20 Years In The Making.

YSL - 

Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation

Twenty years after the launch of the iconic Touche Éclat concealer pen, Yves Saint Laurent has launched a foundation that achieves the same gorgeous illuminating result for the whole of the face.

The lightweight foundation promises the 'magic light' of Touche Éclat in a foundation that's suitable for all skin types and age ranges. Like Touche Éclat for your entire face, but better. It's the first entirely accessible foundation that not only boasts a whopping 22 shades, but each of these has three separate undertones (Rose, Beige & Gold) which means there's 66 tones in all, so there's bound to be one to suit your skin tone perfectly regardless of ethnicity or skin type.

  Le Teint Touche Éclat can be applied using either your fingers or foundation brush, colour is buildable, works tirelessly to create a luminous glow and brings radiance back to the skin like no other product on the market. Used with Touche Éclat pen, they form the perfect duo to define contours and target shadowy areas of the face.
  The lack of talc, silica and bulking agents means it doesn't settle in fine lines or *gasp* wrinkles, nor give you a mask like effect, regardless of the coverage you build up. As one blogger writes "there have been mornings that I've had to be on site after 4 hours sleep and genuinely my skin hasn't looked better, bright and radiant enough to garner compliments from Engineers?" Therefore this has to be good.

Priced at a very competitive £28 for a luxury brand foundation, I'd urge you to get to a YSL counter, be colour matched with your perfect shade, receive a very generous 7 Day sample and prepare to fall in love, this is what I'm planning on doing next time in at work.

Excited much?

Utterly Devoted.

YSL: Devoted to Fans Pallete

Facebook has become so importent within so many of our lives, that it's hard to imagine a day without it, maybe even an hour for many of us. Its wierd to think what we did before tagging, poking, sharing and uploading existed? However as a celebration of their love for Facebook, and as a 'thank you' to their 352,000 Facebook fans, Yves Saint Laurent are launching an exclusive eyeshadow palette called 'Devoted to Fans'. This is truly the first of its kind, never before has a brand created a pallete purly to be bought over Facebook. Exclusively available on their Facebook page, only 1650 palettes will be available to the most dedicated and devoted among us - once they're gone they're most definitely gone!

Packaged in a beautiful blue case, adorned with gold writing, its certainly something a little different from the luxury brand. This unique design deffinetly stands out and will generate so much excitement, the pallete sure to become a collectors item in year to come. The shades included are also very wearable and classic, they include a white highlighter, black bold charcoal, matallic shimmer taupe and a 'Facebook' blue. Summing up the whole range, these 'classic with a twist shades' give a great basis for any makeup lover's collection.

I really adore this YSL eye pallete because the eyeshadows are so soft, malleable, blendable and totally long-lasting, the pigmentation is amazing and can also be used whilest wet for more intense results!

The palette is sure to sell out so fast, therefore if you want to get your hands on one, you better check out their Facebook page here, snap one up for £39.50.

Hypnôse Star.

Lancôme Hypnôse Star Mascara

Iconic beauty brand, Lancôme update their renowned, Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara with a glamorous Betty Boop inspired campaign.

Nothing says ‘glamour’ quite like a set of full, fluttering lashes, and who better to take some beauty inspiration from than Queen of the Flutter herself, Betty Boop. Iconic French beauty brand, Lancôme have done just that and referenced the animated heroine as the muse for the newly released, Lancôme Star Hypnôse Mascara.

Loved by beauty editors, Lancôme’s mascaras never fail to impress. The latest addition, Hypnôse Star Mascara focuses on volume and curl – just what you need when it comes to achieving show-stopping lashes.

Using an innovative brush and Lancôme’s unique ‘Black Diamond’ effect fluid, the mascara works to coat the lashes smoothly and precisely for extra long, thick and full lashes even Betty would be envious of.

The secret to the unique brush (pictured to the right, the top brush) is in the double flat edged design, allowing you to get right in to the root of the lash and all those hard to reach corners. Two rounded edges then work to curl and lift the lashes to give you the most wide-eyed, sultry peepers.

Miss Boop-boop-de-doop herself makes a cameo in their short film ‘Star Eyes‘ to promote Lancôme’s new Hypnôse Star Mascara. The video is kinda genius. Instead of using false lashes to promote their product, they use every girls favourite cartoon gal famous for pouty red smoochers, and big bright eyelashes.

Cloggy, spider style lashes can be waved goodbye thanks to Lancôme’s premium mascara formula that blends together a mixture of soft waxes for the most natural effect. Priced at £21, the Lancôme Hypnôse Star Mascara is currently available nationwide.

I really cant wait to buy this mascara, I haven't tried one of Lancôme's mascaras yet, however so many people have raved about them so I think its definitely time to try one out.

Have you tried the new Lancôme Star Hypnôse Mascara yet, if so do you like it?

Current Skin Routine.

It's easy to say that pretty much everything in my skin routine has pretty much changed in the last month, maybe even less. This is purely down to me getting a job at the Kiehl's counter in House of Fraser, a not so well known skin care brand from America, however never the less there stuff is incredible..and I promise this isn't me being totally bias, some of there stuff is totally fantastic.

I originally was given samples of their Ultra Facial Oil-Free collection, the original version of this collection is also available, and I have to say its incredibly popular, however due to me having oily skin I always opt for the Oil-Free version. The collection consists of a cleanser, toner and moisturiser, and I personally use all three of them in that order every morning and night, however sometimes I forget to moisturise. However, never the less my skin has been transformed, not totally transformed into immaculately clear skin, I do still get the odd breakout, but its nothing in comparison to how my skin used to be. Its much less oily, it looks much more radiant and is just overall much more healthy which is really brilliant. Now lets get down to the exact products I use, however beforehand I would just like to say I'm not going into a proper in depth review of each and every product, just the basic outline;

 

Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser

This is a really fantastic cleanser, you only need the smallest amount. Its a really quick-lathering cleansing foam which thoroughly removes impurities and visibly reduces excess oil on the skin’s surface. Enriched with Imperata Cylindrica Root and Lemon Fruit Extracts the non-stripping, sulfate-free formula leaves skin clean and refreshed without over-drying, leaving skin looking more balanced. Helping to control shine for 24 hours reducing oil on the skin’s surface all day. Like most Kiehl's products its paraben-free, silicone-free, perfume-free and obviously oil-free!

Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner

This is an oil-free toner which is formulated to visibly reduce excess oil on skin's surface, while leaving it instantly fresh and healthy looking. Made with Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract and Antarcticine to soothe and hydrate skin, this non-drying alcohol-free formula gently removes any remaining residue, dirt and oil without stripping skin of vital moisture. Helping the overall PH-balance of the skin, and reducing shine on the skin by 80% immediately. Once again its paraben-free, silicone-free, perfume-free and obviously oil-free (can you see a trend emerging).

Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion

This oil-free lightweight, all day moisturising lotion helps visibly reduce excess oil on skin’s surface, leaving a shine-free and balanced appearance. This non-greasy hydrator traps moisture to deeply condition skin and restore its moisture balance. It contains Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Antarcticine and Vitamin E which helps keep skin looking fresh all day. Proven to visibly reduces oil on skin after 1 week, control shine on skin for 24 hours and reduces shine on skin by 82% immediately. This is also paraben-free, fragrance-free and oil-free!

Midnight Recovery Concentrate

The elixir works all night to replenish the skin with moisture and leave younger-looking skin by morning. This readily absorbed elixir helps the skin to recover radiance by morning, with skin feeling smoother and softer, which is the key reason I use it, not for the "younger-looking skin" theory. Enriched with Squalane, Evening Primrose Oil, Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Essential Oils including Lavender, this formula provides a boost of intensive moisture to dehydrated skin which instantly penetrates the skin surface to help replenish it with moisture. The concentrate is designed to work at night; with skin hydrated, supple and soft, rest assured you can say goodnight to a tired-looking complexion. This is really fantastic, you only need 2 or 3 drops to do you're entire face and trust me, your skin really does look a lot healthier and more radiant in the morning, this is really a god send.

Overall Kiehl's products are really amazing. In compression with other high end skin care brands their products are really fairly priced and really do work, and you only need a little of everything as it does go a really long way.

Have you tried any Kiehl's products, if so which are your favourites?

The Perfect All-In-One.

Dior -

5 Couleurs Designer All-In-One Artistry Palette (Pink Design)

This was one of the little presents I bought myself whilst I was on holiday. I originally looked at these all-in-one palettes at my local Dior counter, however I really wanted the Pink Design (808) version, however they couldn't get hold of it for me, therefore I was overly excited when I saw it abroad. I actually didn't swatch it before I bought it because I had been wanting it for that long, I knew it was going to be brilliant, therefore it was on the counter within 30 seconds of spotting it.

Now, I have to say upfront, this is possibly the most difficult product to explain and review ever! However here we go...so, basically there the ultra-professional and totally new version of the mythic 5 coulerus palette. Its made up of five different textures which have been brought together in a single case to create the most amazing styles;

1. Base/Light

2. Colour/Iridescent

3. Shade/Satinity

4. Shine/Pearlescent

5. Liner/Matt

These five essential steps used by professional makeup artists, allows you to draw attention to the eyes and creates ultra-graphic eye make-up looks. This is the most beautiful palette with complimentary shades which can be worked for a subtle or dramatic look. All the colours are incredibly flattering, highly pigmented and easily blendable.

Now this palette specifically focuses on using pinks/purples. I did attempt to swatch the shades on the back of my hand working from 1 (the top shade) to 4 (the bottom shade), however specifically 1 and 4 due to them being really light and rather glittery it was really difficult to pick the shades up, however 2 and 3 are the most increidble shades out of all the pallet. 2 is the baby pink, which is very light and beautiful, whereas 3 is a stunning purple, both of which are glittery but it really helps to create the most incredible looks.

Overall, I really love this palette, not only are the colours stunning and they apply so easily, but also it includes a little example of how to best use the shades within the palette, meaning everyone can create the most amazing looks. The packagings the usual Dior style, very elegant and looks so expensive, it does come with two double ended eyeshadow/eyeliner applicators which means you can use the palette everywhere, easily slipping it into your bag without worrying about having to take five different brushes. It did cost 49 euros which converts into around £38, actually not saving that much, however I don't really mind. 

Beautiful Rose.

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss -

Bikini Rose 664

I've been waiting for this lip gloss to be released for soooo long, like months! Its part of the new Summer Mix collection by Dior, however it was the only lip gloss they hadn't yet released, therefore imagine how excited I was to know my boyfriend had bought it for me whilst I was away.

This is the most amazing lip gloss I've ever seen or owned. It has the most spectacular shine and provides over sized volume to the lips, giving everyone the most model worthy pout ever. It provides the most stunning vail of absolute comfort and an incomparably fine finish. "The Spotlight Shine complex, a blend of glass micro beads coated in a crystalline elixir, plays with substance and shine to enhance colour and provide an unbelievable volumizing effect." The pigmentation is really good, however it isn't opaque, which means that you can wear it either as a sheer jelly-glaze, or layer it for a more dramatic effect which provides the most perfect bright, yet wearable shade of pink. The packaging is beautiful and the innovative brush applicator allows the colour to glide on precisely and stays put while its ultra-light, non-sticky formula instantly pumps up the volume and softens the lips, leaving a light, pretty scent behind. In my opinion it lasts such a long time, it actually appears to stain my lips which is amazing as it means the colour lasts even longer.

Overall this is the most amazing lip gloss I own, the formula is wonderful and the fact its completely non-stick is just fantastic. It is £21, which in comparison to some other lip glosses is rather expensive, however in my opinion its totally worth it! Unlike any other lip gloss this does truly go onto the lips as pink as it look in the tube, which is a rarity in itself. This is most definitely my favourite piece from the Dior Summer Mix collection, and in fact from all the current summer collects released from any other brand, its truly that amazing. The downside to this lip gloss is its ridiculously limited addition, my boyfriend said the women in the shop had only one left, however it had only just been released, therefore if you want one, I would advise you run to your nearest Dior counter and cross your fingers its in stock.

I totally love LOVE this lip gloss!

Vintage Minnie.

OPI - 

Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection

This collection brings us 4 new polishes, all pink or red. Usually I wouldn't be excited about a collection like that but it's inspired by Minnie Mouse so I am an instant fan!

OPI states: "Created in honor of Disney’s beloved character, the colours encapsulate Minnie Mouse’s irresistible charm in playful, pretty shades of pink and red. This collection brings together the expertise of OPI and the iconic style of Minnie Mouse to inspire the distinct palette of vibrant, feminine shades for summer Nails will pop against summer skin in these classic, saturated hues – holding their own alongside the bold prints of the season."

Many people will look at these shades and think how very original they are, and are not really that spectacular, however I'm not one of those people, and I really love all the shade. Due to me living in the UK, the release data's are slightly behind as this collection has already been released in the USA, and also on a few UK beauty websites such as BeautyBay.com. As I haven't got an account with them, and also because I go away tomorrow, I thought I would wait for the Minnie Mouse Mini Collection to be released on HQHair.com, hopefully not long after I come home.

Firstly, I must highlight these images I have borrowed from Google, however specifically the swatches image, I really think it highlight how stunning the shades in this collection are! Therefore lets get onto the shades themselves.

Its made up of four shades; two pinks, a red and a sort of glitter topcoat which has little hearts within it. I will work from left to right in accordance with the swatch image;

- The first is called "I'm all ears", this is my favourite out of them all, a raspberry jelly packed with magenta, silver and fuchsia glass flecks. This is such a lovely polish!

- Secondly is "If you moust you moust", this is a medium pink creme, it's a pretty and sweet shade of pink that is very pigmented and very feminine, the ultimate bubblegum pink.

- Thirdly is "The colour of minnie", this is a cool-toned rich red with fine shimmer. I love this red! Such a rich colour with awesome pigmentation! It supposedly applies like butter - really easily and smoothly. The shade remind me of Wocka Wocka!

- Lastly is "Nothin' mousie 'bout it" this is a very unusual pink heart glitter in a clear base with blue and orange glass flecks. I'm not a big fan of confetti glitter, because form reviews the application is somewhat of a struggle. One review stated "I basically applied the first layer covering the nail with glass flecks and sometimes one heart glitter, then I had to 'fish out' additional heart glitters and place them on the nail." For me this just seems like just too much of a trouble/messing around for the pay off it provides.

Overall, I really cant wait to get my hands on this collection. Its incredible, however I must mention, the mini collection doesn't come with a "Nothin' mousie 'bout it" polish, instead it comes with a "RapiDry Top Coat" which I actually think is in fact a bonus.

Blemish Balm.

Garnier - 

BB Miracle Skin Profector Oil-Free

I've been looking for a new tinted moisturiser, as much as I love my Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser, the colour doesn't last long, and it doesn't provide as much coverage as I really would like during the day. Therefore I began the hunt to find a new one. I recently fell in love with the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturiser, something so many people have talked about, and it is really, really good. The colour does last quite a while, and the coverage was just enough, for general knowledge I'm the Almond shade in this brand of tinted moisturiser, and the colour does really match my skin fantastically, something which is really hard with me wearing so much false tan.

However, I was doing my holiday toiletries shopping and I came across this Oil-Free alternative of the original Garnier BB cream, which for me personally was just...horrible. I quickly researched this whilst in Boots and loads of people really liked it, saying it was really fantastic for those with Oily to Combination skin, and therefore I thought I would give it a go. It was only £10, and I actually used my Boots points to buy it, the initial reason for buying it is because I wanted a tinted moisturiser for my holiday, I cant wear false tan on my face, therefore its so much lighter to the rest of my body, and I really didn't want to wear a foundation on holiday, its totally too hot. I also didn't want to pay £30+ for the Laura Mecier version just to use it on holiday for a week, therefore I thought it was a good time to road test this cheaper alternative.

Its only available in two shades, light and medium. Therefore for those who are really pale and really dark, you may have trouble with this product as I gave my light version to my friend, who is part Italian and therefore her skin is quite tanned, and it matched her skin perfectly, therefor its actually not that light. This product claims to use all-in-one technology to; mattify, reduce the appearance of imperfections, hydrate the skin, even out skin tone, has a SPF 20 sun protection and overall gives you a healthy glow. Its meant to help those with oily to combination skin, control shine all day, and is non comedogenic, which is a term which applies to face creams which do not block pores, which reduce the chance of spots or pimples, which is inevitably what every girl, like me, who has spot prone skin wants out of a BB cream. Overall, its apparent this product promises everything, therefore I picked up the medium shade and braced myself for the worse, I'll be truthful, I wasn't expecting good things from Garniers newest little product.

Lets just say I don't think I'm usually wrong, I'm really good at judging something before hand and it normally does turn out just as I pre-judged. However this completely blew me out of the water. Firstly the colour matched my skin really well, it was the slightest bit dark and it did somewhat exploded on me when I first took off the lid, which through me a little, however it seems to be OK now and behaving. Its really easy to spread, its a really lovely consistency and it allows you to really spread the product over your face making sure its all even and looks lovely, in many senses it does appear like a really light foundation, which is really lovely. It states it's "enriched with mineral pigments, immediately perfecting the skin and covering imperfection". I have to say, it does really even your skin tone, blurs imperfections and acne scares and it does really make you look so much more healthy and much more radiant. Another bonus is that it does dry really fast, which mean your not waiting for ages to do the rest of your make-up, and it leaves your skin feel so much more moisturised and happy, which is really lovely. It also last pretty much ALL DAY, it does get the slightest bit oily on my forehead, however that's not as much a problem as some other products and is easily fixed, and it also doesn't fade or go all patchy, which is what many other tinted moisturises I've tried does, they cling to the most horrific parts of your face leaving you look a real mess.

Overall this is amazing, for £10 its really good. I'm really looking forward to trying this on holiday seeing how it fends with 30'c heat. In my opinion its a brilliant budget BB cream which is fantastic for your skin, and looks so beautiful on. Its actually really making me re-think spending £30+ on the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, however we will see if my opinion of it changes after a week abroad.

Have you tried this new BB cream by Garnier, what do you think about it?

New Favourite Skincare Brand?

Kiehl's

Until the other day I hadn't even took Kiehl's products into consideration. I'd seen their products in a few stores, but I thought it was going to be over priced American skin care, however I was so very wrong. A month or so ago I handed in a CV and Cover Letter in to the Kiehl's counter at my local House of Fraser, and last Monday I got a call back for an interview. Excited, would be an understatement. Therefore I thought it was time to look into the brand and see what they actually did, and their products. After some serious hard core researching I turns out its actually a really good brand, they sell skin, body and hair care for both men and women, and all their products are organic, which is really cool. Therefore I have been left wanting to try some of their products, however I thought I would tell you all about the brand, purely because I know within the UK it isn't as well know as in other countries. I can promise you, if you have ever seen a Kiehl's concession or shop, and didn't realise, there will have been a skeleton on a bike, or dressed up somewhere on the shop floor, he's the brand mascot, and he's known as...Mr Bone!

OK. Kiehl's was founded in New York in 1851, it was originally an old-world apothecary. It's extensive experience has resulted in a very unique blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal and medical knowledge developed over many generations. They are highly dedicated to providing customers with quality skin and hair care products, based on the most advanced science and unique, natural ingredients.

All their products have the most natural ingredients, which are chosen specifically for their beneficial qualities. They focus on using naturally derived ingredients and use minimal preservatives, just enough to give their products shelf life, and they aim to offer highly effective products at the most affordable prices.

Overall, there products are all really natural! The website is fantastic, it gives you all the ingredients and also explains exactly why their in the product and what benefits they have, which really allows you to understand what your putting on your skin or hair. In comparison to other brands, there products aren't really that expensive, and there is definitely something for everyone!

Personally I have my eye on a few of their products;

- Drawing Paste

- Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner

- Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser

- Blue Herbal Moisturiser

- Rice and Wheat Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner

- Creme De Corps (their signature body lotion)

Ps. in regards to the interview at the Kiehl's counter, I got through to the second interview which is an over the phone interview, it should be some time next week! Im really excited as I've been looking for a job for a very long time. Therefore I will let you know what happens after the interview, fingers crossed everyone!

Have you tried any of the Kiehl's products, if so what do you think of them as a brand, and what are your favourite products by them?

FrontCover.

FrontCover is a brand which isn't that well know, its one of those new-ish brands. Many people may have seen it specifically over Christmas within Boots stores all over the UK. There most famous for there beautiful pallets which help you to create show stopping looks, however unlike many other brands, they give you step-by-step instructions about how to create that exact look, helping those who aren't the best with make-up, to create the most incredible looks. However for those who are familiar with the brand, they have in fact disappeared from Boots shelves. Many believe this is due to them opting for creating their own pallets, no doubt released around Christmas, as Superdrug did last Christmas.

For me personally I think this is a massive shame, I buy many of this pallets for my best friends as I think there a fabulous alternative to high end make up. I've tried some of there make-up, and they are really, really good, especially as there really compact and give you everything you need. Therefore I'm incredibly happy to hear that they have been scooped up by Sephora, they have also started there own online store, which means we can get the real thing instead of the Boots and Superdrug alternatives. I've had a look on the website, and "the baked powder collection" (the photo to the left) really has caught my eye, it looks really quite stunning. 

Overall FrontCover's concept is amazing; everything all in one box at a reasonable price, to get a on trend look with a good quality of product.

Bronze Goddress.

Dior Bronze Original Tan -

03 Amber Tan

Not that long ago I bought the "Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder". When I first tried it in store I thought it was amazing, the assistant showed me how best to use it and which shade would suite me perfectly. However after I bought it I soon realised it was really rather red, and often it made me look either muddy or just really...red, like I had been out in the sun too much. Its good for contouring, however for an all over glow, its really no good, which for £27 is just basically rather shocking. Looking back, I think I would have purchased the slightly lighter shade.

Now on to my new little gem. As those of you who read my blog often will know, I have a somewhat...slight obsession with Dior products. Therefore, whilst looking for a new bronzer, I wasn't surprised that this came out one of the top bronzers on MakeUpAlley, on a par with NARS Luguna Bronzer; which I will try after this beauty runs out. Now you may be thinking to yourselves, if I love this bronzer so much why swop to the NARS Luguna Bronzer after this one runs out, why not just repurchased it...well unfortunately the sad truth is, there discontinuing it. Why, I have no idea, however I believe its something to do with the New DiorSkin Nude Bronzer they have released, which in mine and many other peoples opinions, is somewhat rather shocking in comparison to this...however that's another story.

So lets go back to focus on this. This is the first bronzer by Dior, or maybe any brand, which enhances both the colour and condition of the skin, recreating a beautiful, luminous "vacation glow" all year round, no matter what the lighting. This stunning little bronzer uses an exclusive sun minerals technology containing mineral pigments, which leaves a radiant, natural looking tanned complexion. I purchased this in "Amber Tan", mainly because this was the colour the assistant matched me up with, and due to me using their DiorSkin Forever Foundation, we were able to match it up with my foundation as well. It has the slightest bit of shimmer to it, as you can see on the up close photo, however you can only really see this on the skin in natural light, and in my opinion I believe it helps make the skin look really healthy and radiant, which I really like. However when inside, in artificial light it appears completely matte, therefore you don't look like a human disco ball, as you do sometimes with other shimmer bronzers...which go a bit over the top with the shimmer.

The compact its totally stunning, it comes with a little protective fabric pouch to keep it safe and saves it from shattering, which I think every brand should do. The powder itself is stamped with Dior's famous carrage quilt, which makes it look so beautiful and high end, you can only smile at its beauty.

Overall, this is the most fabulous bronzer ever, it's silky, smooth and creates a totally flawless finish. It retails for £30, which is rather expensive I suppose in comparison to some other brands, however it is 10g of product, which means its going to last me a very long time. Also Dior is a very luxury brand, it gives such a pretty result therefore I think its completely worth it.

Have you tried this bronzer or the newer model, what do you think, which do you think is best?

Pink Sparkle.

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine Lipstick -

S/S PK337

First, let me just say, this is my new favourite day time lipstick.

I have never tried any Shu Uemura products before, until this and also my new lip balm from them...the review can be found here. Now the shades of these are really rather confusing. The S/S counts for spring/summer, this means they are somewhat limited edition, I say somewhat because I'm not 100% sure if the shades within the spring/summer collection, are going to stay indefinitely within the everyday collection. The PK is rather obvious, it refers to the colours, for example pink, BG means beige, RD means red etc. The numbers are the different shades within that colour group, they do have names, for example this one is, according to the website, called baby pink. However when I went into store to ask for it by this name, the assistant looked rather confused, therefore I find it easier to refer to them by the number rather then the name on the website.

Now on to the lipstick itself. When I first tried this on in the shop, there was instant gratification as soon as the assistant allowed me to glide it onto my lips, its simply incredible and the delicate formula creates a smooth veil on the lips. It glides on so easily, delivering an incredible high shine and vibrant pure colour. Its enriched with ultra-shine oils and Shu Uemuras signature hybrid pigment, therefore it creates a fusion of watery, dewy shine with a rich colour. The colour itself is a baby pink, semi-opaque colour, with very fine particles of shimmer which gives a beautiful wet look, without it look frosty. Its incredibly hydrating and has a soft balmy texture, which is perfect for both a daytime lipstick and also for the summer months.

The case is rather simple, you're either going to love it or hate it. Personally I think its really quite cute, ever so simple and maybe slightly basic in comparison to the incredibly stunning packaging of my Dior Addict lipsticks, however it does the job. The clear lid however, really does help to keep my draw organised, and also allows me to see exactly which colour I want, just from looking at it, instead of having to pick them all out the read the name on the base.

Overall this is a really stunning lipstick, I think the quality is really fantastic and lasts such a long time on the lips. They retail for £20, which I suppose isn't that bad for a high-end lipstick and is slightly cheaper then a Chanel or Dior alternative. Definitely a good day time lipstick, due to it being really hydrating and feeling really light on the lips. The only down side to Shu Uemura products is that for me there really hard to find, they're counters are really specifically placed and the closest one to me is an hours drive away, which is somewhat of a let down. However, I will definitely be give the counter another look over when I next see one, which hopefully will be soon.

Have you tried any of the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine Lipsticks, if so which is your favourite?

Playfully Chubby.

Clinique Launches Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm in 8 New Shades

As a really big fan of Clinique's fabulous chubby stick's I was so excited to know that they are, or by the time this gets published, have, released 8 new shades. To those who are rather behind with these little, award winning superstars, they may look like an ordinary lip pencil, but in reality it's a soothing balm with subtle pigment and moisturising ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter and mango butter. It's an absolute must-have for its convenience, build able colour and hydrating properties.

These little milti-tasking, moisturising and irresistibly colourful lip crayons have scribbled their way into the hearts of thousands of devoted fans everywhere, therefore the fact they have released 8 new shades of these unique, pleasantly plump and playful nourishing lip balms is utterly incredible.

Overall, I was incredibly excited to try these out, making it my mission to go to the nearest Clinique stall last night to test them out. Its easy to say that Pudgy Peony is my ultimate new favourite shade out of all the new releases. Its a very deep/hot pink/raspberry shade, which is actually really pigmented for a lip balm and which I think is just stunning.

They retail for £16, and I most definitely will be purchasing the Pudgy Peony shade very, very soon.

Have you tested out any of the new shades, if so which is your favourite.

Perfectly Purple.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow -

Flash & Psychedelic Sister

I have the Urban Decay Naked Pallet, which is a collection of neutral eye shadows, they are both incredibly pretty and also impeccable quality. I use the pallet nearly every day and it never fails to create the most stunning effects. However even though I really love natural shades, I thought it was about time I bought some which were more colourful, with it being summer and all. Purple is one of those colours which when applied correctly, really makes my bright blue eyes stand out and look unmissable. Therefore I decided due to the Naked Pallet fending so well, I would turn to Urban Decay to buy some more stunning eye shadows, however individual shadows instead of a pallet. After testing out so many beautiful purple eye shadows, I chose Flash and Psychedelic Sister. The main reason I purchased two purples, was down to the fact I think purple smokey eyes are simples stunning, and therefore these are two shades which I think make the perfect smokey eye when mixed together.

Flash is a bright iridescent purple, whereas Psychedelic Sister is a deep amethyst shade, both really stunning and so very different to any other purple eye shadows I've seen before. On the photo to the right were I have swatched them on my hand, Flash is the left one, the right is Psychedelic Sister. The main reason for this is down to them both being shimmer eye shadows, this means they are luminously sheer however with no glitter, which gives them this incredible finish. The texture is velvety smooth and the colours are highly pigmented and rich, which means they provide incredible colour and are both insanely long lasting but also crease free. Applying both shades is really easy, they apply like a dream and blend beautifully, giving you the most show stopping end result.

These are the new formula eye shadows from Urban Decay, the colours available are exactly the same as before however the colours are a little more intense and in my opinion they last longer. I do own one of the old Urban Decay eye shadows and I found it faded really fast, however these stay fresh and fade-free pretty much all day. The main difference people will notice is the packaging. Its simply gorgeous, mixing elegant and edgy to create a much high end looking case. Specifically the reason behind this is because you can actually remove the eyeshadow from the pot, and put it in there new "make your own pallet", which allows you to create a pallet of your favourite shades. I'm still undecided about if to purchase the pallet as I don't really travel that much and if I do, then i take my Naked Pallet and maybe one or two single eye shadows.

Overall I really love these eye shadows, the formula is incredible and the colours are nothing I've ever seen before each so different and yet so stunning. They retail for £14, which are rather expensive however you only need a bit on your eyeshadow brush and it spreads over your eyelid like a dream, therefore I can see them lasting me such a long time. I'm definitely going to be purchasing some more of these eye shadows I currently have my eye on SWF, however I'm having real trouble finding it.

Have you tried the new formula Urban Decay eye shadows, what do you think of them in comparison to the old formula?

"Paris Is Always A Good Idea"

Dior Addict Spectacular Shine Lipstick -

Paris

Firstly, I would like to say the quote above is from Audrey Hepburn, I thought it was a really good quote for this review.

Now, whilst in Manchester I picked up another Dior Addict Spectacular Shine Lipstick. My boyfriend had bought me one as a present when he went away earlier in the year, and I wanted another one which was slightly more pink. Over time I couldn't help but look at the Dior stand in my local Debenhams and that was when I first saw Paris aka 762. Its pretty much the same as my other one, which is in the shade Baby Rose, therefore if you want a more in depth review of this lipstick go here, and read the one review I did on Baby Rose.

The lipstick itself is a sheer pink, with a slight blue undertone, with some serious sparkle. Its amazing. In my opinion its really easy to wear, and the sparkle helps make the lipstick look so expensive and really stunning when on. It isn't as high-shine as the baby rose one I have, however its still really shiny and therefore there is no need for a lip gloss over the top, unless however you want some serious high-shine. The texture of this lipstick is simply divine, its creamy and moisturising on the lips, the perfect summer lipstick. This is simply down the to new and improved formula, which is 25% less wax, it uses instead and extraordinary reflective gel, which results in intense plumping hydration and a magnificent glass effect.

The case it comes in for me what really tops off this lipstick. Its fashionably stream line and changes colour, a some what rainbow effect as the light catches it, this can be seen on the first picture. This makes it look so high end and really expensive (which to be fair it is), I get questioned all the time about what lipstick it is as soon as pull it out of my handbag, and everyone is so impressed with both the colour pay off and the impeccable shine it provides.

Overall, I really love this lipstick. I don't think its my favourite out of the two because at heart I'm still more a baby pink girl, however it is unquestionably stunning and looks lovely on. I would use this more so at night, keeping the rest of my make up rather natural and focusing on my lips, however the sparkle still makes it look classy and very girly. These retail at £24 each, and even though they are really expensive, in my opinion they are really worth it. 

Have you ever tried one of Dior's Lipsticks, if so which is your favourite?

You Need Water To Make Ice.

MAC -

Water & Ice Mineralized Eyeshadow

This was one of the many little presents from Manchester my boyfriend bought me. As soon as I saw it and swatched it on the back of my hand, I fell in love straight away and knew it needed to be part of my ever growing eyeshadow collection.

The eyeshadow itself is two coordinating shades, which are baked together as one. Water & Ice has an icy blue-tinted silver-grey, with a white shimmer-sheen paired with a pale blue-toned purple with a frosted sheen. Its exceptionally sheer and lightweight so it doesn't become cakey and begin to gather in the crease of your eye lid. The colour pay off is a rather rich, super-fine pearl, which leaves a soft dimensional shimmer on the skin. Both shades definitely compliment each other and personally I have never come across two colours which are quite so pretty. There rather large at 2.2g each, which in comparison to there original ones isn't that bad for such an unique eyeshadow.

I myself, use the light shade across my eyelids and the darker shade in the creases. This for me really creates a beautiful effect, something which really makes my eyes stand out. After reading many reviews about this, it has come to my attention you can use these both wet or dry...I haven't yet had chance to use them wet, however I'm really looking forward to seeing how it works out. For me, these last quite a while on, they don't begin to fade as fast as some other eye shadows I own, however if you have rather greasy eyelids, I would recommend a primer underneath to keep the colour lasting that bit longer. I really like this eyeshadow, MAC's mineralized eye shadows are really the only eye shadows I buy from MAC, due to them being so individual.

This is one of five which they have released, and from what I can gather there only going to be sticking around for about six months, maybe not even that. Therefore its my advice to go and test the shades and if you like them, then to buy them straight away, I cant see them sticking around for long. However, do be careful and look at the colours really carefully, as several of these are reminiscent of Glitter & Ice Mineralize Eye shadows, so you may find that if you have some of those, you don’t need to rush out for these. 

Have you tried any of the new mineralized eye shadows, if so what do you think and which are your favourites?

DeepSea Saviour.

Shu Uemura -

Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lip Balm

Generally my lips are really dry, chapped and really sore. Even in the summer they still let me down by looking a mess. Therefore over the years I've been looking for a product which helps keep them hydrated, soft and overall happy. I've tried so many products and I officially think I can say...I've found the best product ever for those with ridiculously dry lips like mine.

Shu Uemura isn't a brand I've ever used before, however a lot of people have been talking about their lipsticks and also their skincare, saying how amazing both of them were. Therefore whilst in Manchester the women at the counter let me try this Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lip Balm and I fell completely in love. However, I actually didn't buy it until the next day, this was purely down to the fact I didn't realise how amazing it was until I had left the shop and my boyfriend commented on how healthy my lips were (something which doesn't happen very often). Therefore when we visited the Trafford Centre, I was determined to hunt this down and buy it straight away, and I found it...yey.

Now onto the product. Overall this is basically a high end lip balm. Its formulated with an optimal balance of beeswax and macadamia oil, which wraps your lips in deep comfort which visibly repairs chapped lips, leaving them instantly softer, smoother and more plumped. The key ingredient in this lip balm which is highlighted within its name is depsea water. This is something which is in many of Shu Uemura products, for those who don't know what depsea water is here is a brief explanation. Depsea water is basically water which is pumped from deep beneath the sea, its rich in minerals which are really beneficial for the skin. The key minerals are;

- Calcium which strengthens skin barriers and enhances collagen synthesis, which helps to plum the skin and make it appear more youthful.

- Magnesium which is an effective cell turn-over, helping prevent the oxidisation of the skin and helps energise it.

- Sodium which is key in helping keep a good PH balance within the skin, keeping it healthy and radiant.

- Potassium which overall helps cell membranes remain healthy.

Basically, for those who just sort of glossed over that, Depsea Water is really beneficial for your skin and is only found specifically within Shu Uemura skincare and beauty products.

Now onto my thoughts on the product...if you can already tell how much I love this lip balm then let me tell you...its incredibly amazing! It hydrates your lips instantly, and lasts such a long time, which means unlike normal balms you don't have to keep reapplying it. On the lips it looks just like a high-shine, clear lip gloss which is both non-greasy and not in the slightest sticky. The application is really easy, it has a slanted tip and therefore it allows it to just glide onto your lips. Personally I use it under a lipstick, it helps keep my lips really hydrated and also adds a high shine to my lipstick...I even think it makes my lipstick last that bit long.  I can definitely say since buying this and using it nearly everyday my lips have never been so smooth, soft and overall moisturised. They look so much more healthy and now I'm so happy I bought it.

It retails for around £18, which I know is incredibly expensive, however after trying so many other high street makes, I think its definitely work it to find something which works incredibly well. For me, I think its a small price to pay for happy, healthy lips.

Have you tried any Shu Uemura products, if so...which are your favourites?