Saturday, January 25, 2014

NEW| Subtle Contour Tutorial *VIDEO*

This is my latest YouTube video, and it's really just a simple, subtle contour how-to video. It's a look you could wear in the day, or amp up for night!






I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to subscribe if you want to see more!


Lots of Love,


Friday, January 24, 2014

Battle of the Day Creams

Face Cream Faves


Having recently moved to London, I have taken it upon myself to battle the pollution with some super defensive day creams. SPF is important, but so are anti-aging properties, (24=quarter life crisis..) and some sort of a pollution shield.

Even in the muggiest or rainiest of days, UVs still creep through the smog and cause ageing damage. I love make-up, but I truly believe it's best to start at the foundation and protect what you have at the base, before adding any enhancements.



Balance Me Daily Moisturiser


First up, is this Daily Moisturiser by Balance Me, with and SPF of 18. It contains no parabens, or sulphates and is designed as a plumping daily protector, to use either alone or over your regular day cream. Also meant to be light weight (it is), I love this product, but for me it is best used over another moisturiser, as it is super light and doesn't give maybe enough moisture for many of us. Perfect as a shield though, and you can get yours here for £26.



Benefit - You Rebel


This is a personal fave of mine. You Rebel combines an SPF 15, with an epic tinted moisturiser. I am such a fan of tan, so this is perfect for giving you a super natural colour, with protection. It's probably not the most protective, so would be perfect with one of the other more 'shielding' creams on this feature, but it's super moisturising. Love. Get yours here for £24.50.



Simple Light Moisturiser

Simply, I simply love Simple. Simple. Ah yes, sorry. But it's so true. This is suitable for all skin types, and even works with oily skin as its light. It has absolutely nothing nasty in, and works as a daily SPF  15 UVA/UVB protection sunblock, without the white face. It sinks in super easily, and genuinely feels so nourishing for ages. It claims to total hydration for up to 12 hours, and I can't argue with that. Get yours here for an extremely reasonable £6.99.



Simple Protecting Moisture Cream SPF 30 UVA/UVB

On the same Simple skin care track, is the slightly more intense day cream by the same brand. This is a heavier moisturiser than the previous contender, but again, (despite being quite thick), it sinks in well after a minute or two. The protection is more advanced, providing double the SPF (30). All of these products with UVA/UVB protection will help not only provide a barrier against Sun rays, but against everyday city pollution. You can get one of these here for a lovely £3.99.




Murad Essential-C Day Moisture


This again, is SPF 30, which protects against UVA/UVB rays and free radical damage. It is described not just as a daily moisturiser, but as an environmental shield. This is pretty much the full package for someone looking for skin protection from City living. It actively says it creates a shield against anything harmful, not just the Sun. (But that too, obviously). It has a lovely light texture, and a delicate scent, which is lovely to apply. I find it very easy to wear, and absorbs and smooths straight into skin without hassle, despite being so highly protective. You can pick one up from here for £39 (hurry it's 30% off!)



Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Day Cream

This again, is very skin safe. With at least 98% of the ingredients from natural origins, you can be sure you aren't harming your skin whilst trying to protect it. The main focus of this cream, is based around the first signs of ageing, not protection from the Sun or Environment. This may be the ideal solution to put under one of your more shielding Day creams, to kill two birds with one product. The texture is lovely, and it feels like a real treat for the skin. A dream. Grab one here for £13.


I love all of these creams in different ways, but probably may favourite for constancy with protection is the Murad. Definitely the best on a budget is either the Simple creams, depending on your desired level of protection. For looking hot - You Rebel. Tan for the win…but that's just me.


Who am I kidding? I love them all!!


Lots of Love,













Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Naked 3

Naked3


It seems like yesterday I was drooling all over Urban Decay's Vice2 Palette, (which FYI is am-az-ing…), so come Christmas time this year, I pre-ordered this bad boy and treated myself to an early Crimbo treat. I have used it many (many, many), times since I got it, and I feel fully confident in giving it just the kind of review it deserves.



Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside and Blackheart (L to R)


The theme of this palette, whilst still flying the neutrals flag, is more of a rose-gold look. They are just as perfectly stunning quality as all Urban Decay shadows , and I really can't even pick some favourites, because I may as well list the whole lot.

I have green eyes, so the pink undertones really make them pop, but the gold in this palette will put a sparkle on blue eyes, and brown can layer on the colours however they fancy. (Really anything goes with brown eyes, I definitely think they can carry off the most versatile looks.)

Below are the shadows, on skin with a primer. You can see how bloody beautiful each and every shade is…!



L-R: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz and Trick





L-R: Blackheart, Darkside, Mugshot, Factory, Liar and Nooner


This is such an exquisite piece of make-up genius, that from my tireless digging around, it appears it is currently sold out, but it should hopefully be back soon, and when it is…snap it up. I promise you won't regret it. I will be using this in some tutorial looks soon, so keep a look out on my blog and video channel!

In the mean-time check out my youtube channel HERE, for more more more….




Lots of Love,





Friday, January 17, 2014

NEW| Apocalips Shades



These area four of the newest colours from the Rimmel Apocalips range. I have been a big fan of this highly pigmented glosses since their release, and I was super excited when I realised there were a few shades I hadn't tried. The four I have are; Eclipse (deep red), Auroura (pink/coral red), Out of this World (sparkly pink) and Shooting Star (nude).


The application and consistency is exactly the same as the initial batch (for my review on those see here and here…), and these babies are just as lust-worthy as their slightly older sisters.


Shooting Star


Aurora



Out of this World



Eclipse


As you can see, they are all seriously glossy and rich in colour. They are just so beautiful to apply and wear, finding these has definitely reminded me of my long-time love for these glosses. They are so wearable, non-sticky and relatively long-lasting. 


Euston we have lips off (ah sorry…),



Lots of Love,






Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Lipojen Lip Plumper

Lipojen Pacakaging

Colour 08


I absolutely cannot resist a lip plumper. Who doesn't want lips a la Miss. Jolie? Answer: No one. Big, full lips are so sought after (namely by myself), and with the cost and potential risks of surgery or fillers, something that you can use on the go is always an intriguing proposition.

Enter: Liopjen. It claims to not only increase Lip volume, but to reduce Lip wrinkles and improve the contour of the Lip too. Not only that but it is a moisturising, gloss infused treatment, with built in UVB filters, so keeps your smackers sun safe. Nice. And very very wow. 

The big plump, if you will, is achieved by some revolutionary technology in the form of a natural tripeptide, 'Palmytiol-Gly His-Lys'. Quite the mouthful…literally. But does it work, actually, really…truly?

Um yah. Im sitting here now and since application have had tingly, glossy and super huge lips. Not quite, punch-in-the-face, fat-lip (trout pout) situation, but a lovely plump, fullness which is so so what I want my lips to look like on their own. 



Gloss and wand

You apply in the same way as most other gloss, no tricks. Just glide on, and before you have time to say 'kiss me', your lips are in full, glossy (and very tingly) heaven.


On the Lip

As you can see, its such a gorgeous sheen too, not sticky or gooey, just fresh and shiny. The size of my lips in this doesn't even do them justice, I feel like I want to wink as passers by, but I shall refrain. Oh the power of luscious lips. This colour is a beautiful Pink/Red (08) and there are a few other options, (clear, tan, pink etc), so you can pick a shade to suit you! They aren't cheap. At around £60 its definitely an investment lip product… but if you were considering fillers, it's a lot cheaper and definitely something to consider for those special 'must look A-mazing events'. You can pick them up from here.


Oohh i'm still so tingly, how lovely.


Lots of Luscious Lippy Love,





Friday, January 10, 2014

Murad Intensive Resurfacing Peel








This was the first ever resurfacing peel mask I had ever tried, so I was really intrigued... and lets be honest, mildly concerned. (It doesn't help that it advises using it for by substantially less time if your skin appears to be 'sensitive'). Ah. 

I popped it on to freshly cleansed, clean skin, and waited the full recommended 10 minutes. No drama, no burns, no skin catastrophe. You then simply wash off with warm water, et voila… perfect skin..?!

Well, yes. My skin happens to look super bright, tight and pretty damn magical now. It didn't hurt or sting, and my skin didn't peel off in chunks (I had visions of a chemical peel gone wrong), it just left me with a bit of a boost. A sort of 'Pimp yo' face' if you will.

The box contains 4 mini pots o'peel and you can pick one up from here, for around £40

I am very happy with this, the perfect pre-party pick me up for the face!



Lots of Love,






Wednesday, January 8, 2014

NEW| Bad Girl RiRi Lipstick PLUS Dupe




'Bad Girl RiRi' is one of the three shades of lipstick Rihanna created for her latest holiday collaboration with M.A.C. I luckily managed to pick up one of this shade, which is unlike any other colour in my lipstick collection; a dark rose gold/brown/nude with a matte finish.





As you can see the packaging is superb, almost reason enough to buy one (okay probably my main reason), but the colour, texture and quality of the product itself was very pleasantly surprising.


On the Lips


As you can see on the lips, is it a mix of browns and deep rose gold, which turns out, is bloody flattering, especially with a tan or darker skin tones.

I love this, I hear you say…but it is sold out EVERYWHERE, so why are you teasing me?

Well girls, I have found the most incredible dupe for this colour, with the same matte finish and everything. Total excitement. I also love having a dupe of limited edition colours, for when I go out and don't want to end up losing it (extreme possibility).

Twig. Twig by M.A.C. That is the secret answer, despite flash making it look slightly glossy in the pics below (it's not), it is almost a double take, and I just couldn't be happier to have found it.










As you can see it's a pretty damn close match, and the texture (gorgeous creamy matte), is spot on too. So if you didn't managed to get your paws on Miss.Fenty's colab action with M.A.C, then definitely give this a go, because it's beautiful.

Side by Side


They look slighty different shades above (due to extra usage of Twig), but had I waited and shown you them both unused, they would be pretty much twins. I can never wait…


This colour is perfect for a sexy new look this January!!


Lots of Love,










Monday, January 6, 2014

Benefit *NEW* The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine





This tasty new offering is inspired by Benefit's bestselling primer 'POREfessional', (a personal favourite of mine), and is a mini mattifying kit, petite enough to carry round, for perfection on the go.



Cute Packaging as Per


The Full Monty

The product is really simple to use, you twist open the top, shake a little powder into the lid, swirl around with the mini kabuki brush and voila… matte o'clock.


I absolutely love this! It's perfect for touching up oilier areas of skin, and its light enough to pop in your bag for little touchups throughout the day. Plus, no smashed powder crumbs sprinkled in your bag. Bonus. 


To prove how well it works, here is a cheeky before and after. It's like photoshop… in real life. Love.

Slight shine from tinted moisturiser

A brush or two of this = matte perfection 


Both were taken with the flash on, which just shows how incredibly it works. It's not cakey or thick either… and I will stop gushing like a school girl now, and let the product do the talking. If you weren't sure before, it's a total winner.



Operation Zero Shine is a total success,



Lots of love,












Saturday, January 4, 2014

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray



My hair has only just grown out of some seriously bad layers, and I still try my best to feel the love when it comes to haircare. One of my biggest issues, is that with naturally straight, and not the thickest hair, sometimes it lacks that crucial 'oomph'.

I splash on a few (liberal) spritz and sprays of this wonder-buy to my locks when its towel dried, and simply leave or blow-dry. 

It has undoubtedly given me extra 'swish' factor, a definitely staple for sexifying my mane. I highly recommend this if you are lacking in the volume department, who knows… a few sprays could change your life.


Swish long [hair] and conquer,



Lots of love,