Makeup And Beauty Blog - MakeupSavvy

Max Factor Colour Elixir, Lip swatches and Guerlain!

2012-02-27T10:30:00.000Z

Now for some reason in my head I don't think I like lipstick all that much... so I don't really blog about them (well hardly ever). But reality tells me otherwise, as I wear lipstick almost daily and I own over 80 lip products?!

So I am thinking it is about time I admit that I have some kind of hidden interest in lipstick... I mean I strongly dislike toner so have only ever tried a few, I also don't like full coverage foundation so I don't own any... and then there in my huge collection of lipsticks. It doesn't make any sense really! For that reason I have decided I am going to start featuring more lip products on my blog with actual on the lip swatches because I think it's really important to actually see the shade on the lips to give an idea of the true shade and finish (though it is always going to vary from person to person).

The first lipstick that I wanted to start off with is one that I have been wearing a lot this winter as it's deep but not too deep (a light wine/ berry shade) and lovely and moisturising, which is something I 100% need when it's cold out!

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Mulberry is priced slightly over what I would normally spend at £7.99 (Boots - here) but there really is nothing I can fault and was definitely worth the price for the wonderful quality. As you can see from the finish it is a hydrating lipstick so it does have a slight sheen/frost to it, which I personally like as wine matte shades can look a little flat sometimes and are of course more drying on the lips.

Something that really impressed me though was how long the shade lasts on the lips, as with it being quite hydrating I wasn't excepting a lot. But it literally lasts through eating and drinking which I was amazed at when I first tried it out.

Which does make me think I should buy Ruby Tuesday (a vivid red shade) as I am always so conscious of eating whilst wearing red lipstick as it does have a tendency to somehow transfer onto your face... which isn't the sexiest of looks. So as these last so well I think a blot after applying Ruby Tuesday would be all I would need for it to stay in place. I would also like maybe a nice pink nude shade for spring which I am sure they do with over 15 shades now in the Colour Elixir range.

I also really like to wear Mulberry with Guerlains Kiss Kiss Gloss Extreme Shine in Pomme Du Desir (£16.00 at Debenhams) which in the tube/packaging looks like such an odd glittery gloss, one I imagine quite few people buy due to the lime ting. But on the lips over different lipsticks it is so pretty. It just catches the light so beautifully and can transform any lipstick into something quite unique. The only downside is that it is quite gritty feeling, but that is by the by with such a pretty lip gloss that can be worn over so many different lipsticks.

So for my first ever lip post how did I do?
I can't say I have the terminology down... as I don't know all the different finishes of lipsticks but then again I am supposed to not be a lover of lipstick!

Hope you enjoyed the post.

Fee xo.

Ban The Beige!

2012-02-22T10:30:00.000Z

Now this isn't a rant as such... okay maybe it is slightly. But it is something that has annoyed me for some time now and I felt I needed to get it off my chest.

I'm talking BEIGE foundation samples in magazines, ladies! Just WHY?!

Of course these beige samples will suit a large portion of people (I am guess) but what about the rest of us that are lighter and darker than beige? Surely it would make more sense to have a random mix of samples in magazine so you can either - have a shifty look through the other copies of the magazine you are buying to find a sample shade that is close to your skin tone. Or even if you didn't really care at least you would stumble across a foundation sample that would be able to try out now and again!

So out of curiosity I decided to swatch a few foundation samples to see if I could possibly try the foundation on my actually face without looking like an oompa loompa or and extra from Geordie Shore.

As you can see err, there is a slight difference in the foundation swatches and my own skin, but to be fair I am very pale in winter. But still I would have ZERO chance of trying any of these out on my face... I would literally look like I was wearing a face mask!

But maybe the brands have done their research into what foundation shade is most purchased, which is always around the 'beige' region.

Or maybe I am just being unrealistic and it would cost them too much to provide different shades for free foundation sample, seeing as they do have to pay to place the samples into the magazines in the first place.

I just think things like this need to evolve and change a bit! Variation is good and it means that at least some of the time we will find a foundation sample that we can try!

Would actually love to know if anyone matches up with the 'beige' foundation samples quite well.

Fee xo.

Pixiwoo Interview at IMATS 2012

2012-02-21T17:12:00.000Z

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Just thought I would post up this video that I found on Youtube last night of the Pixiwoo sisters answering some interesting questions at IMATS with year.

Really interesting to see what some of their favourite products and brands are. Definitely worth a watch!

Credit: Magi

Hope you are all having some yummy pancakes today!

Fee xo.

Pretty New Nail Polishes & ASOS Premier Review!

2012-02-20T20:31:00.000Z

So yesterday I mentioned that ASOS had quite a few Models Own nail polishes on sale for £3.50 (instead of the normal £5 each). As you can see I did purchase the two I wanted - Scarlett Fever and Gold Finger!

But as I am signed up to an ASOS premier account it meant I could order the nail polishes on Sunday afternoon and receive them Monday morning (it was 10:30am to be precise!).

Now of course I didn't need the nail polishes that quickly but there is something about receiving items so quickly that I love. It really feels like it's instant! So I thought I would talk about my experience of having an ASOS Premier account - is it worth it? is the service good? what are the benefits other than the next day delivery? etc etc.

I do want to point out this isn't a sponsored post or anything like that. I just felt the urge to tell you what I think about paying for the service when the there is a free delivery option available at Asos.

Also it is worth mentioning that the ASOS Premier account is only available to people in the UK.

Boring stuff out of the way first! Here are the different delivery services ASOS provide...

UK Style Save Delivery (Free) - Deliveries will be made within 6 working days after you place your order (excluding Weekends) e.g. If you order on Wednesday your goods will be delivered by the following Thursday. Your order will be sent out via Royal Mail in most instances. No order tracking available.

UK Standard Delivery (£3.95) - Deliveries will be made within 3 working days after you place your order (excluding Weekends) e.g. If you order on Wednesday your goods will be delivered by the following Monday. Your order will be sent out via the most suitable carrier, depending on size and weight. Order tracking is not available for Royal Mail deliveries.

UK Next Day Delivery (£5.95) - If you place your order by 6pm Mon-Fri, you will receive your good the next day. If you you place your order between 6pm Friday and 4pm Sunday, you will receive your goods on Monday. If you place an order after 4pm Sunday you will receive your parcel on Tuesday. Order tracking is available and items are sent through a courier and need to be signed for. Nominated delivery is also £5.95.

ASOS Premier Delivery (£14.95 a year) - All the same rules apply as with Next Day Delivery. You must order before 6pm Mon-Fri to receive your order the next day. Which is free and unlimited with an ASOS premier account. Also Nominated delivery (up to 6 days ahead) is free. All orders are sent via courier (so need to be signed for) and you can even track right up to seeing the signature that signed for it. You can also get your orders sent to different addresses which is quite handy.

You can sign up for the Premier account by going to 'Delivery & Returns' at the bottom of the ASOS homepage.

Other benefits with an ASOS Premier account - Free return collection service all year (just place an order for a return and they pick up your parcel the next day in more cases). Free monthly magazine (though only available to female account holders). No minimum order value. Special discount codes with magazine.

Why I decided to go for the Premier account - As ASOS is free delivery and has such a vast amount of clothing and beauty products I do order from them a lot - probably monthly. However I found the free style saver delivery quite slow and last year 3 parcels in total were lost via Royal Mail (though I did receive refunds) and had numerous parcels left under the bushes in my front garden - even in winter! So I decided to pay the £14.95 for the year in January so that I have the benefit of next day delivery all year including over the Christmas period.

My thoughts on the service - On the whole I have been very impressed with the service with only one small blip. I have placed around five orders since I opened the account and all orders have been received next day without any problems. The only small problem I have encountered is that I placed a returns order for some jeans that didn't fit and the following day the courier didn't turn up. So I waited a few days then re-placed the returns order and the courier turned up the next day - I did email ASOS about this but very received a reply.

Of course next day/nominated delivery all year is the main thing with the account. However I have been quite impressed with the magazine as it is nice to receive a hard copy and with the March 2012 issue I received a 20% off code for the new spring collection. The only thing I am not impressed with is that the magazine is only given to female account holders which is pretty sexist really. Plus male account holders still have the £14.95 to pay and don't receive any of the discounts that are given along side the magazine, so not very far at all!

On the whole I am really pleased with the service so far and the £14.95 fee for the premier account has already paid for itself and more with the orders I have placed since January.

I also know there will be special occasions that I'm attending and the next day delivery option will be my best friend when I haven't a clue what to wear!

Hope this has been helpful for some of you.

Fee xo.

NOTD - Models Own Jade Stone & Juicy Jules

2012-02-19T11:30:00.000Z

Today I had to quickly show you what I have been wearing on my nails for the last few days. Mainly because the amazing Models Own Juicy Jules nail polishes is reduced to £3.50 at the moment on ASOS along with lots of other Models Own shades - plus there is currently FREE worldwide delivery!

Now I don't often hold back with the glitter as some of you may now! But I wanted to go for Tiffany-esque nails that were quite chic looking. So I decided to paint my nails in the gorgeous Jade Stone and then apply one coat of Juicy Jules to my ring finger
nails. After seeing how nice it looked I was tempted to carry on and apply the glitter to all of my nails but I think I'm glad I didn't as it is something a bit different and chic!

So I'm very pleased with how my nails came out... which is why I haven't changed them since Wednesday, very unlike me (I normally paint them daily!). Hence why they look slightly ropey around the edges.

As ASOS do have a sale on all their Models Own Glitter nail polishes I am thinking this is a good time to get a few more as I am always impressed with the consistency of Models Own polishes and you can never have enough glitter!

So I am thinking of going for Gold Finger and Scarlett Sparkle - you can see what the bottles look like on the ASOS site here.

Though I should be saving my pennies for the new Spring 2012 Revlon Scenting Nail Polishes which you can see on Britishbeautyblogger.com

I have my eye on Orange Fizz and Watermelon Fizz! Yummy! Cannot wait for Spring now.

Fee xo.

Collection of Rose & Co Salves

2012-02-18T11:00:00.000Z

Today I thought I would do a review of my three lovely Rose & Co salve/balms.

Of course if you aren't a lip balm addict like myself then you definitely don't need all three so I thought I would review them individually.

Though if you do want a nice little set of these you can buy them in a trio for £8.00 with free p&p (Amazon - here) which is quite a good deal as they are £5 each normally. So if you haven't got any of the balms then for an extra £3 you are getting two more effectively.

The Rose & Co salves are just lovely especially for carrying around in the handbag. For me they are like two steps up from a Vaseline tin.. the formula is better, the packaging is 100% prettier and they smell lovely! Plus in each tin you get 20g of product!

Rose & Co Rose Petal Salve

(£5.00/20g - here)

The Rose Petal Salve was the first ever product I had tried from Rose & Co which I actually received in the October Boudoir Prive box.

Now of course I was impressed enough to want to try more from the range however I am not at all keen on the scent. Well I say it's the scent but I don't actually mind the smell of it in the tin or on the lips but the taste is just horrible if you lick your lips, really perfumed and almost soap-like plus it is quite a strong taste. So for that reason I don't use it on my lips at all. But it works amazing well as a cuticle oil (the scent also seems more appropriate for that), on the elbows or any dry skin and I do actually brush a little of it through my eyebrows when I want them to stay looking preened all day.

Rose & Co Sweet Vanilla Salve

(£5.00/20g - here)

This out of the three has to be my clear favourite as I use it the most and it is always in my bag to use on my lips and cuticles.

The formula of course is the exact same but this just smells amazing! I am pretty rubbish at describing smells but sweet vanilla is exactly what it smells of - sweet but warm and just yummy! The scent however isn't as strong on the lips but is still very moreish and strangely great for when you are feeling hungry! So nice.

This of course like the Rose Petal Salve is a salve but for some reason it only states 'to smooth and soften the lips' on the tin. But it does in fact work exactly the same (maybe slightly thicker) so you can use it on dry skin, the cuticles, as a lip balm, or the eyebrows etc.

Rose & Co Strawberry Crush Glossy Lip Balm

(£5.00/20g - here)

This is quite a recent addition to my little Rose & Co collection as my boyfriend bought me this as a little extra for Valentine's day.

Now this isn't a salve so you can't really use it on anything else but the lips as it is slightly more sticky than the others. But for the lips this is probably the nicest formula out of the three with the Sweet Vanilla salve coming close second. I can't say it looks any glossier than the other two though but it more balm like and does hydrate the lips pretty well.

As for the scent this is nice and I have to say I quite like it. But again, lick your lips and you still taste that slightly soapy synthetic taste which isn't amazing but nowhere near as bad as the Rose Petal Salve. If you are wanting just a nice lip balm in a pretty vintage tin then this is one for you! It is also worth noting that even though this looks quite tinted in the tin it actually applies as a clear balm as do all the Rose & Co salves/balms.

So without a doubt the Sweet Vanilla Salve is my favourite and it you like yummy scents you will hopefully love it too. It just smells so good and it is great that it can be used on other areas of the body! Though all the balm do make the lips lovely and soft in minutes and the packaging cannot be faulted.

The only one left that I haven't tried is the Cherry Kiss Lush & Lovely Lip Balm (£5/20g - here) which I am very tempted to get even though I don't need it at all! Mainly because I love anything cherry scented and the packaging is very cute.

But I am going to try and resist for now and hunt down the amazing Mrs Fields Chewy Fudge Lip balm again which is maybe my all time favourite lip balm!

Fee xo.

NOTD (last week) - Pink Glitter Nails

2012-02-17T10:30:00.000Z

Last week I showed you my nails that I painted in Rimmel Lycra Pro Urban Princess (here) and the day after I caved and added some glitter over the top! I don't know what it is but when I paint my nails pink I find it very hard not to then put a glitter top coat over it.

Maybe it's because they look so girly I can't help but carry on and make them look even more girly and princess like! Who knows!

But sadly the Saffron pink glitter nail polish I purchased for an amazing £1.95 from eBay seems not to be available anymore anywhere on eBay. Which is a shame as it's so lovely especially over nude or black nails. But I am sure you will be able to find it if you check from time to time.

But of course you can still find the gold & silver sparkle nail polishes on eBay which are just as lovely!

On a totally different note - I FINALLY received my Nikon camera back all fixed which means nice pretty pictures again - so so pleased!

Also I have another post up on She Said Beauty (which you can read here) all about the future of cleansing and how to find one that is right for your skin type. So it would be lovely if you wanted to go and have a read as I still feel a bit new to it!

Fee xo.

Developing My Modest MAC Collection

2012-02-16T17:42:00.000Z

Now just to prewarn this isn't going to be a post on all the hundreds of products I want from MAC! Don't get me wrong I really do like MAC products - well from the little I have purchased/tried out. But at heart I am a scrooge and could never envisage spending £100+ on 5 or 6 products from MAC in one go or with any brand for that matter.

I of course do get the appeal of MAC especially with new collections coming out so frequently (dare I say too frequently?) and of course with a lot of MAC products being the staple of Makeup artist's cases, I do get the appeal! BUT I must admit I think there is a slight obsessive element to 'collecting' MAC products. I have seen countless You Tube videos now with girls that have endless amounts of eye shadows palettes and that purchase 9+ products from each new collection. I think I would much rather have a holiday than have 5 filled eyeshadow palettes personally - but that is just me!

Also with researching fake cosmetics I have definitely seen a darker side to how far some girls will go to own 'MAC' products. Some even knowingly purchasing fake products just because it looks the same as the real thing and of course says MAC on it. Pretty shocking hey?!

Rambling aside... here are the few products that I will hopefully purchase over the year (yes, I told you I was a scrooge) to build up my little MAC collection.

MAC Patisserie lipstick lustre (£13.50) - Out of all the nude shades that MAC have to offer I really do think this would be one that I could apply anytime and it look nice. Even though I have quite pale skin I do prefer a darker nude shade of my lips as I find they don't ever wash me out. Also I do love lustre finish MAC lipsticks as they pretty hydrating!

MAC Girl About Town lipstick amplified (£13.50) - This is 100% a summer purchase when I have a bit of a tan. It is really daring but I find if I go for a bold lip colour in summer I wear a lot less makeup on the rest of my face which gives a really pretty fresh look.

MAC Cream Colour Base in Movie Star Red (£9.99 Fragrance Direct here) - I spotted this on Fragrance Direct awhile ago and so I did a bit of a Google search and found a great post on it on Temptalia here and instantly fell in love. I really love that it can be used on both the lips and cheeks and just think it's such a lovely shade. Definitely need this ASAP!

MAC Eye Brows in Lingering (£11.50) - I think this is something that I will purchase once I have ran out of the shade I use in my HD Brows palette. I like the idea of using a really precise cream pencil and just winding it up as I go instead of a normal eyebrow pencil.

MAC Paint Pot (£14.50) - I already own Rubenesque and Bare Study - two lovely shimmery cream bases/eyeshadows and I really do love using them. The consistency is just perfect and they work so well as a base for other eyeshadows. Plus you really do get a lot of product for your money and only need a little so these do last forever. So I really do want Constructivist, Indianwood and Groundwork now.

I think probably the first thing to get on my list is the Cream Colour Base as I don't want to risk it selling out as after all it is Fragrance Direct. Plus I a excited that it's a cream blush and a lip stain/lip colour as well! Then I am thinking I need Patisserie in my life for spring - ahhhh spring! Then in May it will be my birthday so I can get some more products then. I can see how people get slightly addicted to buying MAC products now...

I know I haven't included any face products like MAC's Mineralize Skinfinishes or their Mineralize Blushes as they just don't appeal to me at £19+ however pretty they are and I love my high-street foundations and own enough as it is really. The same thing really with eyeshadows, I own both Naked palettes, countless Sleek palettes and so many other single eyeshadows. So £10 per MAC eyeshadow just seems frivolous and not needed really.

Would REALLY love to know what your favourite all time MAC product is and if there are products you want to buy from MAC at the moment.

Fee xo.

Good Things Anti Blemish Cleanser - My new inbetween cleanser!

2012-02-15T19:53:00.000Z

When it comes to my face I don't really use moisturise (I own two). I also don't really use eye creams either (just Origins Ginzing when I remember) and I dislike toners. However I do have two guilty pleasures - face masks and cleansers. I have tried lots, some not even for my skin type! But my definite weakness is with cleansers because I just see it as such a staple product and my basic philosophy is - Clean skin = Good skin.

But even though I have so many cleansers hid in my bathroom sometimes I just cannot be bothered to take off my makeup properly. It's just too much hassle. So my only option is makeup wipes which never remove much really as I hate cold cream cleanser that you smooth on and then somehow wipe off with a cotton pad... for me it just leaves behind too much residue and even after 5 cotton pads I can still see make-up on my face.

But I think I have found an in between option for my oily/combination skin!

For some reason when I first tried the fairly new Good Things Deep Pore Anti Blemish Cleanser £4.99/200ml - here. I really was expecting a creamy slightly thick cleanser to come out, but in fact it is just a clear liquid that feels just like applying toner (no stinging or tightness mind). Which I guess makes sense as this is supposed to be a kind of 2-in-1 cleanser. Anyways, so why is this an in between option I hear you say! Well this definitely isn't as faffy as using a proper cleanser, I can actually use this in bed and do! Plus it is so much better than using makeup wipes as it removes more makeup and is better for the skin.

I must say I have been using it quite often at the moment as I have been lazy which isn't good but then I do cleanser fully in the morning to make up for it. But it really has been my saviour when I have been too tired to go to the bathroom and properly cleanse/wash my face.

As you can see this is what was removed when I wiped a cotton pad with the Good Things cleanser on it over my face (was just wearing foundation at the time) and I must say it did remove most of it. Of course if I want to make sure I have most of my makeup off I just use a second cotton pad.

Good things...

The scent (fresh & fruity), no residue left behind, skin dries quickly after cleansing, easy & quick to use, does remove more makeup than a makeup wipe,fairly cheap, free from nasties - parabens etc.

Not so good things...

Isn't a deep cleanse for the pores like it states, can't be used on the eyes (though I do use it), wouldn't really say it would keep spots at bay if you do suffer from them quite often.

Now even though I have just stated my dislike for makeup wipes I am tempted to try of the Korres Pomegranate makeup wipes for combination skin (£5.50) as they aren't low end and they aren't high end either and I have quite liked their skincare products so far.

But before I do purchase them from either Waitrose or ASOS I would love to hear if anyone has tried them or even their makeup wipes for other skin types.

Fee xo.

Valentine's Day...

2012-02-14T22:25:00.000Z

I had to write a quick (ish) post as I have had a really nice Valentine's day even though we didn't do much for it (we like to do something the week after when everything is cheaper! ha). But I did receive some lovely, lovely gifts that I thought I would quickly share with you.

As you can see the star of the show is the lovely Nars Wicked Attraction gift set which I spotted on ASOS a few days also and instantly fell in love with...

So Tim kindly offered to buy it for me (I actually thought that was all I was getting). I have never tried anything from Nars but have been desperately wanting to trying Orgasm and Laguna - which is the duo in the set! I have tried out the other products in the set todayd and love them all so I'm really very please. This definitely is something I will have to review, as for £35 I think it is so worth the money!

I also received two lovely Tommy Gunns conditioners as I am really liking the ones I have been using. So I now have the Blueberry, Ginseng & Honey Conditioner and the Pomegranate, Orange Flower & Hemp Conditioner to try! I also received something that I didn't take a photograph of as I had already opened it all - a Water Flosser! Now I did kind of mention I wanted one months and months ago but I had totally forgotten about it so I was really surprised. If you haven't got a clue what a water flosser is, it is basically like an electric toothbrush with a very small brush and water jet that flosses your teeth for you instead of using flossing ribbon which is a pain and also can make the gums bleed quite easily. This is something else I may review in a month or so if people want to hear about it.

I also got Models Own Juicy Jules which I have been looking for since before Christmas - so again I was very impressed! Andddd if Tim hadn't of impressed me enough he picked out Jade Stone all by himself as he thought it looked quite similar to China Glaze For Audrey which I have been considering buying for so long. I think he is definitely embracing that he has a beauty blogger for a girlfriend!

As you can see I did apply Juicy Jules to my nails but as I thought it would take too many coats to be opaque I applied China Glaze Icicle as a base. But sadly it didn't come out as nice as I had imagined. So next time I am going to have to be patient and apply multiple coats and then also apply a clear top coat over the glitter so it has a nice smooth effect. But it is still pretty all the same!

Also today I made a special Valentine's Pinterest board full of images that I really like so if you aren't too sick of all the smooshy stuff then you should have a look - here.

I have been really getting into Pinterest recently as it's great for aiding procrastinating but it also is a good way to bookmark images you like without clogging up from hard drive.

So if you want an invite (as it is invite-only) then just leave a comment below with your email address and I will send you one.

Hope you have all had a lovely day!

Fee xxx

NOTD - Rimmel Lycra Pro Urban Princess

2012-02-11T11:00:00.000Z

It's the weekend again and it's cold and wet as per usual! But I have yet to have any snow at all, which I'm quite sad about. So to make myself feel cheery I decided to opt for pink nails again. It's actually becoming a bit of a habit and I am always tempted to put some type of glitter over the top of it! Very girly and quite unlike me really.

Sadly as I am still using just a standard digital camera it didn't want to pick up the pink shade correctly and decided to either turn it into a neon pink or a softer pink - which it is neither! I would say the best image to go off is on the brush of the left image below. It is bright but not overly bright and very girly... actually quite similar to Gosh Neon Baby which I showed in this post here.

The formula of the nail polish is really good as are all in the Rimmel Lycra Pro range, the only thing I would say is you need to make sure you wipe off one side of the brush or else you may flood the nail bed.

The brush is definitely the best feature of these nail polishes and you just cannot beat it. I actually always go for a Rimmel Lycra Pro nail polish if I am in a rush and need to paint my nails as I will have them done in seconds because the brush can cover the whole nail is one stroke - pretty impressive hey! Also with most shades in the range you can get away with just two coats and the results are always really glossy and chip resistant!

As this is a older shade the one place I can now find this is on Ebay for £4.79 which includes p&p - here. However the Rimmel Lycra Pro nail polishes in Boots are around £4.60. It's just a shame no bargains are to be had because it is an older shade.

I am really tempted to buy a few more polishes from this range as it is so good - maybe Gold Infusion or Fancy Fuchsia.

Fee xo.

Project Use Up!

2012-02-10T10:30:00.000Z

I have got to confess I have a problem with rotating the products I use which I did see as a good thing and it still is when it comes to makeup as nothing gets neglected (expect for eye shadows when using my Naked palettes!).

But when it comes down to skincare and body products I just have so many products that just sticking to one or two just isn't a good thing as I NEVER finish anything. I now have a large storage box containing all my products which is over spilling with full to half empty products. Hence Project Use Up!

So my aim is to select a handful of products at the start of each month that I want to use up and I plan to do this by only using them products until they are totally gone, then I can move onto something new.

Here are the products I want to use up by the end of February (the bronzer of course will take long)...

Korres Guava Body Butter 50ml - This came in a Boudoir Prive box a few months ago now and before then I didn't have a clue what Guava smelt like but I can confirm it is delicious! I have been using this on and off in my arms before bed but really want to use it up so I can think about either buying the full-size version or asking for it for my birthday which is in May.

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Skin Toner 100g - I have been re-purchasing this for a few years now but have sadly got a bit bored of it and my skin seems to have got too used to it, so I want to use it up for I can re-use the bottle for a homemade toner and also many look at other toners Lush have to offer.

Max Factor Second Skin Foundation in Creamy Ivory 30ml - This is my second bottle and I have to say it is one of my favourite foundations (but for summer) however I own way too many foundations so I want to slowly work through a few of them and reduce my collection slightly.

Bourjois Bronzing Powder in shade 51 16.5g - This is another total favourite that I use everyday however I want to use it up so I can re-purchase it again but in the slightly darker shade for summer using it as a contour powder. I think seeing as I have 'hit pan' now by summer I will have nearly used it all up.

Cetaphil Moisturising Cream 100g - I do quite like this cream but I like the large bottle of moisturising lotion better which is a very similar price I'm sure. So this needs to be used up to make space in my over flowing box of products.

Batiste Nude Dry Shampoo 50g - I bought this wanting to be a bit more Eco-friendly as it is a 100% natural powder however compared to the cans of Batiste it is just boring. It definitely does the job but it's just a boring product with no smell.

Neom Complete Bliss Organic Hand Lotion in Moroccan Blush Rose 60ml - This actually came as part of a set so it is a smaller size than normal. I do use it a lot but really the scent isn't my thing... I really don't like that spiced rose smell. So I think I am going to use it up and either be good and start using up another hand cream or maybe treat myself to a Neom hand lotion but in a nicer scent as it is such a lovely none greasy hand lotion.

So there you have it, all the products I want to use up this month. At the start of March I will do an update to see if I actually managed to use everything up and also what products I want to use up that month with maybe 10 products to give myself a bit of a challenge!

If you have an 'empties' or used up product posts I would love to see them so I can get a bit inspired and encouragement !

Fee xo.

Going Organic & an Exclusive Neom Offer!

2012-02-09T16:23:00.000Z

As some of you may know since I started Makeup Savvy I have been slowly getting into organic products and I have also become more aware of different ingredients that I avoid even down to the deodorant I use!

But as I now use so many natural/organic products that when I come to using normal every day products i.e normal hand soap when I am out, conditioner, hair spray, candles. They just seem to be either too strong in scent or they just don't feel that great. So for that reason I have decided to slowly incorporate more organic products into my routine so that hopefully by the end of 2012 I will only be using organic products minus makeup as I really cannot imagine sacrificing all my lovely makeup and there just isn't the range or quality with organic cosmetics yet. So I can been recently trying out more natural/organic products from brands such as Green People, Neom Organics, Yes To, Korres and Balance Me.

So every week I have decided I am going to review/mention organic products I am been trying & buying and so I thought I would start that off by talking about some Neom products as I really do truly love the brand.

Also Neom kindly offered to provide me with an exclusive code for Makeup Savvy readers so if you are planning on spending over £40 at Neom you receive a FREE Rebalance Travel Candle worth £13 free!

Code: makeupsavvy

Discount: Free Rebalance Travel Candle with orders of £40 or more

Expires:19th February

Offer is limited to the first 30 orders.
Redeem at: http://neomorganics.com/

Firstly if you want a bit of an explanation as to why I prefer organic candles/recommend them you can read this post here. As I really think it matters and may explain why organic candles are worth the money. But on to this travel candle (the one above) which if you use the discount code will be free OR at the moment it has been reduced to only £8 (here) which I think is pretty damn good seeing as this candle does last quite some time and is just lovely!

The Rebalance candle is quite an uplifting candle that apparently works as an anti-depressant (not sure on that one!) and is also good for using if you have a cold or are generally just under the weather. I actually used this last week whilst having a bath as I had a really bad headache and normally any smells when I have a headache just annoy me/make it worse. But this was actually quite soothing especially when I blew the candle out and the scent became stronger - did actually surprise me how much better it made me feel.

But I also find this just a nice candle to have on at night when I am blogging or reading a magazine as it's slightly spicy, warm and relaxing.

As for bath and shower products I just have so many natural/organic/SLS-free ones! But in the last few months I have been trying all different alternative products such as natural bath bombs, bath salts and shower/bath oils to mix things up a bit. So it has been really nice trying out all the different bath/shower oils that Neom offer.

The little set contains 5 x 5ml bottles with each bottle having a different purposes. The only down side is you don't get much usage out of each bottle as they are quite small - I found one would do a single bath or if using as a shower oil (which you apply to the skin pre-shower) I could get two uses from it which I prefer to do.

So far I have only used 2 and a bit bottles but my favourite has been 'Restore' for first thing in the morning which I use in the shower or 'Tranquillity' for at night time which I have used up now. But I used half of it in a bath and the rest I actually dabbed onto my neck before bed a few times and it definitely helped me to relax a bit, which I also found to be an nice alternative way of using it and of course it makes the oils last a lot longer.

Sadly the Bath Oil set is out of stock at the moment on the Neom website but you can find it at Look Fantastic for £15.00 -here.

As I love Neom so much I am already planning my next purchase which is going to be the the Tranquillity: Perfect Sleep Kit (here) which contains a 5oml organic pillow mist and my beloved Organic Multi-balm for only £10! I already have the Neom multi balm which I use almost daily for all sorts (cuticles, dry skin, lips, eyebrows even!) so I definitely need another one. Plus I am hoping the pillow mist will help me sleep a bit better. So this is going to be a little Valentine's Day present to myself. I really do recommend the multi-balm though if you can find it as part of a set as they sadly don't sell it on there own.

So if you are planning on spending a bit on the Neom website make sure you use my code before 19th Feb!

Also if any of you can recommend me good organic brands that would be great as I really want to start buying more and more organic body products to see what I like and don't like.

Fee xo.

No Lash Inserts for Cheryl with the New L'Oréal False Lash Telescopic Mascara!

2012-02-08T10:30:00.000Z

It is not very often that I am impressed with beauty adverts especially when it comes to make-up ones. I mean they pretty much suck... photoshopped flawless skin for foundations, lash inserts AND photoshop for mascara ads, not to mention my most recent favourite - pouring foundation over a golf ball to show how it conceales pores (you have to laugh!).

However my biggest bugbear which I know is shared with most women (I haven't spoken to anyone that sees the point in it) is models wearing individual false eyelashes in mascara ads and of course it then being Photoshop - so it basically may be any mascara because you WILL NOT be getting those effects with it. It just infuriates me as it is just so pointless. Whether it has to be stated in the small print or not (even though it is VERY clear to see) it's just all one big pointless lie.

Which is why it is so nice to see an actual advert starring none other than Cheryl Cole who does love her false lashes, wearing JUST the mascara.

Of course it probably took the make-up artist over 30 minutes to apply mascara to just the one eye and then lots of lash tweaking with a pair of tweezers before the images were taken. But I really don't care or should I say I don't mind, just because I know I can achieve similar results!

As you can see I do actually own the mascara and have used it a few times now and have been quite impressed. It is worth noting it is a fibre formula which is why is looks so good on the lashes but this does mean that it shouldn't really be worn with contact lenses. The main thing I like is the brush as it just applies the mascara onto the lashes so easily and gives instant length and volume. I also like that it is so black so really makes the lashes stand out.

You can find the new mascara on the Boots website for £10.99 in either Hypnotic Brown or Magnetic Black - here or for only £7.99 on the Superdrug site - here (but I'm sure this offer is also in-store).

It is of course refreshing to see an advert like this... but even if all makeup brands started to do this it would still continue to be refreshing and we wouldn't get bored of it.

Lash inserts/false eyelashes in mascara ads should never of happened and I really do hope that these brands are now seeing that we have never believed these results but in fact highly dislike them and the only reason why mascaras sell so well is because most women wear it daily and like trying the latest ones out!

Whether brands have an amazing mascara or not I personally feel are all on a level pegging when they bring out a new mascara because all the lashes are that unrealistic they may as well be the same image.

But now L'oreal with this advert stand out - when you are reading a magazine you will actually look at the eyelashes to see the true results and not just to laugh at how ridiculous the false lashes look!

Well done L'oreal - Just please make sure you don't go back to your old ways!

Fee xo.

Lifting the Lid... December Glossy Box

2012-02-07T10:30:00.000Z

I always seem behind with all my beauty box reviews - well I guess that is because I am! However I figure even if I write about them on time and you sign up for the service that very day you still won't receive the exact box in my review but the next one.

But in a way I still do think these reviews are quite interesting as it can give you an idea of what to expect and because I am such a slow coach it means I have been using all the products for some time so I can actually give mini product reviews!

Rambling and excuses aside, I had high hopes for the Christmas-themed Glossy Box and they didn't disappoint, well give or take one or two products. First I was instantly impressed that they made the effort of making the box red which definitely set them apart from all the other beauty boxes that month.

The Price & Packaging

With the GlossyBox you receive 5 high-end samples for £10.00 per month plus £2.95 p&p bringing it to £12.95 per box per month. Like all the other boxes you can cancel at any time but it is worth noting it is on a direct debit basis. Website - here.

As for the packaging, like I mentioned above I really did like that this box was Christmas themed and red. It just made it feel more special and fun! A definite thumbs up!

The Products
The December box contained - Blink+ Go Hi-Definition mascara, Cargo Classic lip gloss in Paris, Deborah Lippmann mini nail polish in Razzle Dazzle, MeMeMe Seventh Heaven mini sample pot, Rituals Foaming Shower gel in Yogi Flow.

Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle Mini Nail Varnish with Stripped to Go Sachet

(full size product worth £16. Mini - £14)

For me and for many other I am sure this was the star of the show! Not owning any Deborah Lippmann polishes but admiring them from afar this was a really treat. Also I think I love the smaller bottle more as I do like mini things and I am yet to finish a single bottle of nail polish so mini just makes sense! As you can see from the shade it is just amazing though if I was being picky I would say I did slightly expect a more glossy finish with this, it's a bit to bumpy for my liking so a top coat for me is needed when I wear this (no top coat in the swatch). This is definitely a little gem to be placed in the Glossy Box! Oops nearly forgot to mention the little remover sachet included - I wouldn't re-purchase but this was nice to use to remove the polish the first time I used it and the lavender scent was such a nice change from normal polish removers!

MeMeMe Seventh Heaven mini sample pot

(full size product - £15/30ml)

Now I'm going may be slightly harsh here and say that I really do like MeMeMe cosmetics but I'm just not interested in them going into skincare at all and for the price definitely not! I mean if I want to spend £15 on a moisturiser I head to Avene or La Roche Posay. So the little sample pot just got ignored then I opened the box. I did eventually try it on the back of my hand as I didn't think it would suit my oily/combination skin and yes, it seemed nice but I couldn't stand the synthetic orange scent to it - just very fake smelling and not needed! Sorry MeMeMe.

Cargo Classic Lip Gloss in Paris mini size

(full size product - £10)

There was definitely nothing to dislike about this product as I like Cargo as a brand. However for some reason I was just indifferent about the lip gloss... just nothing to write home about basically. The shade is nice, it's not sticky or gloppy and I like the packaging but nothing has made me love it. Which also makes me think £10 for the full sized lip gloss is slightly too much. However if you don't own many lip products I'm sure this would be a nice addition to your collection from Glossy Box.

Blink + Go Hi-Definition Mascara

(full size - £14.99)

Anything that is an essential to me (mascara, black eye liner, clear nail polish, makeup remover) I love seeing in beauty boxes so when I saw that a full size mascara from Blink + Go was in the December box I was really pleased and hoped it would be a good! So far I have been using it almost daily since I received the box in December as my beloved No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara is coming to the end of it's life and I must say I love the mascara! The fibre brush is just the perfect shape and size and it really fans out and defines my lashes without making them look thin at all. This has definitely made me want to have a look at more Blink + Go products now especially their brow products. So impressed with this!

Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in Yogi Flow full size

(full size - £6.50/200ml)

Rituals has been popping up on my radar for the last few months and because of that I have been eyeing up some of their products namely their body scrubs - I am dying to try the Rice Scrub which is a blend of Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom (£8.50 - here) it just sounds so good. But sadly the Yogi Flow Foaming Shower Gel I received in the box contains sodium lauryl sulfate which I don't use at all so sadly I haven't been able to use this product even though the idea of foam is very tempting. Which do mean I cannot review this even slightly but I will say for the price it is a nice alternative to using shower gels and a bit more of a treat!

Positives
I think it is clear to see there are some really good products in this box! The highlights for me being the Blink & Go Mascara and the wonderful Deborah Lippmann nail polish. Also I know I would of liked the Rituals shower gel if it didn't contains ingredients I chose to avoid.

Negatives

Well you are always going to get at least one of two rubbish samples that you don't like in each box, so I think Glossy Box has done well to just have the one 'blah' product (the MeMeMe cream). So my only criticism would be that for a Christmas themed box it wasn't all that Christmas-y. Yes, the Deborah Lippman nail polish was perfect for wearing over Christmas which I did do, and the mascara was a treat... but how about instead of the normal product description card it was a Christmas card with all the info inside and maybe even a product that was Cranberry scent or maybe a pair of false eyelashes - you get the gist I am sure. I just wish they can been more creative with the contents to match the lovely glossy red exterior!

Overall I personally think this is what a beauty box SHOULD look like. When you open them you shouldn't wonder why you have another green eyeliner or why you have some tea leaves in there.

You should 'ooo' in excitement of what you are going to try out first and with this box I definitely did just that!

Fee xo.

A bit of News...

2012-02-05T18:20:00.000Z

As some of you may or may not know as I tweeted about my news this week... I have become a contributor on the She Said Beauty Blog! She Said Beauty is actually a new beauty box subscription service that I have yet to try, though I am sure I will at some point! But with also a lovely blog on the side all about makeup & beauty.

I'm definitely very excited about writing posts for She Said Beauty as I have never wrote anything outside of Makeup Savvy - well only one guest post! So I thinking it will be a bit of a challenge and something new as the articles are more informative in nature and I will definitely have to reign in my rambling!

My first article which is on one-on-one makeup lessons at beauty counters (how much they cost, which brands offer them etc) is up now and I would more than love if you could have a read and if you have the time leave me a little comment as I would really appreciate some feedback with it being my first post!

You can find my first ever post on She Said Beauty - here!

Fee xo.

New Beauty On The Block!

2012-02-03T18:25:00.000Z

Is it just me or have we all been secretly wondering where Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister to the Olsen twins, popped up from?! I mean how popular are Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.. and yet there seems to be no pictures of her since last year. I find it all very odd...

That aside I am glad she is now on the scene as even though I find myself staring at images of the Olsen twins fairly often, they aren't what I see as 'normal beauty'. By that I mean they are just so unique and almost not real looking because they are so beautiful. However Elizebeth has the a perfect mix of their unique beauty and a nice 'girl next door' image. Plus, she smiles and isn't size zero!

Something I really love about Elizabeth Olsen is how natural she looks, she just seems to glow and look pretty. So for that reason whenever I see an image of her on the internet or in a magazine I instantly wonder what type of foundation she is wearing or what that subtle bronze shade she has on her eyes. This is definitely not something I do often either with other celebrities! Something about her look and makeup just really appeals to me.

So when this month's ASOS magazine came though my letterbox with Elizabeth Olsen on, I instantly hoped there would be section at the front (like in most magazines) of the makeup that was used on the cover star. Sadly not! And oh, how pretty she looks on the cover.

You can view the ASOS magazine online - here if you want to take a peak and also read the interview which is quite interesting.

However the makeup artist mentioned in the magazine to have done Elizabeth Olsens makeup was Gita Bass. So I did a quick google search and found that Gita has done her makeup a few times and so here is a list of the products that she is wearing in the above image.

Sadly all Chanel but hey ho - I am tempted to actually buy one of the products now!

Face

Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base
Chanel Vitalumiere Moisture Rich Radiance Fluid Makeup SPF 15 in Ivoire
Soleil Tan de Chanel Moisturizing Bronzing Powder
Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Sienna
Chanel Limited Edition Natural Finished Pressed Powder in Jasmin

Eyes

Lightest two shades from Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Demure
CHANEL Precision Eyelash Curler
Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir

Lips

Chanel Glossimer in Petillant

I actually don't own any products from Chanel so what is the one product I want to purchase now, I hear you ask! It may not be the exact one but I want to try Chanel Vitelumiere foundation - badly! I'm thinking maybe Vitelmiere Aqua as it has that 'second skin' quality to it that makes it light and effortless to apply. Also would love to try the Inimitable Intense Mascara but sadly I'm not made of money!

Would love to know if any of you have tried any Chanel foundations or can even recommend a really light but luminous foundation that does remind you of 'second skin'.

Fee xo.

NOTD - KIKO Violet Orchid Nail Polish

2012-01-28T11:00:00.000Z

As I was talking KIKO yesterday I thought I would carry on today and show you another lovely nail polish from the Italian brand.

I own around 7 KIKO nail lacquers now and have to say they are one of my favourite nail polish brands along with Revlon and Models Own, oh and Barry M... and also China Glaze (I have a lot of favourites! They just apply so well, are quite opaque within 2-3 coats, they dry quickly, last well and most important don't cost the earth!

Also I find they have quite a lot of unique shades and a vast range which is good to see for the price.

KIKO Violet Orchid Microglitter can be found on the KIKO UK website (here) or in-store at Westfield Stratford priced at £3.90.

As you can see in the sunlight this is such a lovely deep slightly duo chromed shade! On the KIKO site this is listed as a micro glitter polish (here) however I would say it has a more a metallic/duo chrome finish. Just so pretty for wearing on the nails in winter.

The nearest shade to this on the UK high street would be Gosh Gasoline which I haven't actually done a post on yet! However it is such a lovely deep shimmery purple shade.

Fee xo.

Ordering with KIKO Online & Reviews!

2012-01-27T16:08:00.000Z

After discovering KIKO around two years ago in an Italian makeup swap I have been in love with the brand. However until recently KIKO wasn't available at all in the UK, but lucky for Londoners the first KIKO store opened up in Westfield Stratford City shopping centre (oh, how I was jealous!).

But last week whilst lusting over some products I discovered KIKO now have a UK website - with free shipping o your first order!!

Now before I get into what I purchased I thought I would get the few downsides out of the way... the main one being that there is a minimum order of £25 - so no snapping up a few cheap-y nail polishes and bagging free delivery! Also delivery is from Italy however I only realized this once I had received my order and it is slightly on the slow side (around 10 days) especially as it is stated as 'express delivery' which I didn't mind as it was free delivery for my 1st order, but I don't think I would be impressed if I was paying the normal £5.90 delivery charge. Though maybe I am being slightly harsh as I was expecting delivery in a few days and to be shipped from somewhere in the UK for some reason - I guess it would of been nice if they had stated shipping was from Italy.

Small glitches aside, if you are interested in KIKO I would highly recommend you either visit their store if you can or place an order online as you won't be disappointed as the brand is just such amazing quality!

Even though I already own quite a few products from Kiko it definitely look me some time to decide on what to purchase from the website as they do have quite a wide selection of products and I wanted to be sure I chose well. Which consisted of lots of Google searches when I found a product I liked the look of to see swatches and reviews. Which I must say paid off as I love all the products I purchased!

KIKO Mixing Solution 50ml - £3.90 (available here)
This is described as a mixing solution for pigment loose powder eyeshadow to make eyeshadow creamy to ensure the highest blendability and hold. I decided to purchase this for purely practical reasons as I own quite a few Barry M Dazzle Dusts and NYX Pigments that I just do not use, as I highly dislike the mess when using them and the fallout. So I purchased this in hope it would help me get some use of of the loose eyeshadows. However I have been thoroughly impressed with the mixing solution and the results it gives and it has definitely gone beyond what I though was just a pratical purchase!

As you can see in the image above when the mixing solution is used with a loose eyeshadow (Barry M Dazzle Dust in a shade I have forgot, sorry ) it becomes a lot more pigmented and even. Also using the solution is very easy as you just place one drop into the brush you are using and then pick up the eyeshadow, which actually removes the mess and spillage involved as the solution really grabs the pigment. Also the solution gives loose eyeshadows such staying power! So pleased with this - with definitely have to write a full review in the near future.

KIKO Nail lacquer 270 Aqua Sequins - £1.50 was £3.90 (available here)
After already owned quite a few Kiko nail polishes and being so impressed with them I knew I had to get a couple more to add to my collection. Of course I had to include one glitter polish in there but sadly on trying this out it is very similar to Maybelline's Flash Cosmic nail polish, which you can see on the nails in this post on my favourite glitter nail polishes here. However the Kiko polish is slightly nicer as when it doesn't catch the light it doesn't look like yellow flecks unlike the one from Maybelline. So sadly this won't be getting as much love as I would of hoped! But for only £1.50 I really cannot complain and I am sure my niece will enjoy using it!

KIKO Nail lacquer 349 Light Olive Green - £1.50 was £3.90 (available here)
When I placed this into my online basket I crossed my fingers in hope that is would be a dupe for OPI Skull & Glossbones (from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection) and oh, I haven't been disappointed in the slightest! I had been looking for a dupe for the OPI nail polish for quite a few months now without much luck as after all it is quite a unique shade, so I cannot explain how pleased I am with this and for only £1.50 as well!

KIKO Double Glam Eyeliner in 09 Plum and Wood - £4.40 was £8.90 (available here)
This was one product that I didn't need to do any research on as I already own a lovely Double Glam Eyeliner from Kiko in a gorgeous brown and gold shade. These without a shadow of a doubt are exactly like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on eye pencils which retail for £16 each. Think creamy, pigmented, waterproof eyeliners that just don't budge and last on the eyes all day. I'm sure there are a lot more dupes than this but I instantly thought Plum was a really good dupe for UD 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in Rockstar and the Wood also seems a good dupe of Whiskey.

This is just a super duper product is you like creamy eyeliners that are that waterproof it takes you multiple attempts to remove it fully at the end of the day!

KIKO Lip Volume Plumping Lip Cream 15ml - £6.90 (available here)
This was the wild card of my order as I didn't do any research on the product and for just under £7 it wasn't the cheapest of products that I could of purchased. However I do like trying out plumping lip products and I also liked that it also softened the lips like a lip balm at the same time. Now this is no miracle worker however it is free from that 'tingle' you get with a lot of lip pluming glosses and treatments but instead you get a more warming sensation, but this does give some effects with the lips looking that tiny bit more plumped up, as it you have been eating something spicy maybe!

What I like most about this product is that is really does soften the lips and kind of works are a primer/base before applying lipstick which I didn't except to see in the product. This isn't my favourite product out of the order but I am still pleased none the less.

KIKO Pencil Lip Gloss in 09 Light Beige - £3.90 (available here)
I decided to try this out as I have never tried a lipgloss in crayon format, I have quite a few lipsticks crayons from various brands though and I have always been impressed plus I know the whole lipgloss pencil is a more European product as Essense do quite a few as well. As you can see from the swatch above this is just a subtle beige/nude shade that is great for daytime wear. What I like most about this is that is has a nice glossy but non-sticky finish and is non-drying which is always important for me. Would really like to try more shades, maybe something light pink or even a deeper shade.

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 Golden Brown - £6.90 (available here)

Another favourite of my order! But after reading so many great reviews on these I knew it would be love at first sight. With most reviews I read on the Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows they all compared them to MAC shadesticks... now never trying them I really cannot say. But what I can say is that swatch definitely doesn't do the shade any justice at all and that I just love this product. Once applied on the lids you have a bit of time to blend the shadow and then once it has dried this doesn't move and stays just as pigmented all day with no creasing (I do always apply UD Primer Potion though) I even find at the end of the day this is hard to remove. The stick literally just glides onto the lids and just looks so pretty and shimmery. Really just such good quality!

If you love pigmented cream eyeshadows than I really do urge you to try this out as it's just a perfect product that cannot be faulted and also the packaging looks really sleek as well.

As you can see I have been thoroughly impressed with all the products and don't think I could of been any happier with my order - well except for the delivery time.

KIKO really is such high quality for the price and I would actually compare the standard to be up there with the likes of MAC!

Fee xo.

Lifting the Lid... December Boudoir Prive/Jolie Box

2012-01-26T18:30:00.000Z

I'm back rambling about monthly Beauty boxes again!

This time Boudoir Prive, which has recently joined hands with leading french beauty box subscription service - Joliebox. Now I was really enjoying the Boudoir Prive box.. with brands such as - Korres, Zoya, Rahua and Rose & Co to name a few.

So I really do hope that the Jolie Box carry on along the same lines with quite popular brands and not more niche french brands that aren't as well known. However based on this box alone it seems that we don't have anything to worry about... though only time will really tell.

The Price
The Jolie Box contains 5-6 deluxe samples and is priced at £12.95 including delivery. The box is of course monthly and if subscribed to this month you will receive your first box in February. Like all the beauty boxes you can cancel at anytime but it does work on a direct debit basis. You can view more info on the box here.

The Packaging
The Bourdoir Prive box for me had some nice features such as the magnetic close lid and the cute mirror sticker however on the whole I thought the entire appearance of the box was a little bland. So I must say I'm much preferring the new look to the box - from the vibrant fuchsia ribbon to the chic black box that is slightly more compact.

The Products
The first JolieBox contained - OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer, Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash, New CID Cosmetics i-gloss, Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust, Yon-Ka Vital Defense.

Bonus products - Kusmi Detox Tea and a Jolie Box Concealer Brush.

OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer (full size - worth £10.50)

I was really surprised to see a full sized OPI nail polish in the first Jolie Box as after all the polishes do retail for over £10 and it is also quite a recent release for OPI. Plus I had previously purchased this for my sister as I thought it was such a lovely polish. I personally don't love the crackle/shatter trend but without a base nail polish the OPI shatter doesn't actually shatter and looks just like a normal nail polish so I have used this quite a bit.

Jane Iredale 24-Karet Gold Dust in Rose Gold (full size - £11)

I'm not a huge fan of loose shimmery products however I instantly fell in love with that rose gold shade and also how it was more of a multi-purpose product that could be used on the eyes, checks, shoulder and apparently in the hair according to the Joliebox website (I'm not convinced). This is just a lovely quality product that has led me to look at other Jane Iredale products.

JolieBox Concealer/Eyeshadow brush (exclusive to box)

I found this such a nice touch to the box and would personally love to see more of these in upcoming boxes to collect a set of them. Maybe a lip brush when a lip product is featured in the box, a blush brush for when a blusher is featured and so on. I have been using the brush for packing eyeshadow onto the lids as I personally don't like to use larger concealer brushes but more precise ones. As an eyeshadow brush this is really good quality, flexible and soft.

New CID Cosmetics i-gloss in Babydoll (full size - worth £16)

As a lover of New CID products this product was amazing to see in the JolieBox - especially as it is a normal wearable shade as well! Sadly this wasn't all a bed of roses for me, the reason you may see in the image and in my negatives below. But that aside this is a lovely gloss that isn't sticky and is such a nice shade, however I can't say I love the scent to it, subtle but a bit plastic-y. I know I couldn't purchase a New CID i-gloss for £16 however it is a lovely product to receive in the box.

Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash (50ml sample)

Samples of high end shower gels really don't float my boat so this was a bit of a 'meh' product for me so will probably just sit in a box until I decide to cast it off to someone. However even if I was into pricey shower gels I don't really get this product as this is actually a totally natural fragranced product (it definitely smells all organic) but then it goes and contains Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate which I wouldn't be wanting on my skin at all!

Yon-Ka Vital Defense Intense Hydration cream (5ml sample)

Another rubbish-y sample here as I don't know anyone who would sample something that was only 5ml in size and then spend £40 on the full product. As this didn't suit my skin type I used this on the backs of my hands as a nice anti-ageing, hydrating treatment. So at least I got something out of it!

Kusmi Detox Tea (20g miniature tin)

I'm never really sure why these beauty boxes think that organic/detox teas can come under the beauty category, but they do! This smells very lemon-y but nice. I will probably try it at some stage even though I don't drink teas but not something I would class as a 'deluxe beauty sample'.

Positives

Like previous Boudoir Prive boxes I have been impressed with the main bulk of the content and definitely think it is worth £12.95. I'm glad to see it's staying mainly cosmetic based as I find makeup a lot more fun compared to skincare as I just don't think these types of boxes can cater for so many different skin types. Also I really did like the addition of the Jolie Box Concealer brush as it was just a nice touch and I really do hope they keep that up even if it's just in every few boxes!

Negatives

The only real negative falls with the New CID i-gloss which isn't the fault of the beauty box, however as it is a negative I thought I would ramble about it here! As you can see in the above image this is how I received the lip gloss with quite a rubbish brush and it doesn't seem I am the only one from talking to others on Twitter and reading reviews. The reason for this happening is that the opening of the tube is too small for the actual brush so it's basically a design flaw. Which when you are paying £16 for a product you really don't expect to happen.

Other than this I can't say I really have any negatives about the box expect for that I really don't love seeing 5ml samples in a box that states it provides 'deluxe beauty samples'.

Overall I am hugely impressed by the first ever UK Jolie Box and hope they can keep this level of content up!

Fee xo.

Yes Love Nail Polishes!

2012-01-26T10:30:00.000Z

A bit of an annoying tease post today I'm sorry to say as these two lovely nail polishes where purchased whilst on holiday in Spain and aren't even available on eBay or anywhere online in fact - how annoying! So sadly this blog post is a little pointless if I'm honest.. unless you are going abroad or live in Spain.

However I just couldn't not share these with you as I really didn't expect to like orange glitter nail polish! I mean really. Orange glitter should not work... but oh, it does!

Okay, so it's not very wintry, but ahhhh just look at it. It reminds me of glittery orange jelly shoes from when I was a child! The only down side has to be the smell though.. oosh this is seriously strong, think nail polish remover strong.

I have a feeling it is one of those very cheap-y nail polishes that has a wonderful concoction of different chemical in, but ahh well!

When I actually purchased this shade (Yes Love 631) in a strange little shop in Lanzarote one part of me was saying 'oooo glitter nail polish' and the other part was saying 'no, it's orange and tacky looking'... but the glitter side won and I'm glad it did as now I'm thinking I need to seek out some other orange glitter polishes!

As for application it is a normal three-coater but did take forever to dry as I did slap it on, however I was impressed with how neatly it applied.

The other nail polish (Yes Love 89) I purchased was another I was a little unsure about as I'm almost sure it has gone off a bit as that black in the glitter was once clear I am sure!

However this was only 3 euros and I plan to wear it over a black polish anyway, which I am sure will look really pretty! Over a nude or pale shade though I just don't think this would work as the clear polish just looks too murky and would discolour the base polish.

On a side note... I think because I own quite a lot of nail polishes I have now started to get a bit bored with brands such as Revlon and 17. Which is why my eyes literally light up when I discover a new brand of nail polishes like this. My other recent discovery was the amazing Saffron glitter polishes that can be found on eBay (or on market stalls or so I have heard). But I now have my eyes on a few interesting looking shades on eBay by Etude House.

If you can recommend any unique/international nail polish brands please let me know in the comments as I would love to start building up a more unique collection.

Fee xo.

The Big Skincare Mystery?

2012-01-25T10:30:00.000Z

Well, well, well, it's not everyday I receive an unbranded PR sample that intrigues me like this!

Meet the new high street 2-in-1 cleansing facial wash and 3 minute mask that will be revealed on March 1st.

Now I must admit it's no big mystery as after 5 minutes of searching online I'm 99% sure I know what the product is and I'm please to say it's well under the £5 mark. But unless you really want to know and beg me via twitter I'm keeping schtum as there are prizes to be won via the Big Skincare Mystery Facebook page (here). So I don't want to ruin it! Though ask me and I may give in as I HATE surprises and also hate keeping secrets!

Anyway, onto the daily cleanser/mask which I actually tried out today as a face mask...

The product itself seems on smell and appearance quite nice... no nasty synthetic/chemical smell unlike a lot of cleansers for spot prone/oily skin but quite a fresh, aloe vera/cucumber scent...which is rather pleasant.

As instructed I applied the cleanser/mask to wet skin and left it for 3 minutes. I was glad to see it wasn't a mask that set as I just cannot be doing with no speaking or smiling, even if it is only for three minutes! Plus I don't love that unnecessary tight feeling. However even though it didn't set at all, I could feel it slightly firming up and becoming more mask-like if that makes sense. After washing the mask off, my skin definitely felt clean (zero residue), with no redness and VERY smooth.

All in all quite a promising, non-over powering product that does seem quite suited to oily/problem skin with ingredients such as Kaolin and Salicylic acid (always good for the ol' spots!).

If you do want to sample this product you can actually request a sample over on the Facebook page and there is also a chance of winning some lovely Topshop vouchers!

Fee xo.

After Christmas Spending!

2012-01-24T10:30:00.000Z

So it is just after Christmas (kind of) and I received everything I wanted and more, but for some reason January has been a month of me treating myself for some reason!

However I'm not going to dwell on this or feel any guilt as it is just bad for the soul and done already! Well that is what I like to tell myself. So as I have accumulated a few nice items and some re-purchases I thought it was time for a bit of a 'haul' post.

First, my star buy at only £2.50...

... A miniature Denman hairbrush keyring!

Just what everyone needs. Okay, to be fair I wil probably NEVER be brushing my hair with this, I mean really, who would brush their hair with a bunch of keys hanging from it, tempting to get tangled in your hair - the idea was flawed to start with. But in emergencies I may resort to using it... who knows!

But for me it's all about it being miniature! This isn't something I openly share with many people but I do have a love for anything small/miniature. You name it - if it's small I am bound to love it... Sylvanian Families, teeny tiny designer chairs, Monopoly pieces, dolls houses, the inside of snow globes and of course mini beauty products and perfumes. I could go on all day! So when I spotted this in Boots my eyes just lit up and I didn't even think about if I would use it as an actual brush or not.

Now I know not many Boots will stock this as I found it in a rather large store but you can purchase it from Denman on Amazon for only £2.50 with free p&p - here.

Next up was a bit of a naughty splurge but in my defence both items were in the sale, so I was being savvy!

Now I will admit I'm not really a lover of lip gloss or lipstick (I say this yet own over 80 lip products!) however there is something that always draws me in. I think it must be a combination of most lipsticks having nice packaging and always wanting to find that perfect nude shade.

I only own one Guerlain lipstick and love both the packaging and the shade, so when I saw a nice little clearance tray on the Guerlain counter I had to have a look and to my amazement the only products that haven't been mushed up or used were these two beauties. Okay, I'm now started to sound like I love lip products - though I guess my definition of not being a fan is still pretty obsessed to the average person!

I must say the Guerlain Kiss Kiss Gloss Extreme Shine in Pomme Du Desir 806 (£16.00 - Debenhams) does look like an odd choice/shade, however this is just such a different product for me. The shade is just so dazzling and unique and definitely doesn't apply with that green hue that is looks in the tube. I think this will look best over a bold red lip just sparingly dabbed along the cupids bow and also the middle of the bottom lip to really make the lips stand out.

The Guerlain Kiss Kiss Baby Nourishing Lip Balm in Romantic Nude 260 (£21.00 - Debenhams) on the other hand is definitely a nice safe product that would suit anyone. This is actually more nude than it appears in the image and applies quite sheer as it is a lip balm after although it can be built up and is quite like a lipstick. You can definitely feel this is a high end product as it just apply so so well and keeps the lips from drying out. Really pleased with this!

As for re-purchases, I caved in and bought a new can of Batiste Brunette Dry Shampoo which even though it does the job it feels on a par with buying face wipes - but sometimes washing your hair can seem too much like a chore. I know it's not a product that is going to add any benefit to my hair and is only going to increase my laziness!

Having said that, this is my favourite Batiste Dry Shampoo (£2.99 - Chemist Direct here or Boots/Superdrug) and cannot be faulted - except for the smell!

I also purchased another bottle of Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 01 (the palest shade) as this really did impress me in 2011, as all Bourjois foundations do. I won't go into raptures about this as I really do think this deserves a full review but what I will say is that it is such a good quality foundation that performs more like a high-end foundation for a fraction of the price. You can find the foundation at Boots for £9.99 (here) and at the moment you receive a free full sized Bourjois mascara!

Last but not least I had to include my new favourite shoes! My first ever pair of Melissa Ballet Flats. I'm so pleased with these and love that they are scented (they smell of cupcakes!) like all the other Melissa shoes and have a lovely white heart at the back. I just know they will last me ages unlike so many other flats I have previously owned that have just worn down on the backs so quickly. For anyone interested here is the link to the shoes but I'm sure they will be on sale somewhere online!

Hopefully this hasn't been too boring and if you want to see swatches or a more detailed review on anything feel free to ask in the comments below.

Fee xo.

NOTD - Barbie Nails!

2012-01-21T11:00:00.000Z

So last week I was feeling oddly summery even though it was freezing cold and raining outside! But instead of wearing summer attire and freezing to death whilst looking like an idiot I decided to delve into my summer nail polish collection (yes I now divide my nail polishes into three boxes - nude & wintry shades, pastels & bright summery shades and special nail polishes & glitters!). Very organized I know! If only the rest of my life was like that.

Now a pastel nail polish would of probably been more appropriate for the wintry weather but I find pastel shades a bit wishy-washy against my pale skin in winter so only the really bright shades stood out to me!

The shade I obviously went for was Gosh Neon Baby (£4.99 - Superdrug) which is a pretty bright pink that just reminds me of BARBIE! I can't say I still love Barbies or the whole Barbie look but I do definitely remember my suitcase of Barbie's very fondly - I literally loved them!

Anyway, so this was 100% the shade I was drawn to first and because it's quite Barbie-esque and I think it's a shade that you can get away with anytime and just look girly wearing it. As with all Gosh nail polishes this applies really well and also lasts well on the nails - just two not overly thick coats is enough!

But as I was feeling summery and girly I decided to add a bit of glitter with the lovely Saffron Gold Speckles Nail polish that I purchased from eBay for only £2.19 (here) which I just love as it's such a pretty glitter and is actually good quality! I actually recommend the whole Saffron glitter range as they are just so lovely and different for the price.

I feel the glitter did turn it from Barbie nails to quite Nicki Minaj-esque but still really pretty, fun and girly!

This definitely isn't my usual style of nails but I really do love how it looks and will be wearing this a lot more especially once summer comes around again!

Fee xo.

Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette Review - Part 2

2012-01-13T10:30:00.000Z

Me again!

So if you didn't read my last post (here) on the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette then I suggest you go read that - if not just for the pretty images of the palette!

But today's post is a more of a 'making your mind up' post because I know that some people haven't tried either of the palettes but now want to purchase one after the release of the 2nd palette and quite a few people are umm-ing and arr-ing about purchasing Naked2 even though they are still really enjoying the original Naked palette. Oh the dilemmas of the beauty obsessed, hey?!

So what do you exactly get with each palette...

Naked eyeshadow palette (£35 - Debenhams here) - 12 x 1.3g UD eyeshadows, eyeshadow brush and a travel sized Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

Naked2 eyeshadow palette (£36 - Debenhams here) - 12 x 1.3g UD eyeshadows, double ended eyeshadow brush and a travel sized Lip Junkie lipgloss.

Like I mentioned in part 1 (here) I really don't get why Urban Decay would include a lip product with a palette that is purely just for the eyes - it makes no sense. So I definitely prefer the extras with the original Naked palette as the primer potion is SUCH a good product and it really is useful for all eyeshadows.

Naked eyeshadow palette

So I have had the Naked palette for over a year now and think it may have been my most used product of 2011! I literally used it so much and actually had to make an effort to use other eyeshadows. But this is not about how I use it. So here is why you may or may not like the original Naked palette.

Why you may love it - These are some seriously pigmented eyeshadows that apply so nicely with little fallout. There is are some great shades in the palette, such as - Sin ( a lovely highlight shade and so buttery feeling), Sidecar, Buck (great for brows), Smog and Toasted (this may be my favourite UD shade, ever). Quite a lot of the shades are warm toned so if you suit pigmented, rich, warm toned eyeshadows than this is definitely for you. However even though I personally suit cool-toned shades I found I could still enjoy most of the shades... though some of the darker shades are just too rich and pigmented for me. But if you love strong smokey neutral eyes then this palette would be perfect in achieving that. Also the included mini eyeshadow primer potion really does work and comes in very handy with all of the eyeshadows.

Why you may dislike it - The packaging if I am honest is just pants, just so impractical it's just silly. Firstly the packaging is flocked so it grabs hold of fluff and any makeup it comes into contact with and it you dare put this in your makeup bag the edges will start to show wear and tear pretty quickly. Also it's made from cardboard and only has a magnetic close to keep it from opening. So for the first week it will look lovely... but believe me, it doesn't last long. Now this may sound slightly odd but if you do have quite pale skin or only like subtle neutral shades than this palette may be to strong/rich for you... I sometimes find when using some of the shades for just a neutral everyday smokey eye it can look a bit too full on as the shades are so shimmery and pigmented - so I definitely enjoy using this more when going out at night.

Naked2 eyeshadow palette

This is just a sleek palette full of beautiful new shades, this is definitely more wearable for the day for me personally as the shimmery shades are more pearl than anything else, which I do prefer.

Why you may love it - This may be slightly more expensive than the original palette but this looks the business! The palette is well made, practical and durable with a bigger mirror and even the eyeshadows seem to be slightly more finely milled . There really are some lovely shades in this that are quite unique (I'm talking - Suspect, Pistol, Verve) and also some shades that can be used not just as eyeshadows, such as Bootycall makes a lovely highlighter, Blackout is great for using as liner on the upper lashline and if you are fair haired, Tease could be used to fill in your brows. There are also slighter less shimmery shades in this so if you want something more subtle for work or you just don't want to look too made up then this palette will be perfect.

Why you may dislike it - You still have some of your deep, pigmented shades with this, such as - Half Baked, Snakebite and YDK but the whole palette seems just more neutral and subtle (which may be a good or bad thing depending on how you want to use it). However the two lighter matte shades don't give great pay off and are slightly chalky... really foxy just isn't that great at all. The free lipgloss whether you like the Lip Junkie range already may disappoint you as the packaging is just so rigid that it is actually hard to get the product out of the tube and because the product is so small the label on the tube is all wrinkled up even before you use it... just not really thought out. Plus surely the newer eyeshadow primer potion in Sin would of been nicer to include.

But which is best?!

I'm going to be rubbish and say I just can't answer that as it all depends on your skin tone and what you want to use it for the most. For example I love that Naked2 is more cool toned on my pale skin but for someone with much darker skin to me the shades would be quite warm toned - if that makes sense! But if you do want a more pigmented more shimmery palette I would go for the original Naked palette.

As for if you need both palettes? Well that is basically like asking someone do they need more than one or two red lipsticks! Some people will say of course they do as there are so many different tones of red and some will say probably not - so it definitely comes down to which camp you are in!

I really hope this has been helpful!

If you have any questions on either of the palettes feel free to ask in the comments below and I will try my best to answer them.

Fee xo.