Wednesday 30 March 2016

March Favourites




If you read my recent NYX: Lipstick Lowdown post, I went through all the different types of NYX lip products and stated how much I love the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. Istanbul is the lightest of the bunch in which I own from this line. I really like the formula of these as they apply really smooth and set to a matte finish. They are comfortable to wear and don't dry your lips out, and are an absolute bargain for £5.50.
I finally started to use this NYX Prismatic Eyeshadow in Girl Talk this month. They are highly pigmented which is what we always want, but it has ultimate shimmer and glowing power. It looks amazing on the inner corners of the eyes and through the brow bone. 
My Laura Mercier Foundation Primer has been on its last legs for weeks now, and I know the day it comes to a finish is upon me. I love it so much as it has a light, gel texture which is really soft and smooth when applying and instantly adds some moisture into my skin. I find that it helps my makeup stay put, but it does not feel heavy or cakey on the skin. This is not cheap for £29 but I have had this for over a year now and I use it in a daily basis, so you definitely get your moneys worth.
I have been mentioning these little beauty all over my blog recently, as I simply love them. The Nip & Fab Glycolic Pads are great for clearing congested skin just like mine. As you would expect they are soaked in glycolic acid but also hyaluronic acid which both help to retexturise and replenish the skin. I use these 3-4 times a weeks as part of my nighttime routine. I am definitely going to pick some more up as they are currently on promotion for a 1/3 off on Boot's (£8).
I bought this a few months back and have been letting it gather dust in the depths of my Muji drawers. The Kiko Dazzling Highlighter in 04 (not online) is a beautiful pink shimmer sticks which looks great on the tops of the cheekbones. I swipe this on to my cheekbones using the bullet, and then gently blend it with my highlighter brush as it can look a little over the top in the daytime as it is very shimmery. This is a very easy to use product as it is simply just in the bullet and you can apply it directly on to your face.

What have been your go to products during March?

Lucy
xoxo





SHARE:

Sunday 27 March 2016

Kylie Lip Kit in Posie K | Haul, Review, Swatches and UK Shipping




When my doorbell rang on Tuesday afternoon, I don't think the postman will of ever of been greeted by a customer with such a huge smile. I was beaming as I had been waiting on this to arrive for days. I instantly went inside and took my blog photos so I could start putting it to the test.

So the story behind this is that I have been wanting to try a Kylie Lip Kit pretty much since they were released, but I had been wanting to hear some reviews before I took the plunge myself. I watched Lily Melrose's videos which are fab, and since then I had been on the hunt to get one. I am one of those who once I want something, I am pretty determined to get it. But, the problem is that they sell out so quickly. I always struggled to know exactly when they were going on sale, as obviously there is a big time different between us and America. However, I was browsing Twitter and  a lovely canadian blogger let me know that they were going on sale in 15 minutes. As soon as 11 o'clock arrived I clicked Kylie Cosmetics and got straight on the page no problem, and before I knew it it was ordered. It is definitely just about getting on straight away! She puts updates up on her twitter feed both personal and the Kylie Cosmetics page, she also updates her personal snapchat to say when they are launching.

So to the product... I love it. Posie K is a great pink nude, which once dried to a matte finish turns into a slightly darker rose shade. It suits my skin tone really well, as I was worried about some of the other colours being way to dark for me. It goes on to the lips really easily, and dries almost instantly. The scent resembles vanilla and tutti fruity, it is not off putting and you can't taste it once it is applied. These are seriously pigmented, which is great as you only need one application. The dome shaped applicator is perfect as it is not too big and allows you to apply it easily. I have quite dry lips and I have found with other matte liquid lipsticks that they are way to drying and crack easily. This dries to a matte finish, but it feels light and comfortable to wear. The lip liner is also really great which was a great extra as I am not a huge lip liner fan. I do not got on great with lip liners but this one is soft, super easy to apply and does not drag. I use this to line my lips first and then fill my lips in with the liquid lipstick. The longevity test was put to the test straight away as I applied it to my lips at 2pm. It lasted excellently with no smudging, budging or colour fade. Once I did eat some food it did go slightly patchy in the middle of my lips, so it isn't totally budge proof. However, because it so easy to reapply it's not a huge hassle and it's not going to take a lot of time to get it to be perfect again. It then lasted fantastically until I went to bed a good 4 hours later.

Shipping Details
It took 18 days for the delivery to arrive, and I didn't get any custom charges (horray!) probably because on the box it said the value was $1.00! It costs $29 (£21) for the lip kit and $15 (£10) shipping so all together it came to £31. I know it is expensive but I am very much in love, and for £21 the lip liner and liquid lipstick is not bad value at all. I am already after wanting more - Candy K and Koko K. My friends are now wanting in on it too, so we can split the shipping between us. This is definitely the best way to go about it, so gather your friends and get ordering!

Do you want any of the Kylie Lip Kits?

Lucy
xoxo

SHARE:

Friday 25 March 2016

Colourpop | Haul, First impressions, Swatches & UK Shipping




   (L-R- Storm, Weenie, Between the Sheets)



(L-R - Panda, Echo Park, Lyin' King)

So I finally took the plunge and made a ColourPop order. I have been wanting to make one for months, and with the release of their Ultra Satin Lipsticks, I could no longer resist.

I ordered three of their new Ultra Satin Lipsticks in Panda,  Echo Park and Lyin' King ($6 each). I watched Kathleen Lights video which features every shade from the line, and it was so hard as there are so many nice ones. I managed to restrain going overboard in case they didn't work for me. I also wanted to order some of the eyeshadows, as everybody talks about how beautifully pigmented they are for the price. On first swatch they look a-m-a-z-i-n-g, they are creamy, light and so true to colour with their pigmentation. I am already in love with Weenie ($5) as it is just a gorgeous rose golden shade and is super pigmented. I also ordered another metallic shadow in the shade Smash which a more neutral toned beige with a golden satin finish. They have a really soft, cream like texture which I wasn't expecting but they both look super shimmery on first swatch. When I was checking out you get free delivery over $30 and I had spent $28. I also had a free $5 off your first order for signing up to their mailing list. Therefore, I ordered a highlighter in Butterfly Beach ($8) as it looked stunning, and has beautiful peachy tones running through it. My order then came to a total of $36 (£22.96). When I received my order I had infact received a matte cheek blush in Between the Sheets, instead of the highlighter. Between the Sheets is a mid toned beige/pink shade, which is a bestseller so I am looking forward to testing it out. I am also hoping that ColourPop somehow get me Butterfly Beach, as it looks so beautiful!

For shipping details I looked at Jasmine Talk Beauty's post for all the details on Shipto. But as my experience varied a little I thought I would outline how I ordered. Like I say I used the service called Shipto as it seemed like a cheap alternative to other services. On the website you can issued with an address (pretty sure it is their warehouse), and you send your order to that address and they receive it for you. You then fill in the details of your order including weight and it estimates an amount mine was $8 (you can do this before to get an estimate), and then you can add on insurance and a photo of your product which you need for insurance and it came in total to $13.50 (£10.10). I thought that this was a pretty great deal, and I was happy and proceeded to make the payment through PayPal.  I made the order on the 25th February and Shipto received it on the 3rd March, where I was prompted to fill out a declarations form, and and they shipped it to the UK on the 4th March. They shipping does say it can take between 20-45 days as as I choose the slowest shipping service as it was the cheapest. The Royal Mail tried to deliver it on the 26th so it took 3 weeks to get to me. However, unfortunately I missed the delivery and was hit was a customs charge which totalled £13.02 - £5.02 VAT and the Royal Mail added a £8 handling fee on top. It had a huge sticker attached to the front saying that any item over £15 is accustomed to a VAT charge. So I was pretty unhappy about that as it adds a hefty extra fee on to the overall shipping charge as it totalled overall £23 for it to get to me, more than the actual products are worth but it was an experiment. Other bloggers such as Jasmine have done multiple orders totalling the same amount as mine and haven't been hit with charges. I think it is just luck and the Royal Mail were feeling extra thrifty on the day they received my parcel! I am excited to try these out properly and I will report back with my verdict soon.

Will you be making a ColourPop order?

Lucy
xoxo
SHARE:

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Collection Contour Kit




The Collection Contour Kit was something which I bought on the whim when I had a some money left on a voucher. It was £2.99 on an introductory offer, it is now £3.99. I don't like to do negative reviews but I do like to do honest reviews, and I have been putting this to the test and I am ready to reveal my thoughts.

First up, the good things is that the bronzer is an okay milky chocolate shade which suits my skintone very well, but for anyone fairer than me this could be a little too dark. It it pigmented nothing like Nars' Laguna Bronzer but for a drugstore bronzer it's pretty decent. I find it easy to apply and blendable using my Real Techniques Multi-task Brush. This also lasts a pretty long time with a spritz of my Urban Decay Oil Slick Setting Spray over the top. The highlighter unfortunately does not quite match up to the same standards. This is simply because I like a highly pigmented highlighter which gives lots of shimmer and glow. This is very light, not a lot of glow and just offers a hint of shimmer. It is slightly chalky when swatching, and doesn't have a very soft texture. It is okay for those like I say who are wanting just a light dusting, but if you want anything more this is not for you.

Lucy
xoxo

SHARE:

Sunday 20 March 2016

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Lotion


I have been putting to test this Effaclar Clarifying Lotion by La Roche-Posay for a good month now and I am ready to reveal my thoughts. 

First up, this is not a lotion. I do not know why they have chosen to name it as a lotion, as it's misleading but as it's a clear bottle you can clearly see that it is a water. Similar to a micellar water, but this is a thermal spring water. I have done two recent posts on skincare - skincare rediscoveries and my nighttime skincare routine. I have been really trying to stick to a clear routine, as a few weeks ago my skin completely freaked out, and broke out in all kind of ways. I am not sure what caused it, as I am on medication for my skin. Anyway, I had seen this product on a few people's blogs with rave reviews so I thought I would test it out. It contains salicylic acid and LHA's which are both great for blemish prone skin to help with excess oil and to help decongest the skin. The thermal spring water helps to sooth the skin. I find that this is very refreshing on the skin and use this as my toning stage of my skincare routine morning and night. I pop some on to a large cotton pad and using it all over my skin. I find that it can occasionally tingle over areas of my skin where my blemishes are, but nothing which is uncomfortable. I think this would of been good for those of you who have sensitive skin as it is just a great product for doing exactly what it intends to.

Overall, this is a fab product for just £11 and it is so much more easy to get hold of the brand now they sell it in Boots. Thankfully with a mixture of medication and some great products my skin is a little bit better, and mostly decongested meaning less blemishes are occurring. 

Have you tried any La-Roche Posay products? 

Lucy 
xoxo


SHARE:

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Night Time Skincare Routine



I have mentioned this many, many times before, the Garnier Micellar Water is brilliant at drawing out impurities from the skin, it is soft and soothing and so easy to use. I use this on a large cotton pad to take off both my eye makeup and then as a first cleanser on my skin.

This Clinique Take the Day Off Cleanser featured in my recent Skincare Rediscoveries post last week. I bought this a while ago and never regularly reached for it. The cleanser is a balm consistency with a soft and really smooth when applied to the skin it turns into a milky like oil. I find this gets in the nitty gritty parts of my skin where my first skin might of missed or not deeply cleansed. After this stage I am always assured that my makeup has been completely removed from my skin.

This is the only product which I currently use morning and night. It is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Toner Lotion, as mentioned previously I really like this as it a thermal spa water which is non drying and contains ingredients to target blemishes which is exactly what I need. A total winner and such great value for money.

I am so glad I picked these up in the January sales when Superdrug was selling off their gift sets. These Nip + Fab Exfoliating Pads contain some seriously great blemish targeting ingredients - glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid and witch hazel, which is great considering the price tag. They also contain blue daisy which I have never heard of previously but this is supposed to be great for soothing and calming the skin. I find these are quite intense so I use this 3-4 times a week (usually when I remember!), but I do find them a little drying, but my skin always feels refreshed and brightened after using them.

I have been on a very rocky road with my acne, it is no secret. I have tried every prescription cream and tablet which is available from the GP. I have tried Epiduo previously and it did not seem to make much difference if any to my skin. I first tried it about 2 years ago, but I didn't use it for very long as I didn't think it was working. My GP convinced me to get it another shot, and to use for 3 months before throwing it to one side. It contains 0.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, which are both targeted blemish ingredients. You use a thin layer of this to the affected area in the evening. I will post back if this is a success as I have only had it for a week. I would love it if anyone would be able to share any creams which they felt have helped with their acne. I am seeing my dermatologist in June so I am hoping she will possibly put me on Roaccutane.

I have to mention using the Soap & Glory The Ultimelt as this is my go-to deep facial cleanser. I find that it does an excellent job, as really digging deep and clearing the skin. I love the formula as it is a soft like balm which melts really easily and lightly into the skin without needing much force. I massage these more stubborning really well into my chin where I get my most blemishes to make sure that the impurities have been drawn off. After 2 minutes you rinse this off and your skin is so soft and revived.

Lucy
xoxo


SHARE:

Sunday 13 March 2016

3 Current Favourite Palettes


I have found myself using the same 3 palettes over and over again recently, and I thought it was time to share!

I mention this quite regularly here on my blog but how can I not just look at the wonders of the Hourglass Blushes, they are simply gorgeous. Unfortunately this palette is no longer available, however you are able to buy each individual shade as separates. These are my favourite blushes which I own as I love the colour range and how perfectly pigmented they are. I use all of the colours regularly on rotation, as they add just a little extra to each makeup look which I create.

The newest to my palette stash is the Collection Contour Kit. I picked this up for just £2.99, which was an ultimate bargain. I bought this totally on the whim as I have not heard much about this at all through advertising or the blogging world. I am reporting today that for the price it is a good buy. The bronzer is currently my favourite part to the kit, I thought it could be possibly too dark for my skin but in fact it is a rather splendid match. It is soft, pigmented and easy to blend. The shade is more of a milk chocolate shade with a little shimmer and not too far from Nars' Laguna. I am still currently putting the highlighter to the test, as it does not seem to be as pigmented as the bronzer. However, it is a lovely light peachy, champagne shade which is not overly glittery. This adds a pop of colour to the cheekbones if you want a subtle, everyday shimmer.

The Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita has been a firm favourite of mine every since I was kindly gifted it at Christmas. I love how soft and velvety feeling the shades are, for the price it does not disappoint. This is a palette which I can grab and go whenever I need to and I know it will fit with the occasion. The first shade Prime is the most perfect pearlescent shade which i have ever seen, it is divine. All of the other shades complement each other perfectly, to create either a light shimmer or a more intense smokey eye.

Lucy
xoxo
SHARE:

Friday 11 March 2016

Spring Essentials


Now that we are well and truly heading into Spring, I thought I would put together an essentials post of all of my favourite products and accessories which I reach for constantly.

The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is a must have in many people's makeup collection, and I belong within that group. I have been using this for years and I think it is the best drugstore concealer out there. I have acne prone skin, so I can definitely vouch for this on the blemish covering front. It definitely does not last 12 hours but what product definitely does. It lasts a good amount of hours, but it does start to fade and does require topping up over blemishes.
I love this travel size Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, and I always take it with me wherever I go on trips. It is such a handy size, and you can easily fit it in your travel bag without needing the big bottle. I swear by this, as it glides over the skin so easy and I use this in the evening as my first cleanse. This is also brilliant for when you need to touch up your makeup, I use this on a cotton bud to clear any downfall from eye shadows.
I love having this Caudalie Grape Water in my handbag from when my skin needs a quick spritz of moisture to rehydrate. This is more of an essential when it in the warmer months, and is a must have for your beach bag on your holidays.
I picked up this adorable aviator style sunglasses last weekend in Primark as I didn't have any sunglasses in my car. I really needed a pair to keep in the glove compartment with the sunnier weather on it's way. They have totally restocked and have all of their new Spring/Summer lines in stock. Primark are really great at doing must have accessories super cheap. I love the leopard print design on these
I have always been a big fan of Pandora jewellery and come the Spring I seem to become more drawn to wearing jewellery on an everyday basis then during the Winter months, My current favourites and go to are the Heart StackingJuly Birthstone and Circle Detail rings. I wear these all together with my the birthstone ring in the middle as that is the most statement of them all. I also wear these separately on different fingers to add more versatility to my jewellery.

What are your Spring essentials?

Lucy
xoxo

SHARE:

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Skincare Rediscoveries





A few weeks back I read a post by skincare guru Caroline Hirons about the basic skincare routine which we should be following every morning and night, and I was embarrassed to discover that I was in fact only followed 2 of those steps. This got me thinking that I really need to delve into my stash and rediscover some of my old favourite products.

The Clinique Take the Day Off  Balm is something which I bought about a year ago and used it a few times, and since it had been sat collecting dust within my skincare stash. A few weeks back I started to reuse it and I have really been enjoying it. This is suitable for all skin types which is brilliant, and works great on my acne prone skin. The balm transfores from a solid consistency to a silky fluid when applied to your face. I uses this as a second cleanse to ensure anything which has been missed on my first cleanse is now completely taken off my face.

I bought the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo when there was lots of hype surrounding it when it was first released. I find that it does work well at unblocking pores and refining the skin texture. I like how it does not have a thick consistency, and soaks into the skin easily. This is aimed at oily, blemish prone skin and contains salicyclic acid which is a great ingredient to target my type of skin. I have high expectations for this second time round and so far so good.

Hydrating mists are by no means an essential within any skincare routine. However, I love this Caudalie Grape Water as a hydration stage between my cleanse and serum. The fine mist is brilliant at soothing and refreshing the skin, and you can use this during the day to add some extra moisturise if you feel as though your skin has become drier. 

I have been using these Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Pads 3-4 times a week to help keep my acne at bay. They contain glycolic acid which is an active ingredient which is great for spots and acne. They help to retexture and resurface the skin to help boost radiance.

Soap & Glory The Ultimelt has been a firm skincare favourite of mine for a while now. I love how silky smooth the texture is of this as it melts away make up on the skin. It is a great as a deep cleanse and unclogging pores, and such great value for just £10. My skin feels really beautifully soft, and refreshed after using it. I use this as a face mask  and deep cleanser 1-2 times a week, and it definitely does make a difference to my skin.

Lucy
xoxo


SHARE:

Sunday 6 March 2016

NYX: Lipstick Lowdown






I have seen sooooo many people writing all about NYX and their fab products, so I thought it was time I put some of their lip products to the test myself. I bought Pink Lust which is part of the Liquid Suede range from Boots in Manchester but I have never actually put it to the test. I could not decide what other formulas to choose as there are three different types so I decided to order one of each and put them all to the test. I started doing a bit of research and approximately two hours later, having read a tonne of blog posts and watched a few YouTube videos on the best shades, I checked out on Boot's online. I have been putting these to the test for a month now, and I am ready to reveal the hits and misses of what I bought.

My first one to put to the test was the Butter Gloss in Creme Brûlée, Kathleen Lights totally convinced me to buy this as she always has great advice and shade choice. This is the most wearable of the bunch, and I really like it. It is a shiny pinky nude, a kind of my lips but better shade. I have been wearing this on its own to add a quick shine to my lips, and also over the top of lipsticks like Mac's Please Me and Mehr. It is comfortable to wear and not too sticky, and adds a beautiful overall glossy, plumped look to the lips. I love love love this and I featured it in this month's February Favourites post. I am definitely going to pick up a few more as they are great value for just £5. 

The Intense Butter Glosses are suppose to be a step up from the original Butter Glosses, and I was intrigued to see the difference. I really love the shade in which I choose which is a bright pink called Funnel Delight. I was a little bit disappointed, as I didn't really notice too much difference between this and the normal Butter Glosses, and the shade range isn't as good. I still like it though and it is still comfortable to wear on the lips. 

The shade Prague from the Soft Matte Lip Cream line is a really beautiful colour, it is an amazing dark berry shade. It suits my skin tone really well, and adds a really lovely pop of colour to my lips. These are really beautifully pigmented, and I am totally in love with this shade. I put this to the test and it lasted for a good five hours before I ate my lunch, and then it had pretty much disappeared which is disappointing. However, it is really simple to reapply so it doesn't take long to touch up. They are super comfortable to wear and aren't too drying once they set, unlike many of the other matte lip creams on the market. These are a great find, and for the price they are a brilliant drugstore buy. 

The Liquid Suede range is differently the most long lasting of the bunch, and after swatching it I had to physically scrub it off. The shades within the range are all super bright and the shade Pink Lust is differently not my usual everyday shade. However, if it a beautiful statement colour and looks lovely with a simple eye look. These dry to be the most mattest of the bunch, but they are still very comfortable to wear and you don't get any peeling or budging in particular areas on the lips.

All round, I am really impressed with all of these lip products from NYX. I love how much more easier it has become to get our hands on NYX, as they are now available online at Boot's, feelunique and Selfridge's. As I have been loving their products so much, I have since gone on to buy some more soft matte creams and a beautiful eyeshadow which you can see in my big haul post here.

Lucy
xoxo
SHARE:

Friday 4 March 2016

Lush Easter Haul





If you saw last week's blog post you will know that the girls at Lush in Carlisle were holding a #LushSpring event and kindly invited me down. The Easter range is amazing this year, they have definitely got super creative as they have so many innovative ideas. At the event they kindly gifted us a Golden Egg*, which is essentially the essence of Easter in one bath bomb. It is completely coated in gold glitter, and I think this is going to look a-m-a-z-i-n-g in my bath. Which Came First?* is such a great idea, as you can smash the egg into two pieces and inside is a little chick which is an additional bath bomb. So basically it is a 3 in 1 bath bomb, and this creates a beautiful rainbow of colour in your bath. 

After the event I bought a Bunch of Carrots, as they are just so cute. I like how they have produced these bubble bars in three different colours this year, to allow a little more experiment and colour to happen within your bath. Last weekend, I went and picked up the Bouncy Bunny shower jelly, because it is just adorable and smells sensational as it contains orange oils. This has been a bestseller from the line, and I have to say it is my personal favourite and I cannot wait to use it!

Have you picked up anything from the Lush Easter range?

Lucy
xoxo

*PR sample
SHARE:

Wednesday 2 March 2016

March Wishlist


February has been a month of saving for me as I have had many things to pay and save for! So putting this together somehow fulfilled my shopping cravings.

How cute are these Kate Spade Pave Open Heart Earrings though? Unfortunately within my job there is a no jewellery rule so when I get some time off I practically wear every piece of jewellery in which I own. I love gold and the red diamantes are beautiful, I think I may need to treat myself to these sometime soon.
This takes firm place at the very top of my makeup wishlist. It's the Makeup Geek Contour in Bad Habit, since the contour line was released there has been huge hype surrounding them and how great they are. Makeup Geek is such an affordable brand and since I bought some of their eyeshadows, I am totally obsessed with the brand.
Unfortunately, my skin has taken a rather ugly turn for the worse this month. I have been on a look out for a good decongesting mask and the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask has totally caught my eye.
I know this is totally out of my student budget price range at £1225, but a girl can dream. The Chloe Drew Small Saddle Cross Body Bag is totally gorgeous, and the contrast of colour between the grey and nude is so practical as you could wear it with anything and everything.
Whilst browsing the pages of BeautyBay I came across the Morphe Brushes 35 Colour Taupe Eyeshadow Palette, and I was instantly drawn to this. These palettes are such great value as Morphe is a budget brand, and Jaclyn Hill raves about these palettes so I am sold!
A beauty blogger cult classic is the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel. I have never bought it mainly down to the price tag attached to this. However, I think once payday comes it might be time to finally splurge. I am hoping it will help my skin as it a gentle cleanser but is suppose to work wonders.
One Friday night I had been browsing on Topshop for hours and could not find anything which I liked. I then found this beautiful Blue Lace Dress. I love that this dress is season appropriate with long sleeves, but is also great for going into the warmer months as it not too thick and contains the thinner lace layer.
If you need some new black suede everyday boots, then I have got you covered with these. I totally love the look of these BALE Western Boots from Topshop as they are a classic, simple boot but I totally love that they are western themed but nothing too over the top.

Lucy
xoxo
SHARE:
Blogger Template by pipdig