Winter Reading.

I know this isn't something you would expect to find on a beauty blog, however believe it or not its coming up to winter. With winter comes the cold, the rain, the dark night and means cuddling up in a nice cosy room reading a good book, or at least for me it does. Therefore I thought I would write a really quick post about my favourite 5 books over the past couple of months, and also about a few I cant wait to get my hands on...so lets begin.

Top 5 Must Reads!

Hunting Violet - Alyxandra Harvey

"Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts, especially since her mother has worked as a fraudulent medium for a decade. Violet has taken part in enough of her mother's tricks to feel more than a little jaded about anyhting supernatural. The ghosts, however, believe in Violet and she's been seeing them everywhere. One ghost in particular needs Violet to use her emerging gift to solve her murder . . . and prevent the ghost's twin sister from suffering the same fate." 

This book is just gripping from start to finish, and for me this is ridiculously rare. I have a really bad attention span, therefore if something doesn't grip me from the start...it gets ditched somewhere. Everyone really needs to read this book, its just a really good story thats forever developing and has millions of unexpected twists and turns along the way. Fantastic Book!

1984 - George Orwell

"Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101...Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime. The novel also coined many new words and phrases which regular appear in popular culture, such as 'Big Brother', 'thoughtcrime', 'doublethink' and 'Newspeak'."

I'll be truthful, I read this in year 11, which was 3 years ago, and it was the first book I had ever read fully. Bad I know, but I found reading difficult, and this book changed all that for me...along with some help from my amazing English teacher who would explain parts of the story to me. Basicly its just a really good book, it opens your eyes to the world, and makes you think about so many different things you take for granted normally. A serious MUST READ!

Hush, Hush Series - Becca Fitzpatrick

"For Nora Gray, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgement. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her then her closest friends. She can't decided whether she should fall into his arms or fun and hide..."

This is the most beautifully wrote series of books ever. Becca Fitzpatrick has just explained everything in such a clear way it transports you there, you feel everything Nora feels and you get so drawn in it's ridiculously hard to stop reading once you have started. The series include; Hush Hush, Crescendo, Silence and Final (which has just come out, and I'm currently reading)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor

"Errand requiring immediate attention. Come. The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please', she sighed, but she gathered up her things. When Brimstone called, she always came.  In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole. Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought."

This is going to be the first book of a soon to be trilogy, which may just become the most incredible trilogy ever. I wasn't sure when I read the synopsis of this book, however the ridiculously endless raving reviews swayed my desision and i downloaded it, reading it during my holiday. I spend a week truly entwined into this book, its INCREDIBLE. There isn't anything else I can say about it because until you read it, you will not believe me how amazing this book is...READ IT NOW!

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The black sign, painted in white letters that hangs upon the gates, reads: 'Opens at Nightfall. Closes at Dawn'. As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, all over the tents small lights begin to flicker, as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies. When the tents are all aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign appears. Le Cirque des Rêves. The Circus of Dreams. Now the circus is open. Now you may enter."

Truly the most enchanting story I've ever read. Its stunningly wrote and it just flows so amazingly. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and glued to the pages its just that good. Its a true magical, fairy-tale-esk book, for those who have grown up, but not really lost there love and passion for fairy tales.

Now, its also important to note that I absolutely loved the Hunger Games books, however I really don't think anyone in the whole world has not read them, therefore I thought I would keep it off the list.

Books I can't wait to get my hands on...

Entwined - Heather Dixon

"Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her...beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing...it’s taken away. All of it. The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late."

Envy - Gregg Olsen

"Crime lives - and dies - in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka Empty Coffin), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen, so 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic 'twin-sense' to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits. Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined. Based on a shocking cyber-bullying true story, Envy will take you to the edge and push you right over."

Days of Blood and Starlight (Kindle) - Laini Taylor (sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone)

"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living - one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers' arms to take their turn in the killing and dying. Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon's secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel - a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness. This was not that world."

Hallow Pike (Kindle) - James Dawson

I saw this in WHSmiths not long ago, after reading the back cover I was determined to find a Kindle version and buy it straight away. Here's the synopsis; "Something wicked this way comes...She thought she'd be safe in the country, but you can't escape your own nightmares, as Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her. Lis thinks she's being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn't believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn't believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you're alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps... Hallow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps."

The Tooth Fairy (Kindle) - Graham Joyce

Firstly, when I know the title sounds pretty rubbish and child like, however from what the reviews are saying its totally mis-leading. Heres the synopsis; "Seven-year-old Same Southall loses a tooth, and that night he's visited by a sinister, rank, foul-mouthed, mercurial Tooth Fairy, a demonic being that apparently only he can see, be whose malignant influence spills over onto his family and friends. The Tooth Fairy stays with Sam throughout throughout his growing years, teaching him to make mischief at school, influencing his actions. One day she insists that Sam have his friend Terry sleep over. That same night, Terry's father shoots his wife, his other children, and himself..."

Im waiting for Entwined and Envy to be released in Kindle versions, however if they don't hurry up I may have to give in and buy the book forms. 

What's your favourite book/s?

Rouge Dior.

Dior - 

Rouge Dior in Trafalgar Pink (565)

If you read my blog often, you will know I love anything and everything pink. When it comes to lipstick however I usually sway between baby pink and rose pink shades, never in my life have I been brave enough to wear "hot pink". Due to my blonde hair, many people have said they think it would suit me and that I should try it, however it's just something I haven't ever felt confident enough to attempt...well until now. 

During work one day I was walking past the Chanel counter and spotted a pink lipstick, it was somewhere iridescent and was a beautiful colour. After researching it and seeing what people had said about it, I wasn't very sure that it was worth the money. Later that week during a wander round the Leeds White Rose Centre with my boyfriend, I decided to have a look on the Dior counter in Debenhams, (Dior is definitely one of my guilty pleasures), and thats when I saw pretty much the same colour lipstick, however this time by Dior, who I already know does the most amazing lipsticks ever. Before I even picked it up my boyfriend pointed it out, and said how pretty it was...this is a very good sign as he has strangely good eye when it comes to make up and what colours may suit me. I had the beauty consultant put it on for me and it looked incredible, I had to buy it as soon as I saw it on, and lets just say its my new favourite lipstick.

Dior state "Rouge Dior is a wardrobe of 32 sublime shades directly inspired by the deep, luxurious colours of Dior Haute Couture gowns to reveal all the beauty of triumphant and radiant femininity! Instantly and day after day, this exceptional lipstick offers the lips the extreme splendour of full, smooth and perfectly defined youthfulness. The secret? A new generation of plumping hyaluronic acid microspheres. Generously coated with pigments on the lip surface, they help boost the radiance and depth of colour. In midnight blue Haute Couture case, with the cane-work motif dear to the brand, unveils the "Haute Couleur" stick, made even more extraordinary due to its unique shine and its engraved CD signature"

The colour is just stunning, a beautiful fuchsia, with blue undertones, something which definitely makes a difference from the dull and dreary autumn weather we are experiencing at the moment. It's actually really quite moisturising on the lips, and the colour does not bleed nor does it dull throughout the day, it stays pretty and pink all throughout the day. It does have a tendency of staining the lips after wearing it, however I like that, as it means I can just add a shiny lip balm and it looks as if I have made an effort. It retails for £25, which I know is somewhat expensive, however for the stunning quality of the lipstick its definitely worth the price.

Have you tried any of the Dior Rouge Dior Lipsticks, if so which is your favourite shade?

Personalised Palette.

Urban Decay - 

Build Your Own Palette (Debenhams Exclusive)

If theses one thing I love other then pink lipgloss/stick, its amazing eye shadows. I can definitely say out of all the brands, Urban Decay have the best selection of eyeshadows on the market. The new formula is amazing, the pigmentation is incredible, they last for hours without creasing or fading, even longer if you use one of their award winning eyeshadow primers underneath, and the overall colour range is phenomenal. Every beauty blogger will have raved on about the naked palette's as there beauty staples in pretty much everyones make-up bag, however now they have created new "build your own palette". This provides everyones with a way of making their own amazing, unique palette using their favourite shades, however i should state only the new packaged eyeshadows fit this palette, as the old versions don't separate from their original cases.

I did see this palette when it first came out, however it was 6-pan and it was too big for me to take around with me when i went away for the night, weekend or holiday, as it was just too bulky alongside my naked palette (which goes everywhere with me). Therefore imagine my excitement when I saw a 4-pan version displayed in Debenhams...lets just say excited doesn't even cut it

Which ever palette you go for either the 6 or 4-pan palette, it comes with one never-before-seen shade already in the palette. This palette came with the shade "rock" which is just stunning, its a sheer, shimmery oyster/taupe shade which you won't find anywhere else. House of Fraser does do a similar palette, however the artwork on the front is different and the added shade is called "melt" which is a sheer, shimmery peach shade. I've swatched both and I preferred "rock", not only because in my opinion its much more pigmented, but also I think its a much more wearable shade, which I can blend with my other 3 favourite shades I wanted to put in the palette. Its also important to note that if you would prefer to buy the 6-pan eyeshadow palette, you can still purchase this online at both; Debenhams and House of Fraser. Unlike the 4-pan palettes, this comes with the shade "walk of shame" which is a matte, soft pinkish-peach shade, and also a travel-sized Good Karma brush. 

The other three shades I've put into my palette are; (from left to right) SWF, shattered and flash. There three really stunning shades which look great worn alone or put together, at the moment my favourite combination is "rock" and "shattered" which its just a stunning duo-toned colour, it blends beautifully with "rock" creating the most fantastic eye-catching effect.

Have you got a Urban Decay "build your own palette", if so which did you go for and what shades have you put in yours?

Best. Top. Ever.

This is just a really quick post showing you my new favourite t-shirt, and to those who read my blog regularly will know it must be a pretty fantastic top to be getting a post on here (I never really write about clothes because everyone is so individual in there styles).

I saw it today in TopShop in Leeds and feel in love. Its just a 100% cotton, grey t-shirt with a slightly raised back, something which I really like as it's slightly unusual. The slogan is really cute, quirky and adorable, as a true girly girl the word "unicorn" had me grabbing for it straight away anyway.

For those who may not be able to read the slogan it says;

"Dear Noah, We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 6. Sincerely, The Unicorns"

After looking on the internet, it turns out this top is ridiculous to get hold of in-stores, and as i live in Sheffield, i was really lucky to come across it, this was purely down to that store being the only one anywhere near me which had this top in store. Therefore i would really advise anyone who loves this top to order offline, not only is it easier but you also have more chance of actually getting hold of it. The sizing are a little bit strange, and there slightly larger then normal, however this may be due to the slightly raised back, therefore there shouldn't be too much problem in choosing which size your are. You can find it online "here".

Luscious Lush.

Christmas has finally come to Lush!

I've been waiting for Lush to release their Christmas products for ages, for me when they release the Christmas collection its officially nearly Christmas...YEY!

I thought I wouldn't get everything all at once, there for making sure I try each of them, and not just stashing them in draws and forgetting where i'd put them. So after reading about them online, I chose the 3 that really grabbed my attention and also a little shower gel that was a must have.

Candy Mounting Bubble Bar

"Every year we gve our best selling Creamy Candy Bar bubble bar a special outfit for Xmas.  Two years ago it was in the shape of a candy cane, last year we turned it into a little swirly pink mountain peak – this year it is a little pyramid of pink and green. But whatever the shape and look, the thing that never changes is that lovely vanilla and candy-floss smell and the mountains of soft bubbles." This bubble bar smells amazing, its sweet and adorable, definitely my favourite on first appearances, it reminds me of something from the film The Grinch. I haven't yet used it, but I will add to this post when I have done so, I'm hoping for loads of bubbles and a sweet candy-floss scent to take over my bathroom. This bubble bar is priced at £2.45 each, so its not really that expensive in comparison to some of them.

Party Popper

"This fruity, fizzy party piece is a movable feast of delights. Contains everything you need for a celebration in your own bathtub. Drop a Party Popper cone in your bath and watch it spin into action, as it goes on a spree across your bath spreading colours, fragrance, popping candy and soap confetti.  Softening your bathwater, fragrancing your skin and washing you clean." This sounds AMAZING, mainly the popping candy and soap confetti, but also looking at it my bath water is going to be a very special colour indeed. This is something that not usually gets fetch out at Christmas by Lush, but I like how different it is in comparison to the others, its fun and exciting. Cant wait to try this one, its definitely the next one I'm trying! These are £2.95, if it does as it says on the description, I will definitely be stocking up on it before it disappears of the shelves.

* I tried this tonight...omg its fantastic! It does everything it says, it smells incredible, leaves the bath water a very pretty pink and the popping candy is so much fun. I'm definitely stocking up on this before it disappears from the shops.

So White Bath Bomb

"A bath of pure white apple temptation on the outside – a secret colourful heart on the inside. This year we decided So White needed more fun in her life, so we’ve made an interactive bath that brings a splash of bright colour to December bath times. Run yourself the perfect temperature bath, then just before you get in throw this pure white snowball ballistic at the side of the bath.  As the outer white shell shatters it will scatter a dash of pink fizzing bubble mix into your water." This sounded fab when I read it, the idea of it exploding with pink when it went in the water and loads of bubbles got my hopes up. However unfortunately it wasn't anything like i expected, when they say a dash of pink, they really do mean a very small slight dash of pink, and the bubbles literally mixed in with the water and disappeared. This was the most expensive of the 3 and at £3.20 each, there are really others which are much, much better.

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

"Our winter temptress shower hair and body gel that’s bursting with fruit fragrance and has a sparkle of ice through it. Now we must confess, it’s a mystery to us why this one particular product should become our No1 Christmas bestseller. It’s not your classic hippy dippy Lush herbal offering. Instead it is an intensely sweet, fruity pink shower gel loved by people everywhere." This is the best selling product within the Christmas Collection, it gets released every year and it flies of the shelves as soon as it comes in store. Last year I heard from everyone about how amazing it was, however I never really thought I would like how sweet it sounded, this year I thought I would see what all the fuss was about and OMG its amazing. I now see why everyone loves it so much. It can be used in the shower, bath, as a shampoo and also in the washing machine with bedding to make it smell incredible. I only bought a small 100ml bottle which was only £3.50, however I'm really considering buying a few bottles of the 500ml so that I can stock up on it before it leaves again after Christmas.

Lush is definitely my favourite shop at the moment and some of the products are just amazing. Next time I'm hoping to get my hands on and try;

• Gingerbread House Bubble Bar
• Phoenix Rising Bath Bomb
• Golden Wonder Bath Bomb
• The Melting Snowman Bath Melt
• Magic Wand Bubble Bar
• Cinders Bath Bomb
• Fairy Jasmine Bath Bomb
• Twinkle Bath Bomb

Have you tried any of the Christmas products from Lush, if so which are your favourite?

Pink-Tastic.

As you all know pink is my favourite colour. Not only is it really girly and fun, but also it has a talent of cheering me up and keep me smiling throughout the dull Autumn weather. I actually have acrylic nails, however something I get bored of one nail colour and cant be bothered to spend £12-£15 just to have them neatened up and re-painted, and due to me being a student, i thought i would instead paint them myself. Therefore I thought it was time to purchase some rather pretty pink nails varnishes, purely because i don't have any nail varnishes of my own, as i never had any reason to buy any.

Therefore, this is a little post showing you the nail varnishes to which I bought, due to my camera breaking on me not long ago I borrowed the images from google, so i could show you the colours exactly.

The first of which is Essie's Funny Face, this is a really bright beautiful pink. My boyfriend actually chose this nail varnish, because in his words it was the one that "looked the most pink", in my opinion giving me the best reason to buy it. Its truly lovely and girly, and I think it would look amazing on every skin tone and nail length.

Secondly is Essie's Watermelon, this is possibly the most popular pink shade from Essie. Its in between a red and pink, truly the colour of a watermelon (I know this because I tested it out against a Watermelon). Its very pretty and is a bit deeper then Funny Face, therefore I thought it was a fantastic alternative for those days i don't want such a bright colour. Both of these Essie polishes really last well on the nails; I've had Watermelon on for 5 days now and its only just started to slightly chip at the tips, this in my opinion is just amazing, as most polishes really don't make it past 3 days at the most.

Because I really love glitter I thought i wouldalso purchased a few glitter polishes. The first of which is Nail Inc's Princess Arcade, this is a rather deep pink, some may say more on the purple side. Its super glittery and just looks amazing on the nails. Its referred to by Nail Inc as "Nail Jewellery", personally i think this is just down to he highly pigmented glitter form. This is really stunning and can be worn on every finger or just on the ring finger or little finger depending which you prefer, I've also seen this been used along side black as a glitter gradient, and I thought that looked truly stunning (see here).

Lastly is another Nail Inc polish, Pinkie Pink. This is very much like Princess Arcade, however its a much paler pink, but never the less very stunning. This specific polish was released to raise money for the Breast Cancer Campaign and I think personally its a fantastic colour and idea to have something so girly and pretty to represent such a fantastic charity. I would have bought this polish anyway, but the fact £1 of every purchase goes to the charity, its a fantastic reason to definitely buy the polish. Once again I think this would look lovely on every nail or as a staple on the ring or little finger, I would also love to hear about if you think this would look good as a gradient glitter tip, and if so what colour polish would you put underneath? 

Hectic.

This is a little post just to apologise for my absence over the past few weeks. This is purely down to me starting university and as its my first year its somewhat hectic. Im really determined to get back on track with my blog posts, however I do apologise upfront if there is a little gap between post, its just down to me not finding enough time between; university and work, to write one. 

Anyway, thank you everyone for being really understanding, and hopefully I will be able to post a few sometime this week as I have a few goodies which I cant wait to show you all!

24/7 Coverage.

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil

 

 

In not going to lie, I'm not normally a concealer girl. The main reason for this is that firstly, I hate the cakiness that most concealers lead to, no matter how little you use they always end up really thick and nasty. Secondly, because I'm rather oily, they have a tendency to slide right off my face, which is far from a good look, plus there far too expensive to buy and use one. So now I will introduce the concealer which has completely changed my view of concealer all together, the Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil, by now you may have noticed I'm on a Urban Decay obsessive streak at this current moment, but never the less this concealer is amazing.

Firstly Urban Decay states "A concealer in pencil form equals precise application, and less mess-no brush, no dipping your finger into a pot, or squeezing a dollop onto a sponge. Dot on tiny blemishes, or shade in large problem areas (like redness around the nose and chin). The creamy formula blends easily, then dries down to a smudge-free matte finish."

 

I know this may seem like a pattern with my Urban Decay make-up reviews but what can I say, its does what it says on the box and is totally fabulous in every way. So let the review begin..

Firstly the packaging. Anything that comes in pencil/stick form is usually more convenient, I find. That’s why I bought it in the first place… the ease of keeping a pencil for touch-ups is much more than having to pull out a pot concealer and brush. The pencil itself is a plastic material, your still able to sharpen it easily (I use the Urban Decay Grindhouse dual sharpener), which not only keeps the tip precise (as precise as sharpening a large pencil can be), but also clean and stops any excess product gunking it up.

Now onto the product. I was amazed at how long-lasting this concealer was, especially as its so creamy and blendable. In my experience, the more creamy a product, the less it stays on the skin, however this one definitely defied that assumption I made about it, because it lasts long enough for me to not have to touch up throughout the day (I will if I’m going out for the evening though). It glides on like silk and blends with the pat of a finger or the stroke of a brush or sponge. It works great on top of liquid foundation, or fantastic underneath mineral foundation, and the pigmentation is good enough to cover the darkest circles or most glaring blemishes.

You’ll never get the tip as precise as it started out. However if you’re really trying to get precise, you can always use a brush to apply it (just sweep a bit off the tip). You also will lose a bit of product when sharpening it… a few downsides to having the convenient pencil form, but totally worth it in my opinion.

Urban Decay also recently launched four more shades to the range (on the darker end), which even though it didn’t affect me, I was happy to see that more girls out there would be able to share my love for this product! It’s definitely gone from being a convenient purse dweller to an everyday makeup bag must have for me. This little wonder can be purchased from any Urban Decay Counter for only £12, which I know is still fairly expensive in comparison to a L'Oreal or Collection alternative, but never the less I think its definitely worth it.

All Day Shine Free.

Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

 

 

I love my Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation, read here. It has great lasting ability, however after about 6 or 7 hours I begin to look the slightest bit shiny over the t-zone and therefore thought it was time to invest in a mattifying powder. Now, I know there are so many powders out there that aim to help tone down shine, however as my favourite foundation at the moment is Urban Decay and after having a good look on Makeupalley.com, it came out definitely one of the top mattifying powders on the market. Another bonus of this product is that for £20, it can definitely live in my handbag and I wont worry too much about it shattering, unlike if I was to buy a more expensive alternative.

 

Urban Decay state; "One of our Co-Founder's favourite products! This shine-stopping pressed powder blots oil and keeps shine at bay. Try it on naked skin (if you run into the hot guy at the gym), or over foundation (for touch-ups on the dance floor without destroying your makeup). Because the formula contains super lightweight, oil-absorbing rice powder, you won't feel the powder, but you'll see the shine-free results. The lavender shade applies invisibly and works on every skin tone, from dark chocolate to palest porcelain.

Keep De-Slick in your bag at all times! The gorgeous, transparent purple compact seems to glow from within, featuring Urban Decay embellishments of skulls, flourishes and flowers. Pop it open to reveal a mirror and handy application puff."

As I'm in a rush, and I don't think I need to go into too much detail because it does exactly what it says on the box, I thought I would just list the pro's and con's of this Mattifying Powder, just so you all can see just how INCREDIBLE this product is.

 

Pro's

• Gorgeous packaging
• You get a massive amount of product for the price
• Comes with puff and mirror
• Reduces shine immensely
• Can be applied on top of makeup or to a bare face
• Doesn’t leave a ghost-like ashy white cast to your face
• Because it’s invisible, it works on any skin-tone
• A little goes a LONG way
• It has an airbrushing qualities to it, when you put it on it smooths tiny imperfections
• Convenient
• Doesn’t clog pores
• Doesn’t irritate the skin (and my skin is super sensitive)
• Doesn’t “build up” or get cakey like a regular blot powder would

Con's

• Has a weird, slight medicinal scent to it but it doesn’t transfer to your face
• The purple side of the puff inside the compact sticks to the mirror and ends up smudging it, however as long as you have a wet wipe or tissue in your handbag this is no big issue.

Overall I really love this little compact. Its so easy to use and works like a treat, its also small enough and thin enough to slip not only in your handbag during the day but also into your clutch at night. It pretty much does what it says on the tin, and when used alongside the De-Slick setting spray it really does help keep make up lasting much longer throughout the day without as much oiliness. For me, its an ultimate god send.

Eden.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion -

Eden

If you love Benefit Lemon Aid, you need Urban Decay Primer Potion Eden in your life. If you have oily lids, veins, redness, dullness, or just need a bit of concealing on your lid then this is the product for you. It conceals, it mattifies, it preps and it primes, basically it does everything but the washing up and walking the dog and its the most amazing product ever. Originally I got a sample size version of the original eyeshadow primer potion, it came alongside the naked palette 1, and because it was really good and did what it said on the bottle, I thought it was time to buy the full sized version. However due to me getting really rather red eyelids along with dullness, the assistant said this Eden alternative would be much more suited and so I bought it and here I am now telling you all just how AMAZING it really is.

Urban Decay claims it gives you "a no makeup look" and indeed that’s exactly how it performs. You can use it as a primer of course, but for days you are going shadow-less or if you aren’t a shadow type of girl, you can still take full advantage of Eden to make your eyes fresher and more awake.  I also found you can easily dab a little under your eye to conceal as well, granted it won’t cover all your dark circle problems but the effect isn’t bad at all.

The formula is extremely pigmented. It’s a golden off lemon shade which should be flattering on most skin types, however I would saying darker skin girls might not be able to take advantage but anyone else. If your medium, fair, etc… you should be able to enjoy the effects as the yellowish hue, it's ideal for brandishing dullness, darkness, etc… and the formula dries a matte finish and unlike the original formula it’s incredibly creamy and thick.  Its really important to mention a little goes a very long way, so don’t get carried away during application.

Overall, it’s a big winner and should be added to your beauty routine as soon as you can get your hands on it. I think it’s particularly good for oily lid users, and may turn out to be a life saver. As with the original formula it keeps shadows vibrant, fresh, and crease proof all day. Seriously there is nothing I don’t love about this and it’s a stand out product for me. It should take little to no time for this to become a cult classic and possibly some people may even forget the original formula and just lean towards purchasing this. This can be picked up for £14.50, and the new packaging means you get 11ml of product, which means you get an extra 10% of product, in comparison to the original packaging.

Chester Birthday Haul.

This is a super quick post (well to be fair its a photo) of a mix of; what my boyfriend got me for my birthday (my most favourite one anyway as there's were so many) and what I bought myself from Chester, which is where we went for 3 days for my birthday as I really wanted to go to Chester Zoo (childish I know but its totally fantastic). Overall we had the most amazing time possible, we had the best time ever, and its such a pretty town (even thought it was raining), therefore were definitely going back sometime soon when the weathers a little better.
 

 

- Dior J'adore L'or Perfume

- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

- Urban Decay Good Karma Blusher Brush

- Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

- Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer in NSA

- Benefits Hervana Blusher (repurchase)

 

Reviews of all these will follow in due course, so keep an eye out for them.

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?!