend any other colours together and is perfect for fitting in the crease of the eyelid. The Real Techniques Multi-task Brush is an essential and it goes with me everywhere as it is perfect for applying powder and bronzer, and I use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply my foundation.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe is something which I have deliberating buying for months now and I finally took the splurge. It is similar to the MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering  in terms of texture and application, but what sets the Brow Wiz apart is the colour range and Taupe is perfect for me and anyone with fair/medium blonde hair.

I only brought one lip colour with me and that is the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Descanso (not available was part of an exclusive set). I got this in the Digital World Lip Pencil Set over Christmas and it is the perfect nude with a hint of coral, making it orange toned. It is great as it goes with all kind of makeup looks either day or night. 

Lucy

xoxo

The Fab Pore

I have never been a face mask kinda girl, but I have recently been looking for something to help decongest my skin. Whilst browsing the aisles of Boot's, I came across a range of skincare masks from Soap & Glory. I had been wanting to try one from the company for a while but had just never found one which has taken my fancy. However, this time The Fab Pore caught my attention straight away, it is for oily/combination skin, my skin falls into the combination category. The fact that this is a 2 in 1 purifying mask and peel, really interested me. I hate masks which are complicated and you have to take a lot of time in order to apply it correctly. With this mask it [particularly targets clogged skin, you massage the product into your face and focusing on your T-Zone. You can leave it on for 5 minutes for a refresher and a quick boost, or 15 minutes for a deep cleanse. The scent of this is minty with a hint of citrus, which is really welcoming when applying to the skin. The consistency is quite thick but blends in easy, making the whole process very quick. I bought this the weekend before last, and it was on promotion for just £6 for 50ml, which is great value. Unfortunately, the offer does not appear to still be on as online it seems to be full price which is still a great price of £10.

Lucy
xoxo

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.
.
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