Xen-Tan Dark Lotion

Xen-Tan Dark Lotion*

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, ate plenty of unhealthy food and got everything you wanted from Santa! :)  but now that it's over for another year we can get back to blogging. One product I've been trying out over the festive period is Xen-Tan Dark Lotion.

Xen-Tan Dark Lotion is a once weekly tan enriched with coconut and walnut oils. It's a favourite amongst A-List celebrities and claims to last for upto 10 days. The lotion is tinted so you can see exactly where you're putting it, eliminating the chances of ending up with awful streaks and instead of taking around 8 hours to develop you can jump in the shower after only 3 hours. Xen-Tan Dark Lotion sinks into the skin straight away. There's no waiting around flapping your arms to make it dry quicker and the lotion left my skin feeling hydrated and smooth.

Unfortunately Xen-Tan Dark Lotion only lasted around 5/6 days on my skin but it did fade evenly as promised and didn't cling to areas such as knees, ankles and elbows. It also has a much nicer scent than other tanning products I've tried and my skin didn't dry out as the tan faded. Don't be put of by the mention of dark in the name. You can apply one light coat for a healthy natural look or add a second coat to build up your tan to a colour you're happy with. I'm very fair but went with 2 coats to get the full affect and see how well it wears.

Overall it is a great product and one to check out if you haven't already.

Xen-Tan Dark Lotion 236ml £28.99 but currently £20.29 from xen-tan.co.uk

Have you tried Xen-Tan Dark Lotion?

What's your favourite tanning product?

*PR sample

Shopping My Stash #7: The Christmas Face

So for this weeks shopping my stash post I cheated a wee bit. I've included a few things I always use but since it's almost Christmas I wanted to make sure what I've included is what I want on my face on Christmas day.

Ysl Touche Eclat, Liz Earle Brow Pencil, Garnier Tinted Roll On, DIY Brow Gel and Le Teint Touche Eclat are what I reach for everytime I do my make up.

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 03 Strawberry Kiss: A bright, in your face, long lasting, matte red. You can see my post and swatches here. Pigmentation is fantastic, staying power is second to none and lets face it, it'll need to last all day while I'm shoveling down everything in sight. It's Christmas, rocking a red lip is the law.

Urban Decay Naked Palette & Primer Potion: My Naked palette has taken a back seat lately but I keep seeing FOTD posts and admiring the eye shadow they're wearing only to find out it's 'Half Baked'. Never would I pair a bright gold eye with red lips but red and gold just scream Christmas to me.

Collection Gel Liner: This isn't the best gel liner in the world but for the price, it's brilliant and perfect for defining the eyes. It does fade as the day goes on but I can deal with that.

Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus & Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara: I adores the this mascara brush. It allows me to get right to the corners and as the name states, it's pretty good at lengthening. I don't know if it's just because I have sensitive eye's but I always feel as if bits crumble off after a while and end up in my eyes. Does anyone else has this problem? Lash Primer Plus just helps add that extra bit of length and thickens the look of my lashes.

MAC MSF in 'Soft & Gentle': Perfetc for helping my dull Winter skin look more alive without being over the top.

NARS 'Douceur': I can't fault this blush. It's the perfect shade and is great when you're wearing a strong eye or lip and don't want a bright shade on your cheeks.

This might be my last post before Christmas so I hope you all have a lovely time and are spolit rotten by Santa. :)

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here



It's Not Christmas Without Glitter.

I love glitter all year round but even more so at Christmas so I've gathered together some faves from my collection. Different colours, chunky glitter, fine glitter, shimmer, flakies and holo's all at different price points.

Nails Inc: Edinburgh Gate | Noel Street (link) | Chelsea Embankment (link) |

Nails Inc Holly Place (link) | Nails Inc Sloane Square (link)|

Nails Inc Shepherds Market (link) | Milani 530 Gems | Milani 533 Silver

Milani 531 Gold (link for all 3) | Mavala Violet Diamond | Mavala Black Diamond

Mavala Pink Diamond | Revlon Facets Of Fuchsia | Ciate Confetti* (link)

Angelica Brit Pop* | Rimmel Disco Ball

Last but not least - Paul & Joe Fairie Queen (layered over a light shade) (layered over a dark shade) | GOSH Rainbow (link)

I've left links beside any I've swatched before.

What will be on your nails this Christmas?

*PR sample

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

Yet Another Champagne Shimmer Eye Shadow: Stila Kitten

Stila Eye Shadow in 'Kitten'

Can anyone else notice a theme in my favourite eye shadows? Urban Decay 'Sin', Chanel Illusion D'Ombre 'Emerveille', MAC 'All That Glitters' and now Stila 'Kitten'.

I'm always drawn to shimmery, peachy champagne shades and I make no apologies for that. They instantly brighten your eyes, lift your face and make you look more awake when really you've had one hour sleep and are ready to kill dead things. 'Kitten' has always been on my wish list but there was always something I wanted more and 'kitten' got pushed to the back of the list but that all changed a few weeks back when I found myself at a Stila stand in Boots, the ''do I really need it'' thought went straight out the window and I almost sprinted to the till.

The shadow is buttery soft and reminds me alot of Urban Decay eye shadows. It lasts well on the lids even without primer and any fading throughout the day is minimal.

Am I the last person on earth to own Stila?
What other products from Stila should I check out?

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

My Top Ten Products Of 2012

For me 2012 has been a year full of trying out and discovering new products. Some which have been on the market for years and some which are only a few months old but are already a firm favourite of mine. I'm sure most, if not all won't be a shock to anyone who reads my blog as I blabber on about them constantly.

In no particular order:

Liz Earle Brow Pencil in 'Fair'*: Word's cannot describe how much I love this! The only brow pencil I've ever been able to use due how brilliantly the shade matches my brows. I'm sick of pencils being too green or too red, in my opinion 'Fair' is perfect. The texture isn't too soft which eliminates any smudging and my brows last (even in the rain) untill I cleanse. If like me you find all brow pencils to be too red, give this a go.

Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse: 'Ultimate Cleanse' describes this cleanser perfectly. It starts off as a balm but once you start massaging it into your skin it turns to oil and never loses it's slip allowing you to give yourself a good facial massage for as long as you wish. When you add water the oil turns to milk and is easily removed with a flannel/mitt/muslin. Skin is left feeling plump, soft, moisturised and looks so radiant.

I didnt have any Ultimate Cleanse left for the photo and I won't get my hands on my new tube untill Christmas so I'm going to cheat and throw in another product I love...

Beever Daily Revive*: I use Daily Revive as a detangling spray everytime I wash my hair. Unlike a lot of leave in sprays it doesn't leave my hair feeling weighed down or sticky. It also makes straightening my hair alot quicker

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction: The newest addition to my body care arsenal but good enough to make it into my top 10. When you're not in the mood for an oily, moisturising exfoliator and don't want a layer of residue left on your skin then Pulp Friction is the way to go. The exfoliating particles are small but densely packed and leave your skin free from any rough/dry areas.

Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base & Top Coat: I'm still waiting for something to come along and knock this duo off my top spot. Kensington Caviar made it into my favourites last year and here they are again this year. I can't fault them. My mani's last longer and as promised, my nails are touch dry in 45 seconds.

Real Techniques Delux Crease Brush and Buffing Brush: Am I cheating by including 2 brushes as one item? I have a feeling the answer is yes but I'm doing it anyway. I never thought I'd be sat here declaring my love for make up brushes. Before Real Techniques came into my life my brush collection was minimal. I'd never found a brush that gave a finish I liked so always used my hands to apply foundation. The Buffing Brush and Delux Crease brush make such a big difference and the brush sets are reasonably priced.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream: If you're hands are dry to the pont of cracking, try this. If they're not overly dry, try this. If you just want to start using hand cream, try this. L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream is the best I've ever tried.

L'Oreal Color Riche Nail 'Opera Ballerina': Not only my most repurchased nail colour this year but my most repurchased nail colour ever! Opera Ballerina is the perfect colour for any occasion. You can do one coat for a subtle, clean nail look or add 3 coats for an opaque, clean nail look. 

Tangle Teezer: I have a feeling the Tangle Teezer will make it into my favourites every year. It featured last year and here it is again! My hair resembles a matted dog when I get out of the shower. No type of comb or brush is ever going to get through my wet hair and using anything else takes upto an hour to fully detangle my hair. This is one of the best purchases I've ever made and I now have my eye on the shower version.

Chanel Illusion D'ombre 'Emerveille': This beauty can be used as an eye shadow base or worn alone. It instantly brightens the eyes and makes me look more awake. You don't even need to use a brush to apply it and it lasts a full day on me without creasing. I've now got a back up thanks to Lina :)
YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat: It's rare that I get excited over new foundation launches but I was like a kid at Christmas when Le Teint Touche Eclat first hit the Selfridges website. The shade is the best colour match I've ever had, it covers imperfections without masking the skin and most importantly, it leaves a fesh dewy finish. This has to be my most worn foundation this year.

What products have made it into your top 10 this year?

*PR sample

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here  

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment*

I recently finished my bottle of Moroccon Oil. It lasted such a long time but instead of ordering another bottle I thought it was about time I tried out the Macadamia version. I'm forever reading rave reviews on Macadamia products, namely the mask so I had high hopes for the healing oil treatment.

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment works in the same way as other oil treatments on the market. It smoothes the hair, tames frizz, adds shine and makes your hair look and feel alot healthier. Just like Moroccan Oil, Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment contains silicone so you will need to use a clarifying shampoo every so often to get rid of any build up. The claim of reducing drying time is true. When I leave my hair to dry naturally it dries twice as fast when I use Macadamia oil. It also claims to extend the life of colour treatments but I haven't noticed any difference in that department.

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment is alot lighter than Moroccan Oil making it perfect for anyone with fine hair but for my hair I need to use twice as much as I usually would.

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment 10ml £3.40 available from hairtrade.com, one of the UK's leading retailers of hair extension, hair care and beauty products.

Have you tried Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment?

*Product sent for review 

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

This Works: Deep Sleep Pillow Talk Set

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Talk Set £20

My sleeping pattern used to be all over the place. I don't have insomnia but it take's me forever to doze off at night. Once I'm asleep I could sleep for days but it's the dozing off part I've always struggled with. No matter how tired I am my brain just won't switch off. Things are always ticking over in my head and as a result I've lost count of how many nights I've gone without sleep.

Lack of sleep interferes with your day to day life. It affects your mood, makes you feel ill and takes it's toll on your skin but not many people like the idea of using sleeping tables and seek more natural alternatives but often are left disappointed. I haven't tried many things to help me sleep, mostly because they're always scented with lavender which I hate with a passion. I tried a pillow spray a few years back and had to swap my pillows with ones from the spare room as the scent was so strong and made me feel really sick.

This duo from This Works contains contains 75ml Deep Sleep Pillow Spray and 5ml Stress Less Roll-On. They both contain lavender but for some reason I prefer the scent of the roll-on much more than the pillow spray so I make sure I only do 2 sprays on each pillow atleast half an hour before I get it to bed. By the time I get into bed the scent is just right, not overpowering at all and most importantly, doesn't make me feel sick.

The first night I tried the Deep Sleep Pillow Spray I fell asleep within half an hour. I've used it every night since I bought it and every night I've dozed off in less than an hour. Less than an hour might seem like a long time to people who fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow but for me it's a big deal! I'm not going to sit here and say it's all down to the scent, it could well just be placebo but either way it work's for me and I'm really impressed. 

Deep Sleep Stress Less Roll-On is a soothing natural remedy which claims to help you breathe more easily and calm your senses. The scent is much nicer than the pillow spray but the staying power isnt great. I've been carrying it around in my bag and putting it on my wrists before bed. It does chill me out before bed or any time when I'm feeling a bit stressed but as I said, the scent doesn't last very long on the skin.

There's a whole host of products included in the Sleep range. I really want to try some more, especially the Deep Sleep candle.

Is my improved sleeping pattern all down to the magical ingredients in the Deep Sleep Pillow Talk set? Who knows but I've slept well every night since using it so for that reason I'll definitely repurchase.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Talk available from This Works

Have you tried this duo or anything from the sleep range?

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

December: Used, Abused And Reviewed.

Another month means another empties post so here we go.

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo: Anything that enables me to go an extra day without washing my hair will always have a place in my overflowing cupboard. I always go for the tropical scent, it's lovely! I love anything that even slightly smells like coconut and this more than ticks that box. I found the cherry version after months of searching but it's safe to say I'll be sticking with tropical from now on.

Repurchase? Yes.

White Glow Extra Strength Whitening Toothpaste - Coffee & Tea Drinkers Formula: I ordered the Original, Coffee & Tea and Smokers versions of this toothpaste a few months back. I ordered all 3 to see which works best (I'm yet to try the other 2). I don't normally include toothpaste but I really liked this! It hasn't made my teeth pure white but there's definitely a difference and it left my teeth feeling really, really clean. Each tube come's with a toothbrush and pack of toothpicks which are rubbish but it's reasonably priced at around £4.

Repurchase? Yes

Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse*: I can't even explain how much I love this balmy, oily, milky cleanser. I've been banging on about it for weeks now and it even has a spot in my Holy Grail list. You can read my full review (link) for more details.

Repurchase? Already have.

Insette Clubbers Extra Hold Hairspray: This tiny bottle has been living in one of my old clutch bags for years now. I think it's been there since I was in Magaluf 3 years ago. I found it during the week and decided to use up the rest. It's handy for nights out as its so teeny and fits into almost any bag but the spray is similar to that of a supersoaker. I used it in the loo one night while I was a bit tipsy and shot the girl next to me in the face. Not good!

Repurchase? No.

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel: Does this tube of beautness really need an introduction? Smells gorgeous, leaves my skin feeling baby soft and is gentle on my sensitive skin. The tube is only 50ml and quite pricey but it lasted me a decent amount of time.

Repurchase? Yes

Moroccan Oil: Does absolutely nothing for the condition of your hair but thanks to the silicone overload it make's the hair look and feel alot healthier. It calms frizz, adds shine and made my hair easier to straighten. I think this bottle lasted me almost 2 years, you definitely get your moneys worth but every few months I would have a break from it to get rid of the build up it left.

Repurchase? Yes

Louise Galvin Nourishing Shampoo For Dry/Damaged Hair*: If you have a sensitive scalp, avoid parabens, SLS and other nasties then this is for you. Even though it's a nourishing shampoo I find it really clarifying and it doesn't leave my hair feeling heavy or flat. It helps rid the hair of any build up and leaves the most gorgeous shine. You can read my review here (link) the price is really good too for an SLS free shampoo.

Repurchase? I'm sure I will at some point.

The Body Shop Rainforest Moisture Shampoo: I'm so glad to finally use up this 400ml bottle! It has lasted me a year exactly but not because a little goes a long way, I just wasn't a fan. My hair didn't feel clean when I used this, it left an almost sticky film over the hair which weighed it down. By the next day my hair always looked like it needed washed again. I wasn't impressed at all and woudn't recommend it.

Repurchase? Nope.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask*: I was able to get 5 uses from this small pot. After exfoliating I apply this clay mask and allow it to do it's thang for 20 minutes while my face feels like it's turning to stone. My cheeks (close to my nose) are way to sensitive but it works wonders on my forehead, nose, chin and cheekbone area. I get teeny bumps under my skin, I'm not sure what they are but they never turn into spots. This deep cleansing mask seem's to bring them to the surface and within a few hours the bumps are completely gone.

Repurchase? Yes

Good Things Bright Eyes Eye Cream: This eye cream claims to help with puffiness and dark circles. I'm unlucky enough to have both but I didn't notice any difference. It might be a good one for teens to start using but it's not going to be much good for anyone with eye concerns.

Repurchase? No

Dr.Organic Rose Otto Skin Lotion: I can't get enough of rose scented products. Last year I hated anything rose and always associated the scent with grannies. Maybe I'm just turning into a granny? I can't fault the scent of this lotion, it's not artificial at all but it didn't do a great job at moisturising. It felt nice when first applied but after an hour or so my skin felt as if I'd skipped moisturiser.

Repurchase? No

Yankee Candle Blueberry Scone: I've been buying this scent for years now and probably always will. The scent is sweet without being sickly and it really fills a room unlike some other scents. I've been using the empty jar to store my L'Occitane hande creams.
Repurchase? Yes.

L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream: For me this is the mother of all hand creams! It's thick, rich and heavy but my skin drinks it up within seconds. I prefer this original version to all the limited editions L'Occitane come out with. I can't fault it, it even made it's way into my Holy Grail list.
Repurchase? Mhm.

Have you tried any of these products?

What have you managed to work your way through this month?

*PR sample

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

Clarins Bronzing Duo

Clarins Bronzing Duo '02 Medium'

This Bronzing Duo from Clarins is my new best friend. It was a spur of the moment purchase but a bloody good one at that! As with all Clarins products the Bronzing Duo's are beautifully presented with a little pouch to keep your compact scratch free. The compact itself is easy on the eye and features a large mirror making it a perfect handbag resident.

Clarins Bronzing Duo is 100% mineral complex with SPF 15. It is available in 3 shades - 01 Light, 02 Medium and 03 Dark. I went for 02 Medium as I still wanted it to show up when I'm wearing tan but I could get away with 01 Light too. 

Having two separate shades is a brilliant idea. It eliminates the need for multiple bronzers to suit your skin throughout the year and the lighter shade can even be used to set foundation. Both shades are large enough to be used separately without any fuss and the pigmentation is what I would describe as just right. A little goes a long way but you aren't going to look over overdone. Both shades blend together really well without ever looking cakey or chalky and although there is some very fine shimmer running through the bronzer it doesn't transfer onto the skin which makes it great for anyone with large pores or wrinkles. Instead of shimmery cheeks you are left with a natural, healthy glow but of course you can build it up as much as you like. I also love how the powder is firmly pressed and doesn't fly everywhere when I'm swirling my brush around.

On my skin the darker shade tends to last all day and it's great for carrying around to keep oil at bay with the lighter shade.

Clarins Bronzing Duo £26 from various online retailers but currently £23.40 in the Debenhams sale

Have you tried Clairind Bronzing Duo?

What's your fave bronzer?

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

Di Palomo Tuscan Rose Hand & Body Lotion

Di Palomo Tuscan Rose Hand & Body Lotion 250ml £9*

Last week I posted about the gorgeous Wild Fig & Grape Bath Syrup from Di Palomo but I've also been trying out a hand & body lotion from the Tuscan Rose range.

Tuscan Rose Hand & Body Lotion is blended with moisturising olive and sweet almond oils to soothe the skin and leave it feeling soft, smooth and nourished. Just like the Wild Fig & Grape Bath Syrup, the Tuscan Rose Hand & Body Lotion is pleasing on the eye. It isn't too weighty as the bottle is plastic and it looks great sitting on my bathroom sink. I've been using it only on my hands as I find it takes a while to sink in and in this cold weather I want to get my clothes on asap after a shower. Once it sinks in my hands are left feeling silky smooth without being greasy in the slightest and it also instantly improves the look of my hands.

I love Rose scented products but for some reason Di Palomo Tuscan Rose isn't up my street. It isn't like any other rose scent I've tried before and I prefer the Wild Fig & Grape range alot more.

Di Palomo Tuscan Rose Hand & Body Lotion available from www.dipalomo.com

Have you tried any products from Di Palomo?

Which range do you prefer?

*PR sample

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

Why I Wear Make Up Tag

Source

1. When did you begin to love & wear make up?

I can't remember a certain time when I suddenly realised I loved make up. It's always been a love affair but I have no idea where the love came from. I have no older sisters and my mum never wore make up but she did  have a make up bag and I can always remember playing with this thick blue/silver eyeliner pencil and frosty pink lipstick. Very 80's! From about the age of 4/5 I would ask for makeup but of course I wasn't allowed to leave the house wearing it. I started wearing lipgloss and mascara to school when I was around 13/14 but didn't start wearing a full face untill I was around 17/18 I think.

2. How do you feel without make up?

Up untill recently I would always be bare faced apart from nights out but now if I'm going into town or anywhere where I know there will be lots of people I have to atleast wear concealer and mascara. I have really bad dark circles and get a bit paranoid about it. This probably sounds really sad but there's certain days when the thought of going bare faced makes me want stick a paper bag over my head.

3. What do you like about make up?

Where do I start?? Just standing at a make up counter makes me feel happy. There's so many different brands, finishes and colours to choose from. It helps me look a bit more alive and covers up anything I want to hide. It boosts my confidence like nothing else can.

3. Holy Grail items?

Liz Earle Brow Pencil in 'Fair'  instantly springs to mind. It stays put all day, matches my brow colour like nothing else and the texture is perfect - not too soft and not too hard. I can't think of any other make up items that make it into my Holy Grail list (there's always room for improvement) but Chanel Illusion D'Ombre 'Emerveille'/Urban Decay 'Sin' are two of my most reached for eye shadows and YSL Touche Eclat is one product which has always been in my make up collection.

Have you done this tag yet?

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction Foamy Fruity Body Scrub 250ml £8

I'm a bit late on the Soap & Glory band wagon but better late than never eh? I've only tried a few things from the brand so far and the main reason behind me buying them was the constant rave reviews mentioning how good they smell. As I just said, I've only tried a few products so far - Pulp Friction, Calm One & Clean On Me but the scents don't really do it for me. Clean On Me and Calm One smell just like generic shower gels and Pulp Friction has to have the most synthetic fruity scent in the world. Scent aside, Pulp Friction is a pretty good body scrub and is great for anyone who doesn't want an oily film left over their skin.

The packaging gets a thumbs up from me. I much prefer scrubs in squeezy tubes. It saves me digging in a huge tub and ending up with annoying bits of scrub under my nails. The scrubby bits are small but densely packed which makes for a great scrub and apparently contains some fancy ingredients such as Vitamin Balls? The directions say to apply Pulp Friction to damp skin skin but I find it works best if you apply it dry first and have a quick scrub then damp your skin and carry on scrubbing.

Pulp Friction is a really good scrub and completely removes those annoying dry patches but it does contain SLS so some people might find it a bit drying.

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction available from Boots

Have you tried Pulp Friction before?

What other non oily scrubs would you recommend?

Don't forget to enter my Christmas giveaways here and here

International Christmas Giveaway: Benefit She's So... Jetset! *CLOSED*

Anyone who knows me will know I'm not a fan of the 'boxes' Benefit come out with every year. I don't like the idea of products such as concealer being laid out just like an eye shadow palette without an airtight lid. The air get's at it and the whole set is ready for the bin within a month but when I was trying to find a Christmas pressie for my cousin who is doing beauty at college I wanted to pick out some make up bits she hasn't tried before. 'She's So... Jetset' caught my eye as it contains almost everything you need to do your face and most of the products can be removed. I liked the kit so much I decided to grab an extra one for one of my readers.

She's So... Jetset contains:

The POREfessional

Eyeshadow Palette (Champagne Please, Gold Card, Pretty In Mink & Elegant Espresso) with eyeshadow applicator

First-Class Face Powder with brush

Lip Gloss 'Life On The A List'

They're Real! Mascara

The eyeshadows are neutral Shimmery shades which will suit everyone and the face powder is a really pretty duo of blush/highlighter.

This giveaway is open to everyone!

How to enter:

-To enter this giveaway you must be a follower of this blog via GFC, leave a comment with your email address and let me know what is the worst Christmas pressie you've ever received. (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter @lippybblogger (+1 entry)

-Tweet about this giveaway linking back to my blog & twitter (+1 entry)

-Follow me on Bloglovin' (+1 entry)

Parcels always seem to go missing coming upto Christmas so to hopefully stop that happening this giveaway will run untill Christmas Eve and be posted after Christmas.

Good Luck!

*The winner is Claudia from Beauty And The Chic :) Congrats! Please send me your details from the email you left below*

Whats In My Handbag?

I have to be honest, I cleared out all the rubbish especially for this post. Even I was shocked at the amount of wrappers, receipts and bottle lids that had built up over the last few weeks. There was even a pair of socks?

Samsung Galaxy Ace

Keys and photo keyrings from different holidays

Mont Bleu Swarovski Nail File*

This Works Stress Less Pulse Point Roll On

River Island purse

Dior Lip Glow

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse 03 Lovely rose

Bath & Body Works Tropical Sorbet Float Anti-Bac Hand Gel

Chocolates from the hotel I was staying in

Nescafe Unsweetened Cappuccino

Business cards in holder

4head

Real Techniques Blush Brush

New CID Loose Powder*

L'Occitane Rose Petals Hand Cream

Omorovicza Perfecting Lip Balm*

polos

Diesel Loverdose

You might be wondering where my brolly is. Well, I don't have one. I don't know why but if I use a brolly I always come home without it. I dread to think how much money I've spent on them over the years. This is why I don't have kids, I cant even supervise a brolly.

Cappuccino is a bit of a weird thing to carry around but what can I say, I'm a weirdo. I'm set in my ways and need to be prepared if I'm at someones house and they offer me a cuppa. 

I keep all the smaller bits inside an organza bag to save them getting lost forever.

Whats in your handbag?

*PR sample

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

Christmas Giveaway: L'Occitane Shower Collection



For my Christmas giveaway I couldn't decide what to go for. In the end I went with this gorgeous gift set from L'Occitane which I almost kept for myself.

The set contains:

 Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel

 Rose 4 Reines Bath & Shower Gel

 Almond Shower Oil

 Pivoine Flora Shower Gel

 Lavender Shower Gel

 Shea Ultra Rich Shower Cream

This giveaway is open to UK readers only but next week I'll be posting another giveaway which will be open to everyone.

How to enter:

-To enter this giveaway you must be a follower of this blog via GFC, leave a comment with your email address and let me know what you've asked Santa for this year. :) (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter @lippybblogger (+1 entry)

-Tweet about this giveaway linking back to my blog & twitter (+1 entry)

-Follow me on Bloglovin' (+1 entry)

Parcels always seem to go missing coming upto Christmas so to hopefully stop that happening this giveaway will run untill Christmas Eve and be posted after Christmas.

Good Luck!

*The winner is Ali from Rosewood :) Congrats! Please send me your details from the email you left below*

Shopping My Stash #6

I'm 2 days late with this one! I usually shop my stash on sunday's and the post goes up on the same day but I've only just been able to snap some pics so Tuesday will have to do.

Vichy Thermal Spa Water: I'm still on a mission to make a dent in my mountain of half used products.I really enjoyed using this in Summer and it did seem to make a difference when my skin was feeling extra irritated but like everything else, it got pushed to the side and I started using something else. In the warmer months this thermal water feels really refreshing on the skin as it's really cooling but I'm sure it'll feel more like torture in this cold weather.

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tan For Face & Decollete: I've barely used this since I reviewed it back in June (link) and to be honest I'd completely forgotten about it. I'm pale all year round but like everyone else I'm paler in Winter. My dark circles are more apparent and my skin looks alot less healthy. I find this face tanner great for disguising the look of dark circles and it does give a natural, healthy looking glow. I need to start applying this every other night.

Stila Eye Shadow 'Kitten': Kitten is one of my most recent purchases and something I've wanted for a long time. The texture is buttery soft and the colour is similar to what I always go for so I'm sure I'll love it.

Papier Poudre Blotting Paper*: I don't know why but my forehead has turned into a disco ball. I can't even describe it - it's oily but even when there's no oil it still look's shiny like someone is following me around all day shining a light on my head. These blotting papers from Papier Poudre are coated in oil absorbing powder and should hopefully help my forehead look alot less 'glowy'.

Daniel Sandler Lipshine Lipstick 'Hush'*: Hush is a really easy to wear everyday colour. I reviewed it back in September (link) but since then I've been more into lip stains and Hush has been slipping deeper into the lipstick box of no return. It's non drying and should keep my lips feeling nice and soft in this ice cold weather.

Are you shopping your stash this week?

*PR sample