* ♔ P R I N C E S S L I V I A ♥ *

What I'm Loving This Week

2012-02-09T07:51:00.001Z

Hello everyone! It's Thursday and I can't believe we've already gone through half of the week. I'm currently having a break from making my presentation due tomorrow (oops!) and I want to share with you the products I have been loving both this week and last week. Well you already have a clue to what the first product on the list is *Subtlety was never a strong trait of mine...*. Now enough of my rambling, on to the rest of the post! :)

MAC Blonde Mineralised Skin Finish - £20.50

This product is so beautiful. This is a gradient of 4 shimmery pink colours from pale pink to light-medium pink. It is shimmery but not glittery at all. I have been using the palest pink colour as brow highlight and nose-highlight, all 4 shades swirled together on the eyelid, and the darkest pink shade as cheekbone highlight (with my trusty MAC 165 brush - a small tapered brush). This MSF is a wonderful multi-tasking product. I just love the pink sheen! However, be careful not to over-do it, as the shimmers can make your face look a bit oily.

I Love... Juiced Up Blackcurrant Bubble Bath and Shower Crème - £2.05

This body wash is such a treat! It smells of sweet blackcurrant, which lingers on even after you wash. I tend to take showers, not baths, and it works well as a shower creme. It is non-drying and does not seem to irritate my skin. If you love sweet berry scents and if you love Blackcurrant, this is for you. It is pretty affordable, too; it retails for £2.05 for a large 500ml bottle. This Blackcurrant wash is limited edition, so if you're interested, I recommend you checking this out at your local drugstores or purchasing online. I Love products come in a variety of fruity almost edible scents, I'm looking forward to trying more! http://www.ilovecosmetics.eu/

Lashem Picture Perfect Anti-Wrinkle Cream - $38.00

I haven't been sleeping well for the last few weeks - sleeping late, waking early; not good. As a result my eye bags have been pretty... baggy. These serums work by tightening your undereye area, as well as the surrounding skin (eg crow's feet). For the day, I squirt a bit of Lashem Picture Perfect on my finger, pat it around my eye area and wait for it to dry. I use it after washing my face and before foundation/moisturiser. http://www.lashem.com/

Lashem 3 in 1 Eye Bright - $39.99

I use Lashem 3 in 1 Eye Bright at night after moisturiser. I squirt a bit of Lashem Picture Perfect on my finger, pat it around my eye area and wait for it to dry. This one can slightly smell offensive (depending on your tolerance) as it contains urea. Both of these Lashem products seem to help my undereye area although I'm sorry I do not have before and after shots for you. http://www.lashem.com/

Montagne Jeunesse Sensuous Spice Self Heating Face Masque - £4.99

What better way to pamper yourself in this cold winter than a self-heating face mask? This has been my favourite face mask lately. This irresistibly spicy warming masque heats up and opens pores, ridding skin of any nasties in an instant. A gorgeous and exotic blend of Cinnamon, which brightens and tightens, and uplifting Ginger, leaves your skin radiant and deep-pore cleansed. I tend to use this in the shower. I leave this to work on my face as I apply my hair conditioner and then body soap, then I wash it right off. I love it! Montagne Jeunesse currently has a 4 for 3 offer on all face masks. They also offer free delivery for all orders over £7.50.http://www.montagnejeunesse.com/

Have you tried any of these products?
Do you have any new favourites lately? Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!

My Sleek MakeUP True Colour Lipstick Army

2012-02-06T18:44:00.004Z

WARNING: PICTURE-HEAVY POST!

Over the last year, I have accumulated a few Sleek MakeUP True Colour lipsticks. These are richly pigmented lipsticks that come in an affordable price. There are so many shades to choose from (20+) and they come in a variety of finishes - I have a few matte and sheen lipsticks. I also love the packaging, so sleek. *no pun intended!* They come in small black easy-grip plastic containers that don't look at all cheap. They are pretty light and easy to carry around.

Group hug!

The matte lipsticks are a quite drying *hence matte* and require some lip balm underneath for a smooth application. The Sheen lipsticks are similar to the MAC Amplified Creme finish albeit glossier, so creamy and easy to apply with a single stroke. The staying power is fantastic too.

Here are the individual lipsticks:

Cranberry - Matte dark berry. Previously reviewed here.

Cherry - Glossy dark red.

Stiletto - Matte bright red.

Candy Cane - Glossy hot reddish pink.

Heartbreaker - Matte hot reddish pink. (I think it was a mistake to buy this, looks too similar to Candy Cane!)

Amped - Matte hot bright blue-pink.

Peaches & Cream - Creamy glossy light peach.

Now here are swatches:

Cranberry, Cherry, Stiletto, Candy Cane, Heartbreaker, Amped, Peaches n Cream

And Lip swatches:

Sleek MakeUP Cranberry

Sleek MakeUP Cherry

Sleek MakeUP Stiletto

Sleek MakeUP Candy Cane

Sleek MakeUP Heartbreaker

Sleek MakeUP Amped

Sleek MakeUP Peaches & Cream

*phew, my lips need a break!*

Do you own any of the Sleek MakeUP True Colour lipsticks?
Which is your favourite?

I believe you can purchase this at your local Superdrug or the website: SleekMakeup.com What do you think? ♥ Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!

Want to advertise on my blog?

2012-02-06T09:35:00.003Z

I have received a lot of emails from different companies wanting to advertise on my blog. At first, I was very unsure as to how it works and how I would sell blog space, the different factors that contribute to how much one should charge, and whether I do want to sell blog space in the first place.

I found this link and found it to be a helpful read.

When I started this blog, I never intended to make a profit from it. I blogged for the love of it, and I still do. However, I do realise that this is quite an expensive hobby, with paying for the blog domain and buying all sorts of products to review. So rather than being neutral, I am actually making a loss and any little bit helps.

You would have noticed the different Google Ads on my blog. The Google Ads are quite difficult to earn any profit from, as they rely on a click-by-click basis. Each click gives me a few pence, from £0.01 to £0.25. Clicks are quite hard to get by, most days I earn nil, on good days, maybe 50p.

Advertising gives me the opportunity to make more from what I love doing. It's a give and take relationship with my clients. Each ad is viewed each time one of my readers visits the site. I have about 30,000 page views per month, so that means the ad is viewed that many times. At the same time I can make a little commission from the ad exposure, which is lot more rewarding than Google AdSense. I am not being greedy, just being practical.

Based on my research, I have come up with prices that differ depending on the ad size and location. I don't charge much and I consider my prices fair. I am also giving fellow bloggers 50% off the total price, compared to private companies as its only fair (they earn so much more!).

If you're interested, feel free to email me at princessliviaadspace @ gmail.com for more info.

So, want to advertise on my blog?

I would never be able to do this without you guys, thank you so much for reading my blog!

Look: Vegas Volt

2012-02-05T18:24:00.003Z

I wore this look to the ZOMG Bloggers Bash that I attended last week (read about the event here). Since it was hosted by the vintage-style cosmetics company Rockalilly, I decided to opt for a bright lip. I didn't quite feel like wearing red at the event, so I chose one of my favourite corals, MAC Vegas Volt. I'm wearing the Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Powder Pink that I got in my hot pink Glossybox, it makes my eyes look huuuge and I'm lovin' it. It's also the first time in the last 2 years *whew, has it been that long?* that I've worn false lashes, and I'm so happy it didn't end up a disaster! These amazing lashes are from KkCenterHK by the way, a wonderful source for cheap good quality false lashes, amongst other things. Well I hope you enjoy this look!

EYES:

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

MAC Eyeshadows in Cork (crease), Vanilla (highlight), Tissue Weight (lid)

Etude House Brow Pencil
Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Powder Pink

False Lashes: ES Brand A077 from KKCenterHK

MAC Avenue fluidline
FACESleek MakeUP New Skin Revive Foundation in SandBobbi Brown Corrector in Light PeachMAC Studio Fix Powder Plus in NC25MAC Blot Powder in MediumBenefit Hoola bronzerMAC Sweetness blushMAC Pearl cream colour base
LIPSMAC Vegas Volt lipstick

These photos were taken at the end of the night, when I got back to my flat. I apologise for looking a bit oily and gross, lol. :)

What do you think?

When it comes to bright lips, are you more of a red, bright coral or hot pink type of gal?

Valentine's Glossybox January 2012

2012-02-04T10:56:00.006Z

Get pampered in time for Valentine's day with the January 2012 Glossybox. This limited edition box comes in hot pink compared to the standard baby pink and holiday Christmas red.

I woke up to the postman ringing the doorbell, and seeing this hot pink box almost first thing in the morning brightened up my day!

Here's what's inside my box:

EYEKO Skinny Eyeliner in Powder Pink

£9.50 per pencil

This is a wooden pencil eyeliner (ie. sharpen-able), which is very creamy to apply and pretty pigmented. The staying power is pretty standard, not as long-wearing as it claims. I was delighted to receive the shade in Powder Pink. It is a matte light fleshy pink. Its a wonderful shade to apply on the lower waterline to brighten up tired eyes, and I think I will use this quite often. I found the design of this eyeliner peculiar. Its a wooden pencil eyeliner with a long and tapering end. I wonder whether the plated end is just for show or if it contains any product at all. I speculate it would be impossible to sharpen that side if it indeed has product in it. You can purchase this from www.eyeko.com, use the code GLOSSY for a free gift with any purchase.

MURAD Hybrids Skin Perfecting primer - Dewy Finish 5ml

Full size £29/30ml

This is a not so opaque but flesh-coloured oil-free primer. It is supposed to ignite a radiant glow due to its light-enhancing minerals. For me I think it is pretty standard, it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, a perfect canvas for foundation. Visit www.murad.co.uk and enter code GLOSSYPR to get 33% off!

DAVINES Moisturizing Balm 75ml

Full size £17.40/150ml

This multi-tasking moisturising balm works as a makeup remover, moisturising body cream and hair conditioner. It's not something you can leave on, rather it has to be washed off. As a makeup remover, you can apply this with a cotton pad or, as I would prefer it, as a wash on damp skin. It effectively removes makeup and leaves your skin feeling moisturised. It does not seem to break out my skin. As a body cream, it is perfect for winter when skin is more prone to dryness. After washing with soap, apply this on damp skin, leave a few minutes, and then wash off. My skin feels well moisturised after, without feeling greasy. As a hair conditioner, it seems pretty standard. It conditions my hair well, but it does not seem to be as good as my standard L'oreal one at keeping my hair soft. Overall, it is a pretty good product!

www.davines.com

DAVINES Cleansing Nectar 90ml

Full size £18.50/280ml

This is another multi-tasking product. It works as a shampoo and body wash. As a shampoo, it leaves my hair feeling quite dry - almost squeaky clean. It's not something I particularly like in a shampoo though. As a body wash, it's a bit drying on the skin, not something I particularly like either. Overall, I would not purchase this product.

www.davines.com

FAB Gentle Body Wash 56.7g

Full size £13/226.8g

I love this fragrance-free body wash. It is definitely moisturising and does not irritate my skin. I love it!

www.boots.com

These boxes tend to be a hit and miss, but overall, I am pretty happy with this month's Glossybox. Although I do already have a lot of skincare products, I discovered a few little gems in this box. The packaging of the items are adorable too.

Are you subscribed to Glossybox? What do you think?
Find out more here: www.glossybox.co.uk
You can now give a Glossybox subscription as a gift. There are three gift options available: 3, 6, and 12 months. The 12 month subscription also contains a free box.

I now leave you with another cupcake photo I took at the ZOMG Bloggers Bash. Just looking at it is making me hungry!

Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!

ZOMG Bloggers Bash ! :)

2012-02-01T00:48:00.004Z

Last night I attended the well tweeted about ZOMG Bloggers Bash. It was an event in celebration of a collaboration between Zozo at TheLondonLipgloss and the retro lipstick brand Rockalily, their lipstick offspring called ZOMG. The event was held in a pub near Farringdon station, London, and it was a fab opportunity to meet a few of my favourite bloggers.
I also managed to check out the ZOMG lipstick, which is a creamy pigmented reddish pink. I didn't want to try it on myself as it has been already swatched and tested by so many bloggers before me, but at least you have the swatch. :)
There were several activities, including Make Your Own Cupcake thanks to Temptation's Creations. There were also two burlesque performances. I know, a bit unusual! These were the first burlesque performances I have ever seen, and to be honest I felt quite weird and a little embarrassed watching the show lol. However, I especially loved Miss Banbury Cross's glitzy glamorous dance. She is the face of Rockalily and she is absolutely stunning! The night ended with a raffle draw by the two hosts, Zozo and ReeRee. Congratulations to everyone who won a prize!
There were so many bloggers at the event, and people quickly fell into little cliques. It was so nice meeting these ladies and I thank these lovelies for the wonderful time, I hope we see each other again soon.
Peonies and LiliesMoonlight StarbeamBeauty MouthDo Not RefreezeJennifer RosellenVivianna Does MakeupPearls and PoodlesShilpoonIts a Mandy ThingEpiphannie A
Type and Talk
* If you remember meeting me at the event, please let me know and I'll add you to the list! I'm just so bad with names, I'm sorry! :) *
Here's what I wore that night:

And thank you once again to ReeRee and Zozo for inviting me to the event!

DIY: Scalloped Shorts

2012-01-29T01:46:00.003Z

I know I'm late to the bandwagon but I just recently had this fascination for scallop cuts on clothes. Take this dress for example...

Black Scallop Dress - Boohoo, Tights - Primark, Shoes - Clarks
Some of these pieces are quite difficult to find lately, and most of the really pretty ones don't quite make my poor student budget. Thinking about ways to get around that, I had a eureka! moment as I realised I can make my own scallop clothing, with just a little more than charity shop finds and a pair of scissors.
I used...

Black Trousers from my local Oxfam - I love this cloth. Its wash and wear and doesn't need ironing. Perfect! Not a fan of the flared end though and it was only £2.99, I wouldn't feel guilty if I somehow ruined them.
Sharp Scissors - I had 3 pairs of scissors at home, and I tested each of them on the cloth to find out which one left the neatest trim.Bobby pins - To stabilise the fabric. Safety pins would be ideal however I didn't have them at home.RulerMarker Pen - To mark where I want to cut the cloth and to trace the scallop template. I used old lipliners. My pens and pencils wouldn't show up on the black cloth.Scallop Template - I used this template, maximised it on microsoft word, printed, cut out, and traced on fabric.
I found this YouTube video particularly useful:
Results:

Black Bow Detail Top - H&M, Shorts - My DIY, Tights - Sainsbury's, Shoes - Aldo, Bag - Accessorize
I didn't want it too short or too long. About 3 inches above the knee.
I hope this inspires you to DIY designs on some clothes. It's really quick and easy.If you are indeed inspired and do end up creating something, let me know - I'd love to check out your results! :)
What do you think? ♥

Good Girl, Bad Girl

2012-01-25T19:15:00.001Z

Nude Waterfall Cardigan Primark

Lace Dress H&M

White tank top H&M

Makeup here

Cream Waterfall Cardigan Dorothy PerkinsBlack Tank TopRed Trousers New LookBlack Bag AccessorizeNecklace OldMakeup: NARS Madly blush, Maybelline Red Glamour Lipliner, Vaseline Lip Therapy

Maybe I should learn how to crop out the background....

LOOK: 100 Strokes of Glitters

2012-01-24T19:28:00.001Z

I had a lunch date with one of my friends and I wanted to wear a smokey look with neutral eyeshadows. I realised my MAC eyeshadows have been neglected lately and I have therefore featured some of them in this look I wore.
FACESleek MakeUP New Skin Revive Foundation in SandSleek MakeUP Luminaire Concealer in L01MAC Blot Powder Pressed in MediumBenefit Hoola BronzerIllamasqua Lover BlushMAC Pearl Cream colour base (highlight)
EYESMAC Painterly paint potMAC eyeshadows in Shroom (highlight), 100 Strokes (crease), All That Glitters (lid)NYX Retractable Eyeliner in BrownL'oreal Double Extension with Serum Inside Mascara
LIPSVaseline Creme Brulee lip balm (my lips were pretty chappy)

What do you think?

My New Preciouss - es

2012-01-23T18:59:00.001Z

I did some damage last week and picked up these two things, a bag and a pair of wedged Mary Janes. I've been really loving all clothes and accessories black for the last year - I just think they look classy and are quite versatile with outfits. I suppose I'm getting older and less hippy as well. Hah.
Accessorize Curved Zip Bow Lady Bag - £35/£31.50 with student discount I feel in love with this bag as soon as I laid eyes on it. Its a It's such a cutie.
Primark Black Patent Wedge Mary Janes with Cut Out Detail - £16 These shoes are quite high - 1 inch platform in front, 4 inch wedge heel at the back. These are quite light compared to other shoes I've tried and they're quite comfortable to walk in. I love them!
What do you think? ♥

Disney Princesses

2012-01-22T17:11:00.001Z

One of my friends shared me this link and I really wanted to share the beautiful adaptations with all of you! They're all Disney Princesses or heroines to be more precise,
can you name them all?
And who is your favourite?
On a side note, I have been watching the American series Once Upon a Time, and if you follow my twitter, you would know I'm addicted to it. Its not particularly thrilling, does not make me feel any strong emotions and is quite slow paced... but somehow I'm just really drawn to it. Do any of you watch it?

Spring Brights: Peach and Pink Looks ft Laura

2012-01-22T10:33:00.004Z

I decided to give my dear friend, Laura, a makeover today. As a natural beauty, she hardly wears makeup - mainly just eyeliner and mascara, but today we wanted to try something different. To make a transition from the natural to a look with more colour, I opted for a peach-toned look.

Here's what I used on her:
EYESMAC Painterly paint potSleek MakeUP Oh So Special Palette Eyeshadow in Bow (brow highlight)Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Buck (crease)Sleek MakeUP Paraguaya Palette Eyeshadow in Peach Gold (lid)Maybelline 2 in 1 Impact Shadow Liner in Black (upper lashline) and Pearl (lower lashline)L'oreal Double Extension Mascara (Primer)Colossal Volume MascaraEtude House Eyebrow Pencil
FACEMAC Oil Control LotionSleek MakeUP New Skin Revive Foundation in SandSleek MakeUP Luminaire Concealer in LightMAC Blotting Powder in MediumBenefit Hoola bronzerIllamasqua blush in LoverMAC Pearl Cream Colour Base
LIPSVaseline Creme Brulee lip therapyMAC Mouth Off lip pencilMAC Vegas Volt lipstick
And of course, I put makeup on myself too. To complement her springy peach shades, I choose a pink-themed look.

Here is what I used on myelf:
EYESMAC Painterly paint potSleek MakeUP Oh So Special Palette Eyeshadow in Bow (brow highlight)Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Naked (crease)Sleek MakeUP Oh So Special Palette Eyeshadow in Pamper (brow highlight) Maybelline 2 in 1 Impact Shadow Liner in Black (upper lashline) and Pearl (lower lashline)L'oreal Double Extension Mascara (Primer)Colossal Volume MascaraEtude House Eyebrow Pencil
FACESleek MakeUP New Skin Revive Foundation in SandSleek MakeUP Luminaire Concealer in Light MAC Blotting Powder in MediumBenefit Hoola bronzerMAC Blush in PleasantryMAC Pearl Cream Colour Base
LIPSVaseline Creme Brulee lip therapyBarry M Lip Pencil in 12MAC Chatterbox lipstick

What do you think? ♥

My Lip Pencil Collection and Swatches

2012-01-20T16:37:00.002Z

I have been a makeup ~~addict~~ collector for about 5 years now *whew time does fly fast!* and here's a collection of my lip liners/pencils. These are from various brands including Barry M, MAC, Sleek MakeUP, Maybelline, Rimmel, NYX and 17 cosmetics. I initially swatched this for my own purposes, and then I realised someone else might find them useful too. I hope the swatches will be useful somehow!

MAC Mouth Off, Barry M 24, Barry M 12, MAC Magenta, 17 Valentine

Sleek MakeUP Mossberry, NYX Currant, NYX Mahogany, MAC Mahogany, MAC Life's a Breeze, MAC In Synch, MAC Pink Treat

MAC Test Pattern, MAC Stripdown, MAC Oak, MAC Subculture, Rimmel Tiramisu, MAC Naked Liner,MAC Redd, MAC Cherry, MAC Brick, Maybelline Red Glamour

Here are some notes on a few of them:
* MAC Magenta is a hot pink with a purple frost. A duochrome lip pencil.
* Sleek MakeUP Mossberry is actually an eye liner, but also works as a lip liner, albeit a rather rough one. It serves as a good lip liner for the matching lipstick from the collection.
* Sleek MakeUP Mossberry looks similar to NYX Currant.
* MAC Life's a Breeze is a light pink with a slight frost.
* MAC Naked Liner - I sometimes use this on my lower waterline as a nude pencil to brighten my eyes and make them look more wide and awake.
* MAC Pink Treat is my only mechanical pencil - ie. twist up nonsharpen pencil.
* Most of my nude lip pencils look really similar. I think I should give some of them away.
* Rimmel Tiramisu and Maybelline Red Glamour are soo soft and easy to apply on the lips.

I quite like lip pencils as they are useful to provide a defined lip line *essential for reds and darker lipsticks*. If the colour pay off is good, they are also good to fill the lips instead of using a lipstick. I have done this a lot in the past, so easy to use on the go. Line and fill for a *usually* matte finish, or top with a lip gloss for a shiny finish.

What do you think? ♥

Few Bits and Bobs I Bought This Week

2012-01-15T08:04:00.005Z

I bought a few bits and bobs last week - some necessary, some not - as most of us girls do. Lets run through the unnecessary things first and follow with the actually useful ones, that way I feel like I have not really wasted so much money. Ha ha.

Moustache Ring Topshop £6.50/£5.85 with student d/c

When I first spotted this gold look ring in Topshop, I immediately laughed out loud, not too loud that I'd looked like a big idiot, but enough to make me look like just an idiot. I picked it up, put it on, and showed my friend, who laughed out loud herself. It's such a cutie. Depending on how you look at it, it could be a Ram's horns, but I'd like to think of it as a Moustache. I know I should have found this in November for Movember. Really unnecessary, but its still too cute to pass up.

Sunnies Ring Topshop £4/£3.60 with student d/c

And then I found this ring. Another cutie. Perfect for the summer. Not too expensive either.

Seems perfect with my other ring too. Highly unnecessary, but hella cute!

Floral Laminate Card Holder Accessorize £5/£4.50 with student d/c

I needed a replacement for my old purse, and I thought this was a nice compact substitute. I put my cards in all the different pockets, and my folded up cash and a few coins inside the zip pocket in the middle. Really quite snug and tight as its just meant to be a card holder, but it still works. 50% necessary. Ha ha!

Cod Liver Oil with Multi Vitamins Capsules (500mg) Holland and Barrett £4.79

I admit I have not been eating as well as I should be, and no way are multivitamins a good substitute for a healthy diet, but they are a useful adjunct. I found this while browsing the Cod Liver Oil section at Holland and Barrett. I picked up the 60-caps mini bottle and paid for it. I'm really happy about these. The soft gel capsules are so easy on the gullet. When I finish this up, I'll pick up the 180 capsule one, which is slightly cheaper per capsule. I have a family history of cardiovascular disease (heart disease) and adequate Omega-3 is good at reducing cardiovascular risk. Its harmless, everyone should take it!

Zumba Fitness Wii with belt Amazon.co.uk £19.99 (much cheaper than shops on the street!)

I haven't had the time to do my bellydancing this year, and I do need some exercise. I've been thinking about picking this up for a while, and I'm glad I did. It's really quite fun, especially with friends or family (erghm my brother) to do it with. I just feel sorry for the folks in the flat below however, as the our floor isn't quite motion-proof, but I only use it during the daytime and before 10PM, however, so I suppose it should be alright!

What do you think? ♥

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Blush in Rose

2012-01-11T18:54:00.005Z

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose

I purchased this blush when I was in the states last August 2011. Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose is a rosy-pink colour with a silvery sheen. It applies really well and looks like a natural winter flush. It comes with a mirror and a brush - which is a bit scratchy and I don't use it much. I have other blush brushes to use!

Doesn't it look really cute in the packaging? I'm in-love with the hearts!

I believe you can purchase this at US drugstores or the webpage: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/07322.html.
Do you have this blush?
What do you think? ♥

NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Brown

2012-01-03T07:35:00.003Z

NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Brown

This is a retractable eye pencil that does not require sharpening - which is very convenient for on-the-go. However with these types of products, my experience has been that the adhesive at the base inevitably loosens up leaving me with an unstable (and sometimes falling-out) pencil. It is too soon to tell whether this will have the same fate.

I have this product in Brown, which is a medium-dark brown colour with a matte finish. The pencil itself is thin in diameter - approx 5mm - and allows for a very thin line. So far on my eyelids, it does not seem to smudge, which is remarkable because I tend to have oily lids.

Overall I am very impressed with this product, and I definitely recommend it! NYX has several other colours of this Retractable eye liner, some matte some shimmery. And especially with this affordable price, I definitely think this is one to check out!

NYX Jumbo Pencils in Iced Mocha, French Fries, NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Brown

http://www.nyxcosmeticsstore.co.uk/

www.nyxcosmetics.com/

What do you think? ♥

My First NYX Products !

2011-12-29T04:49:00.001Z

Here's a collection of different NYX products recently purchased. I can't believe I haven't tried NYX cosmetics before, these are actually really good! I got 2 lip cremes, 2 plumpling lip glosses, 1 Mega Shine Lip Gloss, 1 Jumbo Lip Pencil, 2 Jumbo Eye Pencils and 1 retractable eye liner pencil. These will be reviewed in the following posts. :)
These aren't actually all mine, half of this haul is my sister's, but she's kindly allowed me to photograph and review them. ;)
For those who have tried NYX, what are the must-have products you think I should check out?
I managed to find a few stores in Davao City selling NYX products. I found them at the Rainbow Project in Gaisano Mall and at Chimes shopping mall. Hope this helps!
What do you think? ♥

Etude House Party Queen Gradation Nails in No. 3 Party Gold

2011-12-28T08:29:00.001Z

Etude House Party Queen Gradation Nails in No. 3 Party Gold

I really love this nail polish trio from Etude House. Its a set of three nail polishes meant to be applied in a gradation manner. The first polish is Glam Beige is meant to be the base colour, then Crystal Gold the second to be applied mid-nail outwards (I tend to use it from the second third of the nail out) and the last Dazzling Gold from the last third of the nail.

The result is beautiful. Very dainty, glamorous nails.

About the quality of the polishes, the speed of drying of these polishes are average, a bit long-ish with more than a single coat. Dazzling Gold glitters are chunkier and can come off if you forcibly peel them off the nail, but I think a top coat like Seche Vite top coat would make it adhere better. The glitters are not as difficult to remove compared to other glitter polishes, which I am happy with.

Etude House also have other colour schemes for Gradation nails. Off the top of my head, I remember seeing a Pink one and Silver one at the store. I might check them out at the store to see if I want any more! :)

After Step 1, Step 2, Step 3

I also tried Etude Hosue Fresh Nailwash Safe Nai Color Remover. This acetone-based nail polish remover just smells lovely! It smells clean and berry-ish, which is a delight to use compared to the stronger acetone smelling scents. But compared to others, it is a bit less efficient at removing polish and it takes a few scrubs to use to remove the polish, which depends on the actual polish you're using.

Have you tried any of these?. What do you think? ♥

Few Outfits During the Past Week

2011-12-24T06:28:00.001Z

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share with you a few outfits I wore during the last week. If you've been following my tweets, you'd know I arrived in the Philippines to spend my Christmas holiday here, and I've been having a wonderful time with my family and amazing food. I haven't got much sleep though and I am ill with a sore throat and my voice is almost completely gone. I hope I start to recover though. Anyway, enough about me! Enjoy these photos, and there are more outfit photos to come!

Dress by Asos

I wore this dress to a Christmas party dinner with my friends on the night before I left for the Philippines.

This was when I had just arrived in the Philippines, and I looked awfully tired!

Dress by Forever21

This flowery halter top dress was for my little brother's Christmas party at Tropika, Davao City.

Glossybox December 2011

2011-12-22T18:13:00.001Z

This December Glossybox has currently dominated UK beauty blogs as of late, and I'm sorry *well, not really* to add this review to the Glossybox overload. This is the second beauty box I received from Glossybox. For more on the Glossybox mechanics and my thoughts on them in general, read my first post here.

Compared to the other Glossyboxes, you would notice a striking *yes literally* difference in packaging - it's RED! Perfect for the festive season, and I'm happy to see a change in colour for more variety in my storage collection - I re-use these boxes to store my makeup and other products. In this box, I received 6 products:

Bionova Eye Wrinkle Treatment, Deborah Lippmann Mini Nail Varnish with Stripped to Go Sachet, Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in Serengeti, Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in Yogi Flow, Blink + GO Eyeshadow and Blush Palette in 05

I was particularly impressed by two products in this set, namely the Deborah Lippmann polish and the Blink + GO Eyeshadow and Blush palette.

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Razzle Dazzle . This polish contains red reflective glitters in a dark red berry base. It is stunning in person, this photo does not do it justice at all! It takes 2-3 coats to become opaque.

Blink + Go Palette in 05. This palette contains a rainbow of 6 eyeshadow shades on the top layer, and flipping it over reveals 2 blushes: a light yellow pink and a coral shade. I have not swatched these yet, so I cannot comment on the quality.

Overall, I am a lot more impressed by this month's Glossybox compared to the November 2011 one, but if were not for the nail polish, I would have probably been left unsatisfied.

What do you think? ♥

You can subscribe to Glossybox through their website here.

Sk:n Care Products: One Word - Fabulous!

2011-12-13T18:28:00.003Z

I have tried these skincare products from the brand Sk:n and they leave me nothing but impressed. I have tried two of their Vitamin-Rich Cleansers, one for oily skin and one for normal or combination skin. From their Repair and Protect range, I tried their award-winning Sunscreen in SPF50, and from the Anti-Ageing range, their Age-Delaying Cream for Younger Skin.

sk:n Vitamin Rich Cleanser - normal/combination skin

RRP £11 for 200ml

This creamy cleanser is applied straight onto dry skin, with either a cotton pad or straight with clean fingers (my preferred method), massaged onto the skin, and rinsed off with water. I prefer cold water as it is believed to tighten pores. This gently but efficiently removes makeup (including non-waterproof mascara) and does not irritate my eyes. After drying my face, it leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated, not tight at all as other cleansers might feel. It does not irritate my skin... I'm in love!

sk:n Vitamin Rich Cleanser - oily skin

RRP £11 for 200ml

This Vitamin Rich Cleanser for oily skin comes in a gel form, compared to that for Normal to Combination skin which ones in a lotion form. My skin is more of the dry-combination type, so using this one for oily skin makes my skin feel a bit dry and tight after washing - nothing a moisturiser can't fix! Those who are acne-prone or with oily skin might benefit from using this.

While you are supposed to avoid the eye area when using this cleanser, I found that it also effectively removes eye makeup *naughty me!*

sk:n Age-Delaying Cream - Younger Skin

RRP £29 for 30ml

This luxurious cream is so smooth to apply, and dries within minutes, leaving a super soft velvety feel on the skin. I apply this after cleansing and patting my face dry; this way the moisturiser is easily absorbed and keeps the skin's moisture in. This is a wonderful product for this winter, and does not make my skin break out. A Winner!

Because this product contains Vitamin A, I advise to use this at night when you don't have sun exposure as Vitamin A can make your skin photosensitive. Vitamin A, of which a derivative of is used in anti-acne products like Roaccutane, is an anti-ageing product that regulates cell turnover, however for the purposes of this review, it is too soon and difficult to tell its effects!

sk:n Sunscreen SPF 50

RRP £15 for 100ml

While the anti-ageing cream is applied at night, this product should be applied during the day to protect your skin against the sun's UV rays with the impressive SPF50. To be specific, sunscreen should be typically applied about 30minutes prior to sun exposure to give the skin enough time to absorb the product. Especially during sunny days, it is also recommended to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. I love this product - it is very easy to apply on the skin, the consistency is perfect - not to thick or thin, moisturises enough for the winter and smells heavenly. Love love :)

I am a strong advocate for these products, not one of them disappointed me. These are reasonably-priced good quality products, and are definitely worth checking out. You can find out more about them and purchase these products from the website: https://www.sknclinics.co.uk/shop
For this December, they currently have a 3 for 2 online offer. Be sure to take advantage of it! :) What do you think? ♥ Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!

Boudoir Prive Beauty Box

2011-12-12T17:04:00.001Z

Like Glossy Box, Boudoir Prive is a beauty box company that sends you monthly beauty samples. You can subscribe to them online for £10 + £2.95 (for shipping) per month, which you can cancel any time. This review is pretty late - its for the September box, but nonetheless my thoughts on the products it contains doesn't change.

The Boudoir Prive beauty box typically contains 5 to 6 beauty samples, but in this edition, they had 7, which is useful, depending on the products themselves. I got the following products:

Zoya Marina Nail Polish Mini
This is a semi-metallic denim blue colour. I'm not ecstatic about it, and as it dries relatively slowly and I'm a little bit impatient when it comes to nail polish. I've been spoilt by other brands such as drugstore Rimmel and China Glaze, which seem easier to use and of better quality.

Cargo Boogie Nights Mini Pencil Eyeliner
This is a sparkly denim blue eyeliner, along the same colour scheme as the Zoya nail polish previously mentioned. I found this quite smudgy and I don't really appreciate it. I've been spoiled by the MAC Greasepaint Sticks and Maybelline 2 in 1 Impact Shadow Liners, which are longer lasting and relatively smudge-free.

A Tiny tub of Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish
This is a lemon-scented sugar scrub - or feels like it at least. This smells really good, however the tub is really tiny, maybe enough for 1 use for both legs or both arms. It really is a sample size!

I also got other products like the Agent Provocateur perfume sample, Macadamia Hair Oil, and Mai Couture Bronzing Blot Powder sample (which I'm a bit intimidated to use).

Overall, I was not really impressed with this selection of products. A lot of them I haven't heard of and after testing, they would not be products I would pick up for myself. I suppose the thing with these Beauty Boxes is the content can be a bit of hit and miss. Sometimes you would get products you absolutely love for the fraction of the retail price, and sometimes you feel you might have just wasted your money.

Exciting news however, is that Boudoir Prive joined the Joliebox, which is the leading beauty box subscription service in France. They have worked with high-end brands like Benefit, Kiehls, Essie, Lancome, etc, which means they will likely provide samples from these high end established brands.

Again, you can subscribe to the ~~Boudoir Prive~~ JolieBox at their website here.

What do you think? ♥ Disclaimer: Some products in this post were provided for consideration for review. These are my honest opinions as always!

Beauty Blog Link Love - Week of 04/12/11

2011-12-11T13:29:00.002Z

Beauty

Tina Marie Online shares her stunning Smoke and Ice look. Lipglossiping shares a post on Lipstick Psychology: What does your lipstick say about you?
Enjoy!

Glossybox November 2011

2011-12-10T18:45:00.000Z

Here is my first ever Glossybox! This, like Boudoir Prive, is an online subscription-based company that sends a monthly Beauty Box containing samples of beauty products for you to try. You can find out more from their website here.

In the November 2011 Glossybox, I received the following...

Monu Revitalising Moisturiser.

Dead Sea Bath Salts. I'm more of a 'shower' girl rather than a 'bath' girl, so I don't know if I will ever be using this. I might save it for an upcoming giveaway! :)

Arbonne FC5 Ultra Hydrating hand Cream. I quite like this product! The smell reminds me of sweet lemon cheesecake. It's a dream to use; easy to spread, dries, and keeps my hands moisturised for a few hours in the cold weather.

I was happy to receive this sample of Illamasqua Freak. It smells different from the other scents I typically go for ie sweet ones like Miss Dior Cherie, rather it smells like a feminine version of a musky scent, which unusually - I quite like.

Nail Rock White polkadots on Black. These nail wraps are the new trend, with simple to complex designs, which are easy to apply like stickers, following the three steps written on the back. My sister already called dibs on these, so I will give them to her to try!
What do you think? ♥

Sweet Spice - Primark Haul & Outfit Post

2011-12-10T00:04:00.000Z

The London winter drastically got even more chilly this week, and I decided I needed more items to add to my winter arsenal: gloves and warm tights. I ventured to Primark to get the said 'necessities', and ended up getting even more. I tend to have a colour I'm crazy about each season; last winter's was grey-taupe, and I think this years' is black.
Black Leather Gloves - ₤ 7
Most Primark leather S/M Gloves tend to be too big for my tiny hands, but this one seemed to have a better fit than most. I love the design and it's comfortable to wear; I have never owned leather gloves before, and I'm very happy with these.
Super Cosy Tights - ₤ 3.50
I love these. These are super soft tights with a cushiony soft lining inside. Helps insulate heat in!
Ankle-length Leggings - ₤ 6
These are stretchy leggings up to the ankles. This pattern has become popular lately, and I needed a pair like these!
Lace-pattern Knee High Socks - ₤ 3 for pack of 2
I have been looking for knee high socks to wear underneath my knee high boots, and these are perfect. Very comfortable to wear, and quite cheap too!
Pink Sparkly Princess-sleeved Top - ₤ 10
Now this is my preciousssss. It's a long-sleeved top with slightly puffed princess sleeves. The colour is predominantly pink with gold sparkles. It looks so dainty. See my look wearing it below:

What do you think? ♥