Makeup Monday: Glowing Skin & Smokey Eyes!

Hello all! I had to share this look with you today as i fell in love with the eyes and lips! This lip colour  has been a favourite of mine ever since i first got it and it lasts for ages on the lips too. It's such a gorgeous bright pink but it has a dusky twist so it's not too in your face. Definitely a favourite of mine, a slick of lipgloss on top looks pretty too! 

Face

17 Miracle Matte Primer (t-zone)

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation (light layer all over)

Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation (buffed all over to set) 

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (under eyes, around nose) 

No7 Skin Illuminator in 'Peach' (centre of nose, cheekbones, browbone)

Nars 'Casino' Bronzer (hollows of cheeks, side of nose, jawline)

Eyes

MAC Paint Pot 'Groundwork' (base)

MUA Undressed Palette - Shade 1 (lid/inner corners) Shade 10 (crease) Shade 11 (used as eyeliner)

Une Skin Glow Pencil G02 (lower lashline)

Avon Super Shock Mascara 

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil 'Dark Brown' 

Lips

Collection 2000 Cream Puff 'Cotton Candy' 

I've been loving dewy skin a lot recently but having really oily skin doesn't make it easy - i look more grease ball than glowing goddess. This combination (YSL & Laura Mercier) gave me the perfect glow for the first few hours but by end of the night had melted off my face :( It's such a shame as i really wanted to like the new YSL foundation but it only lasts around 3/4 hours on me before i look a mess /: The No7 Skin Illuminator is gorgeous golden highlighter that adds a glow and lasts all day/night! 

I have found the perfect dewy, base for oily skin though so keep an eye out for that ;)

What do you think? Do you prefer more of a dewy look? 

What products do you like to give you a glow?

Essie NOTD: Ombre!

Hello! I decided to try something new nail wise recently. I originally wanted to do coloured tips but that proved too hard for me without proper nail art brushes. So i tried some ombre nails instead and here is how they turned out.. 

What you need is:

• Your nail polishes of choice. I used these three here. They should preferably be all be the same/similar colour just different shades.
• An old/unused makeup brush or nail art brushes. 
• Nail polish remover, cotton buds and some tissue for cleaning mess up. 
• Top coat of choice to finish

I started off my painting my whole nail one coat of the lightest colour. It's a very natural 'nail' colour.

I then put some of the darkest colour on the makeup brush and patted onto the tip of my nail and a little bit down.

Next, i cleaned the brush with some nail polish remover and wiped on a piece of tissue. 

Then, applied some of the medium colour (bright pink) just where the dark colour ends and a little bit down until you are happy with how far the colour comes down the nail. 

Last but not least, i got the lightest colour (which i painted my whole nail with) onto the clean makeup brush and patted it on where the pink ends to make sure it blends in. And set it all with a topcoat to make it all look smooth. 

This was my first attempt at ombre nails and did take me a long time but i really like how it looks. Definitely going to try it with different colours. It's also very easy to repair if the tips chip - you just apply some of the darkest colour at the top where the chips are and tahdaah, back to normal! 

Anyway, hope you like it! Let me know if you've tried it. 

What do you think? Hot or not?.. 

Outfit: Playful Summer!

Hey! I'm not sure playful summer is the correct title as we haven't had much of a summer this year in the UK although the weather is picking up now (yay!). The weather in Manchester at the moment is just so cloudy - so it's hot but with no sun so it's really humid. However, when the sun comes out it's gorgeous!

On Thursday i went out for my friends birthday we had a lovely meal and i finished it off with some caramel cookie and malteaser icecream ;) yummy but so filling! I wore my new playsuit which i shown you in my london haul. It's the first time i wore it out and got a few compliments which is nice, i definitely can't wait to wear it more and more!

Playsuit - New Look

Shoes - Topshop Vectra's

Leather Jacket - Zara

Bag - Zara

Cross Ring - Chelsea Doll    Pastel Stackable Rings - Primark

Braclet - Monki

I'd like to take this moment to explain the bright pink doors. My mum thought it'd be nice to bring some colour to the garden and i couldn't agree more! At first i wasn't keen on bright pink doors but it actually looks pretty funky in those outfit shots. The garden looks much more cheerful and summery now, no more boring brown - i do really like it!  What do you think? 

Bargain: Essie Trio!

Essie Nail Polishes seem to be one of the latest hypes in the blogger community. Everyone seems to be talking about them - especially the new 'Diffusion Line'. Each nail polish costs £7.99 (from Boots), which is more than i'd normally spend on a nail polish so, when i saw Tk Maxx were doing sets of 3 for £10 - of course i couldn't resist ;)

There are different sets in Tk Maxx with selected colours in, the packaging is sealed so you cannot swap or change any of the colours. I had to choose between two sets that i really liked but i settled for this one because it had a better mix of lighter and darker colours whereas the other set was just pinks (it had 'Fondola Gondola' in that i really want). The sets available differ from store to store so if you can, look in a few!

I ended up with the shades (l-r) Lovie Dovie, Tea & Crumpets and Wicked. 

Lovie Dovie* is a bright, medium pink with tiny flecks of shimmer. Well mine is anyway, and all the ones from Tk Maxx look like this however if you google search 'Essie Lovie Dovie' the swatches are far different - in fact it's a completely different colour. I don't know why (think it's been labelled wrong) and i'm quite unhappy about this to be honest as i have no idea what shade it actually is. But, despite that i do love the colour i have it's a beautiful pink and is opaque in one coat (although i do two for good measure!). 

Tea & Crumpets* is basically a nude, a french manicure shade, leaning slightly on the baby pink side - slightly. This also doesn't match swatches online /: But, it does look lovely worn alone, with glitter on top or with coloured tips! After two coats it's pretty much opaque, you can still see the nail white a tiny bit but it looks really natural like a your nails but better shade.

Wicked is a deep, deep burgundy shade. Almost black with a red tinge. I could see a resemblance to OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark and after a quick google search 'Wicked' is apparently it's redder sister so i'm really pleased as i've been lusting after Lincoln Park After Dark for a long while now. It's opaque in two coats and dries to a dark glossy finish. 

* I definitely believe both these shades has been labelled wrong. They do not match the swatches on Google images or other blogs! I unfortunately don't have any idea what shade they actually are :(

l-r   Tea & Crumpets, Love Dovie, Wicked.

So, those are my first Essie nail polishes and i'm really impressed (despite the labelling fiasco) unlike my experience with OPI which was pretty awful. All polishes dry pretty quickly, apply easily, aren't too watery or thick and look very stylish and sleek on my dressing table. They are definitely my dressing table delights ;)  Oh and chip wise all polishes are 'average' wear (3-ish days). 

So what do you think? Do you love Essie nail polishes? Will you purchase some from Tk Maxx or stick to good old Boots etc.?

Outfit: Leather & Studs.

Hi everyone! I have a fashion post for you today it feels like ages since i last posted an outfit.

Judging by the title you can probably tell two of my obsessions at the moment! I've wanted my mitts on a decent leather jacket for a long while now and i'm so delighted with this one i got from Zara whilst in London (see my haul here). In fact everything i'm wearing is from my London haul apart from the shoes which were a birthday present. Because, i'm sure i'm not the only one but as soon as i get new clothes i wear them constantly and cast everything else aside. I must of worn these jeans every other day since i got them and my leather jacket every time i've been out - it just seems to go with everything! 

Top - Bershka

Leather Jacket - Zara

Jeans - New Look

Shoes - Topshop Vectra's

Bag - Zara

Bangle - Monki

I'm loving dark colours at the moment - blacks, greys and more black! I don't know when i became so anti-colour but it happened! The most colour i wear these days is on my nails or lips. Hopefully now the weather is starting to pick up i might bring out some florals or maybe even my coral shorts ;) you never know! 

Is it just me who loves dark clothing? Or do you love a pop of colour?

Makeup Monday: Lush Event!

Hello, as always on a Monday i'm showing you a FOTD! Please let me know if you like these every Monday. I'm hoping these help - i may tempt you into buying a new product or show you how to use a product you already own!

Anyway, i did a post on the Lush 'Emotional Brilliance' event i attended here it was such a good night. I love the makeup i wore this evening it's probably becoming my go-to makeup whenever i go anywhere half decent. It lasts all night long and i love the way it looks!

Face

17 Miracle Matte Primer (t-zone)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (applied with Real Technique's Pointed Foundation brush on 'problem area's - under-eye, nose, spots and blended)

Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation Powder (applied with Real Technique's Buffing brush all over the face)

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (under the eyes)

Nars 'Casino' bronzer (contour - cheekbones, nose and jawline)

No7 'Peach' Skin Illuminator (blended onto tops of cheeks and centre of nose)

Natural Collection 'Peach Melba' Blusher

Eyes

Une Skin Glow Pencil - shade G02 (applied on waterline, inner tear-duct and around eyebrows to define)

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil (colour in eyebrows)

Avon Supershock mascara & George X-tend mascara (post here)

Lips

MAC 'Please Me' lipstick.

Now i've wrote that down it does look like a lot of products.

What do you think? Do you use any of these products? What's your secret to long-lasting makeup?

Mini Travel Skin Care & Rio Sonicleanse First Impressions!

Hello! I thought i'd show you a little, mini skincare routine i've been using for just over the past two weeks. I shown you my old skincare routine here and it was good, it just wasn't fantastic. I thought my little three day trip to London would be perfect to try some new things and i'm still going.. 

The Simple items were 3 for 2 from Tesco's range of mini's, the Balance Me moisturiser came free with  Glamour magazine and the Nivea lip balm is just available from Boots. They're all small so great for travelling and trying before purchasing the full size.

I was surprised by the Simple face wash and toner - i absolutely love them both. The cleanser has done a fantastic job of keeping my skin squeaky clean and keeping spots at bay. It's pretty good at removing makeup and doesn't sting the eyes at all (which i love!). The toner accompanies the face wash perfectly removing any excess grime/cleanser and preparing the skin for moisturiser. This combo has worked brilliantly helping to balance my combination skin and keeping it really clean! The Simple eye make-up remover is no surprise to me - i already have the full size version! You just cover a cotton pad with it, hold it against the eye and wipe. It does a good job at removing eye makeup gently without stinging the eyes or making them go blurry! 

The Balance Me 'Balancing face moisturiser' is a product that has grown on me. It's a little different than my usual moisturisers - it's thicker and harder to rub in - but does the job nonetheless. I find this is best applied straight after washing and toning when the skins still damp and it rubs in much easier. However, the results are worth it, it does a great job of balancing the skin. It moisturisers both the oily and dry area's of my face without being too much and leaves skin feeling moisturised but matte - great base for makeup! 

The Nivea Hydro Care Lipbalm i just got in a little set. It does a good job of keeping lips very smooth and plump. It's good but isn't amazing - i still prefer Carmex. I find it's best applied liberally at night! 

Now you're probably wondering why i'm including the Rio Sonicleanse is this post? Well, i've been using this for the past 9 days with the skincare routine i've talking about above. I apply my Simple face wash all over the face (wet), give it a little rub in then let this little machine do it's magic!

I have been loving my sonicleanse - it just nine days i've already gone through a purging stage (although they have cleared up pretty well) and my skin is feeling so smooth (like a babies bottom). The overall texture of my skin is much nicer, even and smoother. I haven't really noticed a difference in pore size yet but i know my skin feels much cleaner when i have used this. So far, so good i can't wait to see more results. Do i recommend it? Yes it's a much more affordable version of the Clarisonic and does the same job as far as i know?.. It's available here and here. I will do a more indepth review when i have given it a longer test run.

Have you tried any of this products? What do you think?

Lush 'Emotional Brilliance' Event - Manchester!

So, on Friday i went along to Lush in Manchester Arndale for the launch of their new makeup range called 'Emotional Brilliance'. It is all now available in stores to buy! I went with the lovely Anastasia from Dainty Desires - as beauty bloggers we obviously couldn't wait to have a look look around and test the new products! 

I personally love Lush as a brand and have tried/use a lot of their products. I'm happy to see they are expanding their range to include lots of lovely, versatile makeup items. You can now literally get all things beauty from there in one quick stop! 

Anastasia having her colours read!

The idea of the range is that certain colours represent certain emotions. They had this lovely colourful wheel where you had to close your eyes whilst it was spun then pick the first three colours that caught your eye. It was a little bit of fun and the idea that each colour told us something about ourselves.

I chose 'Perspective' - my strength - which meant when decision making i liked to mull it over and try to make the best decision based on my options (which i actually think is pretty correct - i take ages making decisions). My subconscious desire was 'Drive' apparently this was something i may be lacking at the moment and i need it to move something forward that may not be going anywhere. And the third colour i chose was 'Vibrance'. I was told i may be seen as a vibrant, bubbly person to others - that's the persona i put off. Overall i was pretty happy with my choices and picking 'Drive' is giving me a kick up the bum to get things done ;)

Now onto the new items..

Above are all the colour pigments available in the range. Some are lipsticks some are eyeliners but, the idea is that they can be used in all different ways - on the cheeks, as eyeshadow - however you like! You can also mix the shades to make your own custom shade. Each little pot is £14.50 which seems slightly over priced for Lush but i guess they are multi-tasking products and seemed good quality when i tested them out (the eyeliner literally wouldn't budge!). There are very bold colours colours - bright purple, lime green, royal blue and a few natural shades which is nice too!

The second part of the range is the part of the range that appeals to me most! Oily skin + translucent powder = love! This is your more 'typical' makeup range - powder, mascara, highlighter, bronzer.
I didn't get to test the mascara unfortunately but i tried the powder and the 'Feeling younger' skin tint which is a highlighter and wow - i may have feel slightly in love. Again the products are multi-tasking the skin tint can be used a highlight (cheekbones, nose etc) or mixed in with foundation/moisturiser for a healthy glow. Both products i need in my life. The 'Charisma' skin tint was nice too - that can be used as bronzer or mixed in with foundation/moisturiser for a bronze glow.

So enough rambling, as you can tell i did rather enjoy the products despite the prices! Here are my favourite products:

Feeling Younger Skin Tint - to make you look healthy, young and glow! Use as highlighter or mix with moisturiser.

Perspective - a natural mauvey pink lip colour with shimmer - so beautiful.

Translucent powder for setting foundation into place! Great for oily skinned people like me!

Believe - the most amazing pinky, coral lip colour!! So bright too.

What do you think of the 'Emotional Brilliance' range? Will you be buying anything?

London Trip - Three days, three outfits!

I realise i haven't posted any fashion/outfit posts in a while. I always run out of time, forget to take the pictures or have slopped food down me before i have chance! This really is story of my life. I have so many outfits i want to share with you so hopefully you will be bombarded with those soon...

You'll all probably know from my haul but, the boyfriend and i took a three day trip to London -shopping, a little sight-seeing and lots of eating out. I decided to put all three outfits in one post like a little 'look book'.

DAY 1.
The first day was our 'sight seeing' day - we went on the London Eye, did the London Dungeons had a wonder down the Thames and basically wandered everywhere!

Dress - H&M

Parka - New Look

Necklace - Primark

Bag - Miss Selfridge 

DAY 2

This day was our 'shopping day' - we had a huge walk down Oxford Street then to Harrods (talk about tiring) and had to get a cab back to the hotel in fear of our legs collapsing aha! We then went to see 'We Will Rock You' at the theatre which was amazing - by far the best show i've ever seen. Here is what i wore to the theatre, in the day i wore my Topshop Leigh jeans instead.

Peplum Top - H&M (also worn here)

Blazer - Primark 

Leather Jacket - Zara

Disco Pants Dupe - Very - Love Label 

Heeled Chelsea Boots - River Island

Necklace - Primark

Bag - Miss Selfridge

DAY 3 

Unfortunately this was our last day in London which meant we had a quick run around Covent Garden and Oxford Street to get a final few bits before checking out of our hotel and making our way to Camden. Suitcases in hand. Oh god, it was awful - rain, suitcases & markets = disaster. It wasn't fun atall :( We ended up sat in Costa Coffee for hours with a huge latte and brownies to pass time. 

      

Dress - Topshop (also worn here)

Necklace - Topman

Parka - New Look

Tights, Umbrella and Shoes - Primark

Well there we are, three days, three outfits! I must admit those Primark dollies are the most uncomfiest shoes i have ever wore in my entire life. They are now safely thrown into the bin.

We had a great time in London - despite getting lost a few times but, we got the hang of it by the time we were going home ;) 

Real Techniques Core Collection.

So i've succumb to the hype. I've gone and purchased some Real Techniques brushes! No surprise really considering all you beauty bloggers were tempting me with the amazing reviews.

It took me a while to purchase these, partly because of money and partly because i'd just got some Sigma brushes at christmas so, i wasn't sure if i wanted to buy anymore. But i couldn't resist. I went for the Core Collection mainly for the contour brush to be honest (i really needed a precise brush for contour). But i'll say it now, before i go into detail - I LOVE THEM ALL.

So i'm sure you've all seen them before, but they come in this little brush holder which can also be used as a stand so it's going to be perfect for travelling. The Core Collection has bright orange handles, so they stand apart from the rest! And each brush has the name printed on. Now onto the individual brushes.. 

l-r   Buffing brush, Contour brush, Detailer brush and Pointed Foundation brush.

Buffing brush - This brush is so popular and i can see why. People who have the Sigma Flat Top Kabuki (like i do) now prefer to use this one (as do i). It's such a soft, fluffy brush which just feels like a dream on the skin. I literally haven't felt a brush so smooth! It doesn't hold excess product, so you don't waste any and can be used with liquid and powder products. I use this to blend in liquid foundations, apply setting powder and buff in my Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation. It's such an all-round brush for base products and makes everything look even and flawless. 

Contour brush - Like i said i mainly bought this set for this brush. It's a small domed shape brush which makes it perfect for contouring. I use this with my Nars Casino bronzer to contour my cheekbones, under my jawline, nose and temples. It's got a pretty precise application (due to the size) but it's also perfect for blending so there are no harsh lines. A lot of people also use this to apply highlighter so it's another multi-tasking brush!

Those two brushes above are my most used brushes from the collection - i use them every single day! Now onto my least used (but still loved) brushes.. 

Pointed Foundation brush - This brush is a lot smaller than i expected it to be, its really quite precise. I use this to apply foundation in the area's i most need it (under eyes, nose, any blemishes) and then blend, before using the Buffing brush to apply Mac Mineralise Skin Finish or Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation on top. This brush applies Estee Lauder Double Wear so well and it's great for those days where you only want to cover any problem area's rather than the whole face. It's also great for applying under eye concealer. This is the only 'traditional foundation brush' i reach for nowadays. 

Last but not least the Detailer brush - This is also really tiny and precise. It's great for applying concealer to blemishes and around the nose area's as it's so small and sturdy so you can really apply it to the exact spot you need it. I don't reach for this much but it is good for precise concealer application before blending with the finger. It can also be used for precise lipstick application, especially if you're using a bold colour ,this will make it look so neat and tidy!

Anyhow, if you couldn't already tell i really do like these brushes. They are all so soft and i haven't experienced any fall out what so every (which is good as even Mac brushes shed a little!).

 So for £21.99 they are a great little purchase available from Boots.

Lacura Lipstick - 'Pink Rose'.

Today i wanted to share a Lacura lipstick with you that i wore in this FOTD (here) - it's such a lovely shade that i couldn't not show you guys! And best of all it only costs £1.99 from Aldi.

I was pretty surprised when i found out Aldi did cosmetics - i had no idea - but i'd heard some of it is pretty good. So, of course i had to try something so why not a lipstick?

The packaging is actually a really small bullet so, great for travelling and doesn't look cheap considering the price tag. It's very light and compact the only downfall is, it doesn't have the shade printed on the lipstick only on the box you get with it. But, i guess it isn't that bad i just forget the name sometimes a lot!

When i swatched this in store it looked like a baby pink but once i got home and tried it out i realised it was much different than i first thought! So be careful with hand swatches in Aldi - not very realistic!

I would describe this shade a pinky lilac (so technical!). It's a not completely lilac it still has pink tones but it's not a baby pink either - it really is a unique shade (well i think so anyway). I've never found a lipstick this colour before so it's a pretty nice find for £1.99.

It does take a few coats (3ish) to achieve an opaque coverage but it's worth it once it's on. It's a very muted shade so does look sort of natural - nothing too in your face! So, it looks great with natural makeup or a smokey eye on a night out! It's one of them shades you can shove it your bag and know it will look good although i do think it's more suited to light/medium skin tones.

Overall the pigmentation isn't too great but it's worth it for the colour alone! Plus it only costs £1.99 so it's not like you've spent loads on a product that isn't pigmented. I'd still say it's well worth the money and will probably repurchase this as it's such a wearable lilac (yes really!).

What do you think of this shade? Lovely isn't it. And have you ever tried a Lacura lipstick?

Makeup Monday: A little bit of lilac.

Hello! Just a quick face for you today. This is the sort of makeup i'd wear day-to-day in my everyday life - nothing fancy. 

The foundation i'm wearing is MAC's Select SPF 15 foundation and to be honest, it's really not one that i'm keen on. I know lots of people do like it but on my oily skin the lasting power is rather poop and it's just a pain needing to blot/powder every two minutes. I'm literally just reaching the last remains of this foundation and i'm pretty glad! It's got a light coverage which could be built a little bit and it's quite creamy so i think it'd be good for dry/normal skin types. The empty bottle is going in my 'back to Mac' stash!

Apart from that, i'm not wearing too much makeup! Just my trusty Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer to cover up my dark circles and spots. I used MUA Bronzer 'Shade 1' to contour/bronze and Mac's Fleur Power blush on my cheeks - this was my first ever Mac blusher a long time ago and it's still going strong, it doesn't seem to be going down! I used my favourite mascara combination (which you can find here) and added a slick of my Lacura lipstick in 'Pink Rose' (expect to see a full review soon, it's such a lovely pinky/lilac shade!). 

Anyway, what do you think? Do you go for a more natural look day-to-day? 

London Haul!

So, considering i went to London for 3 days you probably think i bought loads, right? Wrong. I didn't buy masses of stuff i didn't need. On our main shopping day where we had a wonder all the way down Oxford Street, my boyfriend did the most shopping - he loved it! Whereas i didn't see too much that i liked and didn't see the point in spending all my money on rubbish i didn't really want or need.

I'd really wanted a leather jacket for absolutely ages so i knew that was definitely on my 'to by list'. Also on my list was the Real Techniques Core Collection, 17 Miracle Matte Primer and Body Shop Hand Cream. All of which made it's way to my basket! But, here is what i got...

Here are my beauty purchases (not much i'm impressed). I've already been loving the Real Techniques brushes and 17 primer with my Laura Mercier Mineral Powder and Nars bronzer (which you can see here).

Here are the jewellery purchases. The collar is from H&M - i can't take it off! Nor can i take off the silver bangle from Monki, it was a mere £3 and it slides on the wrist to look like two thin metal bangles! The other bits are from Camden Markets.

Now here are two purchases from my favourite shops in London, it was the first time i've been to either or these shops and i loved them! The lace peplum top was another Monki item, £8 in the sale which i thought was amazing as it looks great on a night out or in the day with a black vest top underneath. The grey top is from Bershka - another £8 sale item! I love the studs on the shoulders.

The playsuit is from New Look (another sale item). I was surprised this playsuit suited me as they normally don't but this looks great and i can imagine me wearing it a lot - day, night, holiday!! Jeans - boring huh? These are from New Look, similar to ones i liked from Topshop but with a cheaper price tag so i couldn't resist. I also couldn't resist these floral pants from Zara again, pants don't normally suit me (i'm more of a jean, tights and leggins girl) but these looks amazing and definitely make a statement!


Last but not least, two more Zara purchases. Zara really impressed me, i'm sure the ones in Manchester aren't as good :( I literally squealed with excitement when i found this leather jacket, it feels so soft (like real leather apparently) and the best part is.. it was only £40! Cheaper than the ones in Topshop/Miss Selfridge which don't feel as nice and cost more. I also picked up this bag for £10, i'm unsure whether to keep this as i wanted a handbag as opposed to a shoulder bag. But i do like this as it's pretty big.


So yes, that is everything i bought. I wouldn't say it was a lot but it's not exactly little either ahaa (and i did by gifts too!) I don't know, shopping wise i loved the shops we don't get in Manchester like Monki, Bershka, Liberty. I weren't that impressed with though Forever 21 unfortunately.

What do you think of shopping in London? And what are your favourite shops (i like being nosey)? 

Birthday Haul!

Hey all! So i asked on Twitter if you'd like to see what i got for my birthday (which was yesterday if you're wondering) or what i got from london. The response was birthday haul so here it is!

I had a bit of a dilemma this year - i had no idea what i wanted present wise (normally, i have a list as long as my arm) But this year, there were only two things i wanted: Rio Sonicleanse and Burt's Bees Grab Bag but, sadly the grab bags are no longer available :(

Anyway, on to what i got from my family & boyfriend..

My Mum and Dad decided to go a little mad in Boots and get me a goody bag full of stuff. My mum said 'there you go, here's a haul for your blog'. I can't wait to use everything, might take me a while though. They know me so well: hand cream, hairspray & mango - perrrrrfect.

The Skin Wisdom stuff is from my boyfriends parents - i got a body lotion which is rose scented (yay) and a body oil which i can't wait to try.  And i finally have my hands on some Burt's Bees products - finally - thanks to my parents! And a little manicure set for in my bag for any nail emergencies. 

My mum & dad also got me the Rio Sonicleanse which is a more affordable version of a Clarisonic and well worth it in my opinion. I've already used it and like it already. Can't wait to review it for you in the future. I also got the new Katie Price novel off my Nanna - don't judge me but i love them!!

Last but not least are the presents from my boyfriend. He bought me the Nars 'Casino' bronzer when we was in London as so many people recommended it! And he also demanded to pay for the Laura Mericer Mineral Powder Foundation too. Both products i am LOVING and so glad i got! He also surprised me to Topshop Vectra's which i forgot to get in London. I'm so happy with these, they're super comfy and look amazing!

Anyhow, that's everything i got present wise - everything i wanted and more! I got bits of money too go shopping (which i did today) and get anything else i was lusting after. Safe to say after my birthday and London i don't need to go shopping for a while!

Is there anything you're lusting after recently? Whats on your wishlist?  

p.s. The London haul is on it's way tomorrow!

Favourite Mascara & Combination.

Hello! I've been wanting to do this post for such a long time as who doesn't want a good mascara? Mascara is definitely one of my 'must have' makeup items - i feel odd and weird looking without it! I love the definition it gives to my eyes.

What i look for in a mascara..
It's simple really, volume and length. I'm not overly fussy about it being 'super black' or holding curl although they are good extra's too ;) I like my lashes to look really full and noticeably longer!

So, above (to the left) are my two favourite/most used mascara's.

I have been using Avon SuperShock for years and have always loved it and re-purchased! But, this is my first ever tube of Maxfactor False Lash Effect Fusion, it was a present from a friend who thought i'd love it and rightly so, i did. Both these mascara's are very similar - basically the same. If i put one on one eye and the other on the other you cannot tell the difference atall the finish is exactly the same. Both add lots of volume (hello voluminous lashes!) and add some length although they are not dramatically long! Both are the perfect day mascara - two coats and you're good to go for the rest of the day, they do hold curl but don't create it.

As you can see, all the mascara's have a rubber brush rather than the spooly type brushes. I personally prefer these brushes and find they work much better.


Here comes my favourite and much loved mascara combination;
My mum kindly returned home one day with the George Lash Xtend mascara from Asda as she knew i was running out of my two favourites above. As you can tell from the name, this mascara's sole purpose is to lengthen the lashes and x-tend them. Used alone it does just that, it makes lashes really long but you get that spider leg effect where it looks like you only have 6 long eyelashes (i hate that).

So, because i hate wasting products i decided to layer it over the Maxfactor False Lash Effect Fusion.
What do you get? The perfect volunimous, long, full, bold lashes. Bit dramatic but it's true. The George mascara adds the extra length you don't get from the Maxfactor or Avon one.

Doing this little combo doesn't take any more time or effort as i always do two coats of mascara anyway. So i use the Maxfactor or Avon mascara as a first coat then use the George one for the second coat.

TOP - left eye with the combination, right eye mascara free!
BOTTOM - both eyes using my fave combo

Have you tried any of these mascara's? What do you look for in a mascara?