SWalkerMakeup

Just a little update...

2012-01-31T16:20:00.002Z

Hi everyone! How are you all?

Just to let you know I am currently packing my bags for a little trip to London. I'll be down there for a few days (can't wait for a short break away!) but will be back in to the swing of things the week commencing Monday 6th February. I doubt there will be any wi-fi in my hotel but if there is, obviously I will keep you updated with what I'm doing. I'm also planning to vlog most of what I get up to whilst I am down there as I have some pretty exciting things planned! All that footage will be popped on to my vlog channel. So please go and subscribe to that if you want to be notified when videos are released!

Tomorrow I'm actually going to be filming a video with SORTED Food which I'm really excited about. I am a big fan of their YouTube channel and their recipes are to die for! They are a group of genuine friends helping out chef, Ben, to teach us all how to cook up some yummy grub! Check them out and subscribe if you haven't already, you wont regret it: http://www.youtube.com/user/sortedfood

I'll also be attending IMATS on Saturday 4th February, so if you're around don't be shy to come and say hello! I'd love to meet my subscribers and followers and it would be great to put a face to a username! I'm sure IMATS will be as busy as ever but if you do get the chance to stop and say "hello!" I would be very happy to meet you!

Please be as patient as you can whilst I'm absent from the YouTube/Blogging world and I will be back very soon to upload some new videos for you that I've been working hard on. If you would like to know what I'm doing in the mean time, please follow me on Twitter as I update that most days: @SWalkerMakeup

Right, I must go and finish packing up the suitcase full of stuff I probably don't need to take. See you all very soon!

Soap & Glory's 'A Great Kisser'

2012-01-27T12:34:00.000Z

The latest product to be launched from Soap & Glory's cosmetics line is this luscious lip-balm called 'A Great Kisser'. I personally am a huge fan of the whole Soap & Glory line. Everything from their quirky titled products to the fabulous makeup inside. In particular, I love the 'Kick Ass' concealer and the 'Smoulder Kohl' eyeliner pencil - both amazing, high quality items that I would re-purchase.

This trio of beautiful balms claim to contain mango butter to moisturise, apricot butter for weather protection, lingonberry oil to boost barrier repair (and prevent water loss) and pomegranate extract to renew your ‘dewy’. It all sounds very appealing and to top it off, they come in three different flavours:

Juicy Peach (a gorgeous coral)

Sweet Coconut (clear with a hint of shimmer)

Chocolate Cherry (a sheer, popsicle pink)

The balms on the left and right (Juicy Peach & Chocolate Cherry) are actually tinted, leaving a hint of juicy colour on the lips, whilst the Sweet Coconut shade in the middle is clear with a splash of shimmer. Soap & Glory say:

"It’s not too waxy, not too slippery, not too greasy, not too sticky. In fact, it’s just right."

Price: £5.00 / €7 each. 18g / 0.63 Oz.

I do suffer from dry lips, especially at this time of the year, so these sounds perfect to me. They launch very soon in larger Boots stores and I can't wait to get my hands on them. For me, I'd choose either Juicy Peach or Sweet Coconut. What would be your favourite?

How To Apply False Nails

2012-01-25T14:34:00.002Z

Today's post will be all about nails! If you know me, you'll know I'm a sucker for neat, manicured nails. I wear false nails pretty much all the time and if I'm not, it's just to give my nails a break to strengthen up. I love the fact that they are so strong and rigid and don't chip for weeks. For me, they are much easier that going to the salon every few weeks or having to re-paint my chipped fingers every other day at home. It has been requested for me to show you all how I apply them so many times so here it is!

False nails without polish:

False nails with polish:

Products used:

Cutex Nourishing Nail Varnish Remover

Cuticle Remover
Cuticle Pusher

Cuticle Clippers

Crystal Nail File

False Nails

Ciate Paint Pot in 'Mistress'
Ebay 9W UV Lamp
Seche Ultra-V UV Top Coat
Cuticle Oil

For all my tips and tricks on how to give yourself an at-home manicure, as well as applying some lovely nails, just watch the video below:

Miss Piggy for MAC - Online Exclusive

2012-01-23T16:29:00.000Z

The wonderfully glamorous Miss Piggy is revealing her beauty secrets to the world through a limited-edition online exclusive MAC collection. There will be three eye products launched in total to celebrate her much anticipated return to the silver screen in Disney’s The Muppets! (In cinemas 10th February)

The Miss Piggy products:

Eye Shadow in 'Miss Piggy Pink' - This will be a mid-tone blue pink eye shadow with a frost finish.

Price: £11.50 / EURO 15.00

Penultimate Eye Liner in 'Rapidblack' - A true black liquid eyeliner with a fine felt tip applicator.

Price: £14.00 / EURO 19.00

Lashes in '36 Lash' - A lovely set of full lashes that create a naturally dramatic look.

Price: £10.00 / EURO 12.00

Will you be purchasing anything from the Miss Piggy for MAC collection? I think I will be picking up those lovely looking eye lashes! If they're good enough to flutter at Kermit the frog, they're good enough for us!

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/

Review: GlossyBox for Men

2012-01-20T14:14:00.001Z

As many of you may be aware, GlossyBox recently launched their new and exciting Men's boxes. No more jealous boyfriends and family members trying to steal our beauty buys - they can now try their own! This is the winter box and unlike the women's GlossyBox, they have packed in 7 high-end deluxe samples instead of the usual 5. The boxes are delivered straight to your door every 3 months so you won't be overloaded with products.

Here is the packaging. A simple yet chic charcoal grey coloured box filled with black tissue paper:

What's inside:

1. Shaveworks - The Cool Fix: A Soothing blue gel that alleviates shaving a waxing woes. Full size: £31.00 / 156ml

2. Goldwell - Dual Senses FOR MEN Hair & Body Shampoo: Cleanse, revitalise and care for your hair, skin and scalp. Full size: £7.60 / 300 ml

3. Goldwell StyleSign Roughman - Matte Cream Paste: Rub a small amount between your palms and style your hair. Use on slightly damp or dry hair. Full size: £9.00 / 100ml

4. MONU - Vitru Conditioning Body Wash: This body wash is formulated with mild foaming agents to gently cleanse the skin and leave it feeling fresh and supple. Full size: £12.25 / 200ml

5. MONU - Vitru Energy Rub: Vitru's Energy Rub muscle gel is designed to energise a tired mind and body. Full size: £15.00 / 150ml

6. Murad - Clarifying Mask: This natural clay-based formula draws out impurities and absorbs excess oil to control and prevent breakouts. Full size: £35.00 / 75g

7. Yves Saint Laurent - La Nuit De L'Homme: A fresh Oriental men's fragrance that rocks the senses, combining cardamom and cedarwood for intensely sexy scent & L'Homme: An iconic men's fragrance from Yves Saint Laurent. Fresh, woody, masculine. Full size: £43.00 / 60ml

The products in the men's boxes will cover every modern man's needs from shaving, hair care, skin care, body care and fragrance, leaving you feeling like an A-Lister! The boxes are priced at £15.00 (+£2.95 P&P). To see a full review on GlossyBox for Men by my brother Jonathan and I, just watch the video above!

Check out GlossyBox for Men here: http://tidd.ly/2060c7f3

My Hair Care Routine

2012-01-18T00:11:00.000Z

Hello ladies! I hope everyone is well and that you all had a magical Christmas and New Year! I had such a lovely time and spent the majority of it with family and friends nibbling mince pies and sipping on several glasses of mulled wine! Just as it should be! I may do a little update post on what's going on with me but for now, I thought I'd share with you my latest YouTube video offering; a brand spanking new hair care routine! I have been meaning to update a lot of my older videos in the new year so here is my first:

Products mentioned:

REDKEN Extreme Shampoo

REDKEN Extreme Conditioner

The Ojon Shampoo & Conditioner mentioned in this video were bought from an Outlet store and are no longer available! However, here are the newly packaged versions:

Ojon Volume Advanced Thickening Shampoo

Ojon Volume Advanced Thickening Conditioner

Ojon Restorative Pre-Cleansing Treatment

Didn't even realise that the REDKEN Deep Fuel sachets had been discontinued! I have linked where you can still buy them below. They have since brought out a new treatment, also linked for you :)

REDKEN Extreme Deep Fuel Treatments

NEW REDKEN Treatment - Extreme Fortifying Mask

REDKEN Anti-Snap Leave in Treatment

Pantenne Volume & Body Mousse (Newly packaged!)

TRESemme Thermal Creations Blow Dry Potion

John Frieda 3 Day Straight

You can watch my full review on the John Frieda 3 Day Straight here:

TRESemme Salon Sleek Straightening Spray

REDKEN All Soft Argan 6 Oil

V05 Miracle Concentrate Argan Oil

Eden Allure Moroccan Argan Oil

Really hope you all enjoyed the video! Just click on any product listed above and you can go and buy them for yourselves! Lots of love,

GlossyBox Review: December 2011

2011-12-21T19:46:00.001Z

What's inside December's GlossyBox:

Such an exciting bunch of goodies in this month's Christmas box. Firstly though, let me just address the packaging. A limited edition bright red shiny box, white crinkly paper and a black ribbon - perfectly festive! We're so lucky to have top quality brands as well as full size products in this one, so let's delve inside and see what it includes:

1. Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in 'Morocco': Full size - £10.00 / Lip Gloss

2. Deborah Lippmann Nail Varnish in 'Razzle Dazzle' with 'Stripper To Go' remover sachet: Full size - £16.00 / Nail Varnish & £14.00 / Pack of 6 removers

3. FAB Face Cleanser: Full size - £13.00 / 141 grams

4. Nouveau Lashes Noir Mascara: Full size - £14.99 / 8 grams

5. Rituals Foaming Shower Gel: Full size - £6.50 / 200 ml

I was so, so excited to see a Deborah Lippmann nail polish in this box. I think it was deffinately the winning product inside. The shade is 'Razzle Dazzle' and let me just say, it's amazing! The most stunning deep dark cherry shade, jam packed with pink glitter! It's lovely and opaque and I actually have this on my toes at the moment. I haven't tried the nail varnish remove mitt yet but I've heard great things about these in the past.

The Rituals foaming shower gel smells sweet and floral, a lovely edition to your shower routine and something I can deffinately see myself using up rather quickly! Can't say I've tried the face cleanser yet but from reading the bottle, it promises good things.

The Nouveau lashes mascara has a stiff bristly brush, almost similar to L'Oreal Voluminous'. It seems pretty dark and not too dry but again, haven't tried this one out yet. However, I look forwards to wearing it in a future blog post.

The Cargo lip gloss is nice too, not incredibly opaque but gives a nice shimmer to the lips. I got a nice iridescent plum pink shade which looks natural on the lips, just adding a hint of gloss and super fine glitter.

I hope you enjoyed this months GlossyBox! Let me know your thoughts! :)

Revlon - Little Box of Glamour

2011-12-21T18:38:00.000Z

Hello everyone! I just thought I'd let you all know about a fab offer that's on with Revlon at the moment. I went in to Boot's in Leeds train station on Friday (where I met a lovely subscriber working at the counter! Hello!) whilst waiting for a train and was having a little browse around the makeup counters. I noticed that the Revlon stand had an offer on where if you spent £15 on their cosmetics, you got this fabulous little box of goodies!

Inside the gift you get 3 full sized products! Amazing! At first I thought they were just smaller, sample sizes and it wasn't until I brought it home to look inside I realised they were all the real deal! Altogether the items come to over £15 (£23.47 to be exact!) so it's well worth your pennies.

What it includes:

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara in 'Blackest Black': 11.2 ml - £9.99

Revlon Nail Enamel in 'Gold Coin 146': 14.7 ml - £6.49

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in 'Coral Reef' - 5.9 ml - £6.99

Revlon Voucher worth £3.00 valid until 22/03/2012

The Grow Luscious mascara has been raved about on YouTube and Blogs left right and center, so it's great to have the chance to try it out in this box! I haven't used it yet but it claims to plump up the lashes and actually make them grow longer and thicker! We'll see how it works out. The 'Gold Coin' nail varnish looks gorgeous! So shimmery and shiny and perfect for the festive season. Unfortunately I can't apply it just yet as I have an Orly Gel FX Manicure on. The lip gloss is lovely too, much more pigmented than what I'd expected, giving off a bright coral orange shade. See swatch above.

What I bought to get 'The Little Box of Glamour':

Revlon Color Burst Lip Gloss in 'Crystal Lilac 002': 5 ml - £7.99

Revlon Matte Eye Shadow in 'Rich Sable 009': 2.4 grams - £5.29

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in 'Peach Petal 150': 5.9 ml - £6.99

As you can see from the swatches, the eye shadow is really nicely pigmented and applies very smoothly. It's a nice basic matte brown, a shade everyone needs! So handy for blending through the socket so create shadow and depth. The 'Crystal Lilac' lip gloss is another product people seem to love so had to pick this one up! It's a nice medium pink with blue/lilac shimmery running through it (great for making your teeth look whiter!). It is a very similar shade to 'Snob' lipstick from MAC. Finally, a lovely nude peach/pink lip gloss that I've also been eyeing up for a while - 'Peach Petal'. It's nice a pale and gives enough pigmentation to nude out your lips but not too much so that you look slightly on the dead side! Love this one and it's been on a few outings with my in my handbag ;)

Have any of you purchased some Revlon products to get their 'Little Box of Glamour'? If so, what did you buy? Let me know! Love you all :)

Carmine Review: November 2011

2011-12-14T16:19:00.002Z

This month's box theme: Fame and Good Fortune. What Carmine say:

"They say that everyone in life will get their 15 minutes of fame, and well it looks like that very special time is finally here. This month's box is famous. (Yes, famous.) Every product in the box is somehow linked to a celebrity - from Nicola Roberts to Lulu to Bono and Adele. So, enjoy this month's fabulous products and the spotlight - without the paparazzi!"

What's inside?

1. Lulu's Time Bomb Flashback Night Cream: An overnight anti-aging cream. This is a lovely consistency, not too thin and not overly thick. It contains 'powerful phytoplids, botanicals and vitamins for truly intense moisture and dramatic results.' It's very moisturising and smells amazing! The Flashback cream is so relaxing, with notes of lavender - perfect for just before bed! It's supposed to work it's magic whilst you sleep leaving a 'fine rice bran and wax formula on your skin, so you wake-up looking fresh and well rested.' Full size: 45 ml - £30.75

2. New CID i-Pout Lipstick in 'Very Cherry': I really have loved using this lipstick - deffinately not a shade for the feint hearted as it's a deep, dark wine colour. However, I personally have rather enjoyed braving the strange looks for these perfectly vampy lips! (See the photo below of me wearing it!) It's equipped with a built-in mirror and light, making this little stick of colour the perfect makeup companion for any woman on the go. This lippy is also packed with nourishing vitamin E, making it incredibly moisturising! Full size: £15.00

3. Dainty Doll Eyeliner Pencil in Shade '004': Nothing super special to report on this one. A lovely turquoise colour but I've found it quite hard and difficult to apply without feeling scratchy! It's a nice colour but just not a fan of the formula. I prefer much softer kohls. It does smudge great though so perhaps could be used as an eyeshadow base? One interesting fact about it is that it actually contains skin-loving antioxidants and vitamin E. Ooh la la! Full size: £10.50

4. NEOM Organics Real Luxury Body Lotion: The smell of this body lotion is divine! I am considering purchasing the full size ;) it really is one of those scents that leave you feeling pampered and clean. One whiff of this and I am calm and soothed. It is made up of all organic ingredients and contains lot's of lavender and jasmine. The consistency is lovely, soaks in nice and fast and didn't leave my skin feeling sticky. Lovely and moisturising too. Full size: 240ml - £23.50

5. Cosmetics A La Carte Brow Ink - Taupe: Mixed opinions on this one. I think because of the fact that mine has pretty much dried up already! A great idea though and the concept of such a precise felt tip brow pen is fabulous. It really has a lot of potential and if mine wasn't so dry it would have been one of my favourite products for a quick, easy and natural looking brow. It's a smudge proof semi-permanent formula and delivers the finest of points, allowing you to actually draw in tiny individual hairs. Can also be used a liquid liner! Full size: 1.2ml £22.00

Swatches of the lipstick, eyeliner and brow ink:

To subscribe to Carmine click: http://tinyurl.com/6vqt22g

All of my beautiful blog readers can 3 months free shipping by clicking that link! Yay! This doesn't mean that you necessarily HAVE to buy a 3 month subscription - it's still the normal monthly subscription, no strings attached :) let me know which was your favourite product in this months box!

The LOOK Beauty Range

2011-12-11T16:09:00.001Z

The wonderful team over at LOOK magazine, in particular the beauty girls, have come together to create the first magazine makeup brand ever! They have launched a range containing over 100 beauty products to try including 32 mono eye shadows, triple hit eye compacts, foundations (including a BB cream), primers, eye kohls, liquid liners, lip duos, glosses, lipsticks, bronzers, blushers, 32 nail polishes and entire looks in a box (complete with step by steps). WOW.

I was kind enough to be sent some of their products for review and I can't wait let you know my thoughts! So, lets begin with an overview of the packaging (my weakness!)

As you can see from the photo's the packaging is simple and chic. It is slightly understated and doesn't scream out 'high street!'. Most of the products from the range have a gorgeous Ashley Isham print on, tailoring to all the fashionista's needs! I must say, the packaging is really good quality. It feels chunky and sturdy, much higher quality than you'd expect from a high street brand.

The Nail Pops:

Fab nail polishes in a multitude of colours! Priced at £5.00 a pop, there is deffinately one for everyone in this collection. Ranging from creamy pastels, neon's, shimmers and sparkly glitters! Here are the three I have...

'Neon' - Shade 19, 'Bling' - Shade 4, 'Vintage' - Shade 29

In the photo below I was wearing 2 coats of Neon and 2 coats of Bling on my ring finger. It lasted just as long as any other nail polish and remained shiny and strong. I will deffinately be trying out more of these as soon as I get chance to go shopping. Especially excited to try out more of the glitters - they are so opaque!

Holiday Glow Bronzer:

The next item I received was a lovely shimmery bronzer. It's not too orange toned, more on the ashy side. It's quite easy for this one to look slightly 'muddy' if you get a little brush happy and apply too much! Just sweep across the cheeks for a subtle bronze glow and it will leave you looking more J-Lo than J-No! This one also has a great big mirror inside, perfect for on the go! Priced at £8.00.

'Hollywood' - Shade 1

Swatch of 'Hollywood' - Shade 1

The Triple Hit Eye Shadows:

I'm a big fan of these trio's! The shadows are such good quality; velvety smooth powder with amazing colour pay-off. One sweep and you get the most pigmented rich shades. This one is just my style, I like to keep it safe on the eyes with a simple neutral look and this kit is perfect. I can throw this one in my makeup bag and know that I'm safe. You are covered with a bronze/gold lid colour, a deeper plum tone for the socket and a shimmery, buttery highlight for the inner corners and brow bone. Lovely jubbely! These are priced at £7.50.

'La Luxe' - Shade 1

Double Hit Lipstick and Gloss:

This product was really one that stood out for me. It's not often that you see both a lipstick and a highly pigmented gloss in one tube AND in such intense colours. Such a good one for having in the handbag. I love this shade, it's so vibrant and eye catching. Definitely one for the braver people out there but none the less delivers a mighty punch of neon gorgeous-ness! This shade is so true to colour and applies to the lips smoothly. The smell of the gloss is so sweet and yummy too! Priced at £7.00.

'Pink Punch' - Shade 3

Loud Lips Lipsticks:

I love these lipsticks. You really can't go wrong with them. They are creamy, highly pigmented, beautifully packaged and smell nice too! What more could you want?! I have two of the slightly paler shades and have been wearing them to death! They are so easy to throw on with out thinking and have deffinately found their way in to my everyday handbag. The only downfall with these is that the lids are not as secure as I'd like. They close with a magnet rather than clicking in place but the magnet has sometimes let me down and the lid was found floating away in the depths of my hang bag! I think it would be fine in a small makeup bag but don't let your lipstick get smushed all over your bedazzled iPhone. Not pretty! ;) Priced at £7.00.

'Baby Doll' - Shade 1

'Tangerine Cream' - Shade 2

'Baby Doll' on the left and 'Tangerine Cream' on the right.

Slightly lengthy post but I wanted to make sure you knew my opinion on the new LOOK Beauty products. There's one more important thing to mention...this range was created in support of the cancer charity 'Look Good...Feel Better' with a portion of proceeds going to help a great cause.

Please let me know if you try out any of the products from this range. I can't wait to try out more of the products, there are some amazing things to snap up! It is now available in Superdrug stores nationwide. Hope you enjoyed the post :)

Powder Perfection!

2011-11-30T17:19:00.001Z

If you're a regular viewer of my videos on YouTube you will know that one of my all time favourite face powders is MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural. I love the smooth, velvety texture it has and it keeps me from looking oily most of the day. That's the key word though, "most" of the day! I have now found a powder that I love even more and that actually banishes the shine for much longer, as well as giving you a number of other benefits. Let me introduce you all to Corn Silk powder. Lets get old school...

Corn Silk powders have been used by women all over the world from the late 1960's, and it is no secret that this vintage beauty buy is coming back with a bang! Aimee Adams, makeup artist to the stars including Fearne Cotton, Pixie Lott, Elle Macpherson and Ellie Goulding, has recently been working alongside the girls from The X Factor. She said:

"I recommend Corn Silk for getting make-up to stay in place and give you a flawless complexion, it is incredible and the only face powder I use on my famous faces!"

Corn Silk contains a natural walnut shell formula which helps to keep your make-up in place and comes in a matt or satin finish. The company actually states that this can be applied as a base for your make up as well as over your foundation to set in place. Not sure if I would personally use it underneath my foundation as I like to use a liquid and would be scared of the two mixing a little strangely! Perhaps under a powder foundation though if that's your thing?

Anyway, this product is deffinately a secret weapon for us girlies not wanting to look hot and sweaty after a dance at the Christmas party! Or, simply for those of us who struggle to get through the day without all our make up doing a vanishing act. The pressed powder comes in a handy little compact with a mirror so is a great one for carrying around through the day or throwing in the makeup bag. I personally prefer pressed powders over loose ones anyway, they are so much easier to sweep over the skin when you're on the go!

The way it works is rather genius, just below the surface of your skin there are glands which release an oily substance called 'sebum'. The amount released through the pores is dependent on your sensitivity to blood levels of hormones. It’s extremely common but difficult to manage and can get annoying for those of us wanting to banish the shiny t-zones!

Corn Silk is an ultra light, mineral enriched powder that soaks up the excess surface oil and leaves skin feeling smooth and silky. It's not a cakey powder and doesn't offer much coverage, making it easy for layering over other products with looking like a mask! You probably already knew this about me but I aren't 100% keen on a fully matt face. I have the satin finish powder (also comes in a matt formula) but still like to spray a little of MAC's Fix + over to give me a glow! This didn't affect the staying power for me.

The vintage compact is bang on trend with the current 60’s revival look and Corn Silk is available from Boots and leading pharmacies, for around £8.00. Much cheaper than my previous powder love from MAC. Please let me know if you give this a go. It has deffinately helped with my oily t-zone and I just love that added few hours of staying power my makeup now has!

This powder claims to be completely translucent, however I find that it does have a very slight beige hue to it. For those with extremely pale, porcelain skin or beautifully rich, dark skin tones, I would suggest using a lighter hand. My only other negative about this product is it's smell. It is a vintage beauty secret and that deffinately comes across in its scent. Ever had a whiff of your grandma's powdery, floral perfume? Yep, that kinda smell. Granny chic. Nothing revolting and certainly nothing that would put me off using it but it is fairly strong in the pan if that would bother you. Doesn't seem to transfer on to the skin though. Phew!

What is your favourite tried and tested beauty product?

Hair Tutorial: Glamorous Up Do

2011-11-29T18:32:00.001Z

The latest video on my YouTube channel features me showing you how to get this lovely up do for the festive season! It's very easy to create, (even for hair novices!) yet still looks affective. I hope you enjoy the tutorial! Here's some photo's of the look...

The look consists of a side swept fringe and two curved under, poofy sections at the back (yes, that is a technical term). Hopefully the photo's do it justice. It really does look as if you've spent ages on this look and in reality doesn't take long at all! Here is the video:

Let me know if you like the look, I would love to see any photo's if you get chance to recreate it for yourself! What's your favourite hairstyle for Christmas time?

GlossyBox Review: November 2011

2011-11-28T15:53:00.001Z

It's GlossyBox time! Here's November's box:

What's inside...

I actually really love this months box! It doesn't have anything inside that I personally would cast aside. It features one full size product (The Nail Rock nail wraps) and 4 samples.

What GlossyBox say:

1. Arbonne Ultra Hydrating Hand Creme - Soothing creme moisturises hands, leaving a healthy appearance and skin feeling smooth and refreshed. Full size £19.00 / 118ml

2. Dead Sea Spa Magik Delicate Boosting Mask - A creamy mask containing pure Dead Sea Mud in a gentle formulation, showing immediate and remarkable results. Full size £8.80

3. Illamasqua Freak Eau De Parfum - Celebrate the night with Freak, the dangerously exotic first frangrance from cult British beauty brand, Illamasqua. Full size £59.00 / 75ml

4. Nail Rock Designer Nail Wraps - The new Nail Rock designer nail wrap range is designed to last up to 7 days on nails and 8 weeks on the toes. They won't chip or stain the nail, require no drying time and deliver on trend style in just 15 minutes. Full size £6.65 / Pack

5. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - Intensive, super moisturising pre-shampoo treatment for all hair types. Adds elasticity, manageability, bounce and shine. Full size £52.10 / 500ml

The hand cream smells very fresh and clean, with lots of citrus notes. It soaks in fast and didn't leave an oily residue on my hands. Thumbs up! Great size to throw in to the handbag for regular top ups!

On to the perfume. I love it! Yum, yum, yum! I have heard a lot of people saying it is quite a controversial scent, you are either going to love it or hate it. Fortunately for me I really do like it and have even popped it on my Christmas list! For now I am being very sparing with my tiny sample until Santa arrives. It is deffinately an evening perfume as it's heavy, mature and sexy. Oh, and it lingers on the skin for ages! Perfect.

I haven't used the face mask yet but have heard great things about Dead Sea mud masks in general so will let you know my thoughts once I've used it. I am hopeful for this one. Finger crossed it lives up to the hype! Not a bad price too if I become hooked and want the full size!

I am actually going to try out the Philip Kingsly Elasticizer tonight so look out for a blog post with a review. I have heard so many rave review on this product so can't wait to see what all the fuss is about! Once again, will let you know my thoughts. Only thing to report right now was that there was no real smell when I had a whiff from the tube...maybe a downside, I do love a strong smelling (pleasant) hair treatment!

Again with the Nail Rock nail wraps, I haven't used them yet but will however show you them once on! I am very familiar with the brand though so was please to see them in the GlossyBox. I have used these before so was thrilled to have another pattern to play around with. Granted, not the design I would have personally chose but will give them a whirl anyway.

I hope you like this months GlossyBox review! Let me know what your favourite products this month were.

If you would like to hear more about GlossyBox or to sign up if you haven't already, visit their website: http://tidd.ly/6229cad

NEOM Luxury Organics

2011-11-26T13:12:00.001Z

The winter weather is in full swing now and it's not the most pleasant time of year. The days are getting colder and darker and the nights are drawing in faster each day! For me, there's nothing I love more than to have a long soak in a warm bubble bath and emerge feeling pampered and calm.

If you know me, you'll know that I am obsessed with candles. I must buy one every time time I go shopping, even if it's just a box of vanilla tea lights! There's always candles burning in my room and I think it's so soothing to watch the light flickering as it releases it's aroma in to the air. I am always sat at my desk working away on the computer and there's just something about having a candle lit whilst I type away on the internet that allows me to work better! I know, strange. No candle = no work.

I was recently sent the most amazing smelling Christmas candle from a lovely company called NEOM. NEOM pride themselves in “making organics modern, luxurious and highly effective

in the most innovative way possible." There products are to die for and make perfect gifts.

I got this one from the new Christmas collection and it's the called the Christmas Wish: Home Candle.

What NEOM say...

"NEOM Luxury Organics candles are made using only vegetable wax and pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances so they burn without releasing harmful pollutants, toxins or soot. They work as powerful holistic treatments as you breathe in the scented air so it is best to burn them for between 2-4 hours at a time. Each candle has 3 wicks and burns for up to 55 hours (30% longer than standard premium candles)."

I can honestly tell you that this is the most Christmassy candle I have ever smelt! I am burning it as we speak and the gorgeous scent of Cinnamon, Ginger, Mandarin & Tonka Bean has filled the whole house with festive warmth! It almost smells like someone has been busy baking mince pies! Yumm!

It is packed with warming spices and soothing fruit notes, a perfect one to light for when it's snowy outside & you need a little Christmas cheer inside! I can just imagine lighting this, putting some Christmas music on and wrapping up all Christmas gifts! Oh, and don't forget to make a wish when you light it each time! For each candle sold by NEOM £1 is donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting magical wishes to children & young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. For more information please visit this website.

This candle would make an amazing gift for anyone who enjoys a bit of Christmas relaxation! Your parents, siblings or just for a special friend, I can't see anyone who wouldn't enjoy this. The candle is priced at £40.00, giving you 75g of luxury wax packed with essential oils. You can purchase this, as well as other items sold by NEOM on their website, here.

Are you a candle lover like myself? Please let me know your favourites, I'd love to try out more!

GlossyBox Review: October 2011

2011-11-25T19:35:00.001Z

It's time for my GlossyBox review! I always get so excited when a GlossyBox comes from Mr. Postman, it's like opening a present that's been nicely gift wrapped by the lovely team! Here's Octobers box:

What's inside...

Lots of top, recognisable brands in this months GlossyBox, always a winner! Also, 3 full size items! Aren't we lucky :)

What GlossyBox say:

1. Dermalogica Age Smart MultiVitamin Thermafoliant - A powerful thermal skin polisher that combines physical and chemical exfoliants. Full size £40.50 / 75ml

2. Dermalogica Age Smart MultiVitamin Power Recover Masque - A powerful masque of concentrated antioxidant vitamins to help skin recover and regenerate. Full size £33.00 / 70ml

3. Leighton Denny Expert Nails Colour & Care (In 'Babydoll') - Beautifully groomed hands and feet are always in fashion and with Leighton Denny Nail Colours, it's easy to keep them that way. Full size £11.00 / 12ml

4. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner (In 'Moray') - Stila's highly pigmented, waterproof eye liner glides on delivering intense, vibrant colour with staying power. Full size £13.00 / Liner

5. Robert Piguet Eau de Parfums - Francas de Robert Piguet, Visa de Robert Piguet and Calypso de Robert Piguet are three signature scents from the 'most Parisian of fashion designers'. Full size £65.00 / 50ml

BONUS GIFT! 6. Dermalogica Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex (With beauty bag!) - A daily treatment that restores the delicate lip tissue. Full size £22.50 / 1.75ml

I was so please to try out some more Dermalogica products and I'm please GlossyBox has given me this opportunity. I am sad to say I haven't used these yet so can't really give you any form of review. I am saving them for a big pamper session this weekend so will update you then either on Twitter or through a review on here. The mini makeup bag is fab though. I can see it making a quick transition in to my handbag already!

This Leighton Denny nail polish is lovely. I wore it last week and the colour was nice. Not amazing for this time of year in my opinion, probably more of a summer shade, however, like it on the toes for a clean, manicured look! Needed 2 coats for a fully opaque look (as to be expected with lighter shades anyway).

The Stila eye liner really is lovely! I am really impressed with it and it has deffinately left me slightly more curious about the brand in general. It is so creamy and it glides on the eyes effortlessly. The colour is nice too, a khaki green with golden flecks running through. As for the waterproof aspect, it was fab! Stayed on all day long with no smudging or transferring. Came off fine with a good eye makeup remover.

These fragrances are probably more suited for someone slightly older than myself. They all have really different notes to them yet have a similar Parisian vibe running through! Not something I would purchase but nice to have the samples.

I am very pleased with this months GlossyBox! A lovely mix of skincare, makeup, fragrance, nail polish AND a makeup bag! What's not to love.

Please check out the GlossyBox website for more details: http://tidd.ly/6229cad

Cast yourself alongside Cheryl Cole!

2011-11-21T17:22:00.001Z

Yes ladies, you heard me correctly! Here is your chance to star alongside the beautiful Cheryl Cole in her next L’Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss TV Ad!

L’Oréal Paris is looking for three girls to star in the next Casting Crème Gloss TV advertisement campaign alongside spokesmodel, Cheryl Cole. Fans of Casting Crème Gloss and Cheryl Cole will be able to enter a picture of themselves in either ‘tempting blonde’, ‘rich brunette’ or ‘fiery redhead’. But hurry, the closing date is 27th November so not long left!

To enter visit www.facebook.com/LOrealParisUK and click on the application button which appears on the left hand side of the page, follow the steps to enter and upload a picture of yourself then ask friends and family to cast their vote from the 28th November to 4th December 2011.

The most popular blondes, brunettes and red heads will be shortlisted for a L’Oréal Paris Casting Day where you will receive a makeover by L’Oréal's hair & makeup artists in preparation for a live audition, in front of a panel of judges. This will be your chance to go in front of the camera and tell us why you love Casting Crème Gloss. And yes, you can even utter those famous words, "Because I'm worth it!"

The winners will then be chosen to appear in an exclusive new L’Oréal Paris TV advertisement campaign for 2012, alongside Cheryl. Who knows, you could be the next colour crush!

Get yourself entered now, you have nothing to loose and SO much to gain!

Good luck!

King of The Web : Beauty Queen of The Web

2011-10-29T17:12:00.000+01:00

Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted on my blog for a while but I hope you're all well and this post is for all the followers and fans still out there ;)

Listen up peeps. I have just entered in to King of The Web's competition where they allow video makers from all over the world compete to win prize money as well as awesome gifts! Please watch the short video below explaining a little more about it:

Please please please, if you could take 1 minute out of your day to vote for me it would be amazing and would mean the world. The competition has been running for a while now but I have only just heard about it so with 2 days to go, yes 2 DAYS, I thought 'why not!?' and entered :)

If you'd like to make my day, click the link below and vote!!

http://kingofweb.com/users/5186550237

You can vote up to 10 times a day I believe and there are only 2 days to go. So...you know, 20 votes each?! Maybe? Is that super cheeky? I don't know ;) all I'm asking is that you go over there and click vote.

Thank you so so much for reading and thank you even more if you've voted! I will send you a super big internet cuddle! Are you ready? Here it comes......SQUEEZE

Speak to you all soon!

Hair Tutorial: Velcro Rollers

2011-07-18T15:14:00.001+01:00

My latest hair tutorial on SWalkerMakeup shows you how to create big voluminous curls using one of my must have beauty products: Velcro rollers! Yes, it is a little old-school but I love the effect they give and nothing else gives me a much bouncy volume for a night out or special occasion!

Product's used:

TRESemme Curling Iron (half inch?)

Schwarzkopf Guardian Angel Heat Protection

Velcro Rollers (available at any drugstore/supermarket/beauty supply store)

L'Oreal Elnett Satin Very Volume Hair Spray

Vo5 Miracle Concentrate Serum

The Result:

Here is the video tutorial showing you how to put in the rollers, how to remove them and, how to style the final look. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! Enjoy the video...

Makeup Tutorial: Metal Mania

2011-07-11T17:27:00.000+01:00

This Monday's makeup tutorial was inspired by the Illamasqua Liquid Metal palette. I hadn't used this palette to form an entire look yet and it's been sitting in my makeup drawer shouting at me to be used! Here's what I came up with:

Product's used:

FACE:

Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising Foundation - Cool Beige

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - Shades 1 & 3

BROWS:

MAC Omega Eyeshadow on MAC 266 Brush

EYES:

Illamasqua 4 Colour Liquid Metal Palette

Barry M Dazzle Dust - Silver and Bronze (44)

MAC Eyeshadow - Cork

Maybelline One By One Mascara - Black

CHEEKS:

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel

Illamasqua 4 Colour Liquid Metal Palette (Silver used as highlight)

LIPS:
Illamasqua 4 Colour Liquid Metal Palette (Bronze, Gold and Silver)

Hope you all enjoy the video:

Makeup Tutorial: Summer Violets

2011-06-27T18:54:00.001+01:00

Hello there! Today's makeup tutorial was rather random, didn't really have anything particular in mind but fancied filming something with purples to compliment my green eyes! Let me know what you all think. There a few photo's of the look below as well as a full list of products used :)

Products used:

FACE:

Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising Foundation - Cool Beige

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer - 10 Ivory

Collection 2000 Concealer - 3 Medium

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish - Medium

BROWS:

MAC Eyeshadow - Omega on MAC 266

EYES:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC Eyeshadow - Creme De Violet

Kryolan Eyeshadow - Harmony

Illamasqua Pigment - Static

My Face Cosmetics Bling Tone Eyeshadow - Purple Haze

AVON Supershock Gel Eyeliner - Black

Make Up For Ever Smokey Lash Mascara - Black

CHEEKS:

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel (Bronze Universel)

Topshop Cream Blush - Neon Rose

LIPS:

Rimmel Lipstick - Nude Pink

L'Oreal Lipstick - 402 Pearly Rose Glow

Hope you all enjoy the video:

A little bit of Chanel...

2011-06-16T14:06:00.000+01:00

As a few of you may know, I have been away in Paris this past weekend. It really was lovely! Such a beautiful city and the shops are to die for! I will be doing a Paris post shortly showing you some photo's of what I've been up to over there :)

We we're staying on the Champs-Élysées which was amazing for shopping and good food (very expensive though!) but decided to get a taxi over to Saint Germain one day to visit Le Bon Marche. (A huge shopping center - equivalent to Harrods!) I must admit, I felt a bit faint when I saw all the beauty counters! They were gorgeous! I hopped on over to the Chanel counter as there were a few things I'd been wanting to test out and see in person. I think I was in holiday mode and just decided to splash out on the infamous cream bronzer everyone has been talking about! Behold, Bronze Universel (now know as "Soleil Tan De Chanel").

The lady at the counter wrapped it up so beautifully in a little Chanel bag with ribbons and tissue paper!

Here is the product. I was actually a little disappointed that the container was not glass (for some reason it was glass in my head!) but you still get a very heavy feeling, high quality product. It has been hyped about so much by beauty junkies all over the world but for some reason I have never picked up until now (even though I knew it looked like my kinda' thing). I am a sucker for anything cream based for my face, not a fan of looking really matte.

The colour is great and would suit all skin tones if applied with the right technique. The texture is hard, almost like hardened butter (ish) but does not feel greasy or sticky, it almost turns to a power as you blend it in. Not 100% matte though, more of a satin finish - very hard to describe!!

The colour when swatch is a golden bronze shade, not too dark but enough to warm up the complextion perfectly. It's such a multi-purpose product that I can tell I am going to get a lot of use from. You can use it under your foundation to warm up the skin and give you a bronze-y glow, or over the top as either a contour, bronzer or blush. I should also point out that it does not contain any shimmer.

The product costs £28 (expensive, I know) but trust me, it is well worth it. This will last you forever! It is huge. Containing 30 grams of product, it really is more than double what you get in a regular bronzer (usually always less than 10 grams!)

Hope you enjoyed the post, let me know if you have this, or are thinking of purchasing it?

Rodial Discount Code!

2011-06-15T12:35:00.000+01:00

If you don't follow Rodial on Twitter (@rodialskincare) then you won't have been aware of this amaaazing offer that they are promoting at the moment. They are allowing people to purchase both their Skinny Beach Sticks (£48.00) and their Skinny Beach spf15 Tinted Cream (£40.00) for just £14.95!! (minus shipping costs of £5.99) But still, such a flippin' huge discount!

I have just ordered mine now and it's safe to say, I am VERY excited!

You need to go to this page: http://www.rodial.co.uk/category/Sun/173 and then select these two product to add to your basket:

Here are the products individually so that you can have a little read as to what they do:

Then, once you have both products in your basket, go to the checkout and fill in your details for shipping etc. and then type the code 'SKINNYBEACHS' in the discount code section! Then POOF! You should have something that looks a little bit like this:

Amazing or what ;) So there you go, hurry up and use this code to get a massive deduction of £73.05 from your order!! I am not sure how long the code is valid for, it may just be today so go on, treat yourself to some top quality products :)

Skin Care Haul!

2011-05-30T12:29:00.000+01:00

I haven't had a good look around Boots in ages and I fancied just spending ages browsing the shelves to see what was out at the moment! I am majorly in to skin care at the moment and I feel like having great skin does wonders for your makeup application. I have been trying out tonnes of new skin care items, I love purchasing things that will help me have more confidence in my skin, allowing me to reveal my freckles! I am so not confident about my freckles and although people tell me they love them, I just can't seem to brave my bare skin!

Anyway, I had heard great things about the Boots Botanics line of skin care. It is affordable and natural. I came across loads of things from them that looked exciting but decided to hold back and purchase two things from the range. The first being this, the Face Smoothing Cleansing Balm. It is made from 97% natural ingredients and reminded me a lot of two other cleansing balms, the Eve Lom one and one from Monu. Both much more expensive than this one! I have used it once and it's fab! Smells lovely and although it feels as if you're rubbing Vaseline all over your face, it certainly cleanses your skin! You remove it in the same way as my Liz Earle, with a hot muslin cloth (provided in the box).

Organic Soothing Cleansing Balm - £6.63

Also, from the Botanics line I picked up this lovely looking toner. I must admit, I love the packaing from this line of products, it's simple and organic looking. This next product is the Rosewater Toner and really does smell beautiful! It is so calming and just leaves your skin feeling squeeky clean!

Organic Rosewater Toner - £4.07

Next, an item that was recommend by the lovely and gorgeous Barbara of ThePersianbabe. Check her videos out here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePersianbabe

She has been mentioning the Effaclar M cream by La Roche-Posay a lot at the moment, it is aimed at slightly more oily skin types and is supposed to tighten up your pores over time, allowing for less and less oils to be released throughout the day. It regulates the amount of sebum that is released throughout your skin as well as mattifying your face. It also claims to be a great makeup base/primer. SOLD! It is around £14 (I couldn't find an exact price for this one as it wasn't on the Boots website!)

La Roche-Posay Effaclar M - £14 (ish!)

Then, another cleanser. I have been wanting to try this one out for a while too as it has been mentioned by Gemma (Gemsmaquillage) and also, Barbara (ThePersianbabe). They have talked about the Avene cleanser in videos before saying that it just a really simply formulated, gentle cleanser that gets everything off with no fuss. It hardly smells of anything and is great for getting your makeup off at the end of a long day. It markets itself as a 'No-Rinse Tissue-off formula', basically meaning that no water or post-face-washing is required! You simply apply it with cotton pads all over your face, wait for the makeup to melt away and then wipe it off with tissues. Now, personally I have really gotten in removing my makeup/cleansers with a hot muslin cloth so I think that is also what I would do with this. I feel like it would be far more effective to steam and wash the cleanser away rather than just rub it with a tissue! Anyway, up to you!

Avene Eau Thermale Extremely Gentle Cleanser - £8.00

All the items I have mentioned can be bought in store at Boots or at http://www.boots.com/

Let me know what your skin care must-haves are! I would love to try anything new out! :)

Hair Tutorial: Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)

2011-05-29T21:59:00.002+01:00

My latest YouTube tutorial was a hair one. I was inspired after watching Beyonce's new video, 'Run The World (Girls). The video is all about female empowerment and it is extremely powerful! I loved the final scene where all the girls were dancing and Beyonce's hair was all curly and wispy! It looked so full of volume and deffinately something I'd like to wear myself.

The photo below shows the sort of curls I am talking about :) full of volume yet not perfectly tamed. Just my style!

Here is my recreation:

Click to watch the video below where I show how to get this look :)

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know if you decided to recreate this hairstyle!

Review: GlossyBox!

2011-05-26T19:06:00.000+01:00

Here is my first GlossyBox parcel! Yay! So so excited about this new company - we finally have the UK's answer to Birchbox! Here is what the parcel and packaging looked like:

The packaging really was gorgeous! Such high quality and it deffinately made an impression on me. The companies customer service as a whole is really impeccable! The are friendly, helpful and deffinately think about what the customer wants! For just £10 a month, I will deffinately recommend that you sign up to GlossyBox and get yourself a lovely box of glamorous goodies like these!

What was inside my May package?

Click to watch the video below - this is my full in-depth review of GlossyBox!

Here is the link to the GlossyBox UK website :) do go and check it out and sign up! It's such a fab idea that I am very excited to share with you :D

http://tidd.ly/6229cad