Blush Exclusif.

Bourjois - 

Blush Exclusif

Not long ago I was going to splurge and buy the Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush (also know as the Rosy Glow Blush). This is a blush, which reacts with the moisture in each skin type, giving a delicious and subtle blush to the cheeks. However, when I was about to go and buy this, I heard that Bourjois were releasing something similar in a cream form; therefore I thought I would wait. BEST IDEA I HAVE EVER HAD!

Let me just say...this is incredible...end of...blog post finished!

The idea of this cream blush is that the formula contains pH reactive pigments that transform your cheeks into a customised pink shade. I was a little worried when I bought this because I had vision of bright, hot pink coloured cheeks, which just aren't flattering. However, I had nothing to worry about. When applied it does appear a little bright, however as it reacts with the pH balance in your skin, you can see it changing shade. When I apply this on me, it becomes a very pretty rosy pink shade, which gives me a lovely glow. I have also tried this on my sister and mum, who's skin tones are both darker then mine, my mums being the darkest out of us three. The pink becomes deeper in shade, which gives them the perfect pink glow without being over powering, it looks very natural and very flushed. The cream itself is ridiculously easy to apply and blends beautifully. I have never used a cream blush before, but now I understand why so many people love using them. 

Overall, this is just amazing, I don't see myself buying the Dior alternative any time soon.

They retail at £8, and are available at anywhere that sell Bourjois products.

Nail Foundation.

butterLondon -

Nail Foundation

Every since trying butterLondon Horse Power nail strengthening treatment, I have been totally head over heels in love with butterLondon products. Whilst looking on their website I came across this, which is described as a Nail Foundation Flawless Base Coat, which hides and smoothes tiny ridges and imperfections in the nails, it is basically like cover up or foundation for your nails. The website highlights 'this silk-finish, stain resistant, non-toxic base coat nail lacquer provides the perfect foundation for butter LONDON 3 Free Lacquer'. The main thing I really like about butterLondon products is that they are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs and triclosan.

This is amazing. It works so well at smoothing out nails and creating a perfect base for nail polish. When used under polish, it not only smooths out ridges, but it also makes the true colour of the polish come through much more clearer and true to colour. Some polishes I own tend to need three or even four coats to make the colour look perfect, however using this as a base coat, I only needed 2, which is just amazing. In regards to longevity  I have found if you apply the base coat a little too thick, it can cause the nail polish to nip within 3-4 days. Whereas if you apply it thinly, and allow it to dry completely then it can last just over a week...incredible.

Another way I use this is on its own, to create a better natural nails but much better look.

It is defiantly one of the best base coats I have ever used.

If this sounds like your dream base coat, then you can pick it up in BIG boots stores or online for between £15-£18 depending where you look.

Instant Retouch?

Soap & Glory -

Kickass Instant Retouch Pressed Powder

When I saw this was being released I was unbelievably excited to try it. It promised to perfect your skin, concealing a multitude of flaws in a single sweep, especially focusing on diminishing pores, which is my main focus. The totally translucent powder can be applied before or after makeup and using its vision-tricking Superblur technology and Camouflawge 3D it retouches your face in real time.

I picked this up before the original release date in my local boots a while back, they had been sent in 2 or 3 and I was lucky to get there before the last one had gone. I couldn't wait to get home and try it. Now. I usually find it hard using powders because to my combination skin it tends to sit on the skin and look slightly too powdery for my liking, no matter how little I use or how good I buff it in. I tried this a multitude of ways. 

Firstly underneath foundation. Personally, on its own, with this and no primer, it just doesn't work. My foundation doesn't last in the slightest, and it makes no difference to the appearance of my pores. I then tried it on top of my primer, before my foundation. Even though this did work, its hard to notice if its my primer working or the powder. It however didn't add to the longevity of the foundation. One thing I did think about was using it with a less expensive primer, which maybe isn't as good at covering my pores, for when I'm going to university, instead of using my much more expensive Too Faced primer. Its something I'm planning on trying, to see if it works. There are some good primers on the drugstore market, which work really well at keeping your foundation on for a long time, however they didn't hide my pores as well as I had wanted...for these primers this powder may come in handy. 

Secondly, I tried it on top of my foundation. This is where I get unsure. Some times when I apply it, it works really well, looks utterly flawless and amazing. Other times it looks really powdery and seems to blow my pores up even bigger. I really find it hard trying to figure out if I love or hate this powder because of this. I have tried it on other people and other people have tried it on themselves and they have found the same thing, its very hit or miss. 

I'm not going to lie and say its a miracle powder, because as I said for me it is very hit or miss, and I'm rather disappointed by it. Im determined to find a way to apply this perfectly, however as of yet, I wouldn't repurchase this, purely because of the hit and miss element. Everyones skin is different and therefore some people may really get on well with this and it might work wonders. It retails for £12 from boots, and I think its something if you like Soap & Glory products, or if your a fan or in need of a new powder, then its work a try!

Have you tried this powder? Has it worked wonders for you? 

I would love to hear you tips on how best to apply it!

Update - Today I used this powder on top of my primer and before my Dior BB cream. I used my 'Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro' primer first, which is amazing at keeping my foundation or BB cream on for a very long time, however it doesn't help cover my rather large pores. As soon as I applied this powder over the top my skin looked pretty much pore-less which is just amazing. I then buffed my BB cream onto and it looked amazing! There was a slightest powdery tint to it, however that may have been due to me adding a little too much...definitely trial and error. Overall this is definitely my favourite way to apply and use this powder. My make up still looked really good after about 5+ hours with just the slightest bit of a touch up, and my pores were only just beginning to appear, which is amazing!
I'm super happy I have found a way to apply this powder. I'm still not sure if I would repurchase it, however I will definitely be using it for those days when a heavy silicon based primer isn't really necessary!

GlossyBox September 2013.

I havent ever had a GlossyBox. Every time I think of subscribing, I look around at whats been in them, and they always seem to be rather hit or miss. However, this month it was my birthday, therefore I though I would get a one off box. I actually was pleasantly surprised!

First of all the packaging is just so amazing!

The box included 4 full sized products and one sample sized fragrance. Which I was really happy with…I had visions of it being full of sample sized products, which for me don’t always have enough in them for me to really decided whether I like them or not.

The first thing that took my eye was the Elizabeth Arden Untold (5ml) fragrance sample. I really loved that it was actually a little very pretty bottle, rather then a vial. Fragrance for me is something that is really individual to each person. Therefore I didn’t really want to receive a fragrance within the box, however this is a decent size and I actually really like it. It’s a mix of floral and fruit and is something I wouldn’t usually stop and smell in store. I might not buy the full sized version, however I will definitely be putting it in my bag and using it. Also to note, its not a spray, it’s the good old-fashioned little hole in the bottle that you tip up slightly (not very technical I know but I don’t really know what to call it…sorry). I didn’t actually know this, and nearly got covered in it all. 

Next up are the Eylure Pre-Glued Lashes (£5.06). I’m actually really excited to try these out. I’ve really wanted to try false lashes, however I never really knew how to apply them and the glue worried me slightly. Therefore the fact these are already glued definitely makes me more excited to try them…and I never knew these were even available (revelation). The style is really pretty, not too over the top, but enough to give you that dramatic eye look. Really happy with these…no mess, no fuss and no waiting around…very happy!

Toni & Guy is something I’ve always looked at in my local boots. I’ve tried their blonde shampoo and conditioner, and I really liked it, leading me to want to try more of their products. Therefore receiving their Classic Shine & Gloss Serum (£7.19) was amazing. The packaging is really pretty; it’s part of their limited edition Hair Meets Wardrobe design that I really love. This serum is meant to control frizz with lightweight shine, as someone who loves serums this was really up my street. I tried it as soon as it arrived and really loved it. It gives such a high shine, healthy look and feel to the hair, without it feeling or looking greasy or weighed down.

Something I wasn’t disappointed to see, but wasn’t thrilled with was the Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Eyeliner in Onyx ($14). I don’t really wear eyeliner because to be fair I really cant apply it, if it had a thinner tip or was kohl then I may have found some use for it. However, this is a really thick, marker like eyeliner, which even though you can apply it thinly with the very tip of the pen, I just couldn’t use it, it just ended up a big mess. The liquid formula seems really nice if you can apply and really like eyeliner, however as someone who hasn’t really used that many eyeliners, let alone liquid eyeliners I cant really judge on if this is good or not. However, my friend who is an eyeliner lover has adopted it and she really loves it, and she’s tried them all, so that should give you some idea about it!

Last up is something I would never have expected to see in my box, and which got me rather excited, and that’s the HD Brows Blusher 2 (17.95). I haven’t used anything by HD Brows, and I didn’t even know they did blushers so this was a really nice surprise. The packaging is amazing, personally I would have preferred a round brush rather then a sponge, because I don’t really apply blusher with a sponge, but its something I will try, but never the less the packaging is very luxurious and well made. The blush itself, looks fairly bright in the pan, but actually when applied it’s a very pretty burnt rose colour with a slight golden shimmer. I sometimes do apply this a bit too heavy, but I just use my foundation brush to blend it into my skin and make it look more natural. It’s a lovely blusher, and its something I wouldn’t have bought myself, however it gives a beautiful naturally flushed glow to the skin. It lasted fairly well on the skin, it did begin to fade after a couple of hours, however it appeared to fade naturally, it didn’t slide or patch.

Overall, I’m really impressed with this September GlossyBox, the overall cost not including the sample fragrance and transferring $ into £ was around £37 which is really amazing. When they asked you to fill in a questioner at the beginning to let them know what you like, disliked, skin colour, type etc. and what you would most like to see in your box. I was worried this wouldn’t be taken into account, however they really seemed to use this and send me products I could really use and try. Would I subscribe fully…I’m very tempted.

VERY IMPRESSED GLOSSYBOX TEAM!

You can find GlossyBox here: www.glossybox.co.uk and its £10 per month plus postage and packaging. 

Beauty Wish List (High-end/Luxury).

Not long ago I did a Beauty Wish List Drugstore Edition. Not long after that I actually picked up pretty much everything on it. I will write some reviews on them pretty soon. Lets just say, some I surprisingly liked, and others I was incredibly let down by. However, that’s in due course. Not long after posting my Drugstore edition, I got asked what high-end/luxury products I had my eye on. Therefore I thought I would show you a few products I really want.

First up is the Shu Uemura’s Fresh Cleansing Oil, also known as the Fresh Pore Clarifying Gentle Cleansing Oil (what a mouthful). I have never read so many good things about a cleanser before. Normally people say that high-end cleaners are a waist of money, that their just like lower end cleansers and that you’re just paying for the name etc. However, in this case so many people are saying it’s definitely worth the splurge, and trust me by splurge I’m talking about £30 for 150ml!

WOW! My purse is crying already!

So, why is this cleanser so highly rated? Firstly, the ingredients are really good, for the first time ever Aqua, isn’t the first ingredient. Ingredients included are; Sakura leaf extracts (Known to reduce inflammatory mediators that can cause skin redness. It also helps to improve skin texture), Lipo ha (Salicylic acid derivatives helps gentle exfoliation for refined skin) and Cherry extract (Contains natural aha to remove dead skin cells, bringing smoothness to the skin and a refined complexion). Secondly, unlike most cleansers aimed at combination/oily skin, it doesn’t contain alcohol. Lastly, I have read many reviews where people say they can see amazing improvements in their skin after a week of use. I definitely want to give this cleanser a go, and see if it lives up to the hype. My grandmother always told me that when it comes to skincare, it’s the one thing you should always spend that little bit more on, because no matter how good your make up, its never going to look great on unhealthy skin!

Secondly is the new DiorSkin Airflash Matte Touch. This is a new release and is one of three Airflash products, the other two being a CC Crème and a Foundation, which also has me slightly excited over the prospect of literally having an air brushed foundation! Now the Airflash Matte Touch comes in one slightly tinted universal shade; universal beige...that is a really good shade for me, maybe less great for those who have really pale skin.  This Matte Touch Airflash is an aired powder, which wraps the complexion in a uniquely soft veil that sets the makeup. As light as a breeze, this ultra-fine formula adapts to all skin tones and blends with the skin for perfectly sheer coverage. Your complexion is instantly flawless with a spectacular finish, utter perfection…GET ME TO THE DIOR COUNTER RIGHT NOW!

Next up is the Urban Decay Supersaturated High Gloss Lip Colour in Lovechild. I’ve looked at these so many times, their creamy, long wearing and richly pigmented lip colour pencil. I love the colour Lovechild it’s a beautiful medium-pink shade, with a slight blue undertone. I really think this shade is great for during the day and also for at night with a smoky eye. One of the main reasons I love this colour is because out of them all, this has the most unbelievable shine to it. It really is a beautiful mix of lipstick and gloss!

Now, I know I did included butterLondon in my drugstore wish list, however some people thought it actually belonged on the high-end list. This may be because for some people they can't actually buy it in there local boots, or that it's more expensive then your average drugstore nail product brand. The prices range between £12 for polishes and £18 for nail treatments, therefore it's on a par with other nail brands such as OPI and Nails Inc. Recently I have really been loving butterLondon products. I purchased their Horse Power Treatment not long ago and loved it, and recently I bought the Nail Foundation which is a treatment meets base coat, which is just amazing. Therefore I thought it would be rude not to wish for a few nail polishes to join my little collection. The two colours I'm loving at the moment are 'Disco Biscuit' which is described as a 'hot-pink jelly, with an undercurrent of tiny iredecent glitter particles.' It's a truly beautiful colour and something I actually haven't got in my collection. Secondly is a shade named 'Big Smoke' which is described as 'metallic navy blue'. It's not a shade I would usually go for, however navy is big for autumn/winter, therefore I thought this nice metallic twist would look great.

Next up is something I no doubt, don't really need, however so many people are using it and loving it, and to be fair...I'm feeling a little left out. It's the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light. I have seen pictures of people before and after using this, and it literally looks like there face has just been lit up. When this originally came out, I thought it was just going to be another highlighter, which is full of shimmer, glitter, and nothing special. HOWEVER, according to their website it 'Utilises cutting-edge photo-luminescent technology—transparent micron-size, colour correcting particles—to alter and refine the appearance of the complexion. Delivering a multi-dimensional luminescence to every skin tone, making it appear younger, unlike traditional powders, which simply sit on the skin to cover imperfections.' Doesn't that just sound amazing! I'm off to Leeds soon, I have a sneaky suspicion I'm going to accidentally fall into Space NK and give this little beauty a test drive!

Recently I've been looking at trying a new hair care brand. I like swopping and changing things, and since having my hair highlighted I really want to take care of it. My sister told me about a brand they use within her hair dresses, called Sebastian Professional, its something I personally hadn't ever heard of, but she couldn't recommend it enough. When she went to the hair dressers she then picked me up their shampoo and conditioner for multi tonal hair (hair that had been highlighted, lightened or has more then just one colour running through it) and its just amazing...granted expensive, but just incredible. Therefore when looking for a new heat protector I straight away went to their website and came across their 'Trilliant Complex'. Their website description states 'multifaceted complex with rock crystal extract, designed to gently condition hair and provide heat protection. Creates ultra-light body and sparkling flashes of shine.' I love that not only does it protect, it also conditions the hair and adds shine. Most protectors in my experience have actually dulled my hair down, and left it feeling coated and weighed down rather ultra-light with added body and shine. I also like the idea of 'rock crystal' as a key ingredient. 

Lastly is a repurchase, which for me is very unusual. I usually like to swop, change and try new products to compare them. However ever since I ran out of this product my hair has just felt really dry, it doesn't shine like it used to and overall just doesn't look at all healthy. The product in question is the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum. When I was using this product, like many others I always wondered if it was actually doing anything, however I haven't used it for just under a month and I was wondering why my hair was all of a sudden gone really down hill, and thats when I realised this is whats missing. For people with thin hair which tends to dry out rather easily, leaving it looking dull this is a god send, it leaves your hair silky soft, manageable, healthy looking and utterly radiant. Definitely going to have to hunt a new bottle down!

Now. Even thought this is a wish list, there is all possibilities what it will grow...especially as it comes up to the autumn/winter and new products are being released. Also, its coming up to Christmas...so stay tuned for a Christmas Beauty Wish List.

Horse Power.

butterLondon -

Horse Power

"Reap what you sow. Our Nail Fertilizer harnesses Horsetail, a powerful herb rich in nutrients, high in silica, and proven to grow nails. Apply one coat every day for 7 days, then remove and begin again. Use for one month. Horse Power Nail Fertilizer can be used as both a basecoat & topcoat.” - as, described on the butter LONDON

As a regular polish-wearer, my never-ending cycle of manicures has left my nails dry and prone to peeling, which is why I don't expose my nails to just any base coat. Butter London Horse Power Nail Fertilizer (£17) provides a perfect layer of nourishment for my worn-out nails. It's formulated with the medicinal herb horsetail to feed nails with nutrients, particularly silica, which is known to strengthen nails and help them grow faster and healthier. Wear it under your favorite polish, or wear it alone for a naturally glossy look. You can use it for as long as you need to help your nails grow out, but the directions indicate you should give your nails a break every four weeks of continued use.

Overall, So far all my nails grew significantly. I’m not sure if its from the Horse Power, or because its been nearly a month of natural nail growth. Either way, I’m excited! My nails became instantly harder within the first few days and won’t break. I’ve used the Nail Fertilizer once every day, as instructed and I haven’t even used anywhere close to 1/4 of the bottle. Within the first week, I saw and felt immediate results. I was very excited and thankful that I found a product that actually delivers.