Wednesday 31 October 2012

A Recent REN Order.


Having a look on the REN website always results in placing an order, doesn't it? I'm almost at the end of my Elemis Papaya Peel now and although the Gatineau Radiance Enhancing Gommage is my favourite out of all the chemical exfoliators I've tried to date and I would 100% repurchase, and recommend it I just fancied trying something different. I was going to go for the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask as it seems to be the mask of the moment but I had a sample last year and I'm sure my sensitive skin didn't react to well to it. Instead I went for the F10 Smooth And Renew Mask which should suit me alot better as it's designed for sensitive skin but basically does a similar job to the Glycolactic Renewal Mask plus it's a tenner cheaper for the same amount of product. At the time I placed my order there was an offer on - free delivery for orders over 30 and 4 free samples. Free delivery gets me everytime so to bring my order upto £30 I added the Oat And Bay Conditioning Shampoo & Pro-Vitamin Conditioner to my basket. I hadn't heard of or read any reviews of REN's hair products apart from the reviews on the website when I clicked on them. The reviews were all positive but instead of going for the bigger sizes I went for the 100ml bottles to try out first. I'll be bringing these away with me in December and post a review after that. The 4 samples I chose: Invisible Pores Detox Mask - I've wanted to try this for a while now and I've read some great reviews. Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask - I've tried this before like I said but thought I'd get another sample while I had the chance and see if my skin can tolerate it any better now. T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid - I actually got this for my dad to try! :D I mentioned before that I finally managed to get him to ditch soap for cream cleansers and he's even admitted himself that his skin has improved so, so much. He's also obsessed with eye cream now and I'm forever decanting mine into travel pots for him but trying to get him to use moisturiser hasn't been so easy. He will kill me if he ever reads this! haha There was 4 free samples but I got sent 5 for some reason and the last two are the same product but in different packaging and with slightly different wording Vita-Mineral Day Cream/Vita-Mineral Radiant Day Cream - I didn't fancy any of ther other samples so just went for this. Moisturiser samples are always handy to have and hold quite a decent amount of product.

Let me know your thoughts on the Oat And Bay Conditioning Shampoo & Pro-Vitamin Conditioner if you've tried them.

Don't forget to enter my international REN giveaway here & BeTrousse giveaway here.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Review: Sarah Chapman Intensive Hydrating Booster, Overnight Exfoliating Booster, Skin Tone Perfecting Booster & Overnight Facial.


Carrying on from my post last week on 4 Sarah Chapman Skinesis products (link) This 2nd post includes the products which enable you to cocktail your skin care to suit your skins needs. No-ones skin is the same from day to day, mine definitely isnt so maybe that's why I love this range so much?

Intensive Hydrating Booster 5ml £9.50/30ml £57*: My cheeks get very badly dehydrated to the point were they get itchy, red, sore and hives pop up. They look constantly flushed and my pores appear bigger. It's really not a pretty sight! Intensive Hydrating Booster isn't heavy or thick. It has a thin, almost watery serum texture and can be slotted into any skincare routine and used all over the face or just where needed. I always mix one drop with the Age Repair Serum and slather it all over my cheeks before I apply moisturiser. Intensive Hydrating Booster contains Hyaluronic Acid (the ingredient you should always go for if your skin is dehydrated), moisture magnets and soothing rose water which plump fine lines. After only two days of using this my cheeks were almost back to 'normal'. They feel comfortable, the redness has died down and my pores look tighter. If you're happy with your skincare routine but suffer from dehydration definitely order the 5ml tube of this to try out for yourself. I bet you'll end up ordering the 30ml tube.

Overnight Exfoliating Booster 5ml £9.50/30ml £57*: Same as above, you can use this as and when you need it. Overnight Exfoliating Booster maximizes the skins own-night time cell renewal process. It contains salicylic acid and P Refinyl to reduce clogged pores and blemishes and tighten stretched pores. The non abrasive skin resufacers gently exfoliate while you sleep and you're left with brighter,smoother looking skin the next morning. You can really notice the difference when applying foundation. It goes on alot smoother and doesn't cling to any dry patches. It also targets fine lines, uneven skin and post blemish marking. I apply Overnight Exfoliating Booster three times a week (mixed with Age Repair Serum) to cleansed/toned skin before slathering on Overnight Facial or moisturiser. 

Skin Tone Perfecting Booster 5ml £9.50/30ml £57*: I don't really have pigmentation on my face yet but Skin Tone Perfecting Booster contains botanical skin brighteners and pigment lightening actives to target age spots, sun damage and discolouration. I can't comment on how well it work's for all of those but it helps defend against future UV damage, photo ageing and collagen degradation so I've continued to use it. There's anti-oxidants to soothe and protect the skins natural barrier, and my skin looks alot clearer. All the other products have worked wonders for me so I trust the brand enough to believe that Skin Tone Perfecting Booster is giving me some protection from future damage.

Overnight Facial 5ml £15/15ml £45*: The most famous product from the whole range. If you aren't familiar with Sarah's products you've still probably heard of this. It's the most simple product in the world (simple as in you just need to apply it) and gives amazing results! After applying any of the products listed above you finish of by massaging this gorgeous oil into your skin and forget about moisturiser. The oil isnt gloopy or thick, it's a cross between a serum and oil and feels like heaven on the skin. It is packed full of goodies to calm stressed skin, increase the life span of cells, brighten and firm the skin, and leave you with an amazing glow. On my skin it doesn't fully sink in, I'm able to massage my face for ages which helps it appear more plump. Overnight facial mimics the results you get from going to a spa and having a facial. The morning after using this you can see the difference straight away. It's not a product you have to use over a long period of time to see results. You will see how good your skin looks after the first use.

I almost never like every single product I try from one brand. I don't think it's ever happened before! My skin just loves this range and I really enjoy using the products - They're a pleasure to use, never feel like a chore and I really like how I can add the Booster's to give my skin an extra boost.

PS - My full size Ultimate Cleanse arrived today (it's part of my Christmas prezzie) and I'm so, so tempted to start using it now. Maybe I should set myself a cleanser challenge to get through all my half used cleansers by Christmas!

All products listed above are available from SarahChapman.Net
*PR sample

JĀSÖN® C-Effects™ Super-C™ Toner

JĀSÖN® C-Effects™ Super-C™ Toner £10.49

Over the last 5 years or so toner has had a place in my skin care routine. I have to be honest and say I never really understood the purpose of toner and after having a run in with one from Clean & Clear when I was around 16 I gave them a wide birth for the next lot of years. It honestly felt like I had used nail polish remover on my skin. Awful. Please, please, please don't use a toner that strips your skin. I know if you have oily skin it kind of makes sense to think anything that strips the oils from the skin is going to reduce the oil on your face but it does the complete opposite. Your skin knows you've removed every trace of oil and it's natural reaction is to produce more.

The main reason I use toner is to remove any last traces of cleanser that might be on my skin and because they supposedly reset the skins PH balance after it has been disrupted through cleansing with water. If they have extra skin benefits then that's even better. This one from JĀSÖN® is an anti-ageing daily mist, it claims to not only tone, refresh and purify the skin but it is enriched with Ester-C® and Vitamin C to help fight free radicals which contribute to fine lines. The scent is very fresh. For some reason I expected to smell oranges but it's just a lovely, clean fresh scent which isn't going to offend anyones nostrils. C-Effects™ Super-C™ Toner doesn't sting or leave the skin feeling tight in the slightest. It feels clean and fresh and preps the skin for moisture. Because of the benefits I'm guessing it was made with older skins in mind but it doesn't leave any residue behind which makes it suitable for younger, more oily skin too.

As with all JĀSÖN® products C-Effects™ Super-C™ Toner is free from ingredients such as parabens, SLS and Phthalates. The products are never tested on animals and the prices are very reasonable.

JĀSÖN® products C-Effects™ Super-C™ Toner is available from JasonNaturalCare

Do you use toner?
*PR sample
Don't forget to enter my international REN giveaway here & my BeTrousse giveaway here.

Monday 29 October 2012

Betrousse: Pretty Beauty Kit & Giveaway! *CLOSED*

Betrousse Pretty Beauty Kit £19*

This month see's the launch of another brilliant box from Betrousse. Unlike most other beauty boxes on the market Betrousse isn't a subscription service. You're able to see the contents on the website each month before deciding if you want to purchase it. Betrousse is also the best value beauty box in my opinion - all products are full size and you only pay a fraction of what the box is worth. You can read my other post for more details (link)

This month the kit I received is 'Pretty Beauty' the contents are worth a whopping £122 but the price you pay is only £19. See what I mean about value.

Cupcake Organic Frankincense & Orange Repairing Day Cream 30ml £16: I haven't tried anything from Cupcake Organic but I've spent a few hours eyeing up the products before. There's 3 varieties of this cream but the one I received is designed to protect and repair dry/mature skin. My skin isn't mature but with this weather I welcome anything that will help with dry patches.

Essyta Cosmetics Body Moisturizing Lotion For All Skin Types 250ml £13.50: I've never heard of this brand before but it is free from nasty ingredients such as parabens, petrochemicals etc. I'm pleased that it's made with more than 98% natural and organic ingredients. :) Body lotion always comes in handy, I should really start using it more often.

Yves Rocher Organic Hydra Refreshing Gel Cleanser 200ml £11: I haven't tried much from Yves Rocher but at the mo I'm using a micellar water and mask which I like so hopefully this will be a hit too. 98.9% of the ingredients are from natural origin and I'm happy to see it's free from parabens (the other 2 Yves Rocher products I have contain parabens) Its also safe for sensitive eyes.

Saffron London Cracking Nail Polish 75p: I don't like shatter effect polishes but I was surprised by how cheap this is. If you're a lover of the shatter effect then definitely take a look at this brand.

Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Volume Gloss (pink) 10ml £13.90: Yves Rocher mascara and lipgloss seem to be doing the rounds in beauty boxes lately. Luckily for me I haven't had the chance to try them yet and I've heard good things about the gloss. It is enriched with sandthorn extract which is known for it's moiturizing and plumping properties. It also claims to increase production of collagen in lips by 41%* and hyaluronic acid by 67%*. Sounds good to me.
Vera Valenti Valetta Eyeshadow £2: The palette I received is full of pinks and purples. I can safely say they'll never grace my face. I'm just not an eyeshadow person and I feel this palette would be better suited to teens.

Arganti 100% Pure Argan Oil 60ml £10: This couldn't have come at a better time! I'm on the last dregs of my other hair oils and I've wanted to try pure argan oil for a long time. £10 is such a reasonable price for this type of product. I'm sure you all know the benefits of aragn oil so I'll save you the blurb.

Papier Poudre Gift Pack Of 3 Booklets £7.95: I just think these look adorable! I don't own any blotting papers at the mo so can't wait to give them a try. There's 65 papers in each book (White, Rachel & Rose) For anyone who doesn't know, blotting papers soak up any oil on the face. They're great for anyone with oily skin. My skin isn't overly oily but I do get some shine on my t-zone.

Kesari Radieuse Anti-Age 30ml £47:  This anti-wrinkle serum/cream is targeted towards people 30+ but y'know me, I'll give it a go. It is certified organic and claims you will see results in 28 days. The claims look very impressive so I might test it out on me and my mum and report back if it's as good as it says.

The Pretty Beauty Kit is spot on for me! There's only 2 items I won't use - The Saffron London Cracking Nail Polish & the eyeshadow palette. What do you think of this box?

If you would like more info about Betrousse Kits just have a look on the website (link)

Now for the giveaway!

-If you would like to win this kit worth £122 (brand new) all you have to do is be a follower of this blog via GFC, like the Betrousse facebook page Here and leave your email in the comments of this post (1 entry)
-For extra entries you can follow me on Twitter: @lippybblogger (+1entry)
-Tweet about this giveaway (+1)
-Follow me on Bloglovin' (+1)

This giveaway open to UK only I'm afraid. It will run untill November 6th and I will pass the winners details onto Betrousse who will then send your box out to you.
*PR sample

The winner is Beauty Fiend :) congratulations! Please send me your details from the email you left below.

Sunday 28 October 2012

Nars 'Douceur'

The last few days have been a nightmare. 'Nightmare' might seem a little OTT to 'normal' people but for me and all of you a nightmare is exactly what it is. I had enough post's lined up to make sure I covered every single day this month. Even if I missed a day I could post twice the next day and it'd be even stevens but it wasn't to be - My Broadband decided to go down like a sack of spuds, I was net-less untill about 5 minutes ago. I honestly felt like I'd lost a limb, I didn't know what to do with myself. I was able to read post's via my phone but I couldn't comment which made it even worse. I did ring BT but they were about as useful as the applicators that come in cheap eyeshadow set's. Please tell me I'm not the only person who has a slight meltdown when they're cut off from the WWW. Anyway, onto the beauty that is Douceur.

Nars Douceur £21

Every once in a while a product finds it's way into my life (thanks Lina!) then into my make up bag, then on to my face everytime I wear make up. The title of this post tell's you exactly what product I'm referring to. 'Douceur' has been on my radar, and wish list for a good while now but if you've been reading my blog you'll know blush isn't at the top of my list. I can take it or leave it and more often than not I leave it.

Douceur is described as a ''soft, pink brown' on my skintone it works really well. It subtly sculpts and adds more shape to my round, chubby face. The shade is really natural. It isn't the most pigmented blush in the world but it adds just the right amount of colour to brighten/lift the face and makes a nice change from the usual shades of pink. I can wear any eye/lip colour and not have to worry if Douceur will clash - it goes with absolutely everything! I get a full 8 hours wear from Douceur which is another reason why I love it. I'm not one for fixing my make up halfway through the day, if I have to top up I won't use it (my only exception is lippy) if you have a light/medium skintone Douceur will suit you perfectly and if you're lazy like me you'll love it as it eliminates the need to apply blush and contour but of course you could still use both. Darker skintones might struggle with Douceur as it's so subtle. The texture isn't chalky in the slightest but you do get alot of fall-out around the pan. The packaging is slim and compact with a decent sized mirror. It takes up no space at all in my make up bag.

Douceur is my first blush from Nars and I'm really, really impressed. Do you own Douceur? What other shades would you recommend?

Friday 26 October 2012

Complexion Perfection With Liz Earle Signature Foundation.


Liz Earle recently launched Signature Foundation which is available in 9 shades. I don't know how many of you are lucky enough to live near a Liz Earle store but myself and alot of others don't so this is perfect for us - choosing a foundation shade without seeing it in real life is hard, most of the time the swatches aren't true to life and we're left disappointed. To help us decide which of the 9 Signature Foundation shades will suit us best, the smartie pants over at Liz Earle have created an exclusive web page where we can review the 9 models and get a better idea of what shade to go for (link) If for whatever reason you're not happy you can return it for free by post or in store, no questions asked.

Liz Earle have recently been voted best online retailer by Which? members so to celebrate this accolade there will be free UK and ROI p&p on all orders from 8.30am on Thursday 25th October to midnight on Wednesday 31st October, with no minimum spend.

PS - Did you know the Liz Earle Advent Calendar launched yesterday? (link) behind each of the 24 doors there will be a mini bodycare, haircare, skincare or fragrance surprise!

Thursday 25 October 2012

Review: Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse, Dynamic Defence Day Cream, Age-Repair Serum & Eye Recovery


Sarah Chapman launched her own signature product range in 2008 and has won various awards including Best New Skincare Brand at the CEW Awards 2009. Her products are even featured in the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible (which I own and have read countless times). I've been testing out 8 products from the range but instead of squishing everything into one post it'll be split into two. You might want to go grab a cuppa, or a sick bucket - this is going to be a positive review.

Ultimate Cleanse 15ml £9/100ml £40*: If you've been reading my blog for a while now you'll know I have a weakness for cleansers. Cleansing is my favourite step in my skincare routine and it's also said to be the most important. I enjoy nothing more than spending a good few minutes removing all the dirt and grime of the day from my face so for me a cleanser needs to feel nice. Ultimate cleanse starts off as a balm but once you start massaging it around your face it melts to oil and keeps it's 'slip' so you're able to give yourself a good facial massage for as long as you want. The balm/oil works it's way deep into pores and removes impurities then when you add water it changes to a milk. Ultimate Cleanse is full of anti-ageing ingredients as well as ingredients to boost collagen production. It leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft, completely clean but never dry or tight and my lashes feel conditioned. I've just been using a flannel to remove the milk but you can buy the mitts online. I love the packaging too, it's airtight which means the last drop is as fresh and potent as the first. Ultimate Cleanse is the most gorgeous cleanser I've ever used! I'm really picky when it comes to cleanser but I can't fault it. I've been banging on about it to anyone who will listen and have even ordered the 100ml pump.

Dynamic Defence SPF 15 15ml £16/40ml £43*: My skin is at an awkward age. I'm 26 and have been using anti-ageing products off and on since I was about 20 (wrinkle phobia) but most anti-ageing moisturisers are too heavy and thick for me to use during the day. I usually only apply them at night but because they're just too much for my skin to handle ,I end up with spots. I still suffer from the odd spot but I'm at an age now where I'm starting to notice fine lines (only around my eyes but I want to prevent them appearing on the rest of my face) and need anti-ageing products. Trying to find a product to target fine lines without over stimulating my skin and causing spots is almost impossible. I've been using Dynamic Defence everyday for around a month now and I don't think I've had any spots in that time. The texture isn't what I would expect from an anti-ageing moisturiser, it sinks into my skin quickly and doesn't cause an oil slick halfway through the day. It sits well under foundation too and keeps my skin feeling plump all day. I either use it on it's own or on top of Age-Repair Serum depending on how my skin is feeling.

Age-Repair Serum 15ml £24/30ml £47*: This serum does it all really. It brightens, plumps, firms, boosts collagen production and targets fine lines, wrinkles and uneven dark pigmentation. It has a light cream texture and doesn't feel heavy or oily on the skin like some serums can but if your skin is dehydrated like mine you'll see a big difference. It's like an extra layer of protection for your skin - revolutionary  peptides protect against enviromental damage and it can be used day or night. Age-Repair Serum contains alot of fancy pants ingredients such as Syn®-Coll Tripeptide. Admittedly I have no idea what Syn®-Coll Tripeptide is but when I read the ingredient list I expected my skin to break out. It didn't.

Eye Recovery 5ml £13/15ml £39*: My eye area is my main concern. I have bags, puffiness, dark circles and fine lines. How lucky am I?! Eye Recovery contains an ingredient called Syn-Ake peptide which creates a botox like effect to instantly plump and smooth fine lines. My ears pricked up when I heard Botox like effect but I was sceptical. My eyes look more awake once I've applied this thanks to optical diffusers, and fine lines seem to disappear. I'm so pleased with this eye cream, it hasn't even irritated my sensitive eyes! I haven't noticed a difference in my dark circles but in all honesty I didn't expect to. Eye Recovery can be used around the lip area and between the eyes, it can even be used as a mask and left on for 20 minutes but I'm yet to try this.

Sarah Chapman Skinesis products seem to react really well with my skin, especially the cleanser. The products are going to suit a wide age range. If you're my age or younger you're going to visibly see and feel the change in your skin, and if you're older then the results are going to be even better. My skin feels and looks alot healthier - it's plump, less dull and foundation goes on smoother. My cheeks were badly dehydrated and had been for a long time even though I used products targeted towards dehydration but with this range I'm noticing huge improvements. If you're thinking about trying a new skincare range, make it this one.

All products listed above are available from SarahChapman.Net
*PR sample

NOTD: Nails Inc. Picadilly Circus

 Nails Inc. Picadilly Circus £11

One of my favourite nail colours ever is this shade from Nails Inc. My swatches arent 100% accurate, I don't know why my camera has started having trouble with certain colours but its killing me! In real life Picadilly Circus is a deeper berry shade. The formula is brilliant and if applied carefully it's a one coater. It dries quickly, doesn't streak and I can usually get around 4 days wear before any chipping or tip wear appears.

Products Used:
Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base Coat
Nails Inc Picadilly Circus (2 coats)
Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat

Picadilly Circus looks great on any skin tone. It has a high gloss finish and unlike a lot of Nails Inc shades I don't find it to be gloopy at all.

Whats on your nails today?

Don't forget to enter my international giveaway (link)

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Lately I've Been Lovin' #7

Another month is almost over now. I hate to wish my life away but I can't wait untill Christmas so I don't mind these last few months going by so quickly. With the change in weather comes a change in skin care and I've upped my skin care game with some gorgeous products from Sarah Chapman. Worming their way into my favourites this month are..

Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse* & Dynamic Defence Anti-Ageing Day Cream*: I'll be reviewing both products at the end of the month so don't want to give too much away BUT, has Ultimate Cleanse made it's way into my No 1 cleanser spot? Ohhhhh. The products are paraben free which is always a plus, they smell great and are packed full of vitamins, antioxidants and omega rich oils. Dynamic Defence Day Cream also has SPF15.

Nars Blush in 'Douceur': Since receiving this beauty from Lina it's been the only blush I've used (I think). It's perfect for this time of year and adds just the right amount of colour. It's quite a sculpting shade which eliminates the need for separate blush and contour, and it's great for fair skintones. It's not the most pigmented shade in the world so you don't have to worry about being a bit cack handed with your blush application.

Chanel Vertigo: I'm having quite the love affair with Vertigo this month. I've lost count of how many times I've reapplied it. It's such a glossy, unusual, wintery shade and everytime I look at it the shade is slightly different but it chips like a mufuggah! See my swatches here.

L'Occitane Limited Edition Hand Cream in 'Rose Petals': I can't help but feel happy everytime I slather this on my mitts. The scent is exactly like roses - not artificial or granny-like in any way. It doesn't work any better than the original version but I've just really been enjoying the scent.

What's made it's way into your favourites this month?
*PR sample
Don't forget to enter my international giveaway (link)

Monday 22 October 2012

Review: ST. TROPEZ Gradual Tan Everyday Mousse

ST. TROPEZ Gradual Tan Everyday Mousse £16.34*

Hairtrade.com is one of the UK's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products. This month from the vast array of products available on the website I decided to try St.Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Mousse. Back in the day when I used to be a tan junkie I always favoured mousse or runny liquid almost water type tanning products to the thick cream types as they just dry so much quicker on my skin. I haven't used a mousse or St. Tropez in a long time but it was as easy as I remember it being.

This time of year I always prefer a more natural looking tan as a deep tan on my fair skin in this weather isn't going to fool anyone but I find the usual gradual tanning lotions turn my skin a weird shade of yellow (has anyone else noticed this?) St. Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Mousse doesn't have a colour guide so you do have to be careful with application to ensure you haven't missed any bits and don't end up with hideous streaks but the mousse is just so easy to apply. It glides along the skin and dries within a few seconds so you don't need to do the flappy, naked John Wayne style walk around your room before getting dressed.

You can top up with this tan as often as you like. I usually apply it a few hours before bed then shower the next morning. I've been applying another coat every other night and have been really pleased with the results. The website states that St. Tropez's  innovative Aromaguard™ fragrance technology eliminates the tell-tale self tan aroma by a minimum of 70% and while it is one of the least whiffy tans I've ever used I can still catch the odd tan pong before showering but it's nothing compared to other self tanners on the market.

Overall it's a great product and one I would fully recommend to anyone who prefers a more natural glow in the winter months.

St. Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Mousse available from here.

*Product sent for review

Sunday 21 October 2012

Shopping My Stash #4

I'm so glad I decided to start doing these posts. Of course there's some items I never switch up such as eyeshadow but I'm really making more of an effort not to neglect what I already own. I've noticed I haven't been buying as much make up either which makes my bank account very happy.

Judith Williams Luxury Diamond Magic Make Up: I posted about this back in April (link) but since getting YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat no other bases have had a look in really. The texture is REALLY similar to Benefit The POREfessional but it adds some coverage and blurs imperfections. The ingredients aren't on the tube but I'm guessing it's made up from alot of silicone. The reason I like it is because it leaves no tidelines even though the shade looks really dark before you blend it. It's a one shade suits all type product and you don't even need a brush to apply it. The less I need to do the better - lazy girl make up.

Benefit Realness Of Concealness Kit: This is the last chance saloon for this mini fake it kit. It contains Boi-ing concealer which Benefit seem to think is 'industrial strength' & Lemon Aid colour correcting eyelid primer both of which are solid and almost impossible to get any from the pans. On the rare occasion I've been able to get some on my finger from the pan they do nothing at all apart from crease and look obvious. Infact, they make me look even worse. The kit also contains Ooh La Lift Under Eye De-Puffer - another pointless product in my opinion. It doesn't lift or de-puff. Lip Plump - a lip primer which doesn't plump in the slightest so why it's called Lip Plump is beyond me & High-Beam - the only product from the kit that doesn't make me want to pull my hair out. I've been hanging onto this kit for way too long  but after this fortnight if I still hate it I'll be introducing it to the bin.

Clarins Instant Light Perfecting Touch: Very similar to YSL Touche Eclat. I do really like this product but never reach for it as often as I should as the brush applicator is very thin and flimsy. I think I'm almost at the end of it now so hopefully it'll be another product for an empties post soon.

Avon Super Curlacious Mascara: Another unopened mascara from my mascara stash. I used to really like some of the mascaras from Avon and I don't think I've ever tried this one so I'm interested to see how well it curls my stupidly straight lashes.

MAC Speak Louder & Benefit No Competition: 'Speak Louder' is one of my all time favourite lipsticks but the reason it's in this post is because I still don't have the balls to wear 'No Competition' on it's own. It's the darkest, most vampy shade I own and I love it but I'm just not brave enough to wear it without mixing it with 'Speak Louder'. In the photo 'No Competition' doen't even look that dark but trust me, it is.

Have you tried any of these products before?

Don't forget to enter my international giveaway (link)

Saturday 20 October 2012

NOTD & The Dupe: MAC Anti-Fashion


MAC Anti-Fashion Nail Laquer

Anti-Fashion is my first taste of MAC nail laquer. I'm not sure why but when I'm on the hunt for new shades I never think to look at MAC and usually gravitate towards brands such as Nails Inc. In my recent swap with Lina she included Anti-Fashion from MAC - a dirty grey/plum/purple shade shot through with purple shimmer. The shimmer isn't always obvious but it comes alive under bright lights and the rest of the time you're left with a deep, murky, dirty (in the best way) shade of grey/purple. The nail laquer bottle in the 2nd photo shows the murkiness best. The consistency is on the thin side but you get full coverage with 2 coats. The brush was easy enough to work with and drying time was good too.

Products Used:
Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base Coat
MAC Anti-Fashion (2 coats)
Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat

The dupe? Rimmel Hot List. I've swatched both on my nail wheel and most of the time I can't see any difference no matter what light I hold the wheel under but if I had to be picky I would say Hot List is slighly more purple but not noticeably so. I don't own Chanel Paradoxal but I've saw side by side swatches and Hot List is pretty close. If you love Paradoxal but don't fancy spending that amount of money and can't get hold of Rimmel in your country then go for MAC Anti-Fashion.

Anti-Fashion | Hot List | Anti-Fashion | Hot List

Each swatch looks like a completely different colour. It was so hard trying to get the true colour to show but the middle out of focus photo is the most accurate.

Do you own Hot List or Anti-Fashion? And do you have on any tips on how to make colours come across in photos how they are in real life?

Don't forget to enter my international giveaway (link)

Thursday 18 October 2012

The Bath #2


This week I wasn't in the mood for the scent of essential oils. Instead I opted for a sweet, foody scented bath time. As usual I lit my candle half an hour before I ran my bath and this weeks candle of choice was one of my all time favourites - Rodial Lounge Scented Candle. Rodial candles look beautiful and smell good enough to eat. 'Lounge' smells like vanilla and honeycomb but not overpowering or sickening in any way. While the room was being filled with the most gorgeous sweet scent I cleansed and exfoliated before applying Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask. Exotic Moisturising Mask can be left on for 20 minutes or overnight. I tend to use it in the bath as it's not the type of mask that will drip off your face. My skin gets so dehydrated with this weather so any mask which adds moisture is more than welcome. It plumps up my skin and diminishes the look of fine lines. I'll need it by the bucket load come Christmas! After I've piled on my mask I fill the bath and start to pour in Philosophy Hot Buttered Rum Bath & Shower Gel. I can't even explain how good this smells. The name sounds horrible to me, I hate the smell of alcohol but trust me, it smells nothing like rum. The scent reminds me of hot sticky toffee pudding. Toffee, sugar, caramel, chocolate and everything else that tastes/smells gorgeous but will rot your teeth. It creates a mountain of bubbles but they do start to disappear after around 10 minutes. After having a scrub in my Hot Buttered Rum bubbles I grab my mag (this week it was OK Extra) and relax for half an hour while my face slurps up the mask.

Can you think of any bath products I might love?

Don't forget to enter my international giveaway (link)

Wednesday 17 October 2012

YSL Peach Passion Rouge Volupte Lipstick


Peach Passion is a peachy coral shade with the creamiest texture of any lippy I've ever owned or tried. When I first swatched it on the back of my hand I couldnt believe how creamy it was! I Was mid conversation with my mum while swatching and it slipped right across the back of my hand! Not only is the formula crazily creamy but the coverage is fully opaque. Maybe even too opaque at times. Honestly, you barely need to touch your lips to get full coverage.  The consistency is great for anyone with dry lips. I don't find it clings to or highlights any dryness and I never need to use a balm first. But with that positive comes a negative - it only lasts around an hour on me.

Do I even need to mention the packaging? No, but I'm going to anyway. We all have certain products that make us feel special whenever we use them and this is one of mine. It looks special, it feels special and it attracts alot of attention. YSL can do no wrong packaging wise in my eyes. Another thing I love is the shape of the lipstick. The almost flat top works alot better for me as my lips are stupidly thin. With regular shaped lipstick I have to be careful I dont end up with lippy a mile above my lip line.

Peach Passion might not be the most Autumnal colour but this doesn't bother me in the slightest. It'll be great for smokey eye days and it'll keep my lips feeling nice and soft in this horrible weather we've been having.

Huge thanks to Lina for creating a Rouge Volupte monster! :)

Do you own Peach Passion? What shade should I go for next?

Don't forget to enter my international giveaway (link)

NOTD: Nails Inc. Savile Row


Nails Inc. Savile Row

I got a Nails Inc. gift set for Christmas a few years back containing 10 mini's but the bottles and brushes are so dinky and awkward to use that I neglected it completely. After having a look through the set last week Savile Row jumped out at me. It's the most gorgeous deep plum shade and is perfect for Autumn.

Products Used:
Nails Inc. Kensington Caviar Base Coat
Nail Inc. Savile Row (2 coats)
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat

The tiny brush was a nightmare to use. It was also slanted for some reason which didn't make for the tidiest paint job but the colour is stunning and opaque in two coats. I think I might have to pick up a full sized bottle soon, or maybe put it on my Christmas list.

Do you own Savile Row?

Dont forget to enter my international giveaway (link)