Wednesday 27 February 2013

Guest Post: Sudocrem - My New Face Primer

Hi lovelies, rather than posting on my own blog, I saw there was an opportunity to guest post on the lovely Frans blog and I just could not resist.


If there is one thing about beauty that I love, it is the fact you can experiment to see what works for you and what doesn’t, and if you make a little mistake, you can always start again. What is even better is that it all doesn’t necessarily have to cost the earth.

All us beautyholics know that the best foundation to your well..., foundation, is well prepped and primed skin beforehand, not only does it make your makeup look better when applying, you also get longer wear out of it which I suppose is a bonus.

Now, I have had a few face primers in my time, Mac Prep + Prime was my first ever one, as well as drugstore ones from MUA Cosmetics and Gosh Velvet Touch, the latter being the best out of all three if I am honest.

What I found with the MAC one was that it consistently dried my skin out and it always ended up becoming blotchy with a feeling of tightness each time I used it. However, as always, Mac products do not come cheap so I decided to finish it up before purchasing a substitute which turned out to be the one from MUA for just a fraction of the price. Again, it did nothing but irritate my poor skin and I had a mini breakout. I couldn’t complain really though as I had paid so little for it and I suppose you do get what you pay for really.

Then... along came Sudocrem, yes I am talking about every mums favourite nappy cream and no, I can assure you, I haven’t gone mad!

In the past, I have heard of Sudocrem being an excellent product for treating acne and irritated skin as reported in the Sun here

Since it has antibacterial ingredients it helps to mattify the skin, dry out spots and treat any redness on the skin and surrounding areas, now as a mum of two, I am never without it in my medicine cupboard, although luckily nappy rash isn’t a problem with mine so I have never had to use it for that. I have grown out of the ‘applying Colgate on spots’ days and so after reading up Sudocrem, especially as even some celebs are known to swear by it, namely Girls Aloud, I decided to try it out one night, when I skipped my usual night time moisturiser and instead applied blots of Sudocrem sparingly and what do you know! The following morning, I found that the redness had gone and the spots had disappeared. My skin also felt smooth, hurrah!
 
 

Thankfully, the spots were just a one off as a result of stopping and changing skin products but as well as a spot cream, I actually found it had another purpose the fact that it made an excellent face primer! Since I have combination skin, Sudocrem absorbs the little oil I usually have on my nose, forehead and upper lips, smoothes and evens out the complexion and provides your skin with a thin barrier so that foundation and the rest can be applied without clogging up your pores. You do have to be careful not to slather it all on thickly though as the consistency is quite thick and you may end up looking all chalky. I even considered applying it in a thick layer and leaving it on overnight as a mask but I was absolutely petrified about what my skin would look like in the morning so I gace it a miss.

But, as we all have different complexions, skin types and skin conditions what works for one person, may not particularly work for another. Here are a few pointers I suggest considering:

· If you are suffering from acne or irritated skin, try a little Sudocrem on a small area first to test how it may react on your skin. Remember, everyone’s different!

· Again, the same goes for if you wish to use it as a face primer.

· Does not use near the delicate eye area, if it does get into eyes, wash immediately with warm water.

· I wouldn’t suggest applying it as a face mask and leaving it on overnight. You don’t know what your skin will look like in the morning.

· It is quite heavily fragranced and smells all‘antisepticky’and medicated but i personally do not have a problem with the smell.

· Might not to best to use it religiously everyday, I suppose three times a week is ok but again, this depends on the condition of the skin and personal preference of the user.

As well as an emergency nappy rash cream, Sudocrem is now my go to zit zapper when I need it as well as a face primer! The best thing is not that it costs less than anything else on the market, but the fact that it actually works is the best thing for me. I have been using it for approximately three weeks now and I swear by it. I have even recommended it to family and friends and even use it on my husband and kids whenever they have a bit of eczema or the odd spot here and there and they love it too!

Sudocrem can practically be purchased anywhere and comes in four sizes from what I have seen: 60g, 125g, 250g and 400g. I currently use the 125g which costs approximately £2.75.

Have you or are you using Sudocrem? What are your thoughts on it?

Much love,

Hinnah xxx
 
Thanks to Hinnah for her guest post, Unfortunately my skin doen't react well to Sudocrem so I can't try it for myself. Have any of you tried it? You can find Hinnah's blog here or tweet her at @hinnahkhalifa
 
If you would like to guest post on my blog feel free to email me about any ideas you have.

Monday 25 February 2013

February 2013: Used, Abused and Reviewed.

NAKED Starflower Body Wash: NAKED is a great brand to try if you like to avoid nasty ingredients. This body wash is 97% natural and free from sulphates, parabens and petrochemicals. It's cheap as chips, does it's job well and smells good too. I've only tried the body washes so far but have heard great things about the hair products too.
Repurchase? Yes, once I've worked my way through my ridiculous shower gel stash.

REN Oat & Bay Conditioning Shampoo: REN is a brand I love and after reading the reviews for this shampoo on the website I was sold! It's a good enough shampoo but I didn't feel it done anything groundbreaking to my hair. It lathered up well and didn't irritate my scalp but there's better shampoo's out there with more reasonable price tags.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Bodhi Ylang-Ylang Incensa Sensual Bath & Shower Therapy: 'Therapy' describes this beauty perfectly! Honestly, this has to be one of the most luxurious bath/shower products I've ever tried. The scent is incredible and lingers on the skin all day. My whole house smelt gorgeous after every shower and the body cream is equally as good.
Repurchase? YES!

Heathcote & Ivory Vanilla and Brown Sugar Hand Cream: This was my bedside hand cream for the best part of a year. It's a reasonably priced basic hand cream, smells really nice, is free from parabens and sinks into the skin quickly but now that I'm in love with L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream it isn't something I'll buy again.
Repurchase? No.

REN F10 Smooth and Renew Mask: The F10 is practically the same as the infamous Glycolactic Peel but for those with sensitive skin. After using it for a few months and trying a few Glycolactic Peel samples I really see no difference in how they both work. F10 doesn't irritate my skin at all whereas the Glycolactic Peel can cause me to come out in hives but performance wise I really see no difference. I would say save yourself a tenner and go for this one instead. You can read my review here. (link) 
Repurchase? Maybe. I still prefer Gatineau Activ Eclat Gommage which is more expensive but last's so much longer.
Essential Care Coconut Candy Scrub*: This has lasted such a long time! You can read my glowing review here (link) If you love to feel truly pampered, you will love this! It's very oily making it ideal for those with really dry skin but it's solid, not runny in the slightest so you aren't going to waste any.
Repurchase? When My skin needs etc TLC I'll definitely order a tub.
Sarah Chapman Eye Recovery*: I think you're all aware of my love for Sarah Chapman products. There's just something about them that draws me in to the point of being obsessed! The eye cream is the best I've found for instantly plumping out any fine lines around the eye's. If I haven't slept well or I'm not feeling too good fine lines appear, making me look about 60!  Not only can it be used as a normal eye cream but if you apply a thick layer it can be left on as a mask.
Repurchase? Without A doubt.
Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Wash: This little 30ml sample came in one of my packages from  Lina It's full of micro-beads containing vitamins A, C, E and provitamin B5. The scent is lovely and fresh, great for using in the mornings.
Repurchase? I'm not sure if it's available in the UK? I know some PTR products are but I don't think I've ever spotted the shower gels.
Caudalie VINEXPERT Radiance Day Fluid SPF10: I'm still undecided on this. Some days I liked it, other days it felt really tacky even though it's a thin fluid. Don't really have much more to say about it.
Repurchase? No.
Yankee Candle Winter Wonderland Tart: I burnt this once then never again, the scent isn't my cup of tea at all. The only time I want to smell pine is in toilet cleaner. Infact, scrap that. Why do brands think toilets should smell like a forest?
Repurchase? No, not even at gun point. 
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant: I really, really liked this. It's quick and easy to use, not harsh on the skin at all and left my face feeling perfectly smooth BUT it contains parabens. I've let too many paraben filled products into my routine just because they're good but I'm trying my hardest not to let any more sneak in.
Repurchase? No.
Montagne Jeunesse Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips: These bad boys have featured in so many of my empties posts. Nose pore strips can be really expensive for what they are but these are cheap and work just as good in my opinion.
Repurchase? Yes.
GlamGlow Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask*: If you like to feel your skin care working then you're going to love this! If you've tried the Elemis Resurfacing mask it's like that, x10! The tingling sensation did die down after a while and once it's ready to be rinsed off you can exfoliate at the same time.
Repurchase? I would love to but not at the minute.
Have you tried any of these products?
Feel free to link your empties posts below. :)
*PR sample

Sunday 24 February 2013

Shopping My *Sample* Stash #11

For this fortnights Shopping My Stash post I thought I would do something a bit different and only include samples. My Samples stash has passed the overflowing point so to help me make some space (for more samples no doubt) I thought this would be a good move.
 
Sephora Super Loaded Age Defy Serum & Age Defy Moisture Cream SPF 15: I have 2 samples of each of these and yes they're from Sephora which can only mean one thing, Lina! :D I adore Sephora makeup so hopefully the skin care is good too.

Phyto Express Conditioner for weakened damaged hair: I think Lina sent this sample too? She looks after me doesn't she. lol I've tried this conditioner before when it came in one of the FeelUnique beauty boxes but can't remember if I liked it or not. Looking forward to giving it another go.
 
John Masters Vitamin C Anti-Aging Face Serum: All the hair care products I've tried from John Masters have been fantastic but this will be the first skin care product I've tried. I'm kind of hoping I don't fall in love, the prices make my eye's water!
 
REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask: I completely forgot I had this sample! The reviews I've read have been good and anything that promises to make my pores look smaller excites me. 
 
Burberry Lip Cover 'Rosewood': How cute is this lipstick, it's only the same length as my baby finger yet perfectly formed. The shade looks quite dark but my lips are really pigmented so on me it looks natural. This came in the Harrods Glossybox last year but hasn't had much love from me.
 
Benefit They're Real!: Everyone and their dog seem to love this mascara. It's recieved Holy Grail status from so many bloggers but for me it was a bit of a miss. I've only used it a few times though, maybe once it's dried out a bit I'll like it more.
 
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel: I love cleansers. They're without a doubt the one skin care product I get most excited about. I love the whole cleansing process and once you've found 'The One' you've almost won the bad skin battle. I found mine last year in the form of Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse. I'm now the proud owner of a full sized tube and use it religiously but y'know what we're like, we still like to try new things.
 
Rimmel BB Cream: I've kinda backed away from BB creams after being unable to find one I really love. Admittedly I haven't tried many but the few I have just didn't impress me. I've heard great things lately about the Rimmel version but didn't even know I had a sample untill my sample box got tipped upside down.
 
So that's yer lot for this fortnight, let's hope I get on well with atleast one of them.
 
Have you shopped your stash?

Saturday 23 February 2013

Organic Colour Systems: Status Quo Shampoo/Conditioner & Revamp Treatment


Over the last few weeks I've been trying out 3 products from a hair care brand I had never heard of before. Organic Colour Systems is a range of organic shampoos, treatments and conditioners. The products are effective on natural, coloured or highlighted hair so there should be something to suit every hair type.

Revamp Treatment* 130ml £11.95: Revamp Treatment strengthens and restores chemically damaged, weak, fine or limp hair. It maintains protein levels to naturally strengthen even chemically damaged hair. Directions: Apply a small amount to clean dry hair. Gently comb through and leave for 15mins. Rinse thoroughly with warm water then condition. This is the one product I asked to try when I was contacted. My hair is the opposite of fine but it is so, so damaged after years of abuse from tinting, bleaching, backcombing, heat styling and everything in between! It claims to strengthen hair after only two uses but I really didn't believe that and after the first use I thought it made no difference to my hair. As soon as water meets my hair it turns into a matted dog so I was unable to comb the treatment through but I made sure I massaged it into my hair really well before leaving it on for 15 mins. As I said, I didn't notice much difference after the first use but the 2nd time was a different story. I still didn't feel a difference while I was in the shower, it was once I started to straighten my hair I noticed how much stronger it felt. It's a bit addictive but I'm going to have to back off a bit as it shouldn't be used more than 10x a month but I've been using it everytime I wash my hair.

Status Quo Shampoo* 250ml £10.95 & Conditioner* 200ml £10.95: Status Quo is a balancing range with UV protection best suited to those with normal/oily hair. The shampoo is gentle enough to be used daily and the conditioner helps to maintain the hairs natural protein and moisture balance. I do get oily roots but my nightmare hair could be described as anything other than normal. I think the Aqua Boost shampoo/conditioner would suit my hair better but I can tell you Status Quo leaves no residue at all on the hair which is great if you find your hair looks too flat. It also gave my hair the most amazing shine and I was able to get an extra day out of my hair before needing to wash it.

All 3 products smell lovely, especially the conditioner and Revamp Treatment which isn't really the norm when it comes to organic hair care. My sensitive scalp wasn't irritated at all, my hair now feels stronger and I'm able to sneak an extra day out of my hair. :)

Here's a list of what is never included in Organic Colour Systems Products - parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonia, GMO's, formalehyde, plastics, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate, TEA Lauryl Sulfate, Sulfur, Selenium Sulfide, Animal Bi-Products, Unnecessary Additive Fillers and they never test on animals.

Have you tried or heard about Organic Colour Systems before?

Organic Colour Systems products are available from www.organiccoloursystems.com and various online retailers.
*PR sample

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Sephora Primal Instincts Eyeshadow Palette

 
Sephora Primal Instincts Eyeshadow Palette

Sephora, you're such a tease! I'm able to look at your website but can't place an order. I spend hours (and believe me when I say hours!) oogling and drooling over all the fancy things that us UK-ers can't easily get our grubby paws on. It's torture, I don't know why I do it to myself. Luckily for me I have Lina, my feeder of all things Sephora!

Just after Christmas she sent me a parcel containing this beauty - Sephora Primal Instincts Eyeshadow Palette. If you're a lover of neutrals, you'll love this palette just as much as I do. The Palette contains 14 shades, 11 of which are shimmery and 3 Smokey matte's.

Top row L-R: Universal Beige (matte), Sand, Gold, Apricot, Tea Rose, Taupe (matte), Brown (matte)
 Bottom row L-R: Camel, Bronze, Mahogony, Deep Burgundy, Plum, Steel, Must Have (matte)
 
The palette is packed full of gorgeous neutral shades with a few brighter shade's (bright to me) thrown in for good measure. I love my NAKED palette to death and use almost all the shades apart from the silver/greys. They come across far too blue for my liking and are quite Pat Butcher-esque next to my skin tone. Thankfully 'Steel' is free from any blue tones which make's it alot more wearable. 'Deep Burgundy' & 'Mahogony' create gorgeous night time looks, 'Universal Beige' is spot on for blanking out any redness/veins on the lid. It helps create a nice, clean look when you only want to pair it with mascara and/or liner. 'Matte Brown' could even be used on brows if you have very dark hair and the rest of the shades are right up my street. You know me, I love a bit of the ol shimmer!
 
I have no complaints where formula is concerned. They can be used wet or dry, fall out is minimal, they all blend well and last a full day without creasing on my lids, even without primer. The mirror is the full length of the palette and the palette itself is really sturdy. Once again I'm more than impressed by Sephora products.
 
PS - Sorry about the lack of swatches but my kitten is a bit of a sicko and enjoys nothing better than clawing me to death when he's hyper.
 
Are you lucky enough to live near a Sephora?
Have you tried this palette? 

Nourish Relax Cell Protect Body Butter


Nourish Cell Protect Body Butter*

Relax Cell Protect is designed for people like me with irritated, stressed skin. During Winter my skin dries out but I almost always avoid body butter's as they just don't sink into my skin. I usually opt for lighter lotions or oils but more often than not I just skip moisturising my body. I wish I was one of the few who moisturise after every shower but I'm not.

Relax Cell Protect has been formulated to assist with the repair and regeneration of the skin whilst preventing further damage. Vitamin E derived from Tocopherol, Argan Oil and Omega 6 from Borage Oil is delivered directly to the skin which should prevent collagen depletion. This all sounds great but what stood out to me was this claim - has been shown to clinically reduce redness and negative effects of irritation. After showering I come out in red blotches mainly on my arms. Sometimes they're itchy like hives, sometimes they're just blotches and fade within a few hours but my skin is just very reactive. For this review I've been using Cell Relax Protect everyday and have noticed a huge difference in not only the texture and over all look of my skin but any redness is now minimal.

The only thing I'm not so fond of is the scent. Lavender is my enemy but thankfully it isn't overpowering and isn't strong enough to clash with any perfume I decide to wear and unlike most body butters it isn't heavy, my skin drinks it up almost immediately.

Have you tried Relax Cell Protect Body Butter or any other products from Noursh?

Nourish Relax Cell Protect Body Butter 150ml  £15.95 available from nourishskinrange
*PR sample

Monday 18 February 2013

Guest Post: Make The Most Out Of Your Mascara.

Hi,  I'm Aqeela from 'Diary Of A Makeup Geek' I write beauty/makeup related reviews/posts and the occasional mummy type posts. Today I am doing a Guest Post for the lovely Fran.

The topic I have chosen is 'Make The Most Out Of Your Mascara'. Have you ever bought a mascara more so a high end mascara but it has dried out way too quick. This has happened to me a lot infact YSL and Dior ones are notorious at doing this. So I thought I'd share a few tips on how to get your mascara's to last longer.

- Store in a cool dry place, I think heat is one of the main factors of the cause.
- Try avoid using the pumping motion when you dip your wand for more mascara instead twirl your brush in the mascara, the more mascara you expose and then put back into your wand the dryer it will become.
- If your mascara has still dried out add a couple of drops of eye drops this moistens the texture up, be careful not to put too much in.
- Run your mascara under hot water from the tap or even place in a cup of hot water as it will soften/moisten the texture.
- If your mascara is older than 3 months its best just to bin it however wash the wand well and keep that they are often useful to use as eyebrow combs.
- You can use mascara wands as a eyelash moisturiser by dipping it in baby oil or your favourite oil and brush on to your eyelashes on a night, your lashes will feel a lot more nourished and you may even see regrowth coming along a lot faster.
- Mascara wands are a great way to gain the 'tinted eyebrow' look, simply apply a small amount of eyebrow gel/Vaseline to your brows, take your wand dip in matte eyeshadow and comb along, you may get a lot of fallout so try do this before applying foundation.

I hope you found these tips helpful and be sure to check out my blog - aqeelakeela.blogspot.co.uk
 
Huge thanks to Aqeela for her guest post, I really enjoyed reading it. Aqeela's blog is linked above and you can find her on Twitter too - @aqeela_k
 
If you would like to guest post on my blog just send me an email.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Spending Ban Update #4

Source: WeHeartIt

I'm 5 weeks in now and just like last week I haven't spent a single penny on beauty! :) There isn't much to update you all with, I haven't almost caved and bought anything and still haven't used my beauty treatment voucher. I plan to keep it for when I feel myself getting into 'need to buy something' mode.

What I'm lusting over:
 Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette
Rimmel Apocalips
L'Oreal Lip Lacquers

How are you getting on with the spending ban?
Feel free to link your update posts in the comments.

You might have noticed I've been a bit quiet on the blog this week. I'm having internet problems and can't upload photo's, it's killing me! I have so many posts lined up but hopefully it'll sort itself out ASAP!

Thursday 7 February 2013

Spending Ban Update #3

Tumblr_mh5htm8ygp1r59y55o1_500_large
Source: WeHeartIt

Today I hit the 4 week mark and I'm pleased to say I've only chucked my pennies at one beauty product so far (see last weeks update on what that was) 

There's quite a few things I want, mainly the Rimmel Apocalips so for that reason I've just completely skipped passed Boots and other places of temption. I almost bought ELLE magazine on Saturday for the 20 quid Kurt Geiger voucher but lets be honest, I would end up spending more than 20! I'm glad I decided to join in with the spending ban. I'm rekindling my love for old forgotten about products, fully using things up instead of buying more and most importantly, I'm learning I don't need to buy a new mascara/lipstick/highlighter just because it's on offer.

Although I haven't splashed the cash on beauty I have spent more this week than the last 3 weeks on things like food shopping but it needed to be done. If next week gets hard I plan to use a beauty treatment voucher I got for Christmas to cheer myself up and I promise I won't leave with a bag full of things I 'needed'.

Are you on a spending ban?
How did you get on this week?

Tuesday 5 February 2013

50 Random Facts About Me.

1. I'm in my 20's and still petrified of the dark.
2. I'm obsessed with everything paranormal.
3. I feel naked and uneasy when my nails aren't painted.
4. My phone is always on silent, loud noises go through me.
5. I prefer animals to people and animal cruelty adverts break my heart.
6. When I'm at home I live in my jammies. I just don't feel comfortable sitting around in normal clothes.
7. I'm always thirsty, I could drink a river and still need a bottle of water after.
8. I'm addicted to coke (the fizzy type, not the naughty stuff!)
9. I'm set in my ways like a 60 year old and hate change.
10. Blogging is my only hobby.
11. I have a scar along my cheekbone from running into a door handle when I was a kid.
12. Feet disgust me!
13. I would love to make youtube videos but think people would have a hard time understanding my Belfast gulder! Oh, and I wouldn't have a clue how to edit etc.
14. I'm the most sentimental person in the world.
15. I have a sick sense of humour, I'm not a hit around strangers.
16. People always tell me to smile. I'm not unhappy but have never been the type of person to walk around smiling all day.
17. There is no edit function between my brain and mouth. If I think something then it's coming out and nothings going to stop it. I think that's one of the reasons blogging is good for me, I have time to think before I type.
18. I'm fascinated by serial killers. I don't mean I love them/like what the do or anything like that. My brain just can't grasp how they can do what they do.
20. I'm a hair stylist yet hate getting my hair cut.
21. I'm a list maker.
22. Horror is my favourite movie genre.
23. I'm currently addicted to Law & Order SVU.
24. I'm a wimp when it comes to injections/piercings. Up untill about 3 years ago I would faint everytime I saw a needle.
25. You might have guessed from number 24, I'm a fainter. I was once on a plane with a man in the seat infront of me next to the isle with his knee sticking out. The hostess rammed the metal trolley into it. He was in agony and I heard him tell the hostess he'd just had a knee operation. The thought of it alone was enough to make me faint in my seat! Embarrassing.
26. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to my make up. I like to keep it clean and looking brand new.
27. I treat my kitten like a baby, he's spoilt rotten! :)
27. I snore, loudly.
28. The hard bits in popcorn ruin my life.
29. I fall going up stairs atleast once a week.
30. I love coffee but hate tea.
31. My favourite food at the mo is McVitie's Medley bars. Nom!
32. I feel like I'm the only person in the world who doesn't like One Direction. I. Just. Don't Get. It.
33. Me and 2 mates got a boat from Magaluf to Ibiza when we were 18. It was only supposed to be for one night but it didn't work out like that. Not only did we get lost and run out of money (the rest was back at our hotel in Magaluf) but one of my mates lost her passport and couldn't get back! I think I cried for 12 hours straight.
34. I can't tear cling film. I end up having a fit when it all clings together.
35. I wanted to be a vet when I was younger untill I realised it involved operations.
36. My mum is my best friend.
37. I have a really bad memory. I can remember things that happened years ago but ask me what I had for dinner yesterday..
38. I don't have a side of the bed, I make use of the full bed.
39. I have no time for rude people.
40. Every Saturday I get salted chilli crispy shredded chicken from the chinese.
41. I was stung on the tongue by a bee when I was younger and ended up staying in hospital with a tongue the size of a baseball bat!
42. I won't let anyone else file my nails, I always hate the shape.
43. I'm always cold and sleep with 3 hot water bottles every night.
44. When I'm stressed or anxious I grind my teeth really badly in my sleep. I wake up the next morning with a splitting headache and every bone in my face hurts so my dentist had to make me a mouth guard.
45. I don't like my fingers and toes to be painted in the same colour. I hate being matchy matchy.
46. The only time I drink milk is in coffee. I very rarely eat cereal but when I do it's always dry.
47. I hate talking on the phone.
48. I would love to go to New York in Winter.
49. I love KFC gravy!
50. I'm a professional promise keeper. :)

Have you done this post?
Link it below so I can have a wee read.

My Sephora Love Continues: Sephora Cream Lip Stain '04 Endless Purple'

SephoraCreamLipStain
Sephora Cream Lip Stain '04 Endless Purple'


Swatched (pre kitten)

Back in October I done a post declaring my love for a Sephora Cream Lip Stain in the shade 03 Strawberry Kissed. The pigmentation and staying power was like no other plus it was comfortable to wear and didn't highlight any flaws. So imagine my excitement when Lina sent me another in the shade '04 Endless Purple'

Something I didn't notice with 'Strawberry Kissed' was a scent. 'Endless Purple' smells like caramel, it reminds me a lot of Philosophy Hot Buttered Rum, which I love! 'Endless Purple' is described as a matte mauve plum but the swatches on the Sephora website aren't at all accurate and the shade name is really misleading. I don't know about anyone else but I don't think purple when I look at this shade? As you can see the colour is quite dark but I find mixing it with '03 Strawberry Kissed' works really well.

 I can't fault anything about Sephora Cream Lip Stains but I've only tried the matte versions so Im not sure how the satin finishes fare. If you're thinking about ordering some shades from Sephora don't rely on the swatches. Make sure you look them up online first.

Have you tried Sephora Cream Lip Stains?

Sunday 3 February 2013

Shopping My Stash #10

ShoppingMyStash
I'm still on my mission to use up all the perfumes I'm not so fond off. I got halfway through Britney Radiance last fortnight and this fortnights fragrance of choice is...

Beyonce Heat: I really, really like Beyonce Pulse but sadly the same can't be said for Heat. I think I've maybe used this only once or twice but maybe it'll grow on me. It was a blind buy last year, the fact that it was on sale was enough for me to drop it into my basket.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream: I've came to the end of my beloved Sarah Chapman Eye Recovery and will definitely order the full sized tube but first I need to cut my skincare collection in half, plus I'm on a spending ban. Booo!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir: This is my 2nd bottle of what was probably the most hyped product of 2012. I have another big bottle in my back-up cupboard but unlike the majority, I don't find it make's much difference to my skin. I really like the fresh, tingly feeling it leaves behind though which is why I loved it during summer.

Benefit Posie Tint: The main reason I bought Posie Tint was to use on my lips but my lips are so pigmented that one coat does nada but 2 or 3 coats just feels gross! I don't know why but I just can't seem to get on with liquid blush. Applying it always seems to remove it at the same time along with my foundation. If you're a liquid blush lover let me know in the comments how you apply it.

 Diego Dalla Palma Special Tanning Cake*: I'm one of those annoying people who very rarely use a foundation in their pefect shade. I usually go a shade or 2 darker so to avoid having a face and neck in 2 different colours I bronze my neck up slightly.

EOS Sweet Mint Lipbalm:  I don't think I've ever finished a lip balm! I usually get bored and move on to the next one like some kind of lip balm floozie but my collection is beyond ridiculous now. I love the shape and scents of the EOS balms but don't find they're the best at getting your lips back in to good condition.

Have you shopped your stash this week?
*PR sample