Make Believe Bronzer

Hello lovelies!  It's Friiiiiidddaaaayyyy!!!  Whoop whoop!  What are you all up to this weekend?

So in my last She Said beauty box (you can watch my unboxing below) I was lucky enough to receive the Make Believe Bronzer (yes, I was very happy about that due to an incident involving ascetone free nail polish remover, and pretty much my entire bronzer collection).  So, I thought I'd take the opportunity to do a cheeky little post for you about it :)

Sexy packaging non?

Make Believe Bronzer £15 online for 6g

They say "Delicate, matte bronzer for the face and décolletage. For a natural-looking flawless, tanned complexion.

Sweep lightly over the face and décolletage. Sculpt cheekbones. Highlight eyes."

Yeah, I don't make it super obvious I'm wearing bronzer, I'm too pale for that, but I do contour with it (so temples, under cheekbones and hair line) - see how it doesn't make me orange :)

Here's my She Said Beauty unboxing where I discover the Make Believe bronzer hidden inside!

My Thoughts

I like it - it doesn't make me orange (as you can see), I love the little kabuki-style brush it comes with, great for contouring!  The product isn't too soft, so when you run the brush over it you don't pick up too much product (unlike the MUA giant bronzer- review here).  I really like their styling too - so their logo embossed onto the bronzer, their whole house style I really like, but I do almost feel like they're a tattoo parlour from the design as opposed to a fake tan company.  But that's really by the by.  My one gripe with this is the price, £15.  I feel like the product is the same quality as any of the high street bronzers I've tried (BarryM, MUA, Sleek) but costs 3 times the amount.  Is this because of the packaging (coming with a really decent brush?) who knows.  But it's that which would put me off re-purchasing.  It's a great product, lovely packaging, but for me, I wouldn't buy it again, if it was more like £8 I would, or, if you could buy a refill (otherwise you're going to build up quite a collection of those little brushes).  I just think there are other better value bronzers on the market you can buy, but hey, that won't stop me enjoying this one, I do really like it :)

Did you get one in your She Said beauty box?  Did you like yours?

Shiseido Lip Rouge Lacquer

Hands up who has an unhealthy obsession for lip  products? *holds hand high in the air* Yes I thought as much!  The funny thing is, it's also my least worn product, go figure eh!

Anyway, I digress!  Today is a review of the Shiseido Lip Lacquer in OR508 Blaze (a lovely burnt orange colour)  :)

Shiseido Lip Rouge Lacquer £23.00 6ml available in Boots

They say "Designed to fit lip contours perfectly, the slanted applicator ensures an easy application with a professional finish and clear outline plus the clever anti-bleed powders work with the product to control colour, allowing your look to remain flawless for the entire day."

hmm, can you tell I photographed this the same time as some of my other previous posts?  :)  The way to really tell, is my hair is up in those pics, my hair is rarely up!

My Thoughts

I really love the colour of this product, it's a stunning deep burnt orange colour with small amounts of sparkle added too.  It's easily blended to give a lighter effect, or applied thicker gives a much deeper darker look.  It lasts as well as any other high end (Chanel) lip lacquer I've used, which is a good couple of hours before needing a touch up.  It's such a lovely shade for Autumn too, it matches the colours of falling leaves :)  You can make it light enough to work with dark eye makeup too, or build it up for a look focussed on the lips.

Now the big question, would I buy it again... yes and no is the answer.  I probably wouldn't buy this shade again as I'm not sure it's perfect for my skin tone, but it is good to have a variety of shades in your collection for different looks/purposes.  Compared to the Chanel lip lacquer I have which is around the same price, I find the Chanel one much better quality, both the product and the packaging.  But that could be me being biased as you all know I love Chanel!

What's your favourite Shiseido product?

Rituals Rich and Firming Eye Cream

Hello lovelies!  Another day, another new review!  So we're half way through the week, what do you have planned for the weekend?  I'm having a very quiet weekend, as I know after that, I'm busy every weekend through Christmas, yikes!

During this time of year, our skin takes a bit of a hammering.  It gets rained on (lots if you live in Wales!), battered by high winds and dried out by the cold, so we need to take extra special care of our skin making sure we're drinking plenty of water, and moisturising well.  With that in mind, I give you Rituals Rich and Firming Eye Cream.

Rituals Rich & Firming Eye Cream 0.5fl £23.50* available in selected House of Fraser stores, Rituals stores and online.

They say "Reduces wrinkles while restoring firmness and elasticity to mature skin. Anti-Wrinkle Rituals contains rich and firming textures to act immediately on application. Firming botanical Cistus incanus – also known as the Plant of Beauty - extract increases hydration and firmness, reduces roughness and visibly reduces wrinkles. Anti-wrinkle complex Matrikine rapidly stimulates skin’s own regenerative processes as it firms the skin. Hibiscus extract diminishes lines and relaxes facial muscles, acting as a kinder alternative to Botox."

My Thoughts

I think it's hard to say if I've found that my wrinkles around my eyes are less fine, less visible etc, but one thing I can say is that they're less dry.  Now, when I moisturise (my face) I don't tend to go under my eyes with it, so having a specific moisturiser, and a decent one at that for it is great.  It smells good (as do most Rituals products!) and it's very thick and luxurious.  You don't need much product to cover the eye area well so it'll go a long way.

I love the packaging too, the mirrored lid can be quite handy when trying to apply cream under the eye area as it doubles up as a little mirror to use :)  I like multi-purposing products :)

Sorry this is a little review but it's just one of those things I don't have a lot to say about.  It's an eye cream, it smells good, it hydrates, I like the packaging and I think for the quality of the product, the price is fair, and I would re-purchase it/recommend to a friend :)

What's your favourite Rituals product?

No Concealer Concealer

Hey guys!  How are you all on this fine Tuesday?

You know how I love my Collection Lasting Perfection concealer right?  Well, I think I may have found it's high-end counterpart :)  Read on to find out what and why!  Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer - Not your traditional concealer.

Small Company history (I thought this was quite interesting!)
Perricone MD was founded in 1998 by Dr. Nicholas Perricone.  Their product focus is anti-ageing skincare and have achieved wide spread recognition for their No Foundation Foundation.  They have a flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York (I'll be making a trip there next time I'm in NYC!), their website which is linked below, as well as in Sephora, Nordstrom (in the states) and in the UK Harrods, Selfridges and online on John Lewis.

Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer 9g £37* available online and in Harrods, Harvey Nichols & Selfridges (all London) as well as other places - a list can be found here.

They say "Featuring broad spectrum UVA and UVB, non-chemical, mineral-based SPF 35 protection, this concealer treats skin while concealing discoloration, dark circles, imperfections. Ideal for reviving tired looking eyes, as well as an eye lid primer for smooth, long-wearing makeup. This crease-proof, long wearing, and easily blendable concealer comes in one shade suitable for most skin types. This non-drying formula is fully loaded with anti-aging ingredients that deliver results both instantly and overtime."

My Thoughts

I've pondered a while over the best way to start talking about this... there's so much I want to say and I don't want to waffle... so here goes.

Appearance - This looks a little different to the concealers we're used to buying.  It looks quite clinical, which it sort of is.  Everything about this (when you see it in person), screams high quality.  Even down to the quality of the label on the product (it's that nice matte, almost rubberised finish).  I really like the pump action too, this is quite different for a concealer, I was apprehensive that it would dispense too much, however it dispenses the perfect amount for me to conceal under both eyes.

Product - When I first opened this, I was really happy that is has a salmony tone to it, I knew that would be perfect for helping to conceal the blueness and redness under my eyes.  The nice thing about it, it's not too salmony, so it blends well with my skin tone and any foundation I'm using.  Tip: pump once onto ring finger and gently warm against other ring finger, then apply to under eye while blending in (this softens and warms it perfectly to blend in).    You can see from the picture of my eyes above that it does a fantastic job of concealing the darkness under my eyes, but I think it's also minimised the appearance of the puffiness of my bags.  Lets face it, nothing it going to get rid of them, so I'm pretty happy with anything that helps make them look smaller.  It's also worth noting, it's Paraben free and has SPF 35 in it.

Summary - I'm really, really impressed with this.  It's now my go-to concealer, I use it every day as part of my makeup routine, mostly focussing under my eyes, but also on any blemishes which have occurred and it covers them just as well.  Yes, it's expensive, probably one of the most expensive I've seen, but like most things, you get what you pay for.  There's no doubt at all that I will be replacing this when it's empty, yes it may be my only beauty purchase that month, but oh boy is it worth it.

On the back of trying this and loving it, I'd bee keen to try their No Foundation Foundation, have any of you tried that before?

Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Palette

Hey Pixi3's!  A couple of weeks ago I went all crazy about the Too Faced palette called Shadow Bon Bons, I saw other bloggers and YouTubers raving about it, and to be quite honest, I wanted a piece of that action to put on my face.

I raced out the next day to pick up the palette, if I could find it, which I did, but there was only one left! How lucky was I?  Here's some yummy pics for you to check out and as usual, my thoughts are at the bottom :)

You get - 12 eye shadows, their shadow insurance in candlelight and a full size lashgasm mascara for £32 (I bought mine in Boots)

Top row of Palette (left image) - Vanilla / Cut the Cake / Framboise / Coffee Bean

Middle row of palette (middle image) - Peach Fuzz / Hot Cocoa / Candy Rose / Lovey Dovey

Bottom row of palette (right image) - Nude Beach, Cinnamon Sugar, Marzipan, Licorice Latte

Candlelight shadow insurance on the left blended in, on the right unblended.

My Thoughts

I'm really impressed with this palette.  This was the first Too Faced product I've bought, I've been lusting after so much of their stuff, so many other palettes, like their return of sexy palette, their smoky palette... and so much more!  I'm so glad I took the plunge, I've been wearing this most days since I bought it (usually with my NARS primer though as I don't always want the extra sparkle that the candlelight primer gives, as pretty as it is).  My usual combination is the stunning Peach Fuzz over the lid, then Lovey Dovey on the outer half of the lid then Licorice Latte in the crease and outer V, and Vanilla under the brow bone.

The shadows are all great quality, finely milled and very blendable, what I'd expect from Too Faced.  The mascara I know a lot don't like, yes it's not the most thickening mascara, but it is darned good.  I really like it and I've been wearing it every single day since I got the palette, so it can't be that bad eh!  The primer is great too - just not one I'd go to every day as I don't always want sparkle, but it's lovely to have a different kind of primer instead of the usual sheer cream ones.  As for the shades of shadow, I love them all and I'd wear them all.  I haven't gotten around to wearing all of them yet, but I will :)

They've met, and exceeded my expectations, now to add The Return of Sexy palette and the Smoky palette onto my Christmas list :)

What's your favourite Too Faced product?  I'm quite keen to try their BB cream too!

Dr Jart+ BB Cream

Hey guys!  I'm sure you've all heard about Dr Jart+ BB cream, but have you seen the new one that's out?  It's the Dr Jart+ Regenerating BB cream (perfect for drier months (or... more rainy!) such as Autumn/Winter).  Well I have, and I've been using it A LOT, so I thought I'd write a review on my thoughts of it and share it with you :)

Dr Jart+ Regenerating BB Cream 50 ml £21* available in Boots.com (linky here)

They say "This Dr Jart+ BB Cream provides strong coverage for redness and spots which won't rub off as easily as traditional cosmetics. Skin will look brighter, whilst still suitable for problem and sensitive skin."

Hmm, the light really picks up on the little hairs on my hands here :S  Either way, this is the Dr Jart BB Cream all blended in (matches skin tone really well)

What is BB Cream?

I do get asked this a lot so I thought I'd write here what I usually tell people, in case you don't know :)  BB Cream was developed in the East designed to cover up post-op scarring but whilst providing hydration and coverage similar to that of a light foundation or tinted moisturiser.  Seeing as it was developed in the East which are typically fairly hot countries, Eastern BB creams (and in my opinion, all good BB creams) come with SPF 30 as well.  You'll notice that a lot of the Western BB Creams only usually have SPF 15 (and again, in my opinion, aren't as good).  So BB creams are similar to tinted moisturisers, but give better coverage and SPF protection, so it's like a sunscreen, moisturiser and foundation in one :)  I hope that helps if you were unsure of what a BB cream is :)

My Thoughts

As you'll probably know, I'm a big fan of BB creams, I've raved and raved about the Ginvera BB cream (which I still love and smells so good!), but we all need to try new things (well, us beauty bloggers anyway, otherwise we'd have nothing to write about!) and the Dr Jart+ BB cream has been a great discovery.  To put it simply, it's made it's way into my daily makeup routine, that's how much I like it.  It's not a light watery consistency like some of the ones I've tried (like the Maybelline one - do not like that!), it's thicker much like the Rimmel Wake me up foundation, but still hydrating (great in this weather!).  I love the packaging too - it's not too fussy, it's nice, clear and simple.  This I will definitely be replacing when it's run out.  I'd say it's around the same quality as the Ginvera one, but thicker, providing a little more coverage (I'd say Ginvera is light/medium coverage, and Dr Jart+ is medium) and only differing in price by £1 (but with Ginvera you have to pay delivery too, which makes Dr Jart+ slightly cheaper if you buy it in store as opposed to online).

So, if you're looking for a good, decent and hydrating BB cream, I would certainly recommend this.  If you're looking to try Dr Jart+ I can highly recommend the Water Max Sleeping Mask too - review of that is here.

What's your favourite Dr Jart+ product?

Skinny Sprinkles

Hey Pixi3's!

As some of you may or may not know, I go to slimming world each week.  I've been doing it for about 6 months and so far, I've lost 3 stone.  It's going pretty well, but it is getting more challenging as it's leading up to the festive season as there are so many events going on, like work do's (3 of them to be exact!) so it's getting more challenging and harder to say no.

Skinny Sprinkles available online - £39.97 for 42 servings

They say "Need help to lose weight? 

if  your weakness is snacking in between meals, over eating  and lack of energy then Skinny Sprinkles CAN help!  Formulated by world leading Nutritionalist Scientist Dr. N. Plummer PHD, Skinny Sprinkles contains  ingredients SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to control hunger pangs and boost your energy levels.

They're not just for aiding weight loss!

Take Skinny Sprinkles half an hour before you exercise to increase endurance capacity and performance during your workout.  This means you get more from your workout with less effort.

The most likely causes of weight gain are over eating, snacking on sugary, fatty foods and lack of exercise…ALL of which Skinny Sprinkles prevent!

Skinny Sprinkles are gluten free, pre biotic and contain ingredients that are proven to support in reducing blood cholesterol levels needed for a healthy heart. All this by just drinking…simply sprinkle into water then shake or stir."

1. Product / 2. Heaped measure / 3. Put in cup / 4. Add milk of choice (I like regular milk or Almond milk) / 5. Stir like crazy / 6. DRINK!

My Thoughts

First off, there's a bunch of different ways to drink this.  My least favourite is mixed with water, my favourite is simply with milk (tastes just like strawberry milkshake, yummy!).  I really like that it's made with real strawberries (to be exact 37.5g of real strawberries per serving), strawberries have a lot of vitamin C in them too (more than Oranges!) so it's a good source of that too :)  I'm not sure if you've ever tried slim fast or anything like that, but I have, years and years ago and I can tell you, this is much nicer!

Did it help me lose weight?  In all honesty, I don't know.  I've been pretty consistently losing weight for a while, so it's hard to know whether this could have had an impact.  I've certainly had a few bad weeks (food wise) and still lost, so I wouldn't be surprised if this has helped.  Where I know it's helped is with suppressing my appetite.  I've had it in a slightly unconventional way, when I'm hungry I'm having it in place of a snack and it's worked, it's staved off my hunger for a good couple of hours, usually long enough until it's time for an actual meal.

If you're on slimming world and what to know how I counted this - it was 1 syn per serving, out of the suggested 3 servings per day - so I used up 3 of my 15 syns each day on it.  I also used one of my healthy extra allocations of almond milk on the 3 cups.  One of the things I really liked about this was the smell when you open up the tub, it reminded me of strawberry angel delight, NOM!

Ultimately, I do feel this has helped my weight loss, and it's definitely helped with my hunger pangs, whilst at the same time giving me extra nutrition, great stuff :)  You can find Skinny Sprinkles here.

Have you ever tried anything like Skinny Sprinkles?

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation

Hey guys!  So, this has been a requested review.  I picked up this sample at the Urban Decay counter, they colour matched me, gave me a packet and sent me on my way to adventure in their new foundation.  Thoughts are below the pics as usual :)

They say "Feels like wearing nothing, yet Naked Skin transforms your complexion. Skin looks natural, illuminated and bright with a luminous demi-matte finish: like the beautiful skin you were born with. This remarkable foundation is oil-free, paraben free and formulated with light-diffusing spheres that literally make you look professionally retouched. How does it work? Naked Skin uses optical blurring technology to blur your imperfections, making it the ultimate in ultra definition. This revolutionary makeup loads skin with a list of nourishing ingredients including: Matrixyl 3000 (a powerful anti-wrinkle peptide), protective and brightening Litchiderm, antioxidant Green Tea and Sodium Hyaluronate for optimal skin hydration and nutrient absorption. Buildable coverage allows women to customize their look and makeup preference: from light to full coverage. Plus, Naked Skin is suspended in a sleek, hygienic pump, allowing for more control and less waste of product."

Urban Decay Naked Skin £27 for 30ml available in Debenhams

Yep, you don't see it often, me with virtually no makeup on!  Just foundation on top of a touch of under eye concealer :)  

My Thoughts

I want to start off by saying, you know how much of an Urban Decay fan I am right?  Loved them for years, it's one of their palettes that got me really into makeup and eventually led to me blogging.  I love that they're cruelty free and achieve a real high end status in the face of many other brands who do test on animals, for that I applaud them.

But the question is, do I like their first foundation?  In short, No.  The problem with this is the same that I find with many foundations and BB creams, it clogs my pores.  As they day goes on, that seems to get accentuated too.  Not only that, but it cracks like crazy all over my skin which means it needs quite a bit of attention during the day, which I don't really want to be doing.

My philosophy with all makeup, is that it should last all day.  Eye shadow primers should be able to withstand at least 12 hours of wear before creasing, mascaras shouldn't flake, blushers should be just as vibrant, and foundation really should last all day and without the need to maintain it.  YSL have achieved that in their Touche Eclat foundation, surely it's not that hard?  Wrong, YSL have a patent meaning that their foundation is currently the only one on the market that is powder free.  It's the powder in products that makes it pore clogging... so the chances of me finding another that's as good as the YSL one?  Very minimal.  There is however one thing I love about the Naked Skin foundation, the shade.  It's the perfect shade for me and that's a rarity.  It's very pale and once blended really is perfect for my skin tone.  It blends well too, it's just a shame about all the other factors that make this something I won't be purchasing for myself.

Has anyone else had these issues with this?

GHD Final Shine Spray

Hello lovelies, and how are you all on this fine wintery day?

So today, a non-makeup post for you, a hair care one instead :)  Going back about 6 months ago, I didn't really pay much attention to my hair.  I hadn't cut it in nearly 2 years, it got washed with random supermarket shampoo and conditioner and that was about it (my skincare routine was just as bad).  But since really being opened up to the blogging world and a world outside makeup, I've started taking much better care of my hair and trying lots of new things.  I've started using shampoo and conditioner from lush (I could literally buy everything in that shop!) and I get it cut more regularly, yay for no more split snapping ends!

They say "Add healthy, glossy shine to your finished style with this lightweight and delicately scented spray. Best for: Adding shine and gloss while calming static and flyaways; creating a polished salon-style finish; giving light definition to curls and waves. To use: Mist over your finished style from 30cm. Style tip: For an even lighter touch, spray on your brush or hands and then work through hair."

GHD Final Shine Spray* £9.95 for 100ml available online and at large department stores

You can see the gentle shine across the top of my fringe, also bear in mind, this is unstraightened hair, it's even shinier with it being straightened :)  (so freshly washed, fluffy hair)

My Thoughts

One of the things I really like about this product is the scent, it's sweet and similar to a nice hairspray but without it making your hair hard.  When you first spray it on (about 30cm from your hair), your hair will look a little greasy, but don't worry, that goes about 5-10 mins afterwards.  There are two suggestions for applying this, the first is to apply it direct to your hair, spraying it from about 30 cm distance.  The second is to spray it on to your brush and brush it through your hair.  I've only done it the first way as that seemed to work for me, then I brush it through and after a few minutes, my hair has more weight to it, it smells good and has a lovely sheen to it.  

It's not going to make your hair look like vinyl which is a good thing!  I've used products in the past that do that, and it just looks so unnatural.  The GHD Final Shine spray makes your hair look healthy and with a really balanced shine.  If you straighten your hair before applying the spray, it seems to have a greater effect, which makes sense since straightened hair looks shiner anyway :)  

It's not the kind of product you'd use everyday (in my opinion anyway), especially as it's nearly £10 a can.  I've used mine about 5 times so far and I feel like there's still a few applications left.  I tend to save it for nights out, or if I just want my hair to look extra nice that day :)

This is definitely something I'll be replacing when this one is empty, it's really nice to have it on standby, especially for days when your hair is quite fluffy and unruly, it helps to control the crazy :)

Whats your thoughts on GHD hair products?  I'd love to try their straighteners, everyone and their mother seems to own a pair :p

The Christmas TAG

Hey guys!  What a few days, oh my!  I've been flat out busy since last Wednesday and only now have had time to actually write a post for you :)  I think this is the longest I've gone without updating my blog in months, so, sorry about that - but it was worth it.  I spent a couple of days with my beautiful niece and nephew, parents, in-laws, brother etc.  Seeing that I'm feeling so festive after having nearly all my family together in one place right before xmas, I thought I'd start a cheeky little Christmas TAG for everyone to take part in :)  So, without further ado, here's the questions - people tagged are at the bottom - but, if you're reading this, you're basically ALL tagged to do this too :)

If you do this tag, please do link back to me as a credit of where you found it and feel free to use the image below too (remember to credit me for it though) :)

Q.   What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?
I don’t think there’s one thing I love about Christmas, it’s the whole thing :)  I love it when we go to Ireland for xmas to see my Dad, the drive up through Ireland is stunning (even in the dark!) and all you can smell is peat fires.  Or, when my step dad comes to us, I love looking after everyone and cooking up a nice Christmas dinner and seeing everyone enjoy it :)

Q.   What’s your favourite makeup look for the festive season?
There’s 2 key looks I really like, I love the classic red lip with dark winged eyeliner (very Monroe, and Chanel), and I love the glossy nude/slightly sparkly lips with a deep smoky eye (plenty of glitter for the festive season!)

Q.   Real tree or fake tree?
Real!  For me, the search for the perfect Christmas tree is one of the most important parts of xmas.  I love searching in the rain and finding the tree.  Getting it home, hands all covered in gooey xmas tree sap and putting it in the holder, and decorating it – mulled wine is a must at this point and Sinatra singing Christmas songs :)  You can't beat the smell of a real tree either :)

Q.   Giving presents or receiving presents?
Always giving.  Yes, it’s lovely getting presents, but seeing the happy faces of people opening their presents is the best, especially when you’ve been searching and searching for the perfect gift and finally found it :)

Q.   Do you open your presents Christmas morning or evening?
Christmas morning!  I used to get up super duper early to open prezzies, but now I’m not 8 yrs old any more, and we don’t have kids waking us up at a silly hour, we tend to get up lazily around 10am, put the kettle on and open the presents :)

Q.   Handmade Christmas cards or bought?
Handmade :)  I don’t always have the time to make them (this year is going to be a struggle), but if I can’t make handmade cards for everyone (which is what I did last year), I do try to at least make them for the most important people in my life (hubby, parents etc).

Q.   What’s your favourite Christmas film?
Well, apart from Christmas morning, my absolute favourite Christmas film is Elf :D  I could (and sometimes do) watch it all year round, SAAAANTTAAAA!  But Christmas morning, it HAS to be It’s a Wonderful Life, it’s just not Christmas otherwise :)  It was also my mum’s favourite, so it’s very sentimental to me :)

Q.   What’s your favourite Christmas food?
Hmm… ok there’s a couple of things I really like.  I love a good mince pie, warmed.  NOM!  Starbucks Eggnog latte (if that counts!), and brandy snap wafer curled up thingys with squirty cream in them :)

I hope you enjoyed this little tag, and enjoy doing it yourself even more :)  So, here's who I'm tagging to do this :)

Tattooed Tea Lady

A Day in the life of a Scottish Lass

Life in a Breakdown

All that Slap

Sprinkle of Glitter

Natalie Roseanne's Nails and Beauty blog

The Black Pearl Blog

Lil Miss Chickas

Charli dot dot dot

So there you have it!  Even if you're not on the list, I tag YOU to do this :)  Don't forget to link back to me so everyone can see where you found the tag :)

EDIT:  If you want to read everyone else's, here's a list of the ones I've found who've also done it :)
Vivid Beauty,  Rosella,  Futures,  Bravenezz,  Life in a Breakdown,  Countess du Blush,  Emerald Skies,  A Day in the life of a Scottish Lass,  Beauty Becky,  Lizziea,  The life of a fashion-nerd,  Simply Beauty,  Rosella, Natalie Roseanne's Nails and Beauty Blog, What Laura Did,  Little Miss Student Beauty, When Life gives you Lemons,  Beauty and the Biryani,  Cosmetic Charm,  Sophie Rose Hearts,  The Black Pearl Blog,  EatPlayShopLove

Quick Update

Hey guys!  Just a quick update to say that I haven't disappeared!  I've been super busy since Thursday preparing for my brother, his wife and his 2 kiddies arrival on Saturday evening.  They've just left tonight, leaving us with a very empty house :(  And me with a cold :(

So, over the next couple of days normal blogging will resume, I have a tonne of posts lined up that I just need to write, so I'll make a start on that tomorrow evening :)

Hope you're all well and have had a fantastic weekend, I know I have :)

Revlon Colorstay Gel Eyeliner

Hi guys!  I'll be honest, I've had this for a few weeks now, and I've been putting off wearing it because I don't often get on with gel eyeliners as they usually transfer onto my eyelid, the question is, did this one?  Have a read below to find out :)

Revlon Colorstay Gel Eyeliner £7.99* - available in Tesco and other stores

They say "The Revlon Colorstay Crème Gel Eyeliner comes in a classic black colour. Revlon’s formula ensures that you will not have to deal with smudging any longer and the bold colour will last up to 24 hours. Simply glide the brush delicately over the lash line, as thick or as thin as you’d like, and enjoy the results!"

My Thoughts

So did it transfer onto my eyelid?  Quite simply, no.  And for that, I'm really impressed with it.  Every other gel liner I've tried has always melted onto my lid, but this one doesn't... not even after 12 hours, which is really impressive.  My one irritation with gel liners is that you have to clean the brush straight away otherwise it turns hard and is a nightmare to clean the next time before you use it.  I was so skeptical about this, but was so pleasantly surprised, this is becoming a part of my makeup routine now, and I never thought I'd say that about a gel liner!

I'm not sure if it'll last the 24 hrs they claim, I find that with most things that make grand claims like that, they never last as long... but I can get a good 12 hours out of it, which is pretty good by my standards :)  Sorry this has been a fairly quick review, but I don't really have a lot to say about it.  It's good, I like it, yes I'd buy it again.  There's not a whole lot else to say :p

Have you tried this yet?  Did it last well on you?

Christmas Wish list

Hey guys!  So, Christmas is nearly upon us and I thought I'd take the opportunity to take a leaf out of TattooedTeaLady's post and do a Christmas Wishlist.  This is a 'if money wasn't an issue, this is what I'd buy for myself' type of post :)

chanel duo in khaki discret / chanel lip gloss in surprise / chanel quad in variation

l'oreal infallible in eternal black / urban decay super saturated lip gloss in fbomb / l'oreal infallible in time resist white

MAC mineralized skin finish in light / urban decay naked 2 palette / philosophy vanilla birthday cake

Givenchy phenomenon eyes in black / urban decay vice palette / ysl shocking mascara in black

So that's it, not too much on there :p  I'm sure there's loads more, but they're the things that are really on my mind at the moment :)  More Urban Decay than I thought there would be :)

Whats on your Christmas wish list?

Feature: Top Key Fashion items for Winter

Hello all. It’s Chantele from Daisy Dayz blog here. Me and Georgina have done a little guest blog swap today, so you lovely ladies can read something a bit different. I’m bringing you my Top 5 Key Fashion Items for winter whilst Georgina’s post on my blog is her Top 5 Beauty Items for A/W12, so check that out too!

Winter fashion is all about layering and wrapping up warm and cozy against the cold weather. So here are my top 5 items to help keep you looking stylish this season and stop you feeling the chill!

1. A Great Warm Coat - Every girl needs a good coat for the winter months, it is the most important item in your whole wardrobe this time of year. This season coats are coming in the form of Trench coats, pea coats, 60’s swing jackets and lots of fur trimmings. The key is to find something that suits your style, that will last you for more than just one winter. I always go a size bigger for my winter coats so I can fit a nice jumper underneath. This two-tone trench from Next (£95) is one of my favourites this year.

Next £95

2. Cozy Jumpers - Winter is the season for cwtchy and novelty jumpers! They can be worn with absolutely anything and will always look cute! Layer with a collared shirt for a quirky edge. To keep on trend you have a few options - Novelty Christmas ones, chunky oversized cable knits, cute fitted sweaters or jumpers with motifs. Below is just 4 of the great ones I have found online.

Clockwise from top left ASOS £32, Sainsbury's £25, River Island £TBC, M&S £14

3. Leather Boots - Riding boots are massive this season you will find them everywhere. They are perfect for this unpredictable weather of ours, with rain one minute, snow and ice the next these will allow you to look stylish no matter what happens. Real Leather is great if you can afford it as they will last you for years to come, but there are lots of cheaper alternatives out there that will be just as good for the coming months. Here is a budget vs a break the bank pair I found on the high street, both of which are great.

Blue Inc £26.99 and Next £99

4. The Winter Dress - Just a nice simple, but warm dress. We tend to have lots of summer dresses but most women forget about dresses ones the winter hits. I actually find a long sleeve dress, tights and boots much warmer than a pair of trousers, plus it is more feminine. Look for dresses in wool or jersey as these will keep you warmest. I love this little Yumi one (£50) with flying ducks motif and peter pan collar

Yumi £50

5. Accessories - Ok so that’s not a single item, but I think it is key to have a good set of gloves, hats and scarves so we don’t end up freezing. They don’t have to match and you don’t have to wear all 3 but here are a few of my favs from the highstreet.

Hat - M&Co £15, Gloves M&Co £6

Scarf Pilot £15.99

So there you have it, 5 items you have to add to your closet. Whether you go high end, high street or charity shop these are items every girl should have for the winter. See you soon ladies!

Thanks to Chantelle for sharing those items with us, I love the grey Sainsburys jumper, might have to pick me up one of them :D