Cosm(etics, )etc.

Sophie's Everyday Makeup Look

2014-10-01T13:00:00.000+01:00

This is my usual everyday makeup look when I'm going out for the day.

For my skin I use Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation in 'I'm Pure 4 Sure' with Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer Kit in 'Light' to conceal blemishes.

I then use Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer & Highlighter in 'Ivory' for under my eyes.

To mattify my makeup I use Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot.

I then use Soap & Glory Love At First Blush to add colour to my cheeks.

For my eyebrows, I use Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil in 'Deep Brown' to fill in my brows, followed by Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel.

On my eyes, I use Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 'Black' for my winged eyeliner, then Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara for my top lashes, and Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara for my bottom lashes, followed by the Barry M Kohl Pencil in 'White' to highlight the inner corner of my eyes.

Finally, for my lips I use the Yves Rocher Sheer Botanical Lipstick in 'Corail Doux'.

Thanks for reading!

- Sophie x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #17

2014-09-29T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #17: Student discount [Part 2 of 2 - UNiDAYS]
UNiDAYS is another form of student discount and this one is free to access, unlike the NUS card. UNiDAYS is more suited to online shopping, but the mobile app does allow access to student discount on the high street too. UNiDAYS also have a Share & Earn scheme, by which you can earn a little bit of money by sharing UNiDAYS with your friends. We'd love it if you could help the upkeep of our blog by joining UNiDAYS through our referral code (it's available to anyone aged over 16 and in full-time education). It offers great discounts at a huge range of stores, including Hollister, Cath Kidston and H&M.
Our UNiDAYS referral link is:
https://www.myunidays.com/r/AMci63p_gCM

Thank you!

Sophie's Outfit Of The Day

2014-09-24T13:00:00.000+01:00

Today I went into town to look around and do some window shopping.

I am wearing:

Black Cami Top - River Island

Black Leather Look Skater Skirt - Miss Selfridge

Purple Knit Cardigan - New Look

Black Suede Ankle Boots - New Look

Tan Tights - Marks & Spencer

- Sophie x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #16

2014-09-22T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #16: Student discount [Part 1 of 2 - NUS]
In the UK, there are two major types of student discount available. The first is NUS, a card costing about £12 a year, which is well worth it as I personally have saved over £150 in my first year of owning one. NUS discount is available at places such as Superdrug, Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Accessorize, as well as allowing you to save on things such as meals out at Pizza Hut or Frankie & Benny's, helping to make your overall budget go further.

Molly's Night-Time Skincare Routine

2014-09-17T13:00:00.001+01:00

After removing my contact lenses, I start removing my eye makeup with the No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Makeup Remover (1), which is an oil-based makeup remover so it's really good for getting off stubborn and waterproof mascara, and it also conditions the lashes. Usually I shake it first to mix the solution together and then tip it onto a wet cotton pad which I hold on my eye for a few seconds to take everything off.

If I'm feeling lazy, I take off the rest of my makeup with the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (2) which removes makeup, cleanses and tones. Then I finish off with a moisturiser.

On nights when I don't mind spending a bit more time removing my makeup, I use the universally acclaimed Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (3). This creamy cleanser has a wonderful fresh scent and can be used to remove face and eye makeup in one go; you simply massage it onto your face and rinse off with a warm muslin cloth or flannel.

About 3 times a week, I use the Sk:n Facial Exfoliating Cleanser for Normal Skin (4). This is a fairly new find for me, my mum was recommended it on a trip to the Sk:n clinic as it is a great exfoliant but isn't abrasive - great if you don't want to damage your skin with harsh beads or pulling and tugging. It also works especially well on spot-prone skin due to the active ingredients Glycolic acid and Glycerine. Glycolic acid is a gentle chemical exfoliant which removes dead skin cells and clears out the pores for more radiant skin, and the Glycerine acts as a natural moisturiser to ensure the skin doesn't feel stripped. This is a really great products and can work well for people of many ages. However, due to the chemical exfoliant ingredients, it is best used at night followed by sun protection the next day, and should not be used more than three times per week.

If I feel like I need some extra exfoliation at any point, I will go to Soap & Glory's Scrubatomic (5) as it's not too harsh, but leaves the skin feeling soft and supple.

For spot treatments, I rely on a mixture. I use a tiny amount of pure tea tree oil (6) on a wet cotton pad (so it's not too harsh). I use this after removing my makeup as an antibacterial spot treatment. I also use the Clinique Spot Gel (6) on no-makeup days or after the tea tree oil treatment. Both treatments work for me but can be a little drying so they require a good follow-up moisturiser to prevent dry patches forming. I would recommend Simple's Kind To Skin Vital Vitamin Night Cream (7), and Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream (7). I also use a very small layer of Sudocrem on any spots as a less drying alternative - I even sometimes sleep with a small layer on the very pesky spots (trying not to get any on my pillow!)

Last but certainly not least, the lips! People often tend to forget that the lips need just as much care and attention as the rest of the skin. Lips often need some exfoliation, but as they are so sensitive it's important to be gentle. I use the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub (8) and follow it up with either Cocoa Butter Vaseline (8) or Maybelline's medicated Dr Rescue Baby Lips (8).

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to check out Paris' and Sophie's skincare posts too! Feel free to drop us a line if you have any suggestions on particular posts you'd like to see, or any general feedback. We'd really appreciate it.

- Molly x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #15

2014-09-15T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #15: Check your wardrobe
Before you go clothes shopping it's useful to check out your wardrobe and identify any 'gaps' you may have - this way, you can buy something you need to match with something you already have to complete an outfit.
Additionally, you can avoid wasting money on something too similar to something you already have.

Ditch Or Download: Ensemblr App for iOS

2014-09-12T13:00:00.000+01:00

Ensemblr is a great idea for an app, and I like how you can find outfits that fit together and imagine it being laid out, as well as you being able to see immediately the price of the item and where to buy it.
The settings allow you to filter by item, price range, brands and retailers. Using the settings, you can also look for recently released items.
When looking at items you find and love on the app, you're able to look online for the item too, to buy it, and there is the option of putting it as a favourite in your wardrobe for later.

However, I found it slightly annoying to use as you could only scroll forwards and it takes ages to find something you want, and when you do, the system may not be up to date and the items may be out of stock online. I also found if you go off the app for a second, when you go back on, it takes you back to the start of the clothes - meaning you have to start scrolling again.

Overall, I found the app a little boring and pointless as although it's a nice idea, I personally find it much easier to search for items on retailers' websites. The app simply wasn't for me.

Verdict: Ditch

Sophie's Face Of The Day

2014-09-10T13:00:00.000+01:00

Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation in 'I'm Pure 4 Sure'

Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer Kit in 'Light'

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer & Highlighter in 'Ivory'

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer In 'Fair'

Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot

Soap & Glory Love At First Blush

Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl In 'Superblack'

Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara

Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil in 'Deep Brown'

Barry M Kohl Eye Pencil in 'White'

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 'Black'

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

NARS Sheer Lipstick in 'Dolce Vita'

- Sophie x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #14

2014-09-08T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #14: Dupes
There are many dupes (cheaper and similar alternatives to the more expensive products) in the makeup world. Dupes for clothing and accessories also exist, often sold by Zara and Primark.
Lancôme, L'Oréal, Bobbi Brown and Maybelline are all owned by the same parent company, and often they may sell the exact same product but with different packaging and for a different price.

Ditch Or Download #4: H&M App For Android

2014-09-05T13:00:00.000+01:00

Upon recently installing the H&M app on my phone, I have not been disappointed in doing so! The app's design is very neat, professional and easy to navigate, as well as the app serving all the functions that I would expect of it - and more!

In the Shop section, you can filter products by item, colour, size and 'concept' very easily, and you also have the option of choosing multiple colours, sizes or 'concepts' to filter by in any one search. As well as this, I found it very hassle-free to add products to the bag for checkout.

The Inspiration section is great for finding outfit ideas, or keeping up with the latest trends. There are lots of videos, photos and articles to really get you inspired with fashion and beauty.

The My H&M section of the app has the option of location-based offers and fashion news via push notifications to your phone, as well as an order tracking service.

In Support, I found information on contacting the company, or following their social media, and the Store Locator picks up your GPS to find a store nearby, whilst also specifying what departments the store stocks (Ladies, Kids, etc.).

The app seems to run very smoothly and is very easy to use, whilst also having so much available at the simple touch of a button.

Verdict: Download

Sophie's Outfit Of The Day

2014-09-03T13:00:00.001+01:00

Brown Suede Ankle Boots - New Look

Tide Beach Tank - Hollister

Jeggings - River Island

- Sophie x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #13

2014-09-01T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #13: Split the delivery cost
If your friends are planning to order from the same store as you, order together and you can split the cost of delivery - or even get free delivery by spending a certain amount between you!

US & Canada One Direction Makeup Giveaway

2014-08-31T13:18:00.000+01:00

A new cosmetics range has recently been released in the USA (in association with Markwins Beauty), Makeup by One Direction. It first made its way to Macy's earlier this August and has since been released at Stage Store, Dillards, Beauty Brands, and Lord & Taylor. International release dates are yet to be announced. The collection includes three different travel-ready makeup kits, named after One Direction's hits: Midnight Memories, Take Me Home and Up All Night. All of the kits include a lip gloss, an eyeshadow palette, a lipstick, mascara, nail varnish and eye crayon. It strikes me as a perfect gift for the teenage One Direction fan, and the three different kits include different colour schemes, described by the brand as one for the 'rock n roll girl', one for the 'fun party girl' and one for the 'girl next door'.

For our US and Canada readers, Markwins Beauty is hosting a giveaway! You can find the details of how to enter below - good luck!!

Find the brand on Facebook

Ditch Or Download #3: Boot's App For Android

2014-08-29T13:00:00.000+01:00

The Boot's app is quite a new release for both Android and iOS, and on the Android operating system, I'm having mixed views about it. A lot of other users have been having issues logging into the app at all, and although I personally have not experienced this, I feel that the app can take a little longer than I would like to load things. Despite its slowness, the navigation buttons are well-sized, unlike some apps with which great touch-screen precision is required to get around the app.

I haven't yet gotten around to using any of the offers in the My Offers section, but the offers I have seen on it look great, and tailored to my buying habits. I like the idea of being able to upload the offers straight to the Advantage Card, saving the use of printed coupons, assuming that the function works as it should! The offers available also don't look too demanding in terms of what you have to buy or spend to get the offer.

The store locator is great for when I'm elsewhere in Britain, as it has the option of a map view or a list view and the option to search by city, postcode or your phone's GPS for a nearby store.

Overall, I think that the slow running and occasional glitch of the app should be looked past (as an update further down the line may put a stop to this). This app is definitely worth downloading if you're a regular cosmetics buyer just for the fantastic discounts and points-boosting offers it has available.

Verdict: Download

What do you think of the Boot's app? Have you had any of the same troubles I've had? I'd love to hear any of your comments in the box below or via our social media! Thanks for reading!

- Paris x

Molly's Outfit Of The Day

2014-08-27T13:00:00.000+01:00

It wasn't particularly Summery today - typical British Summer! So I opted for this cool and comfortable layered outfit.

Kimono - New Look

Cami Top - Dorothy Perkins

Jeggings - River Island

Converse - Office

- Molly x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #12

2014-08-25T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #12: Delivery options
Ordering to store is often cheaper than home delivery. Also, standard delivery is much cheaper than next-day delivery so it's helpful to get organised when thinking of placing an order for something!

Ditch Or Download #2: NUS App For Android

2014-08-22T13:00:00.000+01:00

NUS App For Android

Although, this app sometimes lags a little, it is very useful for owners of NUS cards (student discount) as there are so many stores and businesses offering student discount it can be hard to keep track. This app neatly organised them all into different categories, such as ‘Fashion & Accessories’, and ‘Hair, Beauty & Chemist’, as well as there being a search bar to make finding out about student discount very quick and easy.

Verdict: Download

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this app, or any other shopping app recommendations you may have! Thanks for reading, the rest of the Ditch Or Download series is here.

- Paris x

Paris' Outfit Of The Day

2014-08-20T15:53:00.000+01:00

Playsuit - Warehouse

Denim Jacket - New Look

Shoes - New Look

Bowler Hat - Miss Selfridge

What are your favourite pieces of clothing for the Summer? I'd love to read your comments!

- Paris x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #11

2014-08-18T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #11: Beauty Bay
Beauty Bay often have deals on, with lots of discount codes flying around the internet for a wide range of products!

Primark Travel Minis Haul

2014-08-15T13:00:00.000+01:00

Primark is usually the last place I would shop for toiletries, but whilst browsing around Primark recently I took a stroll down the cosmetics aisle, where I spotted shelves of travel minis! I decided to purchase a few to help lighten the load of my (always full to bursting) toiletry bag, ready for my holiday.

Although this isn't the most groundbreaking of posts, I had to share my excitement over the mini shaving cream! As we all know, shaving cream is impossible to transfer into a smaller, travel-sized bottle and is not only heavy, but bulky, to pack. I didn't want to go without any and cause razor burn, so this was a great find.

I also thought that the four-pack of powder puffs for just £1 was great value for money, and I will definitely be stocking up on them.

All items pictured above are available cheaply from Primark.

I hope you enjoyed this little travel-themed post in light of the peak travel season. Let us know your favourite travel and packing tips, we'd love to hear from you!

- Molly x

NOTE: Apologies for the change in posting schedule, we'll return to our Ditch Or Download series next Friday - we just wanted to get this Summer post out sooner rather than later!! x

Product Review: Body Sorbet (The Body Shop)

2014-08-13T13:00:00.000+01:00

The Body Shop recently released a new product, a Body Sorbet. It's a version of the traditional body butter we all know so well, designed more for a warm Summer day. As I liked the free sample I was given on my way into the store so much, I decided to go ahead and purchase a couple for myself.

The Body Sorbet comes in five different scents - satsuma, strawberry, mango, moringa and pink grapefruit. I purchased the Strawberry Body Sorbet and the Mango Body Sorbet, and the 10% off I receive on all purchases with my Love Your Body Membership Card (which, by the way, is free for students, and well worth the £5 if not), knocked the already great price of £8 each down to a happy £7.20 per Body Sorbet.

My favourite thing about this new product is how great it is for hot Summer days, being very cool against the skin on application, with its gel-like formula being far lighter than a body butter - avoiding the 'cakey skin' feeling that body butters can sometimes leave you with.
The product claims to "leave the body instantly moisturised" and I can't argue with that. After applying the sorbet, it soaks quickly and easily into the skin and leaves it feeling cool, refreshed and - most importantly - moisturised.
In terms of the scent, I don't find either scents to be overpoweringly fruity. In fact, they're just the right strength to make your skin smell naturally fresh, and not as though you've just spent the past hour having strawberries and mangoes pelted at you.

I do however find it a shame that the product isn't available in smaller, travel-sized tubes as, unlike a body butter which is generally only used after baths or showers, it's a great on-the-go moisturiser for cooling down and refreshing your skin on a hot day! But, with its claim of "up to 24 hours hydration", the product's lack of portability isn't a particularly huge issue.

Overall, I think that as an 'industry first', The Body Shop have given us rather a treat with this light, cooling and hydrating moisturiser for only £4 per 100ml! I'm in no doubt that I'll be keeping stocked up on the Body Sorbet for many Summers to come.

Have you tried the new Body Sorbet from The Body Shop? I'd love to know your thoughts on it or on your favourite body moisturising products, so please feel free to leave a comment below.
- Paris x

Money-saving Monday: Tip #10

2014-08-11T13:00:00.000+01:00

Tip #10: Online shopping discount codes

Wait! Before you head to the final checkout, quickly google for any discount codes - you can often find one that works!

Money-saving tips posted here every Monday at 1pm

Ditch Or Download: O2 Priority Moments App For Android

2014-08-08T13:00:00.000+01:00

For O2 customers, a lot of 'priority moments' are available, and they're constantly updating so you can usually find something you like at some point (although you have to check back quite regularly to make sure you don't miss anything).
There is often an offer for The Body Shop for half price on a purchase after spending a certain amount (with the amount having to be spent being changed every so often). It’s a great offer to make the most out of by perhaps splitting the cost between friends. Discounts are also often available at places such as The Fragrance Shop (such as £10 off anything with no minimum spend), or restaurants and cafés - to help stretch your overall budget that little bit further.

The offers are categorised into ‘Nearby’ and ‘Online’, with the ‘Nearby’ section picking up your phone’s GPS and finding discounts close to you. The offers are further categorised into sections such as ‘Food & Drink’, ‘Shopping’, and many more, so you’re never far from finding a great bit of discount.

The app is free, and available for Android and iOS, but only for customers of the O2 mobile network.

Verdict: Download

I hope you enjoyed the first app review in our Ditch Or Download series. We'd love to hear your opinions on the app, or any other app recommendations you may have so don't hesitate to get in touch via our social media, linked to on the sidebar!

- Paris x

Liebster Award

2014-08-07T21:31:00.000+01:00

Thank you so much to Hannah at http://the-thing-about-my-life.blogspot.co.uk/ for nominating us for the Liebster Award! We have in fact moved web addresses since the nomination, so we apologise for any convenience that may cause.
EDIT: We were also nominated by Eera at http://adventure-fairytales.blogspot.sg/ and Caiti at http://caitlintries.blogspot.co.uk/ - Thank you!

The rules for this award are:
You must answer all questions that are given to youMust link back to the person that nominated youNominate 11 bloggersProvide nominees with 11 questions of your choiceCannot nominate the person who nominated youMust inform nominees of your nominationProvide nominees with a link to your post for more info

Questions:
1) Who is your favourite Disney character who is not a ‘main character.’
Paris: Jock from Lady & The Tramp
2) If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Sophie: New York!
3) What is your ‘go to’ fancy dress costume?
Paris: my Eleventh Doctor-inspired outfit, I'm waiting for a Doctor Who event to wear it at :D
4) Name three films which make you cry every time you watch them.
Sophie: The Notebook, Titanic and Marley & Me
5) Favourite sandwich filling?
Sophie: Ham salad
6) What is your worst habit?
Paris: Biting my nails...
7) If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?.
Molly: Spaghetti Bolognaise
Sophie: Shepherd's pie
8) Who is your style icon?
Molly: Selena Gomez or Emma Stone
9) What is your life’s greatest ambition?
Paris: To see as much of the world as possible
10) Who is your most embarrassing crush?
Molly: Michael J Fox Jr - from watching Back To The Future when I was younger
11) Who is the most influential person in your life?
Molly: Probably my mum

Our questions for our nominees:
1. What is your favourite makeup brand?
2. What is your favourite clothing store?
3. Your most-used makeup product?
4. Your go-to skincare product(s)?
5. What is/was your favourite subject at school?
6. Your favourite music artist?
7. The best holiday you ever had?
8. Your favourite TV show?
9. What is your favourite social network/social media?
10. Who would you want to play you in a film about your life?
11. Why did you start blogging?

We nominate:1. http://vanillainnovember.blogspot.co.uk/
2. http://www.brendabusybee.blogspot.co.uk/
3. http://ellawashere.com/
4. http://www.kayleighanderson.com/
5. http://marthadahhling.blogspot.co.uk/
6. http://reflectionofsanity.blogspot.co.uk/
7. http://emlota.wordpress.com/
8. http://marshmellowbyeva.blogspot.com.es/
9. http://www.christinanista.com/
10. http://www.justkirsten.co.uk/
11. http://ellenwarnerxo.blogspot.co.uk/

Hello from Cosmetc's new web address!

2014-08-07T13:11:00.001+01:00

You may or may not have noticed a lot of posts being published today on this blog. That's because we are currently transferring our blog from Tumblr to Blogger/Blogspot. We feel that Blogger is much better equipped to our needs as beauty and fashion bloggers, whilst Tumblr is better suited to other styles of post.
We have already transferred all 29 of the posts published on Cosmetc's tumblr so far, and we will be posting straight to Blogger from now on. Our tumblr will still be used, but more to link our Tumblr followers over to our new blog.
Thank you for stopping by, we look forward to our fresh start here on Blogger.

- Cosmetc x