Bargain Rimmel Haul

Hello everyone :)

Today I'm just sharing with you all an amazing little find! The local pound stretcher store has been selling Rimmel makeup at £1 an item! I think it's something to do with them wanting to change the packaging so needing to get rid of old stock, but I'm not 100% sure.

As you can imagine, I went a little over board with my purchases, and I shall be doing a haul post about what I bought later today, but it included nail polishes, lip glosses, and even a couple of the apocalips glosses! These are my absolute favourite and I descovered a lovely little nude one.

I also bought gel eyeliners, and eyeshadow pencils. I'm my head I thought I had spend a small fortune as I started shoving items into my basket, but I got to the till and spent a grand total of £13 on 13 Rimmel items. Amazing huh?!

A full haul post will be up shortly, but if any of you have a pound stretcher near you, I'd definitely check it out ASAP!

Thank you for reading x

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Peaches and Cream

Hello everyone :)

As I have said many times before, I love Sleek's lipsticks. I have a little bit of an addiction to be honest! However the one I'm going to be reviewing today is in a shade completely different to anything I've ever tried before.

Now the sun has finally appeared, I've been trying more spring shades. As much as I love my reds and purples, I'm finally ready to move into the world of pretty summer pinks and pastels, and this could not fit the bill more perfectly.

The shade is called Peaches and Cream, which is a perfect spring/summer name in itself, but the colour is the real star of the show. It's a bright pastel orange with hints of coral in it, and it really does brighten up any outfit ready for spring. It has a lovely sheen to it too and is amazingly moisturising on your lips. I still put a layer of lip balm underneath, but you probably don't need to. 

The staying power is pretty good. I normally find the glossier lipsticks come off pretty quick, but this lasts for around 5 or 6 hours without rubbing off. I do touch it up more often than that just to keep the full effect, but again, you probably don't have to. 

Sleek's products are always very reasonably priced, and this was £4.99. A pretty standard price for a drugstore brand, and the quality is way above that. This is the 6th lipstick I've tried by them, and as much as I love them all, this has to be my favorite. 

I honestly can't find a downside to this product. I often find orangey shades difficult to wear, but this seems a bit more toned down while still being bright, and that somehow makes it very wearable for everyday. I can see this being a firm favourite throughout spring :) 

Thank you for reading! What are your favourite spring lipsticks? 

Love to you all x

Astor Volume Artist Modelling Mousse Mascara

Hello :)

As some of you may know, Astor is a brand that I have come to love recently. After picking up some of their lipsticks and nail polishes pretty cheap from fragrangedirect.com, I fell in love with the quality and value for money. So when I spotted this mascara for only £2.99, I had to give it a go!

Mascara is something I'm a bit fussy about. For me it's the most important item in my makeup bag, so I rarely deviate away from my beloved Clinique, but for that price I couldn't find a reason not to try it. Like with all my mascaras, I went for black, but they did have others in the range.

The applicator brush is rubber, with very short bristles. I thought this might make the product come out lumpy, but it doesn't. The product is very thick, but doesn't clump unless you put too many coats on, and with 2 coats I was pretty happy with the result. It didn't seem to add much length to my eyelashes, but did make them seem a lot thicker. This is a bonus for me, as my eyelashes are already pretty long, but very very thin. However if you were looking for a lengthening mascara then this isn't for you.

I love the sleek silver packaging, and the staying power of the mascara is pretty good. It doesn't flake when you've had it on a while, and the quality seems amazing for the price.

The only downside I have with this is that it took quite a lot of effort to take it off. It smudged everywhere and made a bit of a mess, so make sure you have a good makeup remover at the ready when it comes to bed time!

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and as always comments are loved and appreciated :)

Love to you all x

Sleek Face Contour Kit

Hello everyone :)

Hope you all had a lovely weekend in the sunshine! Up here in Yorkshire it was like summer yesterday so spent the whole day sat in the garden doing absolutely nothing. But now it's Monday and back to reality!

Today, I'm doing a little review post on the Sleek Face Contour Kit, which I have in Light. Sorry in advance for the pictures, I wasn't smart enough to remember to take pictures before I used it... Oops!!

Like I said, I forgot to take pictures before I used it, and I have used it quite a bit so sorry it looks a bit messy. And the marks in the lighter side are from a small dropping accident! Oops again! 

Now, on to the actual product. I love Sleek as a brand, especially their lipsticks, so I was expecting good things from this, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. The bronzer half is a subtle matte shade, and even though I have a medium skin tone, the Light palette was a perfect colour for me. Any darker and I think it would have been too much. It blends well and doesn't smudge your foundation when you apply it. 

The highlighter is very subtle, but that's what I personally prefer so I was more than happy with it. But if you do like a stand out highlighter then this probably isn't for you. It's more like a slightly shimmery face powder. 

The lasting power isn't amazing, and I did have to top up after around 4 or 5 hours, but that's something I don't mind doing, and for only £6.50 I wouldn't expect a super long lasting product. 

As the Light shade palette suits my medium skin tone perfectly, I do think you would struggle to use this if you have a very light skin tone, however it might be possible with a light touch and a lot of blending. 

Overall, I am very happy with this product. The packaging is their usual simple black matte finish, and the little mirror inside is handy for when you're out and about, although for touch ups on the go you will need your own makeup brush with you. I always have a few in my bag but I know not all people do. 

The quality is exactly what you would expect from a trusted brand, and even when I dropped it on the tile floor in the bathroom, hardly any of the powder broke free which I find impressive. 

I honestly think I will repurchase this when I run out, although I expect it to last for a very long time! 

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all get a chance to make the most of the lovely weather :) 

Love to you all x

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture Cream* and Exfoliating Cleanser*

Hello everyone :)

Hope you're all ok and not getting too down with all the crazy weather! Today I have a little review post for you of some lovely products I was lucky enough to receive from the people at Murad.

I've posted before (here) about a few Murad products and raved about how much I loved them, so I was excited to try these out. I was sent some information about the brand with these, going in to the science behind the products and how the ingredients work well to not only look after the skin and improve it's appearance, but also look after it. But it wouldn't be like me to go into all the sciencey stuff, so instead, I'm just going to talk about how I found them to use. 

I've been using them for around 2 weeks now, and couldn't be happier. The Exfoliating cleanser is something I've been using around 3 times a week to give my skin a little pick me up. The product is thin like a serum, but contains tiny exfoliating beads to get rid of dead skin in a gentle way. This is perfect for me, as I tend to get dry patches in winter, and struggle to find products gentle enough for my sensitive skin. This works really well. I haven't had a problem with dry skin since I started using it, and it doesn't leave my skin red and sore afterwards. It just feels really clean. 

The only downside for me personally is the consistency. The fact that it is quite runny means its hard to get a small amount of product out without wasting some, and it can be a bit messy. This didn't bother me too much, and is more a matter of personal preference. 

The moisturiser on the other hand, I can't fault. Both products are fragrance free, and feel kind and gentle when used. This makes it perfect for use around the delicate eye area and nose, which is where I mostly suffer from dry skin. This cream completely soothes my skin without feeling greasy, leaves my skin hydrated and soft, and as its quite thick, a little really does go a long way. The 7.5ml pot they sent me has lasted 2 weeks and I still have some left! I really don't want it to run out, so have already placed my order for the full sized version! 

The full sized version cost me around £64, but you can probably get it a bit cheaper if you shop around. This is a lot more than I would normally want to pay, but I really do think it's worth every penny! If the tiny pot lasts more than 2 weeks (I will probably get just over 3 weeks out of it) then I think it is worth the money. 

I am so happy I got to try these products out, and they were just as good as I expected!  

Thank you for reading, and as always all comments appreciated! 

Love to you all x

Illamasqua Cream Foundation Review

Hello everyone!

Hope you're all having a good week. The weather has been crazy, so I've been lucky enough to be at home the last two days, dog sitting for my sister and catching up on studying. Although my water did get cut off due to the flooding (not sure how that works?!) but all is good now :)

Anyway, on to the post. Today, I am doing a review of the Illamasqua Cream Foundation that I purchased a couple of weeks ago in the sale. For only £5, I couldn't resist! Normally, this is £23, which is more than I'd normally spend, although saying that I have tried their liquid foundation in the past and loved it, so I had high hopes for this!

To start with, I was pleased with the amount of product you get. You get 8g, which I have found to be plenty. As you can see from the picture, I wasn't smart enough to take a picture before I used it, but this does at least show how long it lasts. I have used this about 10 times since buying it, and as you can see, there is not much missing. I can see this lasting a long time! 

It is a full coverage foundation, which I like, as I get red marks on my cheeks from burst blood vessels, and it covers these completely without the need for concealer. In terms of the wear, it lasts quite a long time, around 8 hours without needing a touch up, and that is good for me. The product blends well, and has a lovely smooth finish. It manages to make my skin look fully covered without it looking fake... This is a bonus from a full coverage foundation! 

I have mainly been applying this with my Real Techniques sponge, and much prefer the finish I get with this than I do when I use the sponge provided, however the sponge that comes with it is perfect for little touch ups if you're out and about, and is better than I would have expected. 

I like the packaging, which is pretty much the same throughout their whole range, with the sleek lines, shiny black finish and a little mirror included. 

The main thing I was worried about with this foundation was the consistency. I tend to get dry patches around my nose in winter, and I was worried that a thick foundation applied with a sponge would enhance these rather than cover them. However, I've actually found this foundation to be quite moisturising. It doesn't dry my skin out at all, and the product glides on so easily that it doesn't drag over dry patches. 

Over all, I have been very impressed with this product. I can't think of any faults for it. I can't see me needing to replace this any time soon, and I am also still loving using my Rimmel Stay Matte Mouse Liquid foundation, but when I do run out, I would be happy to pay the £23 to replace it. 

Have any of you tried this, and if so what did you think? 

Love to you all x

Soap & Glory Glow Lotion Review

Hello everyone :)

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Sorry about my drunken ramblings on here and twitter Friday night.... Oops!

Well today I have a little review post for you on the Soap & Glory Glow Lotion. I love S & G. Everything I have ever tried by them has been amazing, so I had high hopes for this little product.

Before I start, can I just say how much I love their packaging! Always makes me smile! Now, on to the product. The idea is that this is an all over body moisturiser that is designed to add a touch of shimmer to your skin. I have been getting fed up of my pale wintery skin lately, but am not ready to fully give in to the commitment and maintenance of fake tan, so I've been looking for something that might help brighten up my skin without being too much work (yes I am lazy!) This did not disappoint! 

It is a lovely creamy lotion that isn't too thick, but is just enough to work as a moisturiser on my whole body. The consistency is great, and isn't greasy at all. It has a shimmer to it, which I was worried would make me look a bit too glittery, but it blends into the skin to leave a light subtle hint of shimmer, which doesn't look fake, it just makes your skin look healthier! 

Can I also just say how amazing it smells!! I didn't have to wear any perfume when I wore this, as it smells so fruity and gorgeous, and the smell lasts on your skin for hours. As a moisturiser, it works brilliantly at keeping my skin hydrated, and when used on accent points (such as legs, or your neck and chest) it helps to add definition just as a bronzer or blusher would.

To be honest, I can't fault this product at all! It makes my skin look healthy and hydrated, gives me the subtle glow I was looking for (and just to note I have a medium skin tone, and I can imagine this would work just as well on other skin tones), and it smells beautiful. 

I think I paid around £5.50 for this from Boots, so it doesn't break the bank either. For what you get, I always find S & G products to be very reasonably priced. 

Have any of you tried this, and if so what did you think? 

Love to you all x

MUA vs W7: Naked Palette Dupe

Hello everyone :)

Hope you're all ok and having a lovely week! Today, I have a little comparison post for you. I am comparing the MUA Undressed Palette with the W7 In The Buff Palette to see which is a better dupe for the infamous Naked Palettes! I have tried both out over the last week or two, and am now ready to tell you what I think...

(Shade 1 - 12 from bottom to top)

Firstly we will start with the MUA Palette. A bargain at only £4, and I read so many good reviews about this that I was very excited to try it! The shades are well pigmented, and they do blend together, but this takes a bit of work I find. I don't know if it's just to do with the colours I like to use together, but I find that the colours are quite powdery and crumbley so tend to get a bit all over the place sometimes. I use my own brushes, but it still takes a steady hand and quite a bit of patience to get the look I'm after from these colours. Also, I find that the lighter colours (hardly visible on the pics) don't show at all on my skin, even as a highlighter! I do like this palette, and I don't regret buying it for the price, but there are only around 5 shades in here that I like to use, so there isn't a huge amount of versatility for me personally. I'd give it 5/10. 

Next, the W7 In the Buff Palette....

(Shade 1 - 12 from bottom to top)

This palette was also a bargain at £4.99. Personally, I like this palette A LOT more. As you can see from the swatches, the colours are well pigmented and are also a lot smoother to apply, plus they last all day without really fading which I love! Since buying this only a few days ago, I have played about with it a lot and have honestly found a use for every shade. It is also quite a bit bigger than the MUA palette. To be completely honest, the main reason I bought this was because the name made me giggle in the shop! But I'm very glad I did buy it, and as much as I'm a huge fan of MUA, I can see me getting a lot more use out of these shades! I'd give this one 8/10!

In terms of the applicators that you get with them both, I wouldn't personally use either. I always like to use my own brushes to apply my makeup, but I did try both of them a couple of times to test, and neither of them are that bad to be honest. They would be handy for a quick application if you were out and about, but then again who takes a full palette out with them? 

I do like both, but as a dupe for the wonderful Naked palettes, I would have to go with W7! Great value for money, lovely shades, and long lasting wear. What more could you ask for?! 

Have any of you used these, and if so what do you think? 

Love to you all x

Argan Oil Night Repair Serum Review

Hello everyone :)

Hope you're all trying to take part in Treat Yourself Tuesdays! Today, I have a bargain review post for you. Those who read my blog will know that in the past I have raved about Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, and said how amazing it was for jut £1 each (review of them here). Well about 2 weeks ago, I went shopping and wanted to pick some more of it up, when I noticed that they also do a night repair serum, also for only £1! I wasn't too hopeful for that price, but because I love their hair products (have also talked about my love for their hair oil) I decided to try it. Well... I've used it every night for 2 weeks now and I LOVE it!

For just £1 you get 50 ml of the product, which I can see lasting me ages. It smells clean and quite similar to the hair care range. It has a glass bottle which is a nice touch for the price and makes it seem a lot more expensive. You squeeze out a couple of drops, which is more than enough, and it massages into the skin easily and doesn't feel greasy at all. 

During winter I tend to get quite dry skin, especially around my nose, and have tried a lot of different products to help solve this. Some of the more high end brands such as Murad, REN, and Clinique all work wonders on my skin, but as a cheaper alternative I can't fault this. I honestly think it works almost as well as the high end stuff! 

As I said, it's non greasy, so feels nice and clean to apply before bed, and in the morning my skin feels smooth, soft and well hydrated. Most of the time I use my Murad eye cream too but that's just personal preference, and when I tried it on its own it still did a great job. 

It is a tad runny, but still easy to apply, and soaks in quickly so your skin doesn't feel wet, as mine can do sometimes when I use a serum. I'm not sure how well this would work as a healing night serum on someone with oily skin as it does add a lot of moisture to the skin, but for anyone with dry to normal skin, I can't recommend it highly enough. Especially for just £1! I love a bargain :) 

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this product! I can see it becoming part of my daily skin regime quite happily! 

Have any of you tried this, or any other products in their range? 

Love to you all x

Pantene Pro-V 1 Min Wonder Ampoules

Hello everyone :)

Today I have a little hair care review post!

I picked these Pantene Pro-V 1 Min Wonder Ampules up in my local Tesco a week or so ago as they were on offer for around £2.35. I don't normally use too many products on my hair, just the normal shampoo, conditioner, and then either my Tresemme Platinum Strength Leave in Conditioner or my Argan Oil. But lately, probably because of the cold weather and the constant drying effects of central heating, my hair has been feeling a bit dry. I was browsing the shelves, and thought I'd give these a go. For the price, they were definitely worth a try. 

I was a bit worried that they would leave my hair feeling greasy, but they didn't. I noticed a difference as soon as my hair was dry. It felt softer and looked a bit shinier too. You only get a small amount of the product in each capsule, which isn't really enough for my long hair, so I ended up only putting on the very ends. There wasn't a dramatic difference, but enough for me to notice it.

The product smells clean and fresh, and for the price I was pleased with the results. I don't know if I will purchase them again, but I will be more than happy to use the rest of what I have left. 

Overall, I did like these little capsules, but I've tried ones from other brands before and noticed a much bigger difference than I did with these. If I had really damaged and dry hair then these would definitely not be enough to solve the problem, but for me, I suppose it was just what I needed. Plus you can't really argue for just over £2 can you!? 

Have any of you tried these, and if so what did you think? 

Thank you for taking the time to read, and all comments are, as always, loved and appreciated. 

Love to you all x

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

Hello everyone!

Hope your'e all having a lovely weekend :) Today is a review post on Rimmel's Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation (quite a mouth full!!) and I have to say it's a pretty good one!

I don't normally buy matte foundations, and love the slight glow that my Wake Me Up foundation gives me, but as I was standing in Boots looking for my usual, I decided to try something new. I've read a few good reviews on this one, so decided to put my skepticism to one side and buy it.

The main thing I was worried about with a matte finish foundation was that it would be too dry and cakey. But it wasn't. The formula is very thick and it gives a very full coverage. I like this in a foundation as I have quite an uneven skin tone on my cheeks that I like to be covered, but if you're a fan of the barely there look, this isn't really for you. Saying that, it doesn't feel too thick and heavy on your skin, so you get that rare balance of coverage and a light weight feel. It's not as light as, say, a BB cream, but it's better than I was expecting.

Because of the unusual texture, I do find you get a better result when applying with your fingers and blending rather than with a brush, but it would probably work well with a good sponge too. Also, as it gives such good coverage, you only need a small amount, so I'm expecting it to last pretty well too.

There didn't seem to be that many shades to choose from, so I was testing them for a while. The skin colour on my face is completely different to on my hand, that's why it doesn't look a good match in the pic but it is on my face, and in the end I went for 201 Classic Beige. It seemed to be one of the darkest in the range, but I don't know if that's true or if they didn't have many out (its only a tiny shop), but it suits my medium skin tone perfectly. I think if you had very light or dark skin you would struggle to find a good match.

The foundation lasts on my skin for ages which is good, and still looks reasonably fresh at the end of the day which is a huge positive for me.

Overall I love this foundation. I think I paid £5.99 for it too which is a very reasonable price for a foundation that looks like it's going to last me a while. I wouldn't recommend it to someone with really dry skin, as it may exaggerate dry patches, but even then with a good thick moisturizer underneath I'm sure it would be ok.

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this, and any comments are as always appreciated! Have you tried this foundation? If so what did you think?

Love to you all x

Murad Gift Set Review

Hello everyone :)

Well, its nearly the weekend, and I know that I'm not the only one who is stupidly excited about this!

Tonight, I thought I'd give my skin a little treat to say sorry for the late nights and makeup filled days that have come from being back in my normal routine. Way back in October last year, I bought this little set from feelunique.com containing sample products by Murad. The set contained a 3.7 ml tube of Rejuvenating Lift for neck and decollete, a 3.5 ml pot of Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate cream for eyes, a 10 ml tube of Oil-Free Sunscreen and a small sachet of Pomegranate Exfoliating Face Mask. All these 4 products also came in the cutest little cosmetics bag which has now become my travel makeup bag :)

(image from feelunique.com)

This is sold as the summer gift set (shows how long ago I bought it and have only just got round to trying it), and is now only £6.99 in the sale! I only paid £9.99 for it though so that's not too bad. The reason I bought the little gift set version is because I have never tried any products from Murad before, so wanted to give them a test before I plunged for the full price versions. 

I only got round to testing them a week or two ago, as they somehow slipped into my 'to test' pile and its taken me this long to get round to it. Oops! However, I am loving them! I haven't had much use from the Rejuvenating Lift Serum, but as I don't yet have a problem with loose skin so I don't think it's targeted at someone my age anyway, however it is a lovely thick non-greasy formula.

The sunscreen I've put on a couple of times in the morning underneath my makeup, but again, it is a product I'd get a lot more use out of in summer, however this again is a lovely light formula with a light floral scent, so is actually working quite well as a day cream underneath my makeup. 

The mask and the under eye cream however, are amazing! The sachet of face mask came with around 2 uses in it, so both me and a friend tried it together. That way I got to see how it reacted on her slightly oily skin, as well as my sensitive skin. It is marked as an exfoliating mask, however it is super smooth in texture with no bits which I wasn't expecting. It's clear, rather thin and liquidy and you rub it into your skin like moisturiser. Leave it to dry for 10 - 15 mins and then wash off. It leaves skin smooth, hydrated and feeling really clean. It worked just as well on her skin too. What more could you ask for? 

The under eye cream (which comes in the cutest little pot, which would be perfect to keep and re-use for home made lip balms) is also brilliant. It's thick but not greasy, and leaves skin feeling really healthy and well nourished. After a couple of uses, I also noticed that the skin around my eyes was a lot brighter and firmer. However the full sized product is around £50, which is more than I normally choose to spend.  But now I've seen the gift sets in the sale, I might buy a couple and stock up on my samples! It will also be going on my birthday wish list :)

The link to the set is here.

I am loving using this set, and even though it is branded as the summer essentials kit, it is helping to keep my skin bright and well hydrated in the cold months of winter, so I'd say it is perfect for all year round. 

Have any of you tried any Murad products? If so what did you think? 

Thank you for reading, and as always all comments are hugely appreciated. 

Love to you all x

2013 Beauty Favorites...

Hello everyone, and happy New Year!!

Hope everyone had a great NYE and are now having a good start to 2014.

I can't believe how quickly 2013 went. It was such a busy year, and the year in which I started my little blog! It was also the year that I really got into trying a testing a lot of different beauty and make up products, and there were definitely a few that really stood out to me. I did a post on this at the end of Nov, and will put the link to that (here) however since then, I've been thinking about it a bit more, and have a couple more products that I feel deserve a special mention from the past year.


1. JASON soothing 98% Aloe Vera gel 

This is a really light weight moisturising gel, which I find perfect for those times when you just need a light touch of moisture to your skin. For those good skin days, I use this, and it helps my skin feel fresh and clean. It's also great in summer to help combat the effects of the heat. It costs between £4 and £7 depending on where you buy it from. I bought mine from feelunique.com a while a ago, and they have a great range of other JASON products too. It's been a staple of mine since I bought it a few months ago. 

2. Tresemme Platinum Strength Leave In Conditioner 

I bought this product around Sept/Oct time when it was on offer in my local Tesco store. It retails at between the £5 and £6 mark, which is pretty standard for Tresemme products, and for that you get 125ml of the product. It is a leave in treatment that you use after you've washed your hair, and it is supposed to make hair look healthier, claiming to revive up to 2 years worth of damage. My hair is in pretty good condition anyway, but I definitely noticed a difference in shine after a couple of uses. The product smells lovely, and is thick and creamy but doesn't make hair greasy. You also only need a little bit of the product (I have long hair and run it through 2 thirds, and I use 2 pumps at a time) so it lasts for ages. I love it. 

3. Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream 

I first tried this last January when I got a small tube of it in a sample kit containing 4 or 5 skin products. After trying it, I had to go out and purchase the full sized version. It's an all over body exfoliating cream, great for elbows and knees, that not only leaves skin feeling smooth, but also cool and clean. You get a light tingling feeling after using it which I love. It's great to use for a quick brighten up in the shower when skin feels dull, and I also found it brilliant to use before using fake tan, as it really does leave skin perfectly smooth. It costs £22.50 from Clinique, which does sound a tad pricey, but it's so concentrated with beads and works so well that it lasts a long time. Mine lasted around 6 - 7 months. 

So there we go, I just wanted to add those few products onto my already existing list of 2013 beauty loves. Hope the new year has started well for you all, and if any of you have done any best of 2013 posts, please link them in a comment as I'd love to check them out. 

Thank you for reading. 

Love to you all x

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual Review

Hello everyone!

I know I have only just done my Christmas post, but I said on twitter that I was going to do a review of the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual that I got for Christmas, and here it is! This is the first book review I've done, but it is a book on makeup, so not too outside the comfort zone!!

I got this book for Christmas from my other half, and started reading it that night! It's split in to 12 chapters, that range from the basics of makeup application, right through to professional equipment and advanced looks (such as bridal makeup). It includes an introduction to every chapter, step by step guides with pictures, and helpful little tips that are relevant to everyone who loves makeup. It is useful for those who already know quite a lot about makeup application and have been a makeup lover for years, to those just starting to use makeup who want to know how to get a good everyday look. 

It is a book that is easy to refer back to, and I know I will be going back to mine for quick tips and ideas for a long time. It is not the most in depth makeup book out there, and I've read some reviews from people who say it was not at all what they were looking for, but for those who want a simple and easy to use reference book on makeup application and ideas, it is a must have. I love mine, and am very happy with it. 

It includes tips for all kinds of skin types, and even has a little section at the back on the history of makeup which I found interesting! 

The only downside is that some of the tips are things that anyone who uses makeup a lot will already know... For example how to apply foundation, and ways to wear eyeliner. However, there are still a lot of tips in there that are interesting, especially in the advanced makeup chapters. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves makeup, or for anyone thinking about wearing makeup for the first time. Mine is the hardback version, and cost around £16 from amazon, so it's not too expensive either. 

(reading this back, I've just realised how often I use the word makeup, but can't really replace with anything, so sorry!!) 

Have any of you read it, and what were your opinions?  

Love to you all x

Argan Oil Shampoo Review

Hello :) Hope you're all good, and have exciting plans for the weekend! 

Today, I thought I'd do a quick review on this shampoo and conditioner. I've reviewed the hair oil before, and went on about how good it was, especially considering the price. I don't have particularly dry hair, but found it made my hair feel healthier and more conditioned. So when I saw these for only £1 each in Tesco, I had to give them a try. I've used them a few times now, and am ready to tell you what I thought....

Ok, firstly, can we just take a minute to talk about the price.... £1 each!!! For that you get a 150ml bottle, which isn't huge but is still amazing for that price! Plus, the product is quite thick, so you don't need as much as you would with some other brands. A small bit really lathers up in your hair and does the job. 

The product is thick and creamy in texture, and as I said, lathers up really well. It doesn't have a strong scent like a lot of shampoo products now a days, but it does smell clean and fresh which I like. I was worried that it would end up making my hair a bit too greasy, as I don't really have dry hair, and thought maybe the oil would be a bit too much. I was wrong. It leaves my hair feeling clean, shiny and in amazing condition. It does say on the bottle that it is suitable for any hair type, and I really believe that to be true. 

When you put the conditioner on, it does feel a bit thick, almost like rubbing butter through your hair. This concerned me slightly, but once I realised that it wasn't going to leave my hair greasy, I got used to it. It feels like doing a deep conditioning treatment every time.

I tend to wash my hair every other day, but one time after using it, I was feeling lazy and left it an extra day, and it didn't look greasy at all. It's like it makes your hair fresh for longer than normal. I am a big fan of this! I still wash it every other day, but now even on the second day my hair is thick and smooth and doesn't look limp like it tends to with other brands. 

As you can tell, I am VERY impressed with this product. I honestly can't think of any downsides to it! Plus, I actually can not get over how much of a bargain it was! Have pretty much converted my whole family to using now as well :) 

My review... 4.5 stars!! LOVED it :) 

Thank you all for reading, any comments are appreciated!! 

Do you have any bargain beauty loves?? 

Love to you all x

The Winter Project #3: Favorite Winter Scents

Hello everyone! Well it's now week 3 of #thewinterproject, and today is all about our favorite winter scents. Rather than doing a perfume post, as most people who read my blog will know there is only one perfume I really love and wear, I have instead decided to do a post on my 3 favorite winter candles. I am slightly obsessed with candles. I live in a pretty small flat and the place is full of them... but on the plus side, it always smells lovely!

My all time favorites have to be Yankee Candles. Not only are they made with natural high quality ingredients, but they smell amazing too. They are a tad on the expensive side however they do last a very long time I find, so it's not really much different than buying a cheap one and having to keep replacing it. If you love candles as much as me, they are more than worth the money.

These 3 are my all times favorites for this time of year. We have Merry Marshmallow, Mandarin Cranberry, and Black Cherry.

All of these fragrances are are beautiful. The marshmallow one is incredibly sweet (which I love) and the mandarin and cranberry, and the black cherry, are both really deep fruity scents, which make me think of cold winter nights at home wrapped up in a blanket sipping hot drinks. All of them smell good enough to eat too!

I don't think there's anything more relaxing than sitting with a book, with a candle flickering next to you, to me that it the typical winter memory, and these beautiful smelling sweet, sugary and fruity smells have always gone hand in hand with that memory.

So that's it from me, what are everyone else's favorite winter scents?

Thank you for reading :)

Love to you all x

Rescue Oil Review

Hello my lovelies!

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was cold. Very cold!

Cold weather tends to dry my skin out quite a lot so I've learnt that I need to go on the attack when it comes to keeping my skin hydrated in winter. Moisturize all the time, and above moisturizer, one thing I've been using to keep my skin soft and even in colour throughout the last couple of weeks is Rescue Oil. Normally, I turn to the infamous Bio Oil, because, apart from being good for scars it evens out skin tones and keeps it well hydrated. But I fancied a change.

A while ago I blogged about a cocoa therapy oil I was using as a cheaper alternative to Bio Oil, and I loved it. So that got me thinking that there must be a lot of other great alternatives out there. I was browsing through Boots and came across this for £2.99. You can even get it on ebay for just £2! 

The bottle I bought was 40ml, and that's lasted me a month when used on my hands, arms and legs. So it's really not bad value at all. 

The first thing you notice about the product is the bright orange colour! I like it, it helps to give your skin a nice healthy glow. Then you notice the smell. It smells lovely - really clean and fresh, and the smell lasts long after the oil has absorbed into your skin. 

The only downside about this oil, is that it is almost as runny as water. It's not really a problem, just means that after applying it, I was left with little orange splash marks on my white bath mat! lovely! It washed off though so it didn't bother me too much.

My skin is hydrated, it doesn't make me feel sticky and greasy, and it absorbs quickly into skin leaving a lovely fragrance. What more can you ask for from something only costing a couple of pounds! I don't love it as much as Bio Oil, but I will be buying this product again as it has done exactly what I needed it to do :) 

So... My rating..... 

Rescue Oil: 3.5 Stars! 

Thank you to everyone for reading, and all comments, as always, are welcomed and appreciated! 

Love to you all x 

2013's Beauty Loves

Hello everyone!

As those who follow me on twitter might have seen, the other day I was reading Grazia, and they had a section all about their 2013 beauty awards, listing all of their favorite products from this year. It got me thinking about what mine are, and I decided to do a post about it. Sorry in advance for the lack of photos, a lot of the stuff I decided on has either run out and needs to be re-bought, or is in such a well used state that it would NOT look it's best in a picture!

So here we go :)

1. Clinique Take Off The Day Make Up Remover 

I know I go on and on about Clinique's makeup remover, but I honestly think its the best out there. I've tried a lot of different ones, and this is the only one that makes me feel like I'm doing something really nourishing to my skin by taking makeup off. It feels like moisturising. The one I buy (and I'm running out... please bring me some Santa!) is £17 for 125ml, and that lasts me ages! The last one I got was for my birthday in June, which makes it value for money as well as a really good product.

2. Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser

I've talked about Balance Me's moisturiser before when I got a small free sample in a magazine a while ago. I talked about its light floral scent, it's thick creamy texture, and the way that it manages to deeply hydrate your skin without feeling greasy. I loved it. So when it ran out, I went and bought myself the full sized version! It was £24 for 50ml. I bought it last month and have used less than a quarter, so I can see this product lasting me a long time. You don't need a lot to really feel the benefits!

3. Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Slow Zone

This lipstick is a light pink, and makes my complexion look so much lighter and fresher. Its well pigmented and doesn't seem to dry my lips out like a lot of lipstick tend to do. I bought it for £14 a while ago, but when I looked on the benefit website earlier, I see its now £7. I may have cheekily ordered myself another when I saw that!

4. Barry M Foil Effect in Gold 

Now I know I talked about this in my post for #TheWinterProject, so I won't say too much about it, but it has been my go to nail polish ever since I bought it. Whenever I'm stuck on what to do with my nails, this is what I choose. You do have to buff them beforehand as the foil effect means it picks up any ridges, but one coat and it gives you a feeling of instant glamour. Was perfect in the sunshine, and its perfect for the party season. All for just £3.99. LOVE it :)

5. Redken Colour Extend Rich Recovery Protective Treatment

I love Redken. When I buy their products though, I do tend to buy the gift sets which include little bits of everything in them, and I always go for the colour protect range. I dye my hair a lot, and this is the best product I've found for helping to keep my colour looking bright and my hair feeling healthy. It's the only full size product I buy, and 250ml is £17.50 from feelunique.com. It smells lovely, and this treatment is my go to product to keep my hair looking bright and healthy. The perfect treat for your hair! Also, the pot lasts quite a long time (depending on hair length and how often you use it of course). I have quite long hair but only use the product when I feel my hair needs a boost, and it lasts me a couple of months. 

6. Chanel Chance 

Now I'm not one to usually do a fragrance post, as I'm not a huge lover of perfume. I use it, but tend to stick to what I like and don't try many new ones. This is my favorite of all time though. I buy it over and over, and never get tired of the light, fresh scent that it gives. I cant go into what the various tones are as I will admit I know nothing about all that, but I can say it smells lovely, and I never get bored of it. Prices vary from place to place, but the last bottle I bought was from thefragranceshop, and I got 35ml for £47.50. It is a bit pricey, but in my opinion, completely worth it, as its the only one I wear.

My Best Discovery of 2013 
What I thought I'd do, is also give a mention to the best brand that I've come across this year, and all things considered, it has to be the VERY reasonably prices MUA. With a lot of products for just £1, they are exceptional value for money, and everything I've tried from them, including eyeshadows, lipsticks, nail polishes, powder and eyeliner has been brilliant. Well pigmented, long lasting, and good for my skin. Why would you not love all that for such low prices!? I cant wait to try their highlighter, as I've read some rave reviews about it.

Well, they are my top beauty loves of this year. Sorry this post has been a tad wordy, will do a lighter post next time :) As always, all comments are appreciated, and thank you for reading!

Love to you all x

MUA Eyeshadow Review...

Hello everyone :)

Today I'm doing a review of this MUA eye shadow trio I picked up. Well, to be honest, I only nipped to Superdrug to pick up another bottle of Barry M nail polish ready for the start of #TheWinterProject tomorrow (its a fave colour of mine and I ran out 2 weeks ago), but then my eye caught this and I had to buy it!

(MUA eye shadow trio in theatrics, and Barry M nail polish in Raspberry) 

(top pic in natural light, bottom pic in warm light) 

The first thing that caught my attention was the look of it!! It's so pretty, especially the black and gold one. I've tried a few MUA products before, and liked the couple of single eye shadows I bought a few months ago, so for £2.50, I knew I had to give it a go. 

MUA is amazing value for money, and I can honestly say I'd happily pay triple what I paid for this. The colours are very highly pigmented, they have a nice creamy texture, and the pot comes with a mini applicator, which I wouldn't use at home, but is ideal for a quick top up when you're out and about and don't have your makeup brushes. 

All of these shades have a shimmery glow to them (as there is gold pigment in all 3 colours) and are perfect for the up coming party season. I used the black one to put a modern twist to the smokey eye! They are versatile, a brilliant texture, and VERY pretty colours. 

The only downside I have is that the packaging feels a tad cheap, but then again, it was cheap, so it doesn't bother me too much. I just hope the catch that holds the lid down doesn't break and cover the contents of my make up bag in eye shadow!

Here are swatches of all 3 colours, taken in natural light.....

A beautiful, seasonal bargain.

My rating.... 

MUA eye shadow trio in Theatrics: 4 Stars!! 

The post on the nail polish will be up tomorrow, and as always, all comments are welcome! 

Love to you all x

FeelUnique Essentials Haul

Hello there my lovelies :) 

I want to start by saying how impressed I am with delivery times whenever I order from feelunique.com. They're amazing! Anyway.....

This post is about what I bought recently from there, which is my top 5 winter essentials. Yes, these products are great all year round, but when it starts getting colder, I always make sure that I'm stocked up on them, as they are absolute lifesavers! Here's what I bought.......

1. L'Oreal Skin Perfection Velvety-Soft Toner. I think toner can sometimes be an underestimated part of a daily skin routine. I love it, and this one especially feels like rubbing silk into your face. It's unbelievably soft, and doesn't dry your skin out at all, which is perfect for these central heating, icy wind filled days which can leave your skin a bit dry and delicate. I also like the pretty pink bottle... Simple things! 

2. Jason Soothing 98% Aloe Vera Gel. When I rave about this product to my friends and family, a lot of them respond by saying "isn't aloe vera a summer thing?". While yes, it is good as an after sun, its also an amazing moisturizer, which is lightweight and non-sticky, so it perfect for putting on before you get dressed. It smells clean, and leaves your skin feeling really hydrated. Plus, its a brand who specialise in natural ingredients, so there aren't any nasties in it either :) win win. 

3. Palmers Cocoa Butter. An old favorite. A brilliant intensive moisturizer, which evens out skin tone and also helps reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. It's such a well known product that I don't really need to go into it in too much detail, but an essentials haul wouldn't be complete without it. 

4. Bio-Health Vitamin E Cream. This is a lightweight face cream which will work just as well under your makeup in a morning as it would as a night cream. It's formulated for people who have an allergy to lanolin (which I don't) I just think that substitutes they use make the cream feel smooth, natural, and fresh. I use it as a night cream, and my face doesn't stick to the pillow like other night creams can make happen. It also has a light floral smell to it which I think is really pretty, and which also helps relax me at bed time. 

5. Balm Balm Tea Tree Lip Balm. This is advertised as being a product you can use not only on your lips, but anywhere, however I have only ever used it on my lips, and it's perfect for the winter months which can leave your lips dried out and flaky. Although I do think it would work well for people who get dry cracked knuckles in winter too. It's 100% natural and organic, and comes in a couple of different flavors (is flavors the right word??). I prefer the tea tree one as it almost feels medicinal on my lips. Its quite thin and non sticky unlike Vaseline, so is perfect for putting under lipstick. 

So there we are, my winter essentials. I know I tend to do a rating at the end of my posts, but because these are all products I buy every winter, and are simple basics I love, I'm going to give them all 4 stars! Together, they're everything I need to fight the effects of winter, and to top it off, my order for all 5 came to... wait for it.... just under £20!!! Bargain! They will last me for around 2 months as well, so how can you resist! 

Thank you for reading, and thank you to feelunique for bringing me these so quickly!!! 

Love to you all x