Pretty With A Punch

Yankee Candle Fragrance Mixology Set

2012-11-12T20:01:00.001+00:00

I'm a huge fan of Yankee Candles but as they're quite pricey I only ever buy one now and again. So for my birthday I of course put them on my list of things I'd like! One of my friends got me this fantastic little set....

The candles gorgeous fragrances and all really summery and fresh. The pack comes with 6 different fragrance candles and a cute little holder that holds three candles at once. The holder is ideal for tea lights as well so I won't have to keep it only for Yankee candles.

From l - r (top to bottom) the candles in the pack are:

Lilac Blossom, Sweet Honeysuckle, Pink Sands

Beach Walk, French Lavender, Garden Hideaway.

My absolute favourite is Pink Sands which is a light rose smell but really sweet. The Beach Walk is another favourite of mine and compliments the Pink Sands nicely. The Garden Hideaway is really strong and I probably wouldn't buy it again. Most of them are really gorgeous and smell a lot better once they're lit than they do if you sniff the actual candle - which of course you have to do so you know what they smell like - try before you buy and all that!

I loved this present and it's a great way of trying new candles without having to spend a fortune on one you later find you don't like! Although I'm not sure how much this was I'm planning on getting a couple of these for friends for Birthdays. Buying the smaller candles like these is a great idea as are able to change your fragrance more often!

Which Yankee Candle fragrances are your favourite?

Do you think Yankee Candles are worth the money?

xxx

Benefit Away We Glow Mini Set

2012-11-01T18:47:00.001+00:00

For my birthday the one thing I was really lusting after was this gorgeous little set from Benefit. I've used their cosmetics for years and am completely sold on the packaging alone - and yes the products too of course!

This set is fantastic as it basically has all the little miniatures you need so it's perfect to put in your handbag and touch up your make up while you're out. Usually I have a whole make up bag filled with all sorts of bits and pieces and I hardly ever use it all while I'm out so having this compact is ideal for me.

The blush is Coralista which I use every day and absolutely love! I fell in love with the 5 eye shadow shades which go from light to dark so it's great to have in your handbag to go from a day to night look.

I don't really use the Bad Gal Mascara as it doesn't give great results like my Hyperlash from Smashbox but it's great to have a miniature so I can give it another go and use to touch up my lashes during the day. Benefit lip glosses are great and this one in "life on the A list" is a pretty sheer pink which I wear in the day at the moment.

I've used Highbeam for a while now so I was quite happy to have a teeny sample of the Sunbeam - I hate buying the full sized version only to find I don't like it or it doesn't suit me!

The colours in this set really compliment each other but I'm gutted Benefit don't do all the eye shadows separately from this set as I'd definitely get the lot of them!

I've used this shadows and lip glosses so far but is it wrong that I don't want to use this and ruin the cuteness of set?? Yeah I know, totally weird but I'm a packaging junkie so seeing this in all it's glory is part of the high I get from new make up! I will go and see someone about that. ha ha.

So what are your favourite Benefit products?

What's on your Christmas list from Benefit?

xxx

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil Review

2012-10-23T20:32:00.000+01:00

I have previously tried the Wonder eye cream from Balance Me but wasn't all that impressed so when I was looking at their website at something else I wanted to try and I spotted the Radiance Face Oil. I've tried the Liz Earle Superbalm in the past which is a similar sort of thing so I thought I'd try this as it claims to enhance the radiance of skin as well as soften and smooth. As I have combination skin I was a bit wary about putting oil on my face and ending up with a greasy fish oil skin! But apparently oil on oil is balancing so it won't upset your skin.

This is £30 for 30ml from the Balance Me website which isn't cheap but at the same time this is a luxury product so it's not going to be the cheapest of products. Plus it's a decent sized bottle and you literally use 3 - 4 drops a time so it's going to last a while.

So I've been using this for a week now and I couldn't be without it now! I'm absolutely 100% in love with this oil! I was pretty worried I'd end up not liking this and it either breaking me out or leaving my skin itchy and inflamed. Instead it left my skin super super smooth, clear from any blemishes or spots and with a lovely glow. I don't know how it's done it, maybe it's the chamomile and all the other oils but it has literally done wonders with my skin. It's so conditioned but not oily or greasy. I've also noticed that the annoying under the skin spots that I usually get are completely gone and the fine lines around my eyes are also less noticeable.

As the ingredients are all natural it's great for sensitive skin like mine and a little goes a long way. I've not used a moisturiser in the evening since I've been using this and I don't think I need to. It's pretty sad but I can't wait to take my make up off in the evenings so I can get this on my skin! It's a really luxurious product and a gorgeous treat for any skin type!

Definitely a re-purchase for me, although the price tag is a bit more than I'd expect to pay I love what it's done for my skin. So glad I've found this product as it's now partly of my daily skin care routine.

Which balance me products do you use?

Have you tried any face oils?

xxx

Avon - Anew Clinical Cream - AF33 Review

2012-10-14T18:53:00.001+01:00

As the new "miracle wrinkle" cream from Avon was promoted and advertised left, right and centre I couldn't avoid reading about it and becoming more curious. Lucky for me my sister Kate is an Avon lady *ding dong Avon calling!* ha ha.

I did a little research and was surprised at the claims this cream had to make. First off they say that in clinical trials 100% of the women who tried this product showed results within 14 days - pretty convincing I'd say! This gel cream is supposed to be the new super dooper break through cream in fighting fine and deep wrinkles. It was the fastest selling cream from Avon and has say that results are achieved with ongoing use over weeks and I guess to keep the changes up you need to use it continuously.

I don't have deep wrinkles as I'm still in my twenties (only just!!) but I've started to get a little frown line across the bridge of my nose and crows feet probably from laughing too much which I don't really mind but if I can keep them at bay for a few more years then I will.

The packaging is ok, it comes in a sleek mirrored bottle with a pump dispenser. Although it looks quite sleek it's also prone to get sticky finger print marks all over the bottle so I often find I'm wiping it down with a tissue or cloth to keep it clean looking. I know, yes I might be a bit obsessive about this but it's so annoying!

For a 30ml bottle you're looking at around £20 depending on what offer they've got on at the time. With this order I *received* a little free make up bag containing some miniature goodies. The reason I put little asterisks by received in my previous sentence is because I've not actually received it yet! My sister says it's still on order but it's not due till later in the month - boo! I know what the little bag contains as a couple of my colleagues got theirs but I'm still looking forward to trying the freebies.

The cream itself is kind of a gel formulation and goes a looong way! Literally one pump is all you need, I learnt this after overusing it on several occasions and having to smear it over my partners face to use it up! He loved it really! :)

Now for the results, I've been using it for about 3 week now and can definitely see a difference in my frown line and the expression lines on my forehead. I've had to stop putting it near my eyes as it has irritated them a bit, but that's pretty much standard with me nowadays. But other than that I'm quite impressed with this, it's sort of on a par with the Perfect and Protect Serum by No7, if not a little bit better.

My only gripe is that it takes a while to sink in and I find I need to apply it a while before bed or my face sticks to my pillow. But really apart from that issue and the packaging style I can't say anything bad about it. I'm pretty sure I'll re-purchase this and I don't think it'll be for a while as it looks as if this bottle will last a while.

All in all a good purchase which appears to live up to expectations and claims!

Which "wonder" product do you use?

Are you a fan of Avon products?

xxx

Gorgeous Claireabella Canvas Bag Review!

2012-10-12T18:45:00.002+01:00

For a while now I've been seeing a few people either on Facebook or Blogger with these beautifully designed bags from Claireabella! The brand has increased hugely in the last 12 months and it seems like the new "it" item to have. I fell in love with these girlie bags instantly and knew I had to have one - despite my bag collection overflowing already! But these aren't your average bag, you get to design the little character on the front, making them perfect for a gift or a little treat for yourself! When you design you "mini me" on the bag you can choose from different hair colours and styles as well as eye colour and the outfit they are wearing. The website itself which you can view here is so easy to navigate round and the whole process of designing the bag is really fun as you can add or change lots of elements.

Not only can you design your own bag but you can also put the cute little character on phone cases, hoodies, mugs, lunch boxes, note books, and diaries amongst other things! Definitely a great idea for Christmas presents this year. I decided to go for the canvas bag as I prefer this style bag and it was quite a bit cheaper than the Jute bags. The canvas style bags are £14.99 plus p&p and the Jute bags vary from £24.99 - £39.99 depending on what size you order.

The fun part of this is choosing your characters hair style, colour, outfit and eye colour. There are 12 different outfits to choose from and they range from really simple casual jeans to a smart little cocktail dress! Another great thing is that there's an option to for "bridal" and "pregnancy" themed clothes which is a great idea for one of my friends who is newly pregnant.

I had to wait 3 weeks before the cute litte pink parcel arrived (the waiting nearly killed me I was so excited!) but it was worth the wait. The bag itself is a very standard canvas shopping bag but the character printed on the front was just perfect! I chose a character with a bright purple dress with matching bag and glass (I like to think of it as Champagne! ha ha), big blue eyes and long brown hair. As you'll probably realise all of the Claireabella characters are based around their huge eyes with long lashes which makes them look so stunning!

I was really impressed with the detail and care that has gone into the design, I didn't expect it but they have also added little diamantes either side of where my name is and dotted around the character! I love a little bit of sparkle so this is perfect for me! I can't wait to start using this and initially got it for when I'm shopping but I think I'll end up using it more often - just to show it off if nothing else!

My favourite bit about this bag is that it's so personalised (not exactly what I look like but I can work towards that!) and unique to me. The writing and print of my name is funky - you don't have to have your name on the bag, you can pretty much have anything. You order through a website called Toxic Fox which you get re-directed to through the Claireabella website. I'm 100% going to get a Jute bag at some stage once I've got a bit more money as I'd probably use a larger one to carry around my UV nail lamp and polishes when I'm going to different peoples homes to do nails.

What do you think of the Claireabella bags?

Which design would you get?

xxx

Balance Me Eye Cream ~ Wonder Cream??

2012-10-09T19:48:00.000+01:00

In last month's Glossybox I received a tube of the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream which is said to be "soothing, brightening and lifting" for the eye area. I don't know how much this little tube retails for but I think it's available in places like Boots - but weirdly I couldn't find it on the Boots website to add a link in! Anyhoo, I've heard some good things about the Balance Me range and a few months ago there were a fair few reviews on them after one of the glossy magazines did a freebie.

I'm quite particular about which eye cream I use and generally stick to one particular brand, most recently I've used one from Dior. But as this was in my Glossybox I thought I'd give this a try for a while.

As this cream is "lifting" I put some on my eye lids and below my under eye area before I went to bed. I used this for about 5 nights before I got any results. The results.... red and sore eye lids! Seriously both eye lids were sensitive to the touch, bright red and very very dry!! I'm absolutely convinced it was this cream as I haven't changed anything else in my beauty regime at all. I've read that one other blogger has had similar sort of issues with this cream so I know I'm not alone (or being overly sensitive!)

I'm quite surprised this cream has had this effect on me like it has. I know I'm usually a sensitive little thing but this has got to be a record in how sensitive I am to a product! So I can't give a glowing report to you readers, I can just advise you use with caution...this stuff is toxic!

How have you got on with Balance Me products?

Which eye creams do you use?

xxx

In Pursuit of Volume #2 Vo5 Plump It Up Backcomb Spray and Mousse

2012-10-05T09:38:00.000+01:00

So if you've read my first post on my search for volume in my long locks then you'll know that so far I've not found the answer to my prayers. I try to read a reviews before I buy I product that is new to me so I had a good old google before I purchased these and found the reviews to be split between good and not so good. But I decided to give them a go anyway.

I got the V05 Plump it up Dry Backcomb Spray and Weightless Mousse on an offer for 2 Vo5 products for £5 in Superdrug. I do backcomb my hair for nights out but as it's quite fine I worry about the damage it's causing to my hair so if I can avoid backcombing I will! Day to day whilst I'm at work I'm not overly bothered about doing too much to my hair but I would love to give my hair a bit of a lift and some shape and not have it stuck to my head!

The backcomb spray is kind of like a dry shampoo in formulation but colourless. It contains Collagen to add fullness and volume and you spray this directly into your roots and kind of work it through with your fingers a bit. This is supposed to give a backcomb effect but without the risk of damage to the hair. I tried this on day old washed hair and followed the directions exactly. What I found was that it did give a bit of volume (not much!) but you have to push the hair up with your fingers to get the product to work and by doing that my hair just looked messy and un-brushed! It's an OK product if you like the messy look but it's really not me. What I probably will use this for is for backcombing - I realise this defeats the object of trying to find a product instead of backcombing but this product sort of creates a bit of a "grip" so it will probably help to keep any backcombing in for longer and not drop so quick! The scent is also really nice so that's a definite plus.

The Mousse looked good enough to eat when I sprayed it out of the can - don't worry I resisted! :)

But it did look really light and fluffy so it lives up to it's name of being weightless. There's no real directions on the can as to whether you apply this in dry or wet hair, so naturally I tried both! Neither worked or showed once inch of volume! Literally nothing! I was expecting to see some change, a little lift, oomph, height...but nothing. I can't say I've used much mousse on my hair in the past so I'm not sure how this even compares to a regular mousse. I do try to find a positive in any product I try or review but I've really struggled to find any with this one! It doesn't really do what it's intended to and I feel pretty let down with what I thought would at least do something.

So, sorry ladies (& gents) I can't share with you a miraculous discovery or an answer to lifting our limp locks! But I'm hot on the case and already have some more volumising products lined up to try, watch this space!

Can you recommend any volumising products?

Any tips to get our hair any higher?

xxx

Primark Haul - Blouses & Bags!

2012-10-02T13:05:00.000+01:00

Whilst on a week off from work we had a little trip to the shopping centre in Southampton which pretty much has all the shops I usually go in, including a good sized Primark. I've recently moved all my summer clothes into the other wardrobe and noticed a few gaps in my winter wardrobe that needed to be filled. Enter Primark!

I fell in love instantly with this owl printed blouse with the stud detail on the collar. Just hope I don't get any "nice hooters" comments! Haha!

I wasn't sure about this one when I first saw it on the hanger as I'm not a big animal print lover at times but this looked so lovely on, especially with a black skirt or skinny jeans.

I really love lace and the colour of this blouse against the black lace is really striking! All the blouses were £12 each and are long sleeved and slightly sheer.

I have been lusting after this bag for weeks but the Primark near me hasn't had them in stock - so gutted! I love clutch bags for nights out and this one is so much cheaper than the Topshop version. I would've loved to get the black version too but they didn't have it in stock either so settled for this nude version which is just as gorgeous! I'm still contemplating going on eBay for the black version as there are a few on there at the moment but I resent paying double the price than I would in the shop.

This faux leather jacket was a bit of a uncertain buy. I've never been sure about fake leather and worry that it will just look cheap and nasty. Once this jacket is on it looks really good and is also very flattering and only cost £25 but I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'm going to keep it

- what do you guys think??

What are your recent Primark bargains?

Let me know what you think of the jacket - good or bad!

xxx

In Pursuit of Volume!! Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo

2012-10-02T13:04:00.000+01:00

This will be the first of a few posts on my pursuit of big hair! My hair is pretty fine and lacks volume - something I absolutely hate about my hair. I had hair extensions for years to thicken it up but had them all taken out earlier this summer. So now I'm left searching for an alternative to give my hair a bit of ooomph!

I really like the Aussie products, particularly the way they smell so sweet. This is £5.99 from Boots but is quite often in the 3 for 2 offer.

The shampoo itself smells amazing and a little goes a long way and lathers brilliantly. It contains hops (the stuff that goes into beer) so it gives a gorgeous shine to the hair and made it super soft and in great condition. But did it give my hair any volume is probably what you want to know?!

Nope. Nothing. Zilch. Flat as a pancake.

Aagggghhhhh!!

This would be ideal for someone wanting a really nourishing shampoo but as a volumising shampoo this did nothing to my locks and if anything it left it feeling more flyaway because it was so nourished!

It's not like I expected this:

Or even this:

But this would've been nice:

But sadly no, I can't report any lift on my barnet whatsoever! Boo!

Maybe I have to lower my expectations a little bit but there's got to be a product out there that can give me some height without having to backcomb, I'll just have to carry on looking!

What volumising Shampoo do you use?

What are you tips getting some lift to your locks?

xxx

Dark Circle Solver ~ No7 Vitality Eye Roll-on

2012-10-02T13:00:00.001+01:00

I've always suffered with under eye dark circles and remember years ago a woman on one of the cosmetic counters saying "it's hereditary dear". NOT what I wanted to hear! My lovely Mum has quite dark circles under her eyes and to be told it's hereditary and there's nothing that can be done is sort of gutting really!

I have tried a few products here and there for this, as well as trying to get my 8 hours sleep and drink a ton of water but nothing has really ever made much of a noticeable difference. I kind of gave up at one point but then I had one of those No7 vouchers from Boots a few months ago and decided to spend it on something to help with my black eyes!

The thing I like about it the most is the roll on effect as it feels as if your gliding the product across the skin and not pulling at it. The roll on also helps to stimulate circulation which is great for the under eye area. It's also a plus that it's hypo-allergenic as those of you who read my blog regularly will know my skin is very sensitive!

The formulation is quite fine and dries fairly quickly so you're not left with a ton of it swimming around your eyes. This little 15ml tube has lasted me for 2 months and I use it nearly every night so it's well worth the £12, especially when you use one of those vouchers.

I have definitely seen a difference in the darkness under my eyes, particularly in the socket area where I most needed it. I have also noticed that if I go a couple of nights without it, it does start to show. The whole area under my eye does look brightened and a less tired. Definite re-purchase in my opinion and would highly recommend it to anyone!

What eye cream do you use?

How do you deal with the dark under eye circles?

xxx

Pretty With A Punch Got A Facelift!

2012-10-01T19:01:00.001+01:00

So you may (or may not!) have noticed that my blog has had a complete make over recently! Gone is the standard blogger template and in its place it a beautifully designed new template along with new font and colour scheme!

The lovely new look of Pretty with a Punch is courtesy of the lovely Felicity from Pursuit of Felicity. I had seen she'd done a make over on another blog I read and back in August I contacted her to see if she could do anything with mine. When I first set up my blog I had to learn a lot about Blogger by reading forums online and I also had some help from some fantastic bloggers. But I felt I had done all that I could without some help with the technical side of things, like changing the template, fonts and adding bits and pieces here and there.

When I contacted Felicity she was brilliant and gave me all the costs upfront with what she could do for my blog. She set a date to start work on my design and also how long it would take her - she kept to this schedule exactly! She was wonderfully professional and set me some initial homework to provide her examples of what colours, fonts, design and layout I'd like. Then she pretty much did the rest! I then received a mock up of her design and was able to give feedback about things I wanted to change and what I was happy with.

We emailed back and forth about the finer details (plus a picture for my welcome portrait) and finally I emailed her my log in details and she installed the new face of Pretty with a Punch all the way from the other side of the world in Australia!

I'm so happy with the result and feel my blog is now a lot more user friendly as well as being more personal and individual to me.

I would highly recommend Felicity if you're thinking of having any work done to your blog, whether it just be a few changes or a complete overhaul. She's super friendly and creative, not to mention an absolute gem!

Thank you Felicity!! xxx

xxx

Montagne Jeunesse Deep Cleansing Blemish Mud

2012-09-29T19:58:00.001+01:00

After hearing a lot of positive reviews on the Montagne Jeunesse masks I thought I'd give them a try. Now I'm normally very loyal to my good old Liz Earle products but thought it was time to venture out and just dip my toe in the water of some other products.

This was 90p in Primark - absolute bargain! I chose the one for blemished skin as I can be prone to the odd spot or two and my skin leans towards being oily rather than dry. This mask contains Aloe Vera, Willow, Rosemary and Witch Hazel - sounded like good skin cleaning ingredients to me so I grabbed this whilst I was in the queue to pay for my other bits - they always put stuff like this near the checkout for suckers like me to pick up!

Blemish Mud Mask with Aloe Juice for Blemish Prone Skin
Please ignore the dodgy sticker over the models eye! Couldn't peel it off!

I'd seen these masks previously and to be honest was put off by the packaging which I think looks a bit cheap and tacky. I don't know why but it just doesn't appeal to me much. But the product itself is pretty good. It's very thick and the formulation is sort of clay like but I found it was easy to spread out across my skin and it was refreshing and cooling on the skin - maybe due to the Aloe Vera? Not sure but it was quite a nice feeling. It dries within 10 - 15 mins and goes really hard, I couldn't keep a straight face when Pete was trying to make me laugh so yes it cracked and I looked slightly odd!

Overall I would say I'm quite impressed with this face mask, and I honestly didn't expect to be. The price is great and the pack contains about two applications so you do get your money's worth. It left my skin feeling really clean and cleansed and didn't cause me to break out like some masks do. I would definitely repurchase this and will buy a few to stock up next time I'm in Primark!

You can see more product information on Montagne Jeunesse here. Now I just need to figure out how to pronounce the name!!

Which is your favourite mask from their range?

Have you tried any of their other products?

xxx

How I store my make up (Photo Heavy)

2012-09-29T12:17:00.000+01:00

For a while now I've been meaning to sort out my make up box. I'm not normally a messy person but I am a late person! I love my sleep and hate getting up in the mornings, meaning I'm often late and rushing round like a headless chicken trying to get myself ready and not be late! So my make up box takes quite a hammering with blushers, mascaras, and powders are thrown left right and centre whilst I'm trying to find what I'm after!

Floral basket previously home to my make up!

A while ago I saw another blogger suggesting the drawer organisers from Ikea so whilst we were down in Southampton shopping we popped into Ikea and picked one up. It's a bargain at £8 and comes completely flat packed. Don't worry if I can put it together you will be able to! It folds together and fastens with Velcro so you can take it apart and put it back together quite easily if you need to.

The compartments are quite generous, there's three larger ones at the back and 4 smaller ones at the front. I thought I had quite a big make up collection but once I transferred it all it looked quite small as there's so much room in this organiser. So here it is...the unveiling of a new more organised me!

I've organised each area by product - top left is all my blushers (obscene amount I know!) Next is concealers, foundations and liquid highlighters. Top right are mascara's, eyeliners, and brow products.

Bottom left are again either blushers, bronzers and powder highlighters. Next are lip glosses and lipsticks, followed by a few (couldn't fit all of them in!) of my most used eye shadows. Bottom right are kind of miniatures or samples of products that I'm yet to try.

I'm so chuffed with this little organiser and love the fact that it's so neat and tidy compared to the jumbled up mess it was in before! This way I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find what I'm looking for in the mornings without causing the destruction of our bedroom! It fits perfectly in my drawer so it's tucked away neatly as it's a bit too large to be out on my dressing table. This is also great because it's that sort of material that wipes clean so it'll be pretty easy to keep tidy. The name of this is Skubb and you can check the details out here.

How do you keep your make up organised?

Or maybe a better question is do you keep your make up organised?!

xxx

Smashbox Review ~ Eyes and Lips

2012-09-26T13:35:00.001+01:00

As part of my Smashbox Try it Kit I also received an eye liner, mascara and lip gloss. If you haven't checked out my post on the try it kit have a look here.

As promised here's a little review of some of the products in the kit.

First off all the products are sample sized and included the HyperLash Mascara, Limitless Eye Liner and Lip Enhancing Gloss.

Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures, my camera was playing up and not being a whizz with technology I didn't know how to sort it! Anyway, the eye liner black and looks like your standard eye liner pencil. But this has got to be without a doubt the best pencil I have ever used! Ever! I don't know why but this pencil just seems to glide on easily and doesn't pull at the skin around my eyes. With a lot of other pencils I find they don't give a clean line and can pull drag across the skin a bit. This gives a clean and defined line, it's soft and lasts for nearly a whole day without needing to re-apply! So far it's ticked all the boxes for me.

The lipgloss is nice and the shade in this pack is Illume. As you can see in the picture below it's a very sheer colour with a bit of glitter in the mix. It's great for the day and practically any skin tone could wear this. It's a bit sticky but generally it's a nice gloss. I just wouldn't repurchase in this shade as it's a bit "something and nothing" for my liking.

Now for my absolute favourite of the kit! The Hyperlash mascara! Oh. My. God. This is truly one of the best mascaras I've ever used! I'm so picky when it comes to mascara, mainly because I have quite high expectations. I like a mascara to last, to lengthen and to separate my lashes. Luckily this does all three! I didn't have high expectations for this mascara but I was proved so wrong. This comes in the Blackest Black and the full sized one retails at £19 which I don't think is a bad price for a great mascara. The only bad thing is that from what I can see on the Smashbox websites, their mascaras only come in black so they're not going to be perfect for everyone which is a shame.

All in all I'd say this was money well spent. I'd definitely re-purchase the mascara, eye liner and lip gloss in another shade! Plus I've found a great new mascara that I probably wouldn't have had the chance to try without buying this kit.

You can view the Smashbox website here and check out the products mentioned in this post.

What do you think of the Smashbox products?

Would try any of these from the Try me kit?

xxx

Body Shop Favourites ~ Body and Beauty

2012-09-26T12:26:00.000+01:00

Today I'm sharing with you a few of my favourite products from The Body Shop!

I've been using Body Shop products for years now and although sometimes I stray away and try other things I always seem to come back to them.

Green Apple Bath and Shower Gel
Blueberry Body Butter
Brow & Liner Kit
Slanted Brush

I've featured the Brow and Liner Kit in one of my other posts but only very briefly. I previously used a pencil to shade in my eyebrows but I bought this after the shop assistant in my local branch introduced to me to it. After trying this out I'll never go back to pencils! This gives an amazing defined look without making them look false or giving the dreaded "scouse brow" look - not good! Unless you like that sort of thing which I really don't! It comes with a little brush to apply but I also got the slanted brush which is much better and easier to apply the product with. Because it's slanted it makes it super easy to get the right shape and the bristles are quite firm so you don't end up with the half the powder all over your face.

I love really fresh smelling shower gels to wake me up in the mornings - a hard task but this seems to do the job! The Green Apple Shower Gel is absolutely beautiful and the fragrance is just like fresh apples. Now I know this isn't going to be everyones cup of tea but I adore the smell and the freshness of it. Plus it was in the sale so I couldn't turn this baby down!

I've been using the Body Shop body butters for years but do resent paying £12.50 for them as I think they're over priced despite loving them! So when I saw that they were 50% off I grabbed a couple. As I have pretty sensitive skin at the best of times I always need to be careful with what I'm putting on, but these have never irritated my skin and leave me with smooth and soothed skin! Try saying that when you're drunk :)

I prefer the Blueberry and Mango butters as they smell amazing and the fragrance lasts for hours. I tend to stock up on these when they're in the sale so I've got a few to last me through till next year now!

Despite not loving the Body Shop prices on certain things I am definitely a loyal customer when it comes to these products. I also like that the ingredients in their range are ethically sourced and not tested on animals. You can check out their website here.

Which are your favourite Body Shop products?

xxx

Smashbox Lid and Foundation Primers

2012-09-24T18:02:00.003+01:00

Last week I purchased the Smashbox Try It Kit and did a brief post on it which you can see here.

So today's post is a bit more of an in depth review on a couple of their products that I received in this kit....their primers! This kit comes with the Oil Free Photo Finish Foundation Primer and the Photo Finish Lid Primer.

Being that I suffer with combination skin the oil free primer was a perfect choice for me. Now I don't really use a lid primer day to day and I've had the Urban Decay Primer Potion for about a year and barely use it, so I can't be a fountain of knowledge on this subject.

The foundation primer is a clear gel which is quite thick but not heavy once applied. It has no fragrance to it which I like and a little goes a loooong way which I found out after I squeezed a big dollop out onto my hand and didn't end up using! I would have put a close up picture of this product out of the bottle but it literally is just a clear gel- not much to look at really! I've been using this for a week and I'm seriously addicted! I love the texture of it, it's like velvet and leaves my skin so soft and smooth I almost don't want to put make up over the top! I've noticed my foundation seems to stay on longer when I'm using this primer and it also seems easier to apply once I've primed my skin with this. Beautiful product that I will 100% be re-purchasing.

Now for the lid primer, as I've mentioned I don't use this sort of thing a lot so can't say whether it is better or worse than any others. It's kind of the consistency of a concealer and again has no fragrance to it. I think the product is probably a great one but I have to be honest and say I'm not convinced I need a product like this in my make up bag! I know I'm probably not supposed to say that and all the make up gurus out there will be aghast at that but there, I've said it! I'll carry on using it for a while as I know these are supposed to help your eye make up stay on longer - we shall see!

So far, very impressed with the quality of the Smashbox products and can't wait to do a review of the next lot of their products and share them with you all.

Which is your favourite primer?

Do you swear by a lid primer and use one as part of your everyday make up routine?

xxx

Smashbox Try It Kit ~ Testers!

2012-09-21T18:11:00.001+01:00

I've been wanting to try Smashbox products for a while now, especially their primer! Sadly I've got a history of choosing products (expensive ones at that) and then not liking them. They then sit in my make up box for months completely unused, very annoying. So before I buy anything nowadays I tend to try to get a sample or buy a miniature of the product. So when I saw Smashbox were doing a "Try it Kit" I thought this was ideal for me!

This little kit costs £19 and contains :

7ml Oil Free Photo Finish Foundation Primer

0.5ml Photo Finish Lid Primer

Hyperlash Mascara in Blackout (Blackest Black)

Lip Enhancing Gloss in Illume

Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx (Black)

Smashbox Try It Kit

This amazing little kit comes in a neat little box with all the products standing upright and information printed on the inside of each individual product.

What I love about this kit is that the sizes of each of the products are all very generous and give you a chance to sample them without having to buy the full sized (and priced!) version. The other great thing is that Smashbox send you a free sample with every order so you also get to try some of their other items too! I got a mini sample of the primer which is the same as the one in this kit but as I was impressed with it I'm quite happy to have another little bottle.

The lip gloss is a lovely iridescent colour and would suit practically any skin tone and the mascara and eyeliner are both black so you can't really go wrong with this fantastic little collection. The shipping from Smashbox was also free and although it states the shipping takes 2 - 5 days I received my order within 3 which is great considering I couldn't wait to get my hands on this!

I'll do a separate review of the products as I didn't want this post to be too long or wordy and just wanted to share my latest find with you all! :)

To take a look at the UK Smashbox Website for this kit click here

Which Smashbox products would you recommend?

Which are the ones you would avoid?

xxx

What's in my GlossyBox?? September 2012

2012-09-19T18:20:00.003+01:00

After last month's GlossyBox flop I thought I would give them one more month before I cancelled my subscription.

This month was slightly better although I'm still considering changing to another beauty box brand.

I received a 15ml sample of Bio Silk's leave in treatment that helps to moisturise and restructure the hair.

7ml Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream which is supposed to soothe, brighten and lift the eye area.

7ml Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Relaxing Complex Cream.

1.2ml sample of Lady Gaga's new perfume "Fame" which has a crushed floral fragrance.

2 sachets of Rodial's 5 minute facial and 2 sachets of Rodial's Glamoxy Snake Serum.

All in all I think this box is better than the last one and I'm keen to try the Rodial products and the Balance Me eye cream. The box the products arrived in this month was very cute and patterned which is a nice change to the plain pink ones they usually use. You can just about see some of the box in the pictures.

I'll be doing a more in-depth review of a couple of these samples once I've tried them so can let you know what I thought then!

What did you get in your GlossyBox this month?

If you're not a GlossyBox gal, which box do you use and what did you get in it this month?

xxx

Pretty in Pink ~ Barry M Dolly Pink Lip Paint

2012-09-16T14:16:00.001+01:00

I'm not always very adventurous as I'd like to be with my lip colours and tend to stick to glosses. However a few weeks ago whilst I was perusing the shelves in Superdrug I came across Barry M's fantastic range of lip sticks. There are 32 colours in their range and they're all very glossy and bright.

I chose 146 Dolly Pink which is a vibrant, hot pink lippie. I love that these lipsticks are bright and quite inexpensive at £4.49.

I wouldn't wear this during the day as it is very bright but I wore it on a night out with toned down eye make up to draw the focus straight to the lips!

The plus points with this lipstick are that it stays on for quite a while without having to re-apply it. It's also great for layering and building up colour so you can have it more subtle than the picture above. I don't think there are really any negatives to report with this, great colour, matching lip liners and very reasonable price.

To have a look at the whole Barry M range check out their website.

What are your favourites from the Barry M range?

xxx

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Limited Edition

2012-09-16T12:17:00.002+01:00

I know there has been a lot of reviews and blogs on this product but I received mine this week and wanted to share my thoughts on it. This edition of Cleanse and Polish contains Rose, Lavender, Essential Oils and is in partnership with The Prince's Trust who help provide practical and financial support to young people who need it most. £2 from the sale of this product goes straight to The Prince's Trust so this is a fantastic way to give to charity.

I usually use the normal Cleanse and Polish so was a bit worried I'd get this one and not like it. But I was wrong, it's the same texture and feel of the regular one but this has a lovely delicate smell of lavender and aromatherapy oils. Liz Earle recommends to use this in the evenings due to the Lavender having a calming fragrance which can aid sleep.

I'm glad I chose the limited edition over the normal one and it's such a shame it's not going to be permanent in their range as it smells gorgeous and the packaging is beautiful and it's a fantastic twist on the original product.

Get this while you can, you won't be disappointed!

You can buy this 150ml Edition for £19.75 on the Liz Earle Website

Which other Liz Earle products would you like to see reviewed?

Which products from the new cosmetic range have you tried?

xxx

Liz Earle Skincare Favourites

2012-09-11T15:15:00.002+01:00

Anyone who reads my blog knows my love for Liz Earle products. I've been using them for a few years now and they really have changed my skin from constant breakouts to clear and less oily. Apart from the Cleanse & Polish my two favourites from Liz Earle have to be the Gentle Face Exfoliator and Brightening Treatment Mask.

The facial exfoliator is great for my skin, not too gritty thanks to the fine jojoba beads but it also leaves my skin soft due to the cocoa butter. I use this about twice a week and it always leaves my skin a lot smoother which helps my make up go on better and leaves my skin very fresh.

"Facial Exfoliator"

The Brightening mask is relatively new to me and I was introduced to it by my sister. I use this when my skin looks a bit dull from too many late nights or if it just needs a quick fix before a night out. This has to be one of Liz's best products as it really works and my skin looks and feels so refreshed. You're only supposed to leave it on for between 30 seconds and 2 minutes but I leave it on for up to 5 for a real boost. It contains purifying white clay and aloe vera so it smells amazing!

"Brightening Mask"

This isn't supposed to be suitable for sensitive skin but it's seems fine on my skin which is usually quite sensitive.

The exfoliator is £9.50 for a 50ml tube and the brightening mask is £14.25 for a 50ml starter kit. To check out the full details on this product click here

What are your skincare favourites?

xxx

Dior Capture Totale Foundation - Beauty Must Have!

2012-09-11T14:28:00.000+01:00

I have been a fan of Dior foundations for quite a few years now, my favourite being the Forever range. I had so many comments about how radiant my skin looked and it always covered every blemish I had. So last year I noticed it wasn't having the same effect any more and it was becoming "average" looking. When I spoke to the assistant on the Dior counter she said it was likely that my skin had changed and no longer suited that particular foundation. I was pretty crushed and disappointed as I had relied on it for so long. However the clever Dior girl suggested the Capture Totale range....and I was smitten again!

The reason I say she was clever is that the foundation is a whopping £62!!!! I'm not exactly rolling in money so spending this much money on a foundation is not going to happen. Enter Mum & Dad combined with Christmas = the only way I could ever justify having a foundation this expensive. I know this would put tons of people off and I agree it's ridiculously expensive but it is such an amazing product! I literally only use it for nights out or special occasions - I have a cheaper one from Rimmel for all other times.

The Capture Totale range is a high definition serum foundation which is suitable for all skin types. I like a good coverage with my foundations and this one provides a medium coverage and glides on so well it's like applying silk! It also has anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle qualities which makes it an all round fantastic foundation, big smiles :)

The pump applicator makes it mess free and prevents you from overusing by allowing you to pump out the exact amount you need.Containing a SPF 15 is also another plus. It's called a radiance restoring foundation and it really does give my skin a gorgeous radiance without looking too dewy or shiny. I am in love with this foundation and dread it running out.

As you can see in the picture, the texture is lovely and smooth, thick without being too heavy.

It smooths over the skin well and looks even better when it's blended with a brush. I find it does last longer than a normal foundation and my skin looks fresher with it. The colour of my foundation is 020 but I think there are up to 9 shades in this range.

Blends in beautifully!

I have had this since Christmas 2011 and still have quite a bit left as you don't need very much of this at all. I would 100% recommend this to anyone wanting a luxury foundation.

What foundation would you recommend for every day wear?

Which is your luxury buy foundation?

xxx

No7 Perfectly Bronzed Mosaic Bronzer

2012-09-07T19:33:00.002+01:00

It's not like I need any more blushers or bronzers but hey, what's one more to add to the collection??

Personally I blame Boots and their No7 vouchers. I was prepared to go in get what I needed and go. But once that voucher was in my hand I was like a woman possessed - it had to be spent! So after perusing the shelves for a few minutes my eye fell on this little baby and....well it came home with me! ooops.

The No7 vouchers are now £5 off skincare and £3 off cosmetics. This was £11.50 so I had to put £8.50 towards it but it was so worth it.

The compact is very sleek and with the mirror inside it's perfect for my handbag. I love the multi-tonal colours in this as I like the bronzed look but also favour the pinky reds as well. It's a great mix of colours and gives a highly pigmented colour without looking to over the top.

Definitely my new favourite addition to my make up collection and one I'll be using as much as possible!

What did you buy with your No7 voucher?

What's your favourite bronzer / blush?

xxx

Miss Eyelure False Lashlets from Superdrug

2012-09-04T20:50:00.000+01:00

I am so excited about my latest beauty find, so naturally I had to do a blog on it straight away! I'm a huge fan of false eyelashes but shamefully I'm awful at applying them. I don't know why I can't get the hang of it and why I make such a mess of it, but I do! A while ago I discovered that pre-glued lashes are so much easier but couldn't actually find many in the shops. That's when I discovered these little gems....

They are pre-glued lashlets from the Eylure range and perfect for a someone like me who struggles to apply the normal ones! At £4 each they are an absolute bargain and at the moment Superdrug are doing a 3 for 2 offer so I got all three pairs for £8! Weirdly they only do these in Superdrug that I know of.

"Emily" Lashlets

The Emily lashes are the shortest in the range but are still very fluttery and striking!

"Alice" Lashlets

The Alice lashes are very striking, long and luscious - perfect for a night out.

"Olivia" Lashlets

The Olivia lashes are just gorgeous, very full and bold which makes your eyes look stunning! I couldn't wear these in the day but I would 100% wear these on nights out.

There is another style in this range but it was a bit spiky looking for my taste. These are ultra light lashes and I hardly noticed I was wearing them when I first had a pair on, unlike other lashes that can feel really heavy and awkward. These are totally re-usable and lasted me all night without peeling off or looking wonky - not a great look!

I'm so happy I've found this range, they're so easy to apply and look absolutely gorgeous! Fantastic addition to the Eylure range :)

What are your favourite brand of lashes?

Have you tried any of the TOWIE or Girls Aloud range?

xxx

No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask

2012-09-04T18:17:00.000+01:00

I've had this gorgeous little mask for a while now but I've only just rediscovered it lurking in one of my many drawers that are crammed with lots of beauty goodies.

I don't use many of No7's products apart from their facial tanner and nail polishes but this caught my eye as it looks so creamy and nourishing. It's only £12.50 for 100ml from Boots and you don't need very much at all so it lasts a long time (especially if you forget you have it!) It's designed for dry/very dry skin which I don't have but I use it for when my skin needs a little pick me up or like today when my skin is tired from a night out on the town!

In the picture above the cream looks very runny but it's not usually quite so watery, I think it's like this in this photo because I've not used it in a while and it has been laying down in the drawer rather than sat upright. It still works the same and after 10 minutes my skin was left feeling nourished, moisturised and soft. I don't find this product breaks me out in spots or clogs my pores, something I find a lot of nourishing products do to my combination skin.

This is a real treat for the skin and could be used a couple of times a week for those of you with dry skin.

Well done No7 on creating a beautiful product!

What are your favourite No7 products?

xxx