L'Oréal Beauty and the Beast lipstick collection

I heard about this collection by L'Oréal before it came out via social media and was really interested straight away. I, (probably like many of you reading this) have a weakness for lipsticks. My initial excitement was short lived as I soon found out that they were going to be exclusive to Amazon Italy. 

Then they were released and all of a sudden people in the UK somehow had got hold of them. Apparently, although challenging, it is not impossible to shop on Amazon.it.

Armed with my knowledge of navigating Amazon.co.uk and Google translate in another tab of my browser; I was able to make a purchase. They didn't have them all in stock at the time. In fact, they had already sold out once and then restocked. There were a couple of other colours available (there are seven in the collection) but these were the ones I thought I'd be most likely to wear.

They are part of the colour riche collection and are actually shades that already exist, they have just been repackaged for the release of Beauty and the Beast. It cost me just under £30 to get these 3 including delivery. The regular colour riche's are £6.99 in Boots, so you are paying a bit extra for the packaging and the fact they have been shipped from Italy.

Lumiere is the shade 231 "Silk" and is the perfect nude for me. A subtle hint of sheer colour and a lovely sheen, perfect for every day wear.

La Bestia (or "the Beast" in English) is 703 "Oud Obsession". This is a deep chocolate brown, which unfortunately looks quite patchy because of the sheerness of the formula. I hope that can be avoided with a decent lip liner as a base.

Spolverina or Fifi the feather duster is a rich deep plum colour which seems to have a much more even formula than la bestia. It is the colour riche shade 374 "Intense Plum" which describes it perfectly. You definitely need a lip liner with this one though to stop it bleeding.

I would quite like to have bought the rose too as that looks like it would be a good staple red to add to my collection. I'll just have to wait and see if it comes back in stock.

Smelling delightful | The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club

In the Spring, I joined The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club and it has turned out to be the best £5 I spend each quarter.

 

 

 

Every season they send you a box containing a number of different fragrance samples. It tends to be five for the ladies and two pour homme (to keep the boyfriends/husbands/brothers/dads happy). There is also a little booklet in the box that tells you about each of the fragrances, along with voucher codes to use if you buy the full size of any of the scents. All this for only £5 including P&P. Just £5!

 

 

 

I find it a great way to try different perfumes and the samples are a great size to pop in your handbag and carry around with you. It is also really useful for me to hear what my boyfriend likes so I can make a metal note for birthdays and Christmas presents.

 

I have a one use voucher code that I am going to give away to one lucky person to get their first Discovery Club box free.

 

All you need to do is:

1. Comment on this post

2. Follow me on Instagram (@emma2710)

3. Send me a message me on Instagram and I'll send you the code.

 

Hurry though, as the code is only valid for a limited time.

 

What is your favourite fragrance for Autumn?

 

 

What Kylie Jenner uses | MAKEUP

Somehow over the past few months I seem to have been sucked into the Kylie Jenner fan club. I don't know what it is about her, but something is fascinating.

When Kylie posted some snap chats yesterday revealing her makeup routine I jumped at the chance to have a close look at what products she uses. Then I re-watched the snaps and noted them all down so I could tell you guys.

For her base she uses the Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done which is a cross between a primer, tinted moisturiser and sheer foundation. She uses this in conjunction with the Makeup Forever Ultra HD foundation which is now available at Debenhams.

After her base is in place, Kylie does her brows. She starts by using the Anastasia brow wiz pencil in Caramel. Then follows with the Becca ultimate coverage concealer to neaten and brighten under the brow line. Then using some of the foundation from before, on a concealer brush she neatness the top line of her brows. Kylie sets her brows in place using the Anastasia brow gel.

She then conceals around her under eyes, nose a centre of her forehead using the Nars radiant creamy concealer which she blends in using a beauty blender. She then sets her face using Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder and Chanel Mat Lumière powder.

Kylie then uses some brown and black eye shadow to create a blended smokey eye look - she didn't share the brand on snap chat.

The ever popular Benefit Hoola is Kylie's bronzer of choice which she pairs with the Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop highlighter. She gives her cheeks a healthy glow with the Sephora blush in 23 passionate.

Kylie curls her lashes and then uses a Lancôme mascara, I think it was the Définicils. She then mentioned using a seperate brown mascara on her lower lashes as it is more subtle - a trick she learnt from a makeup artist. For the waterline, she uses a Sephora brown jumbo waterproof eyeliner.

She finished off the look with her own brand lip liner in candy k and her brand new yet-to-be-released gloss in koko.

Which of these products will you be snapping off the shelf? My wish list has just got a lot longer!

MAC Velvet Teddy

So now I feel like I am well and truly on the MAC lipstick bandwagon since adding the current bestseller Velvet Teddy to my stash only a week after trying my first (Mehr). Since the World discovered that it was supposedly Kylie Jenner's fav, MAC counters across the globe have been regularly selling out of this beauty.

I can see why it is so popular; as a matte deep nude pinky beige it is the perfect lipstick for day or night. It is not too bold to wear to work, yet strong enough to glam up your out-out makeup for the evening.

I have a feeling that my MAC lippy collection has only just begun...

MAC Mehr lipstick

I've just jumped on the MAC lipstick bandwagon and I have a feeling that my collection is going to grow.

I've had a wish list for a while with lots of different shades that I add to after watching YouTube videos or reading blogs. I always browse eBay for a good deal and I managed to get my hands on Mehr last week for only a tenner. You may turn your nose up at me buying MAC from eBay with all the potential fakes out there, but I did my research. First off, I messaged the buyer to confirm the authenticity and they assured me it was. A lot of the fake sellers will ignore these messages as they will be in huge trouble with eBay if they do indeed be found out to sell fakes after denying it. Or they will word their response carefully so it does not confirm authenticity. I felt this buyer was being honest. Secondly I read numerous articles about how to tell a fake and when I received the lipstick it matched up with what to look out for with the 'real'. 

When I first tried on Mehr, initially I didn't think I'd like it, I thought it was a bit too red. I headed back to the Internet in search of photos and inspiration to try and make it work for me. In some pictures it reminded me of my Rimmel lip liner in Eastend snob, so I thought I'd give it a go with the liner. The result was a new found love! 

I've been wearing the combo the last couple of days; to work and just out and about and it's a really wearable colour.

I am definitely a fan.

What colour should I get next?

WUNDERful brows

If you use Facebook, the chances are you have seen many of the Wunderbrow video adverts. I'm never sure what to think of Facebook adverts, but then my trusted beauty guru Hollie Wakeham also endorsed the product on her YouTube channel so I was sold.

It took me a while before ordering to decide between blonde and brunette. I spent a lot of time trawling through Instagram posts and browsing Google images before I eventually settled for brunette which in the end turned out to be the right choice for me.

I purchased mine directly from the WUNDER2 website. You can get it in Boots for the same price, but the website were offering a money back guarantee if you didn't like the product so that's why I went with them. The delivery wasn't particularly fast. They say about 5 working days; I ordered mine Tuesday evening, and got it the following Thursday. It also wasn't packaged very well (just in a plastic bag) so my box was slightly crushed. This didn't affect the product though.

So, the product, is it any good I'm sure you're wondering? Well, yes! I really really like it.

I've been applying it with a Spectrum A17 brow brush rather than the built in brush as I found that was too thick to allow much precision. Then I use the mascara style brush it came with to sweep over and soften the product out.

My photos don't really do it justice; I find it looks much sharper and neater than my usual brow pencil and it lasts the whole day without fading. There are claims that it will last for 3 days, but I certainly haven't found this to be the case. As soon as I take my makeup off and wash my face, Wunderbrow comes off with it. However, this isn't really a problem for me as I don't need it to stay on for 3 days. Again comparing it to my usual brow pencil, I do find it takes more time and accuracy to apply, but the results are definitely worth it.

I will be buying this again for years to come (although next time I'll probably order from Boots to get quicker delivery and Advantage card points :)).

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker review

Big lips never seem to go out of fashion. When I was at school it was all about Angelina Jolie and now it's Kylie Jenner, but wherever you look, big lips are in. Now if you're like me and do not want to take the cosmetic surgery route to enhance your pout you may be open to trying makeup to give you a boost.

 

I've heard good things about Soap & Glory plumping glosses from a number of  YouTubers and so I thought I'd see for myself. I popped into Boots and went for the shade "Nudestar". I swatched it on my hand in store and it looked like a subtle nudey brown shimmer. It cost £7 which is a gamble for me on a gloss I was unsure on, but I'd heard great things so went with it.

The before pictures are on the left where I have nothing on my lips. The after pictures on the right are about 10 minutes after applying the gloss. 

After application my lips do go extremely tingly and feel cold like I've had something really minty on them. But I just can't notice any difference in their size. It feels like it's working because it tingles a lot, but my before and after look the same.

I am really disappointed with the so called sexy mother pucker as it has done nothing to cause any pucker for me! 

Have you tried these glosses? What did you think?

LA Splash liquid lipsticks review

LA Splash is an American brand I discovered through watching one of Hollie Wakehan's makeup YouTube videos. I now love them! Luckily you can buy them in the UK. 

They are the first liquid lippys I've tried and they are great. Both the colours I picked are gorgeous and they last for hours. I think they'd look great on any skin tone. They are also cruelty free and suitable for vegans. I have heard people compare them to Lime Crime, which I believe is quite the complement. 

The first is Nymphaea (AKA nymphodora). It is a pinky/red/mauve perfect for autumn/winter and it makes my teeth look so white. Also great for glamming up your makeup when going out in the evening.

The second shade is "Charmed" which is quite a cool toned nude. It's great for every day wear and with its staying power I still have it on at the end of my working day.

The daupher applicators make them easy to apply. You use the pointed part on the end to line the lips then the flat part to fill. I say pointed part, but it's a daupher, so not really THAT pointed - you need a steady hand. You also need to be careful not to over-apply as, the charmed in particular can end up looking quite cakey if you aren't careful. 

But overall, I am a fan and I will be purchasing some more colours in the near future. 

How to get the "your lips but better" look

Long time, no post! Life got a bit hectic and I was lacking inspiration. Anyway, two products have just entered my life that have given me the inspiration to post and tell you about how amazing they are.

Rimmel exaggerate lip liner in Eastend Snob and Rimmel nude collection by Kate in 45 make the perfect 'your lips but better' look. (Also the blusher above is bloody lovely too).

To apply, I first line my lips with Eastend Snob accentuating my Cupid's bow and then use the liner to fill my lips too. With this method the colour pretty much lasts all day! Then I apply the nude lippy in 45 over the top and the look is complete. 

It is the perfect lip colour for autumn and makes your lips look lusciously full.

Have you tried the Rimmel nude collection? What are your favs? 

Emma

Grooming favourites 2014

Grooming has been high on my agenda in 2014 so I thought I'd share some of my favourite tools of the year with you.

Clockwise: Tangle teezer, Nailene ultra quick drying nail glue, Tweezerman pointed tweezers, GHD stlyer, Stylfile 2

Tangle Teezer
I don't know how I ever survived without one of these. Using a normal brush on my long hair always seems to snag and pull now whereas the tangle teezer is just so smooth and easy. My only gripe is that it is moulded to suit a right handed person and I'm a lefty, which means sometimes as I'm brushing away carelessly I drop it. Bring out the left-handed tangle teezer please.

Nailene quick dry nail glue
This year false nails have become an important part of my dressing up armoury. You can pick up some pretty decent pairs for around the £5 mark and it saves the time and expense of going to the salon for acrylic or gel nails. With this amazing glue, they even last almost as long as the salon ones.

Tweezerman pointed tweezers
I posted about these here when I got them and I still haven't stopped singing their praises. Quality really is the key with grooming products. With these you can pluck the smallest, shortest of hairs without any bother.

GHD stylers
No matter how many different hair tools I try I always come back to my trusty GHDs. They are so versatile with either straightening or curling, in my opinion they can't be beaten.

Stylfile 2
A great quality nail file and buffer in one with a couple of extra tools for your cuticles and other nail maintenance. I wont bother with cheaper alternatives any more.

Happy new year everyone!

Makeup favourites 2014

I have tried so many new products this year, that I thought I'd share some of my favourites.

Clockwise: Tanya Burr lipglosses, Rimmel exaggerate liquid eyeliner, Collection mosaic glow, Bourjois healthy mix foundation, Real Techniques brushess, L'oreal Miss Manga mascara

Tanya Burr's new makeup line flew off the shelves on it's release and I must say I am a fan of the glosses. They wear well and there are a lovely range of shades available to suit everyone.

Rimmel's exaggerate liquid eyeliner has been a firm favourite for years now. I haven't found another drug store brand to rival its strong colour and excellent staying power. 

Collection's mosaic glow is a lovely shimmery bronzer which is subtle enough for day wear when applied lightly and can be built up for a glowing evening look. 

I brought the Bourjois healthy mix foundation by mistake. After reading glowing reviews on numerous blogs about the serum, I didn't realise that there was a liqud foundation as well as the serum type. But it was a happy mistake as its been a firm favourite ever since. 

I doubt there is a blogger in the UK who doesn't own a Real Techniques brush. The quality is amazing, the bristles are sooo soft and the price is pretty decent, especially if you keep your eye on Amazon or Superdrug deals.

Miss Manga mascara was a new release for L'oreal in the earlier par of this year. For me it beats Benefit's They're Real hands-down providing glorious long thick lashes that people can't help but notice.

What have been your makeup favourites this year? 

Have a lovely Christmas and new year everyone.

Herbalife Skin review

I first heard about Herbalife Skin via Facebook (I am FB friends with a girl who makes dresses and has recently started selling Herbalife). She claimed that she used this 7 day results kit and it changed her skin and made it look amazing. Being someone who has struggled with my skin since puberty, a claim like this made my ears prick up. 

She was selling it for £20 plus P&P, but I found another distributor via eBay (shh) who did it a couple of pounds cheaper. For what you get in the kit (3 small tubes and 4 sachets), it's bloody expensive! 

The kit contains:

Mini Soothing Aloe Cleanser 50ml 

Mini Daily Glow Moisturiser 15ml 

Mini Replenishing Night Cream 15ml 

Firming Eye Gel Packette – 2 x 2ml 

Hydrating Eye Cream Packette – 2 x 2ml

 It arrvied a few days later and at this point I started to wonder how a cleanser and a couple of moisturisers could have any major impact on my skin. Not even a toner?!

Still, I thought I'd give it a go, after all I had spent my hard-earned cash on this. So for 7 days straight I used nothing but the kit. 

A couple of days in I had a spot breakout on my forehead. I kept going though, put it down to the possiblity of monthly hormones. The Herbalife rep actually messaged me on day 5 to ask how it was going (and if I'd like any full sized products!). I told her about the breakout, and she likened it to when you get a facial, that the products bring out all of the impurities first.

It is now day 9. The breakout on my forehead is still there - not any worse, but not any better.

Maybe if the kit came with a bit more, like a toner, or a face scrub it might be a bit more effective for spot prone skin. But for me, it's not really done much good.

I'll finish the kit, but wont be ordering any full size products.

Best tweezers ever!

Tweezerman pointed tweezers: ★★★★★

It was my birthday this week and I was so lucky to get lots of lovely presents from my family and my boyfriend.

These tweezerman pointed tweezers have been on my wish list for a while, so I was really excited when I unwrapped them.

They really are amazing! The point could take your eye out, so you have to be careful, but this allows for brilliant precision. You can get even get fine and short hairs with it.

With these and my 10x zoom mirror, I have no excuse not to have perfectly shaped brows from now on.

£19.50 from Boots

Updated dressing table (vanity)

It's been a year or two since I last showed you my dressing table. In fact I think it was in my old flat. So I thought I'd show you a little update.

My dressing table is from Homebase and on the right of it I have the Ikea Alex 9 drawer unit. 

I have two sets of the wide muji two drawers for my makeup. The top contains primers, powders, bronzers and blushers. The second is mainly single/duo eye shadows. The third is mascara, eye liners and lip liners. The bottom is false lashes. 

On top of the drawers I have the large and small muji 3 slot pots. The large have all my makeup brushes in. The small have foundations, concealer and liquid eye liner. 

I bought an acrylic lipstick holder from eBay which holds my collection of lippies, glosses etc. On the right of that I have my No.7 brush cleaner and a couple of products I'm trying to use up. 

I got this white shabby sheek letter holder from Amazon. I use it to store my eye palettes. 

On top of my Alex drawers I have an acrylic nail polish storage that I think is from eBay. 

I'm pretty happy with my set up. I regularly tidy it and bin old bits that I never use. I don't intend to buy any more storage now as I have plenty of makeup and don't need any excuses to buy more!

How do you store yours?

LIB The Glamour Beauty Power List 2014

As soon as I got the email from Latest in Beauty advertising the Glamour Beauty Power List 2014 and saw the contents I knew I wanted it. For only £15.99 including p&p for all these products, I thought it was a great deal.

Here are my initial impressions.


Philip Kingsley daily damage defence conditioning spray
This spray smells lush and makes my hair feel really soft and look smooth, even without using my usual serum.  It's the first Philip Kingsley product I've tried and would encourage me to try more.

Nude Maybelline color sensational lipstick (710 sultry sand)
I initially thought this shade was too pale, but I've worked with it, and if I put a gloss over the top I quite like it. It's a decent formula, doesn't dry my lips out, but as it's quite sheer, it doesn't last for hours.

Laura Mercier foundation primer
In all honesty, my foundation has never lasted so well for 12 hours. I'm not saying it was pristine by the end of the day, but my skin tone still looked so even and not at all blotchy like it normally does by 7pm. Plus you get so much as you hardly need to use any product to get good coverage. I will definitely replace this if I ever run out!

Eyeko mascara off eye makeup remover wipes
I don't normally bother with makeup wipes unless I've put on a full face for a night out. Usually I'm just lazy and wash my makeup off in the shower. These wipes are really lovely. They are fairly small squares but plenty big enough for your eyes and they feel amazing. So thick and soft, they smell nice too and don't sting my eyes in the slightest. A great little luxury for me.

Liz Earle cleanse & polish hot cloth cleanser
I've heard Liz Earle mentioned a lot in the beauty blogging world, so I was really interested to see what this was like.

James Read sleep mask tan
This applies as a clear gel which is not what I was expecting. It's s but like Johnson's holiday skin but without the bad fake tan smell. Subtle, even colour.

Bourjois volume 1 second mascara
It's ok, will use it up, but it's not amazing enough for me to repurchase. Not as good as my manga mascara.


You can buy the box here (whilst stocks last) £15.99 http://www.latestinbeauty.com/glamour/

Benefit Hoola Review

Now I know what all the fuss is about! This bronzer is gooood.

I bought this little gem for a discounted price the other week from Cohorted. As you can see above, they included a little freebie too in the shape of a peach Maybelline baby lips (it feels and tastes amaze by the way!).

Anyway, back to the review in hand. The first time I tried it, I made the mistake of using the brush it came with. Although it is an ideal shape to apply to the contour of your cheek, it is not the ideal density to blend. The next time, I tried it with my Real Techniques contour brush and was much more satisfied with the outcome.

Matte bronzer has not been a holy grail product for me before now. I've always gone back to my Collection Mozaic bronzer which is bronze shimmery beautifulness. However, I really like the subtleness yet effectiveness of this bronzer.

The down side is that it is very pricey for what it is. However, for me part of the price tag on Benefit makeup is having that pretty packaging sitting in your clear muji acrylic drawers, or poking out the top of your makeup bag. (Is that just me who is that snobby?!)

Definitely worth a try though if you can afford it or you can find it discounted.