Love Child.

Urban Decay -

Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color

in Love Child

Im going to keep this short, mainly because I think the pictures show you everything you need to know about this fabulous little lip gloss/stick/pencil. Its really rather hard finding what to call this because its obviously in the shape of a pencil, however it gives a lot of colour and is also seriously glossy, therefore I decided to class it as all three. It's a very pretty pink, which I think is really lovely for both day time with a natural look and at night when your doing a smokey eye, just so your lips don't get too lost in the background. Its not a very in your face pink, its very natural and I think personally on my lips, its a natural lips colour but better, which is why I really love it. The gloss that this lip pencil has is unbelievable, I never expected it to be as glossy as it actually is.

Due to the cold weather and my lips getting slightly dry, I like to put it over a lip balm so its not too heavy and highlights all the dry and cracked patches on my lips, like some lipsticks do, but enough colour so they look nice and healthy. The packaging is amazing, its super easy to take around with you and it doesn't look too over the top. It retails for £14 which I think is just amazing value and I would definitely think of repurchasing this again.

October Wish List.

Not long ago I did two wish lists, one on high-end/luxury products I really wanted, and one on drug store products. Not long after I posted that, the list began to grow. I decided as different products are released every month, I thought I was a good idea to start doing a monthly wish list.

Therefore this is the "OCTOBER WISH LIST!”

I know sometimes when people do wish lists, they can just end up being a long list of products. Therefore I thought I would narrow it down to 5 products each month, and have a mixture of luxury and drug store products. Alongside this give a little description of what they’re meant to be like from their website descriptions.

So lets begin…

butterLondon Nail Polish in Petrol Overcoat.

This is a new release from butterLondon, as part of their Illusionist Collection. The website describes it as a sheer, tornate overcoat, which can be brush on top of any butterLondon lacquer to transform the shade, or alternatively can be use alone. Overall creating the opalescent sheen of oil reflected in rain. Now this is something I have tried before from another brand. However as much as I loved it, the formula of that brand wasn’t amazing, and trying to apply it was rather difficult, therefore I chose not to repurchase it. Therefore I’m really happy and excited butterLondon, whose polishes are of incredible quality are releasing a nail polish of this type. I have really high hopes for this polish, just hope it doesn’t let me down!

Mario Badescu Aloe Vera Toner.

I haven’t tried too many Mario Badescu products, actually only one other product and that’s the silver powder, which I actually will be repurchasing but that’s for another post (coming soon). My skin is sensitive however also combination due to having a rather oily t-zone, and my main concerns are large pores and blemishes, and obviously the sensitivity. Therefore finding skin care products I like and that work can be rather difficult. However this toner sounds amazing. It is designed for sensitive skin; therefore its alcohol-free, which is something I think, is really important. The main ingredient is obviously Aloe Vera, which helps to sooth and calms the skin, whilst other properties in the toner help lift and remove pore-clogging debris from the skin. I was struggling at deciding between this and the cucumber alternative, however I thought I would give this a go first due to the soothing properties and if it doesn’t give the results I’m hoping for, then I will try the cucumber one.

Too Faced Primed and Poreless PURE Primer.

Now, not too long ago you no doubt remember me raving about the Too Faced Primed and Poreless ORIGINAL Primer, which helps to provide a smooth and pore-free canvas for foundation. I really liked the primer because it did exactly as it said it would, providing the perfect canvas. However, whilst looking online I came across this PURE version, which is aimed at sensitive skin…yey. According to the website this version is a colourless oil-free formula, whereas the original has a slight pink tint to it, sometimes causing a slight chalkiness on the skin if you applied too much. The main reason I want to try this version is because it states it not only erases the appearance of pores and other imperfections, but it also helps sooth and minimize redness. This is something I often get due to how irritated my skin can be, and in fact helps brighten the skin. The soothing properties alone are what made this primer stand out in comparison to the original and other similar pore erasing primers. Hopefully this primer will live up to its amazing product description and glowing reviews.

Too Faced Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer OR Too Faced Pink Leopard Blushing Bronzer.

Recently I have found myself looking at some of the Too Faced products. The main problem with Too Faced in the UK is that its not as well known as it is in the US, therefore it can be rather hard to find and try the products before buying them. However I think this Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer would be just perfect not only for winter, but also for my paler skin as my summer glow begins to fade. The problem I have with bronzers when I’m a little paler is that they can tend to look muddy. Therefore due to the 4 very different shades in this bronzer, I thought it could help combat the muddiness I get from most other bronzers, as well as giving me a really pretty winter glow.

Alongside this I was also looking at the Too Faced Pink Leopard blushing bronzer. This also has 3 different shades aims to help combat muddiness and give a beautiful glow to the skin. I like it for the similar reasons to the Snow Bunny version, I think it would give the perfect pinky-peach flush which I think looks amazing in winter as its not too much. They both contain shimmer, so if you don’t like shimmer then you might want to stay clear. However I think especially in winter, a bit of shimmer helps to give a healthy glow to the skin, when actually thanks to the freezing temperatures and central heating it’s anything but.

I really cant decided which one I prefer between the two, therefore I think I’m going to have to find somewhere that stocks them…and try them both out to see which I prefer.

TIGI Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Intense Nourishment Mask.

Ok, do I need a new hair mask…not particularly. Is this really necessary…maybe not. However is this the first mask TIGI’s Catwalk collection have ever released…yes it is. Therefore I think that’s a good enough reason for me to give it a go. This is meant to be a really intense mask aimed at moisturising and conditioning dry, damaged hair leaving it smooth, soft and silky. This mask I think could become a serious god send when it comes to winter, as my hair is already seeming so much dryer due to the cold weather then it normally does. Now the one thing that really stood out for me when reading about this mask is that even though its an intense mask, it doesn’t weigh down or coat the hair, which is something I have found with other really intense mask, leaving my fine hair really flat and weighed down. Alongside this the ingredients look really good too, everything that’s in this mask is there to help nourish hair, not for a place holder or to help it smell nice. Also to add it has added heat protection elements, therefore this means it will also continue to help protect hair even after you’ve used this mask.

Overall this month it's a real mix of products that are on my wish list, which isn't always the case. I think due to it coming up to winter, I'm really looking for products which can really get me through winter and help transition from autumn to winter.

Whats on your October Wish List?

Love & Toast.

I was lucky enough to receive some Love and Toast products in the post not long back, which are going to be available within the UK Debenhams in a few weeks time. As a brand I've never heard of, I was really excited to try them. For those who haven't ever heard of Love and Toast, it's a brand that focuses on using all natural ingredients. They focus on bath and body care, however are currently breaching out to natural hair care, which I think is just amazing. The one thing I really love about this brand, apart from their truly natural products, are their fabulously quirky packaging! Created by Margot Elena, the same mastermind behind Lollia (which I see the grown up sister brand), she truly knows how to create beautiful products that are so unique and incredible. 

'Love and Toast philosophy; Pretty is as Pretty Does.

At the Heart of Love and Toast is a simple philosophy: It is just as important to do good, as it is to look good. So its good to know that with every Love and Toast purchase you are doing both. A portion of every Love and Toast sale goes directly to Regional Affiliates of Girls Inc. We believe there is more then just being a pretty face. Along with Girls Inc; we encourage girls everywhere to be strong, smart and bold.'

First up is the Persimmon Plum Body Butter (56g). This is described as a ‘Mighty Mini Moisturizer’. The description on the pot states ‘Pack the power of soothing softeners straight into your purse. Natural hydrators Mango & Shea Butter shower your body with juicy vitamins & shield you against the elements. With a touch of Meadowsweet to renew & revitalize, hydration goes to new heights. Criminally Smooth in a Portable Pot.’ Personally, I don’t really like body butters. I have very sensitive skin, and sometimes I find body butters are too heavy for my skin, leaving my skin feeling sticky and coated. However, this is really lovely and incredibly light, it just glides onto the skin and sinks in straight away. The one thing I absolutely love about this is the smell! Not only does it smell amazing in the pot, it also lasts when on the skin. For some people this might not be a positive thing, because I could see it interfering with your perfume, however I think it’s a fabulous addition, especially as the scent is so beautiful. There are 4 different versions of this available, and they all sound amazing. Also to note, there is also a body lotion collection, with similar fragrances, which I think is more up my street then this body butter version. Never the less I do really like it and I think it’s definitely something people who really love body butters should look out for. Would I repurchase it…I maybe would purchase the body lotion, however not the body butter version, because I overall just prefer body lotions.

Next up is the Gin Blossom Hand crème (35g). Love. Love. Love this hand cream. I’m not really a hand cream person, however coming up to winter; this couldn’t have come at a better time. The packaging reads: ‘Happy Hydration. Natural super-softeners Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut and Olive Fruits team up with pore pleasing Avocado and Sunflower Oils to create a dream cream. Love & Toast cant live without its botanical perfume blend in the perfect lightweight and luxurious lotion’. This hand cream does everything it says on the box. It smells amazing, it soaks in incredibly well and it leaves a silky soft feeling to the hands. Like the body butter, the fragrance does last on the skin, however once again this is something I really like. I don’t see the point in buying hand creams and body products which smell amazing, for them not to last or not to transfer onto the skin. My hands have never felt so soft and hydrated. The packaging is amazing; it’s so classy and so easy to slip into my handbag to use throughout the day. This out of all the products I received I think I will definitely be purchasing, it’s the best hand cream I’ve tried. This like the body butter is available in a variety of different fragrances, which I can’t wait to try when they arrive at Debenhams.

Last but not least is the Prickly Pear Lip Balm. I still can’t get over how unique and unusual the fragrances of these products are, there just amazing. The little description on the box reads: ‘Smooth on our lovely balm and pucker up with the sweetest lips in town. Our potent pot of softening smoothers is made from all that is good: natural and organic ingredients including Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Beeswax, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Natural Flavor.’ Unlike the hand cream, I haven’t really been able to use this as much as I wanted to. My lips have been in really good condition recently, and I’ve been wearing a lot of glosses, therefore I haven’t been reaching for a lip balm very often. The first thing I did really like about this product however is once again the amazing packaging, its so classy and beautifully quirky. Alongside this is the scent of pear, its rather strong and maybe isn’t my favourite. Sometimes it just seems a little too sweet. I have seen other scents on the website that maybe would be a little more my taste, however it’s a really uplifting fragrance, and if you love the smell of pear then you will love this. In regards to whether it works, I haven’t really had a chance to really try it out on dry lips, however as it’s getting colder I’m sure I will be soon enough. The one thing I did notice when I do wear this is the consistency of it, its so light and isn’t really like any other lip balm I’ve ever tried…however its so had to explain why. Its almost like it disappears as soon as it hits yours lips, therefore you don’t really get a sheen from it or any gloss, just really healthy looking lips. I like how this worked under lipstick specifically for that reason, I found lipsticks went on better with this lip balm in comparison to another heavier lip balm. Not 100% I would buy this lip balm at the moment, just because I haven’t seen the effects of it just yet.

Overall, it’s a really nice, cute, quirky and unusual brand, which I don’t think we have anything like in the UK right now. I would definitely be buying the hand crème when I run out, however in not too sure about the body butter and lip balm. I think if they release gift sets, I know one or two of my friends who would really love this brand and their products, therefore I though buy them some for Christmas. In regards to price I’m not too sure. I’m guessing they will be between the £5-£15 price mark; however don’t hold me to that. I’m just going on what there currently being priced at on the Love and Toast website.