L'Oreal: Spicy Orange Nails.

Hi Everyone, I hope you're all having a good week.

Today I just have a super quick post of a NOTD from a while ago. I don't know why it never got posted.

This is one of the L'Oreal Color Riche nail polishes and this shade is Spicy Orange. These polishes are great, have great colour pay off, last well, come in a range of lovely colours and have the lovliest brush to apply with.

Spicy orange was a colour that I didn't think I'd like that much at first because I've never really been into orange, but when I applied it I feel in love with it, it is so bright and eye catching, but totally not garish.

They are so opaque too, this shade could have been good with one coat, but I went for two thinner coats.

Love, love it!

2012 Beauty Favourites.

Revlon Lip Butter - Lollipop.

Hey folks!

I hope you're all doing well. You may notice a few changes around here... I've been busy for most of the day, prettifying my blog! I felt like it was time for a spruce up and whenever I change things up it gives me even more passion to blog, because it looks so pretty! Let me know your thoughts on the new look.

Today I wanted to post a little review/lipstick love post about a lip butter that I've been wearing lots since I puchased it. It's the Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop and it's a gorgeous hot pink shade. I did review a couple of these last year here and I really liked them. I saw this shade in Boots and had to get it.

Lollipop is super bright, leaves a gorgeous glossy finish (like they all do) and feels so smooth and hydrating on the lips. I just love how easy these are to apply on the go because they are quite sheer and glossy, and I love how nice they feel.

A lovely shade, don't you think?!

Lip Butters can be purchased at Boots // £7.99.

Sunday Makeup. Naked Palette Style!

For Christmas I got a new camera, which I love so much, my old FOTD camera was on it's last legs and my Mum had taken note and she gave me a lovely shiny new one at Christmas. I have to say though, it is SO weird getting to grips with a new camera when you are in a groove with the old one, and how you hold it and angle it to get the best pics.

This new camera also has an intense flash, which is great for most things, but for FOTD images it's a pain in the neck because it washes out the face and makes you look ghostly.  So, after a few weeks of experimenting I think I may have finally (just about) got the knack of it, and found a solution to the flash problemmo... taping a small piece of tissue on the flash to diffuse it a little. I am such a pro! Haha.

Today is the first day I have worn makeup all week! It always feels odd putting it on after so long. I've been unwell with a cold and tonsilitus and putting makeup on has been the last thing on my mind, but I thought it might perk me up today as I am starting to feel a little better.

I used my Naked palette from Urban Decay for the eyes (which I don't use enough!), I can't list the shades as I was just mixing a few of the shades until I got a look I wanted.  The main lid colour is sin though, virgin on the brow bone and then some browns in the crease and on the lower lashline, I have half baked on the inner corners of the lower lashline.

For my face I used my new NYC foundation for the first time, I recently mentioned it in a haul and I am quite impressed, it has a nice finish, but isn't very full coverage. I'll review it when I've tried it some more. My cheeks are contoured a little with Bahama Mama from the Balm and the blusher is the Coral blush box from Mememe.

Finally for my lips I used my Barry M Red lipliner all over and then a little of the No17 Mirrorshine lipstick in beehive on top to make it more pink toned and add a shine!

REN: Clean Skincare. Mask and Serum.

My skincare at the moment is all over the place. I'm trying a few new products to try and battle my skin problems (adult acne) which has got worse recently. I got these two products from REN, a brand which I have never tried. I did a bit of research and I could find were good things which made me excited to try.

I love a good clay facemask and this one from REN was a real standout for me. I am new to using serums on my skin and am only just getting into the habit of religiously putting it on.

Let's start with the Omega 3 Night Repair Serum: I'm loving this serum, I really like that it's just for the evening, I really don't like to overload my face with product when I am putting makeup on for the day, because I have oily skin... So I much prefer an evening treat that can be left to do it's work while I sleep. 

I apply this to damp skin (after cleansing) and then I apply my moisturiser over top. This sinks in really quickly and feels really lightweight, the only one small thing I dislike is it has a not very nice smell, but you can't smell it once it has soaked in and it's worth it for the results.  When I wake the morning after wearing this my skin feels so good! Plump, hydrated and looks glowing too. I've tried other serums and always wondered what the point was, but this was gives me a visible result and makes my skin look and feel really good.

The Invisible Pores Detox Mask is fabulous and perfect for my acne prone, oily skin. It's a clay mask that is a thick texture. It does tighten your skin as it dries, but I like the feeling, it's not uncomfortable. I leave this on until it's completely dried and then rinse with warm water.

After just one use of this my skin looked so different, my spots looked less red, my skin looked matte and glowy at the same time and it looked and felt so smooth. This is literally an amazing pick me up for the skin! I love that my skin stayed matte all day the next day after I used this and the texture looked so even and smooth. My pores look slightly smaller immediately after using this, but that is from it's tightening effect as it dries I think, I'm not sure anything can really reduce them permanently. I love this mask and never want to be without it, I love how it made my skin look and feel.

Do you have any REN recommendations?

Some New Things! ♡

It’s funny, when I haven’t had money to personally spend on myself for such a long time, then I get some and I’m stuck on what to do with it.

What I mean is that I got money for my Birthday and Christmas and I went shopping last week and spent a little of it on this little lot, but I didn’t go crazy. I think when you have to be so careful about your spending if you don’t have a lot of money, it kind of carries over into money you have to actually spend on you.

Anyway, ramble over. I had some money and so I went to Boots and Superdrug. I knew there were a few things I wanted, like the Real Techniques Brushes and the Effaclar Duo. The others were random, but things I sort of needed/wanted.

I was sad when the Boot Botanics range changed because for a while my boots didn’t have any of the makeup remover they used to do, so I was worried it hadn’t been carried over in their packaging change, but when I checked last week I found this. I love this makeup remover, it removes so well and is less that three pounds.

I got the core collection of brushes from Real Techniques. I love brushes SO much and especially eye brushes, but the face ones called to me much more, especially the buffing and contour brush. I’ll have a more full review of these soon.

As I mentioned in a mini post last week, I got the Effaclar Duo. I have to say I was having good results after just a couple of days, but last weekend I got sick with tonsillitis, which I am still suffering with, and to be honest everything went out of the window, I would just cleanse and slap on some Liz Earle moisturiser to be quick. Because I’ve been run down my skin isn’t at its best at the moment so I have started again today and I am hoping to see good things. I will review this eventually.

Collection (2000) lasting perfection concealer is a must for me so I picked another one up. I messed up though, I usually use fair and I picked up light… I am yet to see if this works for me. I feel it may be too dark. Great concealer though, long lasting and good coverage!

I picked up the MUA bits to try because I’ve only really tried their palettes (which I love) I have seen lots of raves about their lipsticks, so I got a red (to add to my collection of reds!) which is a lovely glossy, pigmented shade. I also got a lip liner which is a great colour, but it is very soft and needs sharpening lots, but for £1 it’s a total bargain… Then I got the nail caviar bead things, I haven’t tried this before, but I’ve seen it on others and I like the look of the effect, the MUA one is called constellations, and I got Libra, just because I liked the colours the most.

From NYC I picked up a foundation, I did have the Rimmel wake me up in my hand to purchase and then I spotted this.. How cheap is NYC by the way?! All under £3. This sounded really good and was £2.49! I haven’t tried it yet, and I didn’t really need it, but I wanted something new to try with the new Real Techniques brush! (Haha) … The foundation has good reviews on Makeup Alley though.

Finally, some No7 Boots quick thinking wipes. I got a £5 off voucher in Boots so used it to get these, which I have never tried, they were £2 though, so I thought why not. They are good for a quick clean up and for travel. I don’t use wipes to cleanse though, just to freshen up and stuff. These seem nice.

Glossybox: January Detox...

It feels like so long since I spoke about a Glossybox here. I love getting these each month and seeing what surprises are in store! The last few have been great boxes and for January they have a Detox themed box, full of treats to pamper yourself with... So let's take a look!

Eco Boutique Body Lotion: This is a brand I've never heard of but I am excited to try it out. It's an aloe leaf and green tea lotion that is supposedly great for detoxing the skin after the winter months (which we still have!) It's free from any bad ingredients and packaged in a bottle that is made from 97% recycled materials. I love these small sizes, they are perfect for travel.

Monu Micro Exfoliant: I've had products in my Glossybox from Monu before and they've always been good. I like the sound of this exfoliator, it is said to reduce fine lines and pores and give the skin radiance. It has hydrating ingredients like papaya and shea butter.

Murad Ultimate Moisture Eye Cream: I've never tried Murad before but I have read only good things, so I am looking forward to seeing how this performs. It's an eye cream that is all about hydrating the area, which can often get dry and then cause wrinkles - this is said to last for up to 8 hours.

BM Beauty Dewy Finishing Powder: This is a multi taking powder that is 100% naturally mineral. Worn alone it will create a dewy finish, under your foundation on fine lines and blemishes or as a finishing powder, on top of foundation to keep everything in place. It makes a great highlighter too. I swatched this and it's finely milled with a very subtle shimmer when blended.

Sanctuary Spa Thermal Transformaton Mask: This sounds amazing! There is a serum and a mask and then say that when used they will dramatically improve the appearance of the skin in two steps, instantly! Although constant use for four weeks is needed to firm and refine the skin. You just apply the serum, then the mask on the face and neck, you should feel a warming effect... let that cool and then rinse. I can't wait to give this a go!

Glossybox Eyemask: Just a cute little addition from Glossybox, a sleep mask! I used to own onwe but I have no idea where it is, so I'm glad to have this.

For more on glossybox, click here.

♡ Birthday Gifts!

Hey everyone!

For my birthday this year I got some really lovely gifts, as well as some money and chocolates (the usual!) ... Anyway, I wanted to do a little birthday haul when I got these but I haven't really blogged much since I got back from my Mum's. I intended on getting into the swing and taking some photos and recording some videos this week, but I've now come down with tonsilitis and I am feeling rather rough!

So here are the gifts from my Mum. I love them!

♡ Heart Locket and Heart Earrings:
These were a special present from my Mum for me to remember my 30th Birthday by. They are so pretty and sparkly and I'd like to put some pictures in the locket. Maybe one of my Mum, Sister and me.

♡ Illamasqua Freak Perfume:
Amazing fragrance. I LOVE THIS. Ever since I smelt the sample that I got I have wanted it, but it's just so expensive so I wasn't sure it would ever happen. My Mum found out and decided to surprise me. I am so happy to own this, it will be worn only for special occasions!

♡ Illamasqua Cream Blush 'Betray':
 I am yet to try this but it is a gorgeous deep berry shade. I've never tried an Illamasqua blush product before but I am into cream blushers and really want to add more to my collection, so this is perfect!

♡ Westlife, Farewell Tour DVD:
I still haven't watched this yet, but I can't wait. I have always loved Westlife and I have seen them live on almost every tour they did... Sadly I missed the farewell tour though because I had recently had surgery, so I got the DVD. This was a nice surprise, I saw the adverts and it looks so sad! Yay for Westlife!

Effaclar Duo Bandwagon!

Today I went shopping with some Birthday/Christmas money and I had a little list of things that I had wanted to pick up for a while. I'll have a little haul post up for that soon.

One of things that I am excited about though, is the La-Roche Posay - Effaclar Duo cream. Now, let me tell you, I've always suffered with bad skin since I was a teenager, it just never went away and I still almost always have some kind of blemish on my face... I think I learned to just get on with it, slap on the concealer and live with it. But recently, since about October time, it has gotten way worse - so bad that it's bothering me a lot, it's really acne like, clusters of big, sore, red bumps, mainly along my cheeks, jaw and neck.. :(

Anyway, there has been a ton of hype about this product on the blogosphere lately and I only heard about it last week, but after seeing a few more reviews about how it is amazing, I couldn't not get it! I had heard it was hard to pick up, but luckily I walked into Boots today and there it was, waiting for me. It cost £13 and I have high hopes for it. (Fingers crossed, anyway!)

I'll let you know how I get on. If you've tried this please let me know how it was for you, and if you have any other skincare tips, I'd appreciate them.

Hello! New Year, Hair, Etc!

Wow!

Hi everyone. Happy New Year!

I hope that you all had a wonderful festive season. I haven’t done a blogpost for so long and I didn’t realise how long. I got so into being at my Mum’s that I barely turned my laptop on while I was there! I was just happy spending quality time with my family.

Anyway, it’s a new year and I fully intend on getting back into proper blogging mode soon. I got lots of lovely gifts for my Birthday and Christmas, some which I definitely want to mention here. I may even record a Christmas haul on my You Tube channel at some point.

Oh, I had the chop while I was at my Mum’s! She is my personal hairdresser and I don’t really trust anyone else with my hair. My hair was like this before, ombred and long and I just felt like I wanted something noticeably different, so I googled a few pics, this one being my main inspiration, and I went for it. It has taken me a while to get used to it not being long anymore, but I really like it now. Here it is! (I am tempted to re-ombre.. Thoughts?!)

Thanks for all being such great followers. Here's to 2013! May it be a good one. See you all soon!