Thursday, 19 July 2012

Muji - Lip Storage?!



Recently I've been on a MASSIVE cosmetics kick. A 'quick visit to town' for me can turn in to a good few hours carefully studying products in Superdrug, Boots and Debenhams until I finally surface, hands covered in swatches, laden with bags and down to my last few pounds. I do promise, a haul shall soon follow - but be warned it's excessive..
With all the extra products I've found that not even my 8 Tier Muji Drawers or Acrylic Lipstick Holder can hold all of my recent purchases so when I saw the Muji Pill Boxes on another blog, used as lipstick storage, I decided to get two for myself. These are a bargain at just £1.50 each, there are 12 partitions so each box holds a lot of product meaning you free up space by getting rid of all the extra packaging! I also love that I have so many options all together, ideal for getting ready at a friends house or going on holiday.
I'll admit I haven't been able to depot any of my high end lipsticks (why would I buy a YSL Rouge Volupte just to bin the packaging?!) I still leave them on show - I only do this to my lower priced products!
The thing that mystifies me most about this new storage is that I have the memory of a sieve when it comes to most things, yet I can remember most of the names of the Lipsticks in these boxes. Obsessed much?
Could you ever bring yourself to depot your lipsticks?

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Guest Post - Holly Arabella 'Montagne Jeunesse Cucumber Peel Off Mask' Review

Montagne Jeunesse are a popular high street and online face mask and skincare brand, retailing naturally sourced and vegetarian-friendly products.
Peel off masks work by smoothing the mask across the skin, waiting for it to dry and then peeling away the dried mask from the skin, hopefully in one go. The 'Peel Off' range from Montagne Jeunesse consists of four peel off sachets and three 'tottles' - 80ml tubes of mask which you squeeze to dispense the product - scented of Passion Fruit, Cucumber, Lemon Zest, Green Tea and Tropical Fruits.
Having been previously impressed by the Passion Peel Off Mask from the 'Travel Pamper Pack', I was quick to pick up a few more masks from the peel off range.
The packaging of Montagne Jeunesse sachets is bright, fun and perhaps a little garish! Needless to say, it is practical and completely ideal for travel; I love bringing these sachets with me to girly nights in. Simply tear across the top of the packet and squeeze the mask formula onto your finger, then smooth across your face.
The formula of the peel off masks is similar across the whole range, it has a thick but easily applied gel consistency which dries tightly against the skin (but not uncomfortably so) to a film, which peels away with ease.
'Cucumber' is a mask from the range available as a sachet and a tottle, it has a surprisingly gentle scent of cucumber which is accompanied by a zingy undertone, it's a very refreshing scent and I agree it is a little de-stressing too!
Peel off masks are quickly becoming my favourite kind of mask, I like to leave mine on for around fifteen minutes before peeling away. I have combination skin, so these masks work perfectly for me no matter how my skin is behaving - on an 'oily skin' day they peel away all traces of oiliness and even some blackheads leaving me with matte skin ready for moisturiser, on a dry skin day they remove dry patches instantly and smooth out rough areas. The results are so impressive for such a budget brand, you can actually see the results on the peeled away mask!

Montagne Jeunesse Peel Off Masks retail for £1.09 per sachet, or £5 per 80ml tottle from Montagne Jeunesse stockists such as Boots, Wilkinsons, Superdrug, and Montagne Jeunesse online. 
 Best wishes, Holly Arabella

Friday, 25 May 2012

My Week In Photos

1. Sardines in a herb and lemon oil crust on a bed of rocket. 2. Catching some rays at work. 3. Rocking the 'Lorraine' ring finger with InStyles Nail Inc Polish and Models Own. 4. GlossyBox's 1st Birthday Box. 5. Mac Goodies. 6. Shopping! 7. Drive through the countryside. 8. Bbq at the beach. 9. Rimmel 'Wake Me Up Foundation' my new favourite.

Now that I've upgraded to an IPhone I'm a huge fan of Instagram, my username on there is now lisamichellexx so feel free to follow me and I'll follow back! :) Hope you're all enjoying the sunshine!

Monday, 14 May 2012

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo Eyeshadows

Price: £4.99
Available in 7 shades from Superdrug and Boots

The 'Blogger Buzz' around the Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow's was HUGE! I can't count the amounts of reviews I've seen on these, which is why I've left it so long to put up a blog post on these. Although there are 7 shades available on the Boots website I could only get my hands on two, 'On and On Bronze - 35' and 'Eternal Gold - 05'.
My favourite of the two by far is 'On and On Bronze' as it makes a great base to build on, or to wear alone. 'Eternal Gold' is undeniably eye catching and very pretty but quite bright and unflattering on my skin tone so I have to add in some deep browns and darker golds to get it to work for me.
These look quite solid and dry in the pot but once you swirl your finger in the product it turns in to a light, creamy consistency making it easy to apply and blend. They're really great quality, they stay put, have amazing pigmentation, they're priced well and come nicely packaged. I'd definitely say they were a great alternative to Mac Paint Pots if you don't have a lot of cash to spend. The only downside for me is the lack of neutral colours, I'd love to see a subtle champagne shade, 'Painterly' dupe and a matte black.

Saturday, 12 May 2012

Current Favourites


Soap & Glory's Lid Stuff Palette in 'What's Nude' - Full Review Here. This is a great palette for daily use. It has a pale beige, deep brown, pink toned brown and a bronze, shimmery shade. It's versatile, pigmented, compact and only £10. Bargain.

Estee Lauder Double Wear - No matter how many times I'm lured away from this foundation by the promise of newly released products claims of making my skin look radiant, beautiful, flawless even, I always return. Without a doubt, this is my reliable favourite. If you have oily skin, like myself - this will be your saviour. I love the coverage, the finish, the longevity - not the scent, but that can be over looked.

Bourjois Highlighting Powder - An old favourite, I find some highlighters too shimmery and noticeable for every day but this is very subtle and pretty. It adds a gorgeous pearlescent sheen to the skin, re-purchased twice. Say's it all!

Mac 'Harmony' Blush - Recently added to my collection, this is a matte contour shade that sculpts the face, whilst adding warmth to your complexion.

Illamasqua 'Katie' Blusher - My favourite blusher, I use this almost every day. In the pan it looks too delicate and pale to use on any one with a tan but it add's the prettiest flush to your cheeks. Once swatched, you wont be able to resist buying.

Collection 2000 Extreme Liner in 'Black' - Although I've only brought this recently I absolutely love it. Unlike the Maybelline version I previously tried this doesn't need vigorously shaking to get product on to the tip. It's probably the easiest liner to use so ideal if your a beginner, it's an intense black and stays put all day. Not bad for £2.99!

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - Full Review Here. This works amazingly under the eyes, or on anything you need to cover up. It has a medium - full coverage, stays put and doesn't settle into fine lines.

Sleek Pout Paint 'Cloud 9' - This looks scary in the tube, but a small amount of this mixed in to darker lipsticks means you can customise and create your perfect shade! I've always been on the search for a milky pink and pale peach colour, and with this it's possible for me to create my own.

Avon Spectra Lash Mascara - This has the same idea as the Rimmel and Bourjois mascara where you have a dial (1-2-3) to decide the intensity of your lashes. I didn't get on very well with the Bourjois version, but this I LOVED. This seperates lashes, adds volume and lengthens and even when you dial up to 3, it still doesn't clump on me.

Lancome Doll Eyes Mascara - Completely different brush to the Bourjois mascara, this has a tapered wand, making it easy to apply product to the small corner lashes. This does everything that the Avon Spectra Lash does, you can build up the intensity easily, it doesn't make lashes crispy but once you've had it for a while you do start to get a bit of fall out.

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

April 2012 GlossyBox - The Natural Box

The most recent GlossyBox* was the Limited Edition Natural Box. The box itself is made from 100% biodegradable material and the five products you receive inside are all eco friendly.
In my box I had..

Figs & Rouge Peppermint and Tea Tree Lip Balm, £3.29 - I already have one of these in the scent 'rambling rose' which is amazing, it smells just of Turkish Delight! These have adorable packaging and are 100% organic and natural. They do a great job at keeping your lips moisturised without feeling greasy and I would happily buy more.

Inika Certified Organic Eyeliner Pencil in 'Sapphire', £11.75 - Although slightly more expensive than your average Kohl pencil these are Organic and contain oils, meaning they're gentle on your eyes and suitable for even the most sensitive of skin. This glides on like a dream and is the most gorgeous midnight blue colour!

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum, £29 - This serum instantly moisturised my skin, leaving it feeling soft and hydrated. I probably wouldn't re-purchase as it left me slightly oily and I feel like my skin benefits more from a thick cream than a serum.

Monu Spa Enriched Body Cream, £23 - This had a lovely, refreshing zesty scent that I adore, it's quick a thick cream but rubs in easily and leaves skin nicely moisturised. I'd consider purchasing however the price tag is slightly off putting considering how quickly I go through moisturisers.

Philip B Drop Dead Straightening Baume, £17 - I'm a big fan of straightening balm's so I'm excited to try this, I haven't had a chance to test it out yet but it sounds great and I'll be sure to update when I've tried it properly.
Top Row: Monu Body Cream, Straightening Baume, Figs & Rouge Lip Balm
Bottom Row: Caudalie Serum, Inika Eyeliner Pencil 'Sapphire'