A Rather Surprising Find...

I was raiding my mums makeup draw before and came across this little gem - a Barbra Daly eyeshadow in Twig. When I saw it, it instantly transported me back to my childhood, when roller ball eye shadows were all the rage. Because it piqued my interest so much I decided to give it a go, and was more than pleasantly surprised.

The colour is a warm pale taupe, flecked with gold sparkly bits. The longevity isn't great without a primer, but of course with a primer its wear time multiplies exponentially. It only takes about two seconds to apply - all you have to do is sweep it across you lids and then blend with a big fluffy brush a little and voila! A perfect daytime neutral eye.

I don't know how much my mum paid for this (I wouldn't have thought a lot), or even if it is still available, however if it is and you happen to come across it, I highly suggest you buy one. I would be sorry if it isn't available, because it is a really pretty shade, though maybe someone might know a dupe for this?

Revlon Lip Butters

As you probably know, there has been a lot of anticipation over the new Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. I myself used to be rather a bit jealous of the lovely ladies in the US, who had access to these pretty balms. So of course, when they were released over here, I found myself drawn to them.

At first I couldn't decide which colour to choose, as I was originally only going to get one, however Boots put an end to that as makeup was on 3 for 2 and I had to buy my friend a birthday present anyway... The colours I eventually picked out are 025 Peach Parfait and 050 Berry Smoothie. How pretty are those names? (Yes I am a sucker for names of products and their packaging, and I have to say, Revlon did a good job ｡◕‿◕｡)

At £7.99, I was quite unhappy with the price at first, as I thought it was a lot of money for a product that didn't really seem to know what it was. Is it a lipstick? Is it a balm? Well, my conclusion is that it is definitely leaning towards the lipstick side of things. I do feel like it does give my lips some moisture, but it is not a product I would turn to if my lips felt dry. The colour of the lipstick is quite sheer and flattering, though in the tube the colours look really bright. This obviously means that the lasting power is lacking to say the least.

My favourite out of the two is definitely Peach Parfait, because it is laden with golden sparkles and gives a lovely subtle colour and gloss to the lips. Overall, I would recommend buying one of these, because I have gotten a lot of use out of them both already - they are really easy to wear and are brilliant for just popping in your bag.

Please Me

I've been really into nude-ish lipsticks recently. However, the few I have haven't been cutting it, so I decided to treat myself to a new MAC lipstick, and eventually chose Please Me. It is a lovely soft pink matte formula - the first matte lipstick I've bought from MAC. And I have to say, I am very impressed.

In terms of its longevity, it lasts a good 6 to 8 hours, which I was really quite impressed with considering the texture of the lipstick feels quite silky. I love that you can just whack it on in the morning, and not have to worry about it looking patchy later on. 

As someone cursed with perpetually dry skin, I've always gone for products that have moisturising properties. Not something you would attribute to a matte product. However, I have found that this lipstick does not make my lips feel dry, nor does it highlight those awful flaky patches I tend to get if I don't exfoliate often enough. It just gives a beautiful, highly pigmented rosy hue to my lips - perfect for everyday makeup.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Eye Shadows

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I can't believe it's already come and gone; time is just flying by!

The Chanel Illusion D'Ombre eye shadows are absolutely beautiful. I got three; Fantasme (white), Mirifique (black) and Illusoire (a strange colour between purple and grey). They have a strange texture, a mixture between a mousse and a gel. The brush they come with is good, it is usable as an eyeshadow brush and is fantastic as an eyeliner brush, but when I put them on as an eyeshadow I used a round tipped flat brush to spread them more evenly. The pigmentation is perfect; there's enough so that you can do a dusting of colour but enough so that you can build it up into an intense pop without using shed loads of product.

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment

Hey girls!

So the other day I ran out of my Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment, and I thought it was high time I did a review on it because oh my gosh, I cannot believe how devastated I was when I scraped the last little bit from the bottom of my tub. This stuff is amazing. I only bought it on a whim after having to pick a third item on the 3 for 2 online offer at Boots a while back, and holy cow am I glad I picked this little gem. As you probably know, I had my hair cut really short at the end of September because it was in really bad condition, and I was sick of having it feel like straw. After I'd had it done though, I regretted it so much because I loved my long hair. It was funny - I went from having the longest hair I've ever had to the shortest hair I've ever had. I wanted my long hair back badly, but I also wanted it in good condition so I bought a few products to help keep it as healthy as possible while growing it out (namely a tangle teezer, heat defence spray and a good shampoo and conditioner).

Anyway, back to the hair treatment. It has that distinctive smell that all Lee Stafford products have, and I absolutely adore it. The smell stays on your hair and it is just divine. The product itself is quite a thick lilacy grey cream that you scoop out of the tub yourself then massage into you scalp and hair after washing it. When I first tried it I was convinced it was going to make my hair look super greasy because you're massaging it into the roots, but I was so wrong - it looked so shiny, healthy and bouncy afterwards it was unbelievable. The blurb on the back states:-

Hair growth Treatment with pro-growth complex for strength from within. Protein based complex to fertilise your follicles, creating a healthy environment on the scalp to help hair grow faster and reach its maximum potential length. 'If the earth's not nourished, you'll never grow beautiful flowers'.

• Vital hair and scalp complex helps to reduce hair loss
• Improves follicle health which in turn increase the ability of the hair to anchor to the scalp
• Soothing formulation reduces irritation and moisturises the scalp
• Addresses hair and scalp aging at a cellular level
• Improvement in tensile strength to give baody and texture by penetrating the hair reaching the inner cortex
• Improves volume and feel of the hair

When you first start using this cream, you have to use it everytime you wash your hair until it is in tip top condition, and then once a week there on. Also, you leave it on for five minutes before rinsing your hair and applying your conditioner. In total, I probably used it two or three times a week, and my hair is noticably a lot longer. Friends from my classes have been saying how much longer my hair has got since I have had it cut, and I swear it is all down to this. I have also been noticing that I am losing a lot less hair in the shower and on my brushes - I used to be able to make a wig out of what fell out before, seriously! It was disgusting!

I am so disappointed with myself for not taking before and after pictures of my hair, but I will post [ictures of my hair as it is now because I am definitely repurchasing this, and I urge anyone who is trying to grow out their hair to give this a go. It is just one of those products that does what it says on the tin, and I could not be happier with it.

X

REVIEW - Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

I have to admit, I do love UDPP. I've used it for a few years now, and it hasn't let me down. When my mum bought me this one for Christmas I was really excited to use it, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

Stila Rave!

I went to the Trafford Center the other day and of course had to nosey around Boot's makeup aisles. All was normal, until I spotted the Stila stand. I hadn't seen their products in the UK before, so I decided to check their stuff out. Here were the fist things I picked up:-

From top to bottom:- Electric, Bora Bora, Curacao and Flash.

 Oh my gosh, as soon as I opened the package my heart started thumping. They are seriously glittery and highly pigmented eyeliners. Named Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner's and priced at £14, they come in an array of colours and last forever (the ones that I swatched on my hand took forever to scrub off). The only downside there is is that the applicator is a felt tip one, which wouldn't have been my choice for this product (they always seems to be a bit messy) but I could live with it. I have serious lust for these eyeliners, and they have gone straight to the top of my wish list.

Next up, I tested the Convertible Colour Duo Lip & Cheek Cream.

From top to bottom:- Poppy, Iillium, Peony

 These were lovely and creamy, with a nice level of pigmentation. Poppy was bright red in the pot, but did blend out nicely on my skin. They also felt light on, and totally unsticky (if that's a word!). They are £16, and come in a really cute pot with a handy mirror.

Finally, I decided to try the Crush Lip and Cheek Stain:-

Top to bottom:- Acai, Pomegranate, Raspberry.

The first one I picked up was Acai, and it was so bright I was quite shocked. They come with an integrated brush like some lipglosses, and I actually quite liked that. They were also more of a gel formula, which I really liked because I always find stains like Benetint a bit runny. Described on the website as "A multi-tasking lip and cheek stain that reacts to pH levels to create a perfectly personalized hue", these are definately something to look out for.

Overall, I am really loving Stila's products, and can't wait to get my hands on some when my financial situation looks a bit less dire.

REVIEW - Suddenly Madame Glamour

So recently I've been looking to purchase a new laptop because my current one is on its way out (the screen is literally falling off). Me and my mother decided to go to Costco to check out their laptops, and then head off to PC World to compare. Anyway, from leaving Costco to arriving at PC World, we stopped off a Lidl. I know it is classed as a bad shop, however, hear me out because what I have to announce will make you squeal with glee. As we walked into the store, we spied this lady grabbing handfuls of boxes of perfume and dumping them into her trolley. She was well dressed, and was not the type you would stereotypically think shops in Lidl (because let's face; there is a stereotype you think of). Our interest piqued, we walked over to check it out, and ended up chatting to the woman. She said that her friend had showed her this perfume and had been raving about it to her. One sniff of the stuff and I know why. It smells exactly like Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, i.e. delicious. Oooh, but I was practically drooling over it.

Generally I have a problem with perfume, because it never seems to stay on my skin. However I sprayed some on my wrists this afternoon at half twelve, and I can still smell it on me now, so it lasts.  And did I mention it smells divine? When you first squirt it on it is fairly strong, but it mellows out into the most beautiful, sensual, musky scent. Mmm. Now, I can hear you thinking, how much did it cost? A meagre £3.99 for 50ml. Compare it to Chanels purse busting £61.00, I felt like shovelling handfuls of the perfume in my trolley too.

In conclusion, find your nearest Lidl, and buy buy BUY!!!

REVIEW - Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners in Bourbon and Stray Dog

Bourbon, first of all, is a lovely warm medium brown shade with a golden shimmer. Its consistency disappointed me slightly, as it took a second going over to get a deep, even colour. It also disappointed me because it was easily duped. I have two other brown eyeliners with a golden shimmer in my collection,one from Avon and one from Maybelline. The Avon one is its Super Shock Gel Eyeliner in Bronze, and in my opinion, it is superior to Urban Decay's. It has a richer colour and a smoother texture that allows it to glide on in just one stroke. It is also long lasting, about the same as its Urban Decay counter part. My Maybelline one is the Kohl Express waterproof eyeliner pencil in Brown Gleam. This one is a slightly softer colour, leaning slightly more towards the gold end, but that is due to it being more of your traditional kohl pencil, though I think it is between being a gel eyeliner and a kohl one. Its longevity is deminished due to its consistency, however I still think it is a nice colour. Out of all three, the one I would repurchase is Avon's Super Shock Gel Eyeliner.

Avon, Urban Decay, Maybelline

Stray Dog  is a grey brown with hints of lilac and silver shimmer. It looks pewter on your eyelid, but when you swatch it on your hand and really look at the colour, its fascinating. Kind of reminds me of wolves. It is again long lasting like all 24/7 eyeliners, though not exceptionally so. I do think I would repurchase this colour, mainly because it seems quite unique in colour.

REVIEW - Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners in Midnight Cowboy and Corrupt

Midnight Cowboy is what I'd describe as a pale straw colour with a hint of peach. It has gold and a pale pink shimmer. I think it is brilliant as an eyeliner that brightens the eye area - when I applied it to my own eyelids, I was surprised at the lightening and brightening effect it had, which is great if you've had a late night and want to look wide awake. It is very long lasting - in fact, it did not want to come off!

Corrupt on the other hand is a dark brown with silver, gold and burgandy shimmer. It has good pigmentation, dark and rich, and is a lovely alternative to black if you want something softer and more understated. Again, it is long lasting and was a bit of a battle getting it off, though not as much as Midnight Cowboy.

REVIEW - Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners in Binge and Mildew

This is the first of a set of reviews on the eyeliners contained in my 15 year anniversary set.

First of all, Binge is a nice (thought quite standard) navy blue with a slight shimmer to it. It goes on a dream, earning its title 'Glide On Eye Pencil'. The colour wasn't as bright at the end of the day as it was when I first put it on, but I was still happy with its longevity. On the whole, I wouldn't say this is a must buy, because its pigmentation seemed a little sheer to me, maybe because the actual colour couldn't seem to figure out itself (it straddled the line between navy and royal).

Next up is Mildew. This is a gorgeous sage green with a slight pale green shimmer in it. It reminded me of forests and pixies or something, because even though its a lovely earthy colour, it seems quite magical. Again it absolutely glided on, and stayed put all day without any transfer to the upper lid. I really loved this colour, its pigmentation was great and it had just the right amount of shimmer. I would recommend you buy this shade, especially if you have green or hazel eyes, because it mades them look greener.

Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary 24/7 Eyeliner Set

Click on pictures to enlarge...

 So my eyeliners have finally arrived from Debenhams, and I couldn't be more pleased with them! Before anything else, I have to say I love the packaging. They come in a box with a clear window on the front that lifts up. The box itself feels really sturdy, and is embossed with the Urban Decay 15 year anniversary symbol in a really nice pattern. Presentation then gets a big thumbs up from me!

Set in a box on a velvety black background, these pencils pop. There is a delicious selection of colours that would suit any mood/ occasion conceivable.

"Help Urban Decay celebrate their 15-year anniversary with this mouth-watering set of 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. The wide range of award winning, high-quality, waterproof shades are some of Urban Decay's best-selling and most coveted products. We included six brand new shades, and stamped all 15 with special anniversary artwork. This is a truly collectable set.

The range of shades includes lush tropical hues, deep metallics, and unusually vibrant neutrals. Favorites like Zero, Bourbon and Electric sit side-by-side with SIX brand-new shades like Asphyxia, Stray Dog and the piece de resistance: Perversion a blacker-than-Zero black. Each pencil is stamped with UD15. The whole collection (and a sharpener!) comes packaged in a silver foil box printed with our UD15 ticking pattern."

 This set is also excellent value, especially as every pencil is a full sized one, and not travel sized like in some previous sets. The only thing that irks me about this set is that my Perversion is slightly smaller than any other eyeliner in the set - is it just my set or does this occur in yours if you have one? 

Other than that, I am sincerely chuffed with my purchase. I will be swatching and reviewing each eyeliner by itself in posts to come, so keep an eye out! 

xxx

HAUL

Hello! My family from America are over at the moment, and we went out on a major shopping expedition yesterday! I've been dying to get my hands on some of Topshop's makeup, and I finally have.

L-R  = Satchel, Gloom, Infrared, Nevada

Lovely sparkles!

L-R = Satchel, Infrared, Nevada, Gloom

The two lipsticks are Velvet Finish Moisturising Lipstick (£8 each) in Infrared, a bright orange, and Nevada, a pinky nude colour. They feel lovely on, and have a nice, light, fruity scent, but because they're moisturising, they don't last long. The only problem I have with these lipsticks is that you have to have lips that are in tip top condition, because they show every last dry patch on them. I would say that the orange lipstick could be a dupe for maybe Mac's Morange, or Lime Crime's My Beautiful Rocket, though I doubt it would last as long as them!

Nevada

Infrared

The lipgloss (£7.50) I got is a lovely deep purple colour with loads of gold, pink and blue glitter. It looks very dark in the tube, but goes on a nice berry colour and smells quite sweet. I would probably wear this over my Max Factor lipstain that I used in this tutorial. It feels quite thick on, like it's going to last a long time. It doesn't; but glosses never do on me. I'm forever biting my lips.

Lastly, I bought the crayon (£5) in a gold flecked, sparkly brown; Satchel. It's quite a small pencil, but goes on with minimal effort and can be easily blended.

Overall, I do quite like Topshop's makeup range, based off my experience from these products. One of my favourite things about them is their packaging, I think its brilliant!

REVIEW - Lime Crime Lipsticks

I've been meaning to do this post for a while now - since I put up my Lime Crime banner actually! I've been an avid follower of Doe Deere's for a while now, and was really excited when I heard that she was bringing out lipsticks; they didn't disappoint.

London, the Royal Wedding and a Review.

~Picture taken from Google~

So, I've just got back from Surrey, were my cousins live. I had a really nice time, just relaxing and having fun. We watched the royal wedding, whilst wearing tiara's and waving union jack flags like weirdo's. I cannot express my love for Kate Middleton - her dress, her hair, her MAKEUP (that she did herself, may I add).

We went into London on the Sunday after the wedding, and the flags were still up down the Mall, so of course we had to get about ten million pictures of us with them, because "when else are they going to be up?!" It wasn't as fun as it sounds though, due to the trees that also line the Mall shedding their flowers/leaves, most of which ended up in my eyes.

We all ended up a bit crazy after having endured lots of little tree bits poking our eyes.

 Other activities we did whilst down there were visiting the little highstreet (I'll show you my mini haul later!) and bake. We did a lot of baking down there - chocolate fridge cake  (mmm), lemon poppy seed cake (mmmmm) and carrot cake (FEED ME NOW!). It was like living in a patisserie!

My mini haul ft. some Avon products I've just got!

 Here's my little haul that I got in Godalming. I've seen Revlon's Just Bitten lipstain + balm all over, and have been dying to try it, so when I saw there was a three for two across all makeup in Boots, I pounced. I got it in Passion, a lovely Barbie pink. The thing that drew me to it was the fact that it includes a lip balm as well - my lips are in an awful state at the moment, so I loved that idea of having a two-in-one product. The next thing I got in the offer was the new Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner (pictured here with its accompanying brush), which I purchased because my old one that I got in Florida is running out and I lost the brush so I was using a crappy lip brush instead. The formula is nicely pigmented, light and easily glides on the lid. It does a good job of staying put as well. The last product in the set I got for my mum, and it was the Max Factor smokey eyes pencil duo thing in brown. I haven't used it on my eyes yet, but I did swatch it on the back of my hand and the formula felt really nice - the colours came out well and they didn't seem to drag or pull my skin. Nice.

The other things you can see in this picture are a bracelet I got from Avon, which I ADORE, and also a moisturiser that gradually builds up a tan (Avon's Skin So Soft Soft & Glow Ultimate Body Moisturiser). Now, I used the moisturiser last year, and I can say that it is hands down the best fake tan moisturiser you can buy. I have tried the Dove one, the Johnson's one, and the Nivea one, and all are beaten by this product. First of all, I love the scent. Its hard to describe - it smells rather sweet and clean, and reminds me of holidays - but is lovely nonetheless. Secondly, it has teeny tiny little bits of sparkle in it, that look amazing on the skin, especially when you've been using it for a few days and have built up a good colour. Which brings me onto my thrid and most important reason for loving this product. I confess, I am awful at applying fake tan. I'm so bad, that I've given up applying actual fake tan and have had to use gradual build up ones exclusively. So, when I say that you cannot go wrong in applying this lotion, I mean it. I get a flawless colour every time, which can almost be classed as miraculous. The icing on the cake is that it also contains SPF 15 - booyah!

Latly, here's a picture of me with my new hair! Yes, I took the plunge and once again got a fringe cut! ;)