Thursday 28 July 2011

Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette






Price: £9.75
Available From: Coastal Scents

As soon as I saw the Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette mentioned on Twitter I decided I had to order it. Not only is it affordable it also offers a nice variety of colours, half of which are shimmer and half matte. The colour pay off isn't that of Illamasqua or Mac but it has pretty good pigmentation and they're buildable without looking powdery. I also found them to be long lasting, they don't fade or end up patchy after a long day at work. If you're starting out in make-up this would be ideal!
If you're in the UK you will have to pay shipping fee's but my package arrived within a week and you get ten shades for around the same price as one high end blusher.

Monday 25 July 2011

TanTruth Self Tan Lotion



Tan Truth Self Tan Lotion with Colour Guide


When I was sent this product a few weeks back I didn't recognize the name on the label, on the bottle it notes that it's 'sold exclusively in spa's and salons' which could be why, although I've been able to find it online since. Although to me the bottle isn't the most attractive, the product inside is what had me excited - as you can see from the photo above the lotion is a very deep, dark shade of brown.

Like all tanning products I applied this with a tanning mitt, I find this gives you the best chance of waking up with an even, streak free tan and avoiding orange palms! I did find this slightly more effort to apply than my usual St.Moriz mousse but all lotions take a little more time to blend completely in the skin. The scent is quite difficult and I couldn't exactly put my finger on what it reminds me of, although it does smell slightly like shampoo.

The two things that have me really excited to do this review is the colour you end up with - this offers quite a dark tan. I'm extremely pale so some tanning products can result in a slightly orange tinge where as this gives you a realistic 'I'm a Brazilian babe like the girls on the St.Tropez ad' tan. I found this to last a good 5 days, wearing off and needing a good exfoliation by day 6 or 7.
The second thing that had me excited was the price, on first glance I assumed the price would be in the £25-£30 price range. The real price? £7.99 for 200ml.

Buy Online: Here
Would I use this product again? Yup! I'm going to order their tan maintainer and exfoliator at some point and see how they work as well.

The Ingredients

Jojoba Seed Oil - Cleans blocked pores and restores skins natural PH balance.Natural moisturiser.Rich in proteins.Softens skin.Balances sebum levels in skin therefore preventing oiliness.
Shea Butter - Nourishes and softens skin with vitamins A, E and F. Penetrates the skin without clogging the skin and helps restore elasticity.
Avocado Oil - Rich in vitamins A, D and E. Ideal for de-hydrated skin. Easily absorbed and relieves skin dryness. Keeps skin moist, supple and smooth.

Have you girls heard of TanTruth?

Friday 22 July 2011

NYX 'Concealer In A Jar'


NYX 'Concealer In A Jar'
05 - Medium
£2.60 from CherryCulture.com

'Light Weight & Crease Free'
'Provides smooth, long lasting coverage so you can pretend the word "concealer" doesn't exist in your dictionary!'
Hypoallergenic. Cruelty Free.

When I popped this into my virtual basket I wasn't expecting a high quality product purely due to the price. At just under £3.00 it's far cheaper than most low end brands like Rimmel or Maybelline so I imagined a pot of thick, dry, cakey concealer.
Fortunately, I was wrong! Instead I was greeted with a creamy formula that glides onto the skin and blends with ease. Not only is this a great under eye concealer this can be used as a base for eyeshadows, and is also great for small blemishes or to blank out your lip colour. In some ways this reminded me of the Illamasqua concealer except it's not as thick and melts into the skin far easier. This offers a medium, natural looking coverage so if you're looking for something heavy duty it wont be for you. The pot is handy to chuck into your make-up bag or in your handbag for on the go touch ups as it's small and compact. For the price, amazing quality.


Wednesday 20 July 2011

NYX Round Lipstick Swatches


I recently purchased two NYX Round Lipsticks from Cherry Culture, they ended up being £2.00 each which is a COMPLETE bargain!
The lipsticks themselves are pigmented, creamy, smooth and glide onto the lips, aswell as being extremely moisturising. As they're hydrating and glossy they have quite a bit of slip so expect some transfer but apart from that they're relatively long lasting and great for the price!


Batiste XXL Volume


Having loved every variation of Batiste I couldn't wait to get my hands on the new 'Batiste XXL' dry shampoo. Aswell as banishing oily hair it also claims to add volume to your locks and create big, bouncy hair, sounds perfect ey?
I really like the pink and grey striped packaging and it definately stands out on the shelf, the scent is very light and fresh just like all other Batistes.
To me, I found this to be a mix between the standard dry shampoo and VO5 Instant Oomph Powder. Spritz onto hair in the roots and work in with your fingers to create volume without the need of back combing.
I'd suggest using a small amount to begin with, then add as needed - especially if you have dark locks as the hair mattifies slightly as you rub it in, making it slightly more difficult to really work in the white powder. Apart from that small downside for us darker haired ladies, this is a great product for days when you need a bit of oomph but don't want to damage of heat or back-combing!

It's available in Boots and Superdrug for £3.99 - 200ml
Have you tried Batiste XXL Volume?

Tuesday 19 July 2011

BioEffect EGF Serum


I was sent a sample of the BioEffect EGF Serum a while back and wanted to wait until I'd used it for a good few weeks until I published a review. I'm sure most of you would of heard of the Bioeffect Serum as one of the goodies in last months Glossy Box was a 5ml sample.

Here's a bit of information on the product:

Bioeffect EGF Serum is a new skincare product that has taken ten years of research with top biochemists and dermatologists to develop. Using barley plants and their seeds they've managed to extract human-like cellular activators made in plants and formulate it into a serum that stimulates the skins own renewal process. Users should see a noticeable difference in the overall texture and appearance of their skin including, an improved complexion, fresher skin, added radiance and moisture as well as combating the simple signs of aging. It contains only 9 ingredients and two of the scientists working for BioEffect won a noble prize for their research. They don't add any fragrances, colouring, artificial preservatives or any nasty ingredients and they're Eco friendly!

What I thought:


Application is very easy, pop a few drops into your hand and massage into the skin. As it's an oil it glides easily all over the face, leaving a slightly tacky feeling but by morning it's completely absorbed. I used this as a overnight treatment as I don't think it would make a great base for make-up. I noticed my skin looked slightly clearer and appeared more radiant than usual as well as feeling plumper, although it also made my t-zone quite oily by morning. I really did enjoy using the serum and it makes a nice change swapping from a lotion, the only downsides for me is that it made me slightly oily and the price. At
£49 for a 5ml sample or £125 for 15ml it's not the cheapest product on the market, especially if you intend on repurchasing regauarly.

If you want to find out more about the product or watch the video about how they developed the Serum, visit their website by clicking here

Monday 18 July 2011

NYX Jumbo Pencil in 'Milk'


Price: £4.95
Available from:
NYX
Also in 27 other colours.


I've had my eye on the NYX Jumbo Pencils for a while and finally got around to picking one up in the shade Milk - a bright white. Aswell as being incredibly pigmented it's also creamy, and easy to blend although you do have to warm it up a little. I've found my main uses for the Jumbo Pencil is either on the waterline to open up the eyes (this lasts much longer in the eyes than other white eyeliners I've tried) or, as a base for eyeshadow, once I've applied this underneath they don't move all day! I definately want to pick up some other colours next time I place a NYX order.

Top - Using 'Milk' As A Base
Bottom - Eyeshadow Alone


What do you think of the NYX Jumbo Pencils?

Thursday 14 July 2011

NOTD; The 'Lorraine'

Whenever I'm feeling lazy and can't think of anything imaginative to do with my nails I always opt for 'The Lorraine'. If you don't know what I mean by this then go check out Lorraine Stanick's Youtube Videos, she always wears a plain varnish then a glitter on the ring finger.


Sinful Colours - Easy Going
Milani - Silver

I do have to say it looked far better in person than in photographs, the silver reflects light and looks bling-tastic. I'd only applied one coat so next time I'm going to layer up until the whole nail is covered!

How many of you girls rock the 'Lorraine'?

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Liz Earle Superskin Body Cream


Price: £28.10 for 200ml
Rating:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

What they say
:

This divinely aromatic, ultra-rich body cream is formulated with 25% plant oils – making it our most intensive body moisturiser ever. With East African shea butter, organic rosehip oil, antioxidant cranberry seed oil and pomegranate extract, natural source vitamin E, plus the divine scent of neroli, this luxurious cream helps mature or very dry skin look and feel visibly plump and smooth. Massage all over your body every day for beautifully soft, youthful-looking skin.

What I thought:

I've never suffered from dry skin so recently when a few dry patches appeared on my legs I had no idea what to use to get rid of them. I tried everyday light lotions, body shop body butters, E45 cream, sudocrem and nothing would get rid. If you wear fake tan then you'll know it sticks to any dry patches, so as you can imagine when I applied it I had darker areas over my legs that were really noticeable. I'd almost given up with hoping they'd go away and opted for jeans all the time, even in the boiling hot weather we've had recently - until I tried this. I really do believe when a product is genuinely good it deserves to be raved about and I could not rate this highly enough. Any dry ideas have completely cleared up and haven't re-appeared.

The body lotion comes in a gorgeous silver box and the squeezy tube is very pretty with a floral design up the side and easy to keep clean - I really do love the Liz Earle packaging! The cream itself is a really nice consistency and feels rich while still sinking into the skin quite quickly leaving it soft and smooth. The scent is the only thing I'm not a huge fan of, it really reminds me of tea strangely enough! It's definitely something I can overlook though as it works so well. The ingredients include Shea Butter, Organic Rosehip Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Pomegranate Extract and Neroli Oil - for 'visibly plump and smooth' skin.

Although it's quite pricey, it works and as stated if you have 'mature or very dry/sensitive' skin then it would be ideal for you. I've had this for a good few weeks now and have barely made a dent in the tube.

If you haven't tried it and you have dry skin, I'd HIGHLY recommend!

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine - 46 Liberte


I recently won a giveaway on Charlotte's blog and the prize was a Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipstick in shade 46 - Liberte. I really love the sleek, slim packaging and the colour is gorgeous - a subtle coral shade with almost undetectable tiny sparkles. It applies as a sheer wash of colour and is incredibly hydrating, perfect for Summer!


Monday 11 July 2011

Beauty Wishlist ♥


All images taken from Google search engine. :)

1. Guerlain Lingerie De Peau Foundation - £35.50 @ Debenhams - After watching Vivianna's 'Foundation Routine Video' I decided this is going to be the foundation I try next. I've read some great reviews on this product, plus I love the packaging and have yet to try anything from Guerlain. It's a bit pricey but I always spend more on my 'base' anyway!

2. Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel - £20.16 @ Izzy's Beauty Shop - This was also mentioned in Vivianna's 'Foundation Routine' and I loved how easy it looked to work with. I find cream products blend slightly easier and look a bit more natural on the skin so I think this could easily become a firm favourite.

3. YSL Rouge Volupte - £15.95 @ Cheap Smells - I recently swatched these in Debenhams and they're beautiful lipsticks - I love the colours, the packaging, the glossy finish. I definitely need one of these in my life! haha

4. Xen-Tan Face Tanner Luxe - £15.95 @ Feel Unique - I usually just slap my normal self tanner on my face, which is fine for me I don't get break outs or any bad reactions but I do find it quite drying. I've wanted to get a self tanner specifically for my face for a while now I just haven't got round to it and I've heard this version is very moisturising.

5. Essie Nail Varnish in 'Mint Candy Apple - £8.95 @ Feel Unique - This looks like a gorgeous summery shade, I adore pastels and whenever I see this it makes me think of mint choc chip ice-cream, mmm!

What're you lusting after at the moment?

Thursday 7 July 2011

BeautyUK Snob



On a recent shopping trip I picked up a lipstick from the BeautyUK line in the shade 'Snob' - a mauve pink. I do have to say under the shop lighting it did look a bit more muted and pale, it's definitely a bit darker and has a stronger lilac undertone than I expected and on reflection isn't really 'me'. The packaging is pretty minimalistic and dare I say it - cheap looking, however it's creamy, applies smoothly to the lips and has good pigmentation. I did find it to be quite drying after an hour or two and another thing that I'm not a fan of is the strong menthol scent, I can slightly understand the smell in plumping products but not your everyday basic lipstick.

Overall it's not terrible for
£3.49 but I find the Collection 2000 lipsticks considerably better quality and less expensive, at just £2.99. I do have to say I'm 99% sure BeautyUK have raised their prices recently, I don't really understand why although I did swatch a few powder products and they seemed better quality than I remembered.

To Try: Their blushers, especially if you're looking for a dolly pink.
To Miss: Their lipsticks.


Tuesday 5 July 2011

St.Moriz Dark

Most of you will need no introduction to St.Moriz. After making its rounds on beauty blogs and YouTube, St.Moriz has become an almost cult product that most people use on a continuous basis or have tried at least once!
After the regular St.Moriz got so hyped up, sales must of rocketed and soon after a few more products were added to the line, including St.Moriz Dark, St.Moriz Lotion, bronzers and a tanning mitt. All products are very affordable, as well as being great quality which is primarily the reason they're so successful. I purchase my St.Moriz either from fragrance direct or in my local Savers.


As you can see from the photo above the St.Moriz Dark version is a good few shades darker than the original. I find that the result I get from the Dark version is the same as two applications of the original which is why I choose to opt for this version.
Scent: On first application the smell reminds me of baby products, slightly flowery, old women's perfume vibe. It's not my favourite scent in the world but certainly not offensive and it's unnoticeable to others. In the morning I usually find there is a faint whiff of DHA but with a quick slather of body lotion and a body spray it'll be undetectable.
Application: Being a mousse formula application is incredibly easy and quick. I always use a tanning mitt to eliminate the chance of mistakes.
Price: £2.99 for 200ml
Suitable for pale skin: Yes, hopefully I am proof of that! Doesn't have any orange hue that I have experienced with other, more expensive tanners.

ALL products have their flaws, so there are a few negatives such as how long the mousse takes to try, it feels quite sticky in the process so you can't get dressed too quickly. The bottle leaks slightly every time I shake it, the formula is quite drying on your skin and it only lasts 4 days for me before fading.

Why I continue to use it?
The colour on the first few days before it begins to fade is gorgeous, even on my white as snow skin it shows up as a deep, olive brown.
The price. At £2.99 a bottle it's a bargain & it can fit into every ones budget, I love that the company hasn't raised their prices after their recent success.
No other self tanners have left me satisfied enough to pay out £20/30 on a bottle, when I could just buy this product instead.
Application is incredibly easy and quick.
It's easily available in a few of my local shops.

As you can see from the photo above, mid tanning, I'm very fair skinned and there is a HUGE difference after I've applied St.Moriz. The colour is a gorgeous, deep brown - not a hint of an orange hue.


What are your thoughts on St.Moriz?

Monday 4 July 2011

Mummy Makeover; Make Up For Mature Skin

How I achieved the look..

As you get older your skin can appear a bit more dull and flat, so an illuminating moisturiser is an instant 'pick me up' which will give you the appearance of dewy, glowing skin.
For foundation you want to avoid powder foundations or full coverage, matte finishes. Anything too heavy will settle into fine lines and appear cakey. I opted for a foundation with a radiant finish and a light-medium coverage that applies very lightly on the skin. Moisturising formulas help to keep the skin hydrated and contribute to the supple skin look we're trying to achieve.
Under the eyes I applied a very small amount of brightening concealer, gently patting it into the skin. Again, anything thick and too heavy will settle into lines, not flattering!
To finish off the skin I opted for a cream blush in a light, pale pink. Not only will this add a feminine hint of colour, the cream formula will help to achieve a 'dewy' finish and reflect light, giving you a healthy glow.


I started the eyes by priming the skin with Urban Decay Primer Potion, this ensures your eyeshadow lasts longer and blends more evenly.
I then applied a light, pale cream shade as a base and then over the top a golden, shimmery shadow to brighten up the eyes. I then used a dark brown shadow along the lash line for a bit of definition, this is a great alternative to eyeliner and very subtle.
Finally I applied a light coat of mascara to the top and bottom lashes to open up the eyes and set the brows with a brow gel. If need be, lightly fill in your eyebrows with a shadow but if you can get away with 'au natural' brows then this will help create a 'softer' look.


Superdrug Vitamin E Illuminating Moisture Cream as a base
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - 53 mixed with a bit of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua - 40
Maybelline Pure Liquid Mineral Concealer
Mac 'LadyBlush' cream blusher

Boots No.7 'Exquisite Curl' Mascara
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Sienna 'Cocoa Nudes' - cream shade as a base colour & dark brown shade on the lash line
Maybelline 'Beige Nude'
Natural Collection 'Apple Blossom' lipstick

To vamp it up to a simplistic night time look, add a vibrant lip stain! Here I used ELF Red Carpet.

Friday 1 July 2011

Caudalie 'Spa In A Bag'

If you haven't heard of the Caudalie before, it's a company founded by Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas who grew up in France where they met Professor Vercauterenhe. He informed them that the vineyard owned by their family was an unlimited source of natural ingredients that have anti-aging properties, vitamins and everything you could want for your skin. All products they produce are free of mineral oils, parabens, artifical colourings, sodium sulphates and are inspired by the vines that grow in their vineyard.

I was luckily enough to be sent a limited edition 'The Body Of Your Dreams - Spa In A Bag' which includes three products that should be used alongside each other for noticeable results.

First, the exfoliating Cabernet Scrub buffs your skin to perfection.
Then the Contouring Concentrate helps to slim down the body and reduce cellulite.
And finally, drain toxins from the body with the Organic Herbal Tea.

Crushed Cabernet Scrub - £21.50
I really enjoyed using the scrub, on first glance I thought the packaging was lovely - simplistic and cute to pop on the side in the bathroom although the amount for the price was slightly underwhelming. However, as I realised on first use you only need the tiniest amount as it has quite a thick consistency and on contact with water becomes an almost milky, creamy wash. This is, as it states, a strong exfoliation - which I adore. Especially as a fake tanner I want it to be packed with beads and to feel like it's actually working on my skin. I'm also aware that 'body brushing/massaging' etc is good for your circulation so I felt like I was doing some good giving my skin an intense scrub. The only slight downside for me is the smell as it's quite potent and I almost want to say it smells of ginger, but apart from that it's a lovely product.

Draining Herbal Teas - £10.00
I've never really strayed from your average English Breakfast Tea so these made a refreshing change. I tried these both hot, with a few sugars (I know - naughty and defeating the purpose) and with cold water, ice and a slice of lemon. I quite liked the flavours even though they're very subtle, I could defiantly taste a bit of cinnamon though! I'm not sure if these contributed to any weight loss and I probably wouldn't re-purchase purely because I'm not really one for fruity teas but if you are, these may be one to try!

Contouring Concentrate - £25.50
I'd never before tried a body oil before as I thought it would result in quite a greasy film being left on the skin. The Contouring Concentrate has little markings on the side of the bottle to show how much should be used per day. I applied this as soon as I'd jumped out the shower and left it over night and in the morning my skin felt silky smooth and soft. I did find this had quite a strong smell of ginger as well but nothing too unbearable! I've seen an improvement in how the top of my legs look and my stomach looks smoother now. (Not that I really had any cellulite before, I'm only 20!)


Overall I really enjoyed the scrub and the body oil, although both are quite pricey. If you're looking to try any of the products listed above it's definately worth getting a Spa In A Bag as they're £39.00 (£18 saving).