Midnight Miracle.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

 

 

This claims that with "2 drops and 1 night you will have younger looking skin in the morning". Now that's a big claim for a product  to live up to, and due to me only being 18, I don't particularly want to look any younger, however it definitely makes my skin look a lot more radiant, clearer and overall much more healthier over night after using this.

 

Kiehls say; "This elixir works all night to replenish the skin with moisture and leave younger-looking skin by morning. Enriched with a blend of naturally derived ingredients including Squalane, Evening Primrose, and a blend of essential oils.
This readily absorbed elixir helps the skin to recover radiance by morning, with skin feeling smoother and softer. Enriched with Squalane, Evening Primrose Oil, Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Essential Oils including Lavender, our formula provides a boost of intensive moisture to dehydrated skin. The formula instantly penetrates the skin surface to help replenish it with moisture. Our concentrate is designed to work at night; with skin hydrated, supple and soft, rest assured you can say goodnight to a tired-looking complexion."

 

Its pretty easy to say I'm totally in love with this little wonder. As there isn't anything I don't like about this product, and also because after a busy day I'm somewhat rather tired, I'm just going to briefly highlight exactly what i love about this product.

 

Firstly, its really easy to use. It comes with a dropper, which means it easily dispenses just the right amount of product for the whole face...2 or 3 drops depending which you prefer. This also means you don't over apply the product and end up with a greasy mess and also you don't waist any product, which I think would be a really big issue without the dropper.

Secondly this smells amazing. I have trouble sleeping, and due to the smell of lavender it really helps me drop off to sleep and relax after a busy day at work. Personally I like putting three drops into my palms, patting them together, inhaling the scent and then applying it to my face.

The main worry i had about using a sort of oil at night is that i thought it would make my face really greasy, which wouldn't help my overall oiliness. However this soaks in really fast and in fact i think it really helps to balance out my skin, and helps take away the oiliness. The assistant stated the best way to target oiliness, is "to fight it with oil to balance out the skin", and this is definitely the case and works wonders in my experience of using this product every night.

I really love the overall effect this concentrate has on my skin, straight away it feels a lot more smoother and much more moisturised. However when I wake up in the morning my skin is visibly a lot more healthy looking and radiant, which is just amazing, my skin has a tendency to look really dull, red and puffy, which is no longer the case after using this.
Lastly this is amazing value for money. It comes in two sizes 30ml for £36 and a new 50ml which is £49, now this may seem really expensive, however you only need 2-3 drops a night, therefore either bottle is going to last you such a long, long time. Personally I bought the 50ml, as its £13 more expensive for nearly twice as much more product, which is think is fantastic value for money.

 

Overall, this is an amazing product which everyone should try. Kiehls really focus on allowing customers to sample there products before buying, therefore leading to not only happy consumers, but also loyal customers who receive the best most personal treatment available. Therefore I really urge you to go to your nearest Kiehls Store or Concession (for a quick link to the Kiehls store locator click here) and ask for a sample of this "Midnight Recovery Concentrate" because trust me, as long as you follow the application instructions, you will definitely not regret it.

 

Have you tried Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate yet, if so what do you think of it?

Perfect Primer.

Urban Decay -

Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion

 

Urban Decay is quickly becoming one of my favourite brands. Their eye shadows are just breathtakingly gorgeous and so is there Naked Skin Foundation so I wanted to try something new. Their Eyeshadow Primer Potion is extremely popular and I love it, therefore I thought that I may as well try their face primer too after reading so many great reviews. With my combination skin, my make-up wears off too quick for my liking and the only way for your make-up to stay longer is by using a primer. Make-up artists use primers not only to ensure longer lasting make-up but, it also creates the perfect canvas depending on the type of skin. This primer, helps with oily skin as it creates a matte finish.

 

It claims to "Smooth on a little Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion before foundation (or alone!) to totally minimise the look of pores and fine lines. The velvety, paraben-free formula flashes down to a soft-matte finish, without the greasy, heavy feel sometimes associated with foundation primers. The result? Flawless skin with an airbrushed look and feel. Foundation applies smoothly, evenly, and won't fade away".

The packaging is classic to the Primer Potion family, the magical somewhat fairytale tube features a twist-cap end; the only thing I dislike about the design i that I can't stand it up, however never the less its really cute and the thin nozzle end gives complete control of how much you want to come out.

Be sure not to squeeze too much product, you will find a little does indeed go a long way, a pea size will definitely do a full face application easily; for me this justifies the hefty price tag.

The formula is velvety soft and blends from a smooth slightly purple tinted paste to an even finish with no 'purple' in sight; I smooth mine with my finger, it always blends beautifully. It isn't greasy or oily, I don't feel so guilty if I forget moisturiser either because it's very soothing to the skin.

The finish is divine, my skin feels beyond smooth, it's velvety soft and completely even - imperfections are blurred well. My complexion is more even with an 'airbrushed' look, it feels very professional. Foundation applies so smoothly over the base and lasts twice as long as it usually would without any primer, blushes also apply easier too and blend to a far more even and ridiculously flawless finish. With Primer Potion applied I feel confident in not reapplying my makeup all day, my makeup even stays in place even when I go to the gym; I'd say I get around 10 hours of wear from my makeup with this primer, possibly even more, however I may have to do a slight bit of blotting...however never the less afterwards my make up is as good as new.

 

Overall,  I can confirm the Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion does everything it claims, keeping my makeup looking perfect from morning to night, dusk to dawn giving me a smooth and even complexion. It does cost £19, however it is definitely worth it and will last you such a long time, will definitely repurchase this when mine runs out.



More

Cotton Candy Pink.

Urban Decay -

SWF Eyeshadow

I've been looking for this eyeshadow for a very long time, and as I couldn't find it anywhere in store I took to the internet to find it, and BeautyBay.com came to my rescue. It's the shade SWF which as the title highlights is truly a cotton candy pink shade, perfect for a basic, natural look however with a girly twist. 

It came in a very cute box, however I threw the box away, then remembered I wanted to show it you all, however it was too late by then. However basically, there the new boxes, obviously designed for the newly formulated eye shadows, and in my opinion there very pretty. It's a sturdy cardboard box with a window cutout to show the shade. The colour is a dark purple gradient and the Urban Decay logo is printed in silver chrome lettering. The label on the top is coloured to match the shadow inside, meaning finding the shade you want couldn't be any easier, but it also acts as a safety seal. The new shadow compacts are also really special. They've kept their signature subway token motif, but translated it into a sleek, shiny dark chrome material instead of the matte silver plastic they were made of previously. The Urban Decay logo and motto are a lighter colour than the packaging and are floating above the inner design, giving the text a really fascinating 3D effect. The new packaging is seriously gorgeous, whoever designed it did an amazing job making it look cool and modern while still preserving Urban Decay's historic subway token compact design. The back label is coloured to match the shadow, just like the sticker on the top of the box, small detail, but much appreciated. And here's the new feature; the shadow pans pop out easily (no prying with a butter knife required) so that you can place them into a 6-pan Build Your Own Eyeshadow Palette.

SWF is the ultimate cotton candy, baby pink. In my opinion its just perfect for highlighting and is a good girly change from virgin (from the Naked Palette), as it adds just the right touch of pink. Its both a shimmer; luminous sheen however without glitter, and the added texture to the eyeshadow means its got added sparkle, creating the most stunning results. I also use this as a highlighter on my cheeks or just above my cupids bow on my lips as it's just a great all rounder, and therefore is just perfect for anyone.

The formula on the shades that I tried was divine. They were all velvety soft and smooth, not chunky or grainy, beautifully pigmented and easy to blend, just all around lovely. Urban Decay's eyeshadow formula was nice before, but it actually is even nicer now. I haven't tried any of the newly reformulated matte shades, but these shimmer/frost/glitter shades are excellent. And don't get me started on the new packaging design... It is gorgeous. I can't say enough good things about it, it's so pretty and shiny and a definite aesthetic improvement over the old design. And this is coming from someone who hates it when brands change their designs, be it logo, website or packaging. So, yes, I'm definitely okay with the changes in formula and packaging for once. The only thing that makes me sad about this change is that some of the shades didn't make the cut (Urb, Honey, El Dorado, Lounge, Uzi...), I would have loved to try them with the newly updated formula, never the less the ones they have chose to keep are utterly stunning.

SWF cost £14, however they're also releasing it as part of a palette known as the feminine palette, which in some countries; such as the US may have already been released, (a photo of this can be seen to the right). Personally I'm not a lover of palettes, I prefer just to take my Naked palette everywhere when travelling, and take a few individual ones also, however for those who want to save money; the palette is stunning and is definitely worth taking a look at, the colours are just beautiful and really compliment each other. I'm definitely going to be buying more Urban Decay eye shadows, the formulation is just incredible. I definitely think in regards to eye shadows and eyeliners, Urban Decay's are as good as you can get, their just fantastic.

What are your favourite Urban Decay eye shadows?

Chocolate Inspiration.

Shu Uemura -

Chocolat Donna

Shu Uemura's Autumn/Winter collection I have to say is just incredible, its inspired by chocolate and therefore is rightly named Chocolat Donna. This post is just a quick over view of what to expect within the collection.

This collection includes:

Eye Shadow Palettes – £50

Six pre-set eye shadows in a chocolate inspired palette, however you can also customise it.

Orange & Pistachio Palette; A hint of spicy orange glitter; nutty pistachio, hazelnut and crystallised ginger peel-with gold accents- in pearl. Blend with rich shades of matte milk chocolate with golden accents or define the eyeline with cacao.

Mint & Vanilla Palette; A fresh spice and savoury herb selection that includes glittery golden vanilla and mint, and powdery matte vanilla shades; complimented with pearl mocha with gold accents and rich cacao for defining the eye line.

Raspberry & Mocha Palette; This fruit infused set includes glittery mocha; raspberry, creme mocha and gold accented mocha in pearl; blend or layer with matte milk chocolate with subtle gold accent or rich cacao to define your eye.

Glow On (blushers) – £16

Framboisier; a touch of this luscious berry shade will delight the senses.

Apricot; dip into this sun kissed shade to spice up your chocolate covered world.

False Eyelashes (LE) – £20

Choco-lash, inspired by decorative gourmet chocolates. Brown feather with gold and silver accents add the perfect flavor to any shade of eye make-up.

Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte – £20

Choco-inspired colourful confections ranging from milky beige to hot cherry pink. Matte but creamy and moisturising formula.

RD165; A delicious bright red with a surprising twist! Reminiscent of freeze dried raspberries.

WN275; A wine beige colour to stain lips-creamy milk chocolate infused with a splash of red wine.

PK335; A sugar pink with blue undertones for a moody sugar high.

PK348; Sweet pink shade gives a kissable strawberry appeal to lips.

PK375; Dark cherry colour is as sinfully rich as a black cherry cream treat.

PK376; Hot cherry pink, like a burst of decadent berry coloured liquor filling.

BR761; Mocha brown shade as delicious as a spoonful of chocolate mousse.

BG931; A milky beige shade like cocoa powder dust on a delectable truffle.

BG944; A soft beige shade sweetened with a drizzle of fruity pink syrup.

OR570; Add a zing to lips and dip into this high volume mandarin orange shade.

Overall, this collection is just divine, its so pretty and so wearable. I'm most interested in the Raspberry & Mocha palette and also the Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte lipstick in PK335 and PK376 as they sound like lipsticks I would definitely wear.

Is there anything in the collection which really grabs you attention?!

Naked Foundation.

Urban Decay -

Naked Skin Foundation

Not long ago I bought the Dior Forever foundation, however due to its rather high SPF I cant really wear it for night time, due to it giving the most shocking flash back ever in photos...therefore I needed a new night time/special occasion foundation, however without a high SPF. At the same time Urban Decay was releasing this new liquid foundation; Naked Skin which on paper sounded utterly amazing.

Basically Naked Skin is a build able formula that allows you to customise your look. From light to full coverage, it feels like wearing nothing at all, yet transforms complexions. Skin looks natural, illuminated and bright: like the beautiful skin you were born with. The shade choice for this foundation in my opinion is impressive as there are 18 shades to choose from. The numbering system means that there is a colour to suit each skin tone, and shades that end in .0 are warmers shades and those that end in .5 are more neutral/cooler shades. I think this is a great system to find your shade as I was able to find my shade in a matter of seconds.

What may come as a bit of a surprise with this foundation is that the bottle is actually plastic, upon photos you may not realise this. However this is something I prefer for travelling purposes (as I travel quite a bit) it just means there is less chance of it breaking compared to glass. Although for some people this may be a turnoff as you might be a fan of glass bottles as it appears for luxurious and expensive, however to someone else, you wouldn't be able to tell. The foundation also comes with a pump which is a massive bonus for me as it allows you to pump enough product for your face and avoid wasting product, I find that one pump gives enough product for the whole face, and to add a bit of extra coverage over those problem areas.

Urban Decay state; "Our completely weightless formula blurs imperfections to deliver a flawless finish that looks professionally retouched and feels invisible."

Sounds too good to be true doesn't it...well let me tell you, its as good as it sounds. I have it in shade 4, which matches my skin perfectly. It leaves a lovely demi-matte finish, which means its in the middle of matte and dewy which is just perfect for me as I don't like been too much of either, in my opinion the demi-matte finish really helps it to look more natural after application. I have oily skin, and this can really help to combat the oiliness. Its doesn't feel heavy when applied, or so dewy that it feels like its going to slide of your face during the day, you know that once its on its going to have a great lasting power. With the foundation having a demi-matte formula it definitely lives up to its lightweight claim and you don't feel like you have much on once applied.

This foundation doesn't claim to last forever on your face, unlike similar foundations in this price range, however considering this it still does stay on the skin anywhere from 6 to 8 hours without a primer, or up to 10 hours with a brilliant primer (Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Primer review coming soon), therefore overall its a win win situation. Urban Decay however do highly recommend when using this foundation that you use both a primer and setting spray to enhance its staying power, which I really do stand by because it does really help the lasting power of the foundation, I personally use the All Nighter setting spray, read the review here.

The company have also released a brush which is designed to go hand in hand with the foundation, The Optical Blurring Brush, read review here, its a really fluffy brush which is so soft on the skin and really helps to buff in the foundation and create a truly flawless finish.

Urban Decay;s Naked Skin is retailed at quite an expensive £27, which puts it against the likes of YSL and Estee Lauder in terms of foundation pricing. However I don't mind paying this much for a foundation I really like, and that really works to give a stunning finish.

However I would advise like with all foundations to go into store or concession and test this foundation out for yourself, as even though I'm totally head over heels for it, it may not be loved by everyone, it also gives you a good idea of the shade you need and feel of it on the skin, overall its definitely worth seeing if you can snag yourself a sample of it first.

Overall this foundation for me is just incredible, definitely my new favourite foundation on the market. A lot of people are comparing it with the YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation, and as I just got a sample of the YSL foundation I'm really excited to see how it compares.

Have you tried the Naked Skin foundation yet, if so what do you think?



Encre Rose.

YSL -

Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres

Everyone knows, when your at work you need a lipstick or lip gloss with serious staying power, not only because you don't always have time to touch it up, but also because it makes you feel that bit better knowing you have beautiful lips all day. Therefore I thought it was time to invest in a lip stain.

This little beauty provides ultimate wear, ultimate shine and ultimate colour. The true revolution of this decade is the coming together of an extremely long–lasting stain formula and glossy shine, using a patented exclusive spatula for precise and smooth application. Pure water-soluble pigments fused in a transparent texture for non-sticky, long–lasting, high–shine gloss.

I bought this in shade 17; Encre Rose which out of all the pink shades I think is by far the most wearable. Its a very beautiful cool rose colour that I find would be flattering on most skin tones. In the bottle I did think it was going to be just a pure pastel pink, however you can layer it to make it much more of a rich pink (which is more my sort of colour), or tone it down by spreading a small amount with your finger (for just a simple touch of pink for during the day).

This is purely the most amazingly long lasting lip stain. Its really highly pigmented and the colour is incredible and lovely. Unlike many other lip stains I've tried the colour does actually stay on the lips, and in my experience for up to 4 maybe 5 hours which is serious incredible. Another thing I've also noticed is that unlike some other lip stains this doesn't strip my lips, it actually keeps them really moisturised, leaving them feeling soft and really hydrated.

I find this lip stain is fabulous for not only during work, but for those days when your running about doing chores and when you don't want to wear that much make up. It really helps to bring to life very natural and neutral make up giving that pop of colour however with it not being too over the top for during the day.

Another thing I really love is the wand applicator. Its so incredible and makes application so easy, as it helps to apply just enough colour, the shape of wand is also perfectly shaped to the shape of your lips which means you wont end up with it all over. Its also impotent to note that this shade colour doesn't bleed, however the more vibrant reds I'm not so sure about, therefore a lip liner may be a good idea just in case for the much more vibrant colours.

Overall, I really love this lip stain its incredible and is so useful for everyday use, the colour really does last a ridiculously long time and for £22.50 its something everyone should have in there handbag. However I don't think its something I would buy in an array of shades as there aren't really any other shades that catch my eye, never the less its perfect for work!

PS. using a lip balm on top of this throughout the day will help keep the colour on longer and also adds that bit of shine, keeping your lips looking luscious and lovely throughout the day.

Undecided.

Shu Uemura -

UV Under Base Mousse

Not long ago I wrote a review about this product, as so many people were buying it and totally raving about it. Therefore I did a really in depth explanation of this under base which can be found here. After writing the post I was so excited to go and buy this under base mousse, as it just sounded amazing. However I have to say, I just cant decided if I like this product or not.

At first it really took me by surprise, it comes out as it states...a mousse, however it disappears as soon as you go to put it on your face, therefore you need to be super fast and just put it all over your face as fast as you can. Once on it feels light as air, you cant actually feel its on. It really does help hide my really large pores which is just amazing, however it could be a bit more concealing of blemishes to help create the ultimate flawless base. Maybe looking back I should have purchased the BB version instead of just the Beige, but oh well.

Anyway, I tried this under my foundation, however it didn't really help my foundation last amazingly longer, however maybe an extra hour or two. However I have found that when I put it under my Garnier BB Cream, it works much better then under foundation. The added SPF 30 is a real bonus as it means my skin is protected throughout the day, which is a fantastic bonus. It does make my BB cream go on somewhat flawlessly and last much longer then if I was to wear it alone.

Overall would I buy this product again...no. I don't think it lived up to all the hype, I am really rather disappointed as I did want it to work wonders, however as disappointing as it is I still use for it as a daytime primer...mainly because of the high SPF. Personally I do think £29 is really expensive for this product looking back, and I really wouldn't advise it to anyone as the "perfect primer" as I think there are much better primers out there (especially the new release from Urban Decay which review should be up soon). Basically I really cant make my mind up about this primer, I think its going to become one of those love hate products depending what mood I'm in on that day, however it definitely will not be repurchasing it.

Have you tried the Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse, what do you think?

Most Amazing Mascara Ever.

Lancôme - 

Hypnôse Star Mascara

This is just a super quick post to say how amazing this mascara is. The wand most definitely makes all the difference in comparison to a normal mascara wand, it helps to really build the volume and length of eyelashes, and it helps to create a stunning dramatic eye. However another thing I like is that you don't constantly have to create a dramatic eye look with this mascara, you can also create a beautiful sophisticated day time look, focusing more so on the length then the volume. This mascara definitely has it all, its just incredible.

If you want to get to know this mascara a little more I did an overall review of this mascara when it first came out click here to read it, it does really lives up to everything I wrote about what it, in regards to what it was meant to be like. It most definitely give the most stunning eyelashes, it was totally worth the £21 my boyfriend payed for it...my new holy grail mascara.

So Fluffy.

Urban Decay -

Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush

This is just a super quick post about my new seriously amazing brush, which has become my ultimate favourite brush ever.

This is the new Optical Blurring Brush by Urban Decay, which has been released along side there new Naked Skin Foundation (review to come). Basically this is the fluffiest, most fabulous brush in the world, it flawlessly applies, buffs and blurs liquid, cream and powder foundation into the skin which creates the most flawless complexion ever. The densely packed hairs (which are synthetic as its safe for vegans) picks up and distributes make up evenly, and the domed top and round shade makes it effortless to manoeuvre around the face.

Personally, I apply this with a circular motion for a flawless, airbrushed finished. It simply buffs skin into a flawless, soft-focus finish, the optical blurring brush creates the look of complexion perfection by diminishing fine lines, pores and other areas make up tends to settle in. Even though the brush looks like it was going to be rather rough due to the densely packed brush it actually feels super soft and lovely, which makes it even more lovely to use.

This is a fantastic brush, and I prefer it more so then my Real Techniques Stippling brush as it just gives a much more airbrushed finish to make up, without making it look over worked and over done. It retails for £18.50 and is available now at all Urban Decay stands, its a really good price for such an amazing brush, and the quality of it is just magnificent. I think its definitely a brush everyone should own.

Have you tried this brush yet, if so what do you think?

All Nighter.

Urban Decay -

All Nighter Setting Spray

This is something I've never really thought of; a setting powder...maybe, a setting spray...not getting my hopes up. However this little gem has changed my view of a setting spray completely. Its just...incredible!

This is basically a hypoallergenic spray which keeps make up on for up to 16 hours...which is a bit over dramatic, however 6-8 hours definitely, which for me is amazing. It overall feels totally weightless and helps to keep your overall make up looking just applied all day long, which is every girls idea of heaven. It uses the latest "temperature control technology" so that make up wont melt during the warm and humid days and wont become flaky and dehydrated which its cold and windy. The micro-fine mist which distributes product evenly over the face makes sure make up stays looking fresh, soft and incredible all day or night long.

In my opinion this is just fantastic, I've been using it for work which is a serious tester for a product such as this as I work in the beauty department in House of Fraser. Everyone knows its ridiculously hot and when you mix that with around 20 spot lights...no make up can withstand that for very long...unless you spray it with this before hand, and in that case it can last just short of a 9 hour shift. Incredible! Price wise it is a little expensive, however totally worth it. The bottle I own is the smaller bottle; 118ml the XL version which is 177ml wasn't available which was unfair as the 118ml bottle is £19 and the 177ml is only £23, which in my view is just amazing value for money. However, its important to note this is one for three version, it also comes in De-Slick which is aimed at those with much more oily skin, and Dew-Me which is for those with a much more dryer/dehydrated skin. I thought I would go with the original which is for combination skin, and if it doesn't help...then I'll try the De-Slick version. So far however its amazing, and it definitely helps the longevity of my make up. I do think however they should create a travel size version, as its really good to bring dull make up back to life throughout the day, therefore having it in mini form in your handbag would just be fantastic.

Have you tried any of Urban Decays setting sprays, what do you think?

Three Weeks Alone.

Its clear to say the next three weeks will consist of work, writing blog posts, university prep work and seeing friends I haven't seen in a long time. The reason for this...my boyfriends disowned me to go on holiday for 3 weeks with family. The reason I'm not there with him... not only do I have a new full time job, but I go to London for training on Tuesday for 2 night, and have House of Fraser training this weekend and next. Therefore I had to give it a miss...not impressed. However being a good girlfriend, I didn't think it was fair him missing out on family time to spend three weeks at home bored as I'm busy doing work related things. Its ridiculous how much I miss him to say he went yesterday, however being cute and so very sweet, he did buy me a new teddy to keep me company for the next 3 weeks and some pink roses (which are my favourite flowers ever) which I hope will last for 3 weeks.

Overall I thought I would let you in on the reason for the mass of blog posts which will no doubt follow, which is down to just shear boredom and to take my mind off missing him.

What do you do to stop you missing someone?