Products I Would Repurchase

Nars Laguna Bronzer, Bobbi Brown Corrector, Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Origins Super Spot Remover, Alpha H Liquid Gold

If any of you are like me at all, you will have make up bag(s) full of products, but how many of
these products do we use regularly and how many are disregarded to the bottom of the pile all forgotten about and will probably never get used. I know I am guilty of this , and fully admit it, but there are some products that I have found I can't live without and this consoles me in a way. I would never have found them if I was savvy and never ventured into unknown territories, trying out products that I wouldn't normally go for.

Ok, there my not be loads of products here but these made the list after deliberating for a lengthy period. I wanted products that would stand the test of time and would firmly be in my make up/skincare routine for a long time to come.

Nars Laguna needs no introduction at all, a firm favourite with most beauty bloggers. This bronzer has changed the way I do my make up. I use it mainly for contouring by applying it in the hollows of my cheeks, on my temples, along my jaw line and sometimes down the sides of my nose.
The colour is just  perfect for creating a natural shadow on the skin, not orange at all, this bronzer is in fact quite cool toned. I want to say grey but I don't want to scare anyone that hasn't used it into thinking this is going to make them look like a corpse! The colour is perfect for me and I am mortified that I have hit pan so will be repurchasing this very soon so I don't want to run out!

Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector in Light Bisque is only something I have discovered recently. I kept hearing about it and was put off by the £18.50 price tag for such a small product. After trying lots of other products that just seemed too heavy and would crease on my skin, I decided to bite the bullet and go to my local counter to be colour matched.
After my first use I realised what I had been missing. The product is very solid in the pan and works best when worn over an eye cream, instantly blending away dark circles with ease. The concealer does not crease on me or sit in any fine lines and lasts nearly all day. It literally takes  seconds to dab a bit on and you look like you have had the best night sleep! Even with my first reservation about the price tag this product will last ages and you I will definitely get my money's worth out of it.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara has been a firm favourite of mine for some time and I have in fact repurchased it already. I find that most mascaras smudge and flake on me and I end up with panda eyes at the end of the day.
This is brilliant, it separates my bottom lashes, lasts all day without smudging and is so easy to use because of the teeny dinky wand. I L-O-V-E it and use it every day and will continue to do so for a long time.

Origins Super Spot Remover is my go to product for when I get a visit from a pesky spot. I use it at night as it creates a film over the spot that can look dry and flaky under make up. The gel formula calms down the spot and diminishes it quickly within a few days. The good thing about this product is it doesn't dry out my skin and leave a horrible "halo" mark around the spot once the blemish has gone. Definitely will be repurchasing this since it has run out.

Alpha H Liquid Gold is one of my best finds this year. It has changed my skin, making it more radiant, more even and reduced the appearance of lines on my forehead. It contains Glycolic acid which breaks down the dead skin cells. Used at night a couple of times a week it reveals a younger looking and more radiant complexion. You can read my full review here .

What do you think of my products that have made it to my list? What products would you repurchase?

 

 

pssst..... Have you entered my Mac Crème Cup Giveaway ?

 

Mac LoveLorn review and Swachtes

Top - Natural light            Bottom - With Flash

 

LoveLorn is one of my latest Mac lipstick purchases. I'm really into natural colours at the moment and this one caught my eye while shopping in Brighton on holiday.

LoveLorn is a Lustre finish which delivers a moisturising sheen to the lips. I would describe the colour as a cool toned dusky pink, making it very wearable and just giving the right about of colour to the lips. I wouldn't say to was sheer as it does offer a good colour pay off but its not a "full coverage"  lip colour.

I think it is a really pretty colour and can be worn day or night to complete any make up look. As with most Lustre finishes the longevity of the colour is not very long and does need re-applying very 1-2 hours depending on what you are doing.
I have definitely found myself gravitating towards this colour on a daily basis as my go to lipstick of choice.

What is your favourite Mac lipstick of the moment?

Thank you for Reading 

Lou

xXx

 

Pssst.. Win your very own Mac lipstick in my Giveaway !

Mac Creme Cup Giveaway

 

 

Hi there lovelies! I have a very exciting giveaway for you today. How would you like to win this gorgeous Mac lipstick in the iconic shade Crème Cup?

 

Crème cup is a cool, pink toned nude in a creme sheen finish which is buttery and  moisturising on the lips. You can see my full review with swatches here .

 

I recently hit 250 followers via GFC and this is just a thank for following and commenting on my blog over the 9 months or so.  I love blogging, and to find out that people like yourselves want to read it really excites me, and makes me feel proud  to own something like this. I see my blog as a chapter in my life,  and something to look back on in years to come, an achievement and an insight into my make up obsessed world.

A blog is something I never thought I would do,  I'm not great at writing and just jot down posts as if  I'm talking to a friend, which I see you all as!  So I  thank all of you for putting up with my ramblings, spelling mistakes, incorrect punctuation and for giving me an audience to write to. :)

 

There are some simple rules:

• Open to UK residents only (sorry)
• No giveaway Blogs or Twitter accounts please.
• If under 16 years of age please seek parent or guardians permission as I will need your address if you win.
• Winner will be notified by twitter and/or email and have 48 hours to reply, if they do not another winner will be picked using the Rafflecopter.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Lipsticks from BeautyUk

Left - "Pink my Ride", Middle - "Son of a Peach", Right - "Plumalicious"

Top -"Pink my Ride" Middle -"Plumalicious" Bottom - "Son of a Peach"

  

BeautyUk as its name suggests is a UK based cosmetic company that has been running for 5 years. Their philosophy is that make up should be fun, and at affordable prices.

We have all fallen victim to fashions and sometimes this comes at a price, isn't it great that brands like this offer as up to the minute trends in make up, allowing us to experiment and play around with colours and tones that we wouldn't normally go for without breaking the bank. Don't get me wrong I love a Mac lipstick just as much as anyone but with their prices rising every year or so its hard to keep on trend at £15 a pop, and what if the colour doesn't suit you? You're left with a perfectly formed lipstick in the bullet and have no option but to give it away or admire it from a distance.

 

I know there are many brands out there which offer lipsticks at  more affordable prices, but sometimes this is due to a lack of pigmentation and longevity. Even the high street, which offer a fantastic range of colours and finishes are bumping up their prices, most Rimmel lipsticks start at £5 now, so its really hard to find a cheaper brand which offer everything you get with a higher valued label.

 

The pictures above are some of the offerings of lip colours from BeautyUk , their prices are £3.49 per lipstick which is nothing to shy away from.

 

Son of a Peach* ( I love the name) is a matte formula, a very pale peachy, pink colour. As it is matte the texture can be a little drying but paired with a lip gloss  it can give a stunning pale lip colour. It may not suit every ones taste but the pigmentation can not be faulted.

 

Pink my Ride* is more of a crème finish which is instantly moisturising, offering a sheen to the lips that is long wearing. The colour itself is a gorgeous blue toned fuchsia pink that adds a pop of colour and great for a statement lip look.

 

Plumalicious* is bang on trend for this Autumn/Winter session, a stunning deep purple with pink and blue undertones. The creamy formula makes it a lot more wearable than it looks in the bullet and  ( like most deeper shades of lipstick) has brilliant staying power.

 

All in all I think these are fantastic value for money and well worth a try when you're next in line for a new lip colour.

 

Have you tried any products from Beautyuk? I would love to know what you thought of them.

 

Thank you for Reading

 

Lou

xXX

 

*PR Sample 



Mobile Blogging - How to blog while on the go.

Bloglovin, Blogger, Fotor Picture Editor and PhotoMarkr

We all have busy lives and sometimes finding time to sit at a computer or laptop is hard. Most bloggers put pressure on themselves to get as many blog posts out in a week as they can, this can be stressful and take the fun out of blogging.
If you are one of these people then help is at hand!
Nowadays there is an app for everything and this includes blogging.
Whether you are on your iPad3, iPhone or any other smart device there is an app that can help you write, edit and personalise your blog post as well as staying in touch with your readers and fellow bloggers.
Below are all the Apps I enjoy using and what's even better is they are all FREE!

Blogger

This has to be my favourite app and I have been using it from the very start. Its simple to use and can make blogging on the go a breeze.
I  find it hard to get a chance to sit down at my computer. I'm either at work or looking after my little one, and if any of you have children you will know how hard it is to get 10-20 mins to yourself.
 This app enables me to write a post and upload pictures from my photo album within minutes. I tend to draft all my posts in the app and then finish them off on the computer. I can write a few paragraphs, close the app and then go back when I next have 5 minutes to myself and finish off the post I was working on. It really makes blogging so much easier for me as I can write on the go and don't have to dedicate hours of my time to sitting at a computer.


Bloglovin

This is the perfect platform to read blogs on, whether your on the train or on your lunch break, this app is so easy and convenient to use. Since the latest scare that GFC is going, most bloggers have now resorted to this app as a way to share and read posts, I myself use this more than Google reader and check it  throughout the day to keep in touch with the latest blog posts from fellow bloggers. Following people is easy too, most bloggers have the bloglovin widget on their blog, so all you have to do is click, and their blog will now appear in your news feed so you can stay up to date on your most loved bloggers posts.


Fotor Picture Editor

I'm sorry to say that I don't have a fancy camera and use my iPhone to take all of my blog photos on. Even though the camera is good on my phone, its not great and I do need to edit them a little to make them look more appealing to the eye. This is where is app comes in!
Its super easy and quick to use and has lots of features to make your photos look the best they can without the use of a high tech camera. You can adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, crop, create borders and collages as well as special effects to jazz up the simplistic of photos.
This app has really changed the way I look at photos, I love changing and editing them and find half of my enjoyment from blogging is doing this and being creative in this way.


PhotoMarkr

Want to incorporate a watermark onto your photo's? No problem, you can still do all that from your mobile device with PhotoMarkr. This a great little app allows you to watermark any photo to stop people from using your pictures without your permission.  This again like most of the apps I have mentioned is easy and simple to use. Choose where to put your watermark, change the size and transparency, customise your text and personalise your pictures within minutes, all without having to leave the comfort of your arm chair! Simples :)

Social Media and Blogging

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Hootsuite.

I couldn't talk about "blogging on the go" without mentioning social media. If you're reading this right now and don't already follow me, the chances are you have stumbled across this post from one of the main social media sites.
Using social media while blogging is, in my mind essential. Its a great way of getting your blog out there for people to read, as well as finding other bloggers to socialise with and learn from. I have met some amazing people through these sites and discovered new brands and products just by interacting with people in this way.
On twitter there are many group chats that you can get involved with, for Beauty bloggers use the hashtag #bbloggers, for Fashion bloggers use #fbloggers, Lifestyle bloggers #lbloggers, Parenting bloggers #pbloggers and for fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers use #fblchat.

Instagram is another great site to use and has recently become my latest addiction. Its basically twitter in picture form, you upload photos and share them with others using hashtags. I often link my Instagram posts with my twitter account so all my followers can see what I'm up to. You can post any sort of pictures you like ( within reason of course) and edit them so they look super snazzy. Post pictures of new products, looks you have created or even what you're having for dinner! Just have fun and find new people that have the same interest as you.

Facebook is also great and there are hundreds if not thousands of groups dedicated to blogging and ways to  share your posts. Search for "UK Fashion and Beauty Bloggers", UK Bloggers", "FBL: Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Bloggers",  and "GIG Bloggers" which stands for Girls Inspired Group. These groups will help you promote your blog aswell as finding new ones to follow.

One great way to use these sites even better is to use Hootsuite to schedule your posts and tweets. If you find it hard to be on your phone throughout the day, using this site means that you can still share and interact with other bloggers anytime, any day. All you have to do is write the post and schedule it for the times and dates that you want it published, its also fantastic for interacting with people that are in different time zones to you, you don't have to stay up late just to tweet or update you're status. You can link it to your Facebook, Twitter and Linkedln accounts, if you haven't tried it I would really recommend it!

What apps do you use to blog on the go, I would love to know.  I'm sure there are loads more out there just waiting to be discovered!

Thank you for reading

 

Lou

xXx

Sponsored post

Jo Malone - 154 Cologne

Jo Malone Perfume - 154 Cologne

This is my first fragrance from Jo Malone which was a gift from my husband. I love musky, spicey perfumes, nothing to flowery or sweet and I think he did really well to pick this out for me.

The bottle has a classic and minimal air about it, the clean lines  that encase the 30ml fragrance make it  purse and travel friendly in a grand but understated way. I love the outer packaging, with a black bow around the cream and black box make it an ideal gift for anyone.

The fragrance was named after the street address for the first Jo Malone boutique in London. It contains notes of  mandarin, grapefruit, lavender, basil, nutmeg and vetiver, making this a very fresh scent that is deepened with a musky presents.
Its safe to say that it has a masculine edge to it which I really like and I always get complemented when wearing it.
I have fallen in love with this cologne and cant wait to try some more of her scents!

 

Have you tried any scents from Jo Malone, I would love to know your favourite.

 

Thank you for reading

 

Lou

xXx

Nude Lips - Mac Creme Cup and Plink! Swatches and Review

Top - Plink!    Bottom Crème Cup

 

 

I have been on the hunt recently for the perfect nude lipstick. I have found the process quiet hard because there is one thing I dread and that is concealer lips!

I want a nude that looks pretty on the lips, nothing too pale and gives hint of colour to them as well as a soft sheen.

Whilst at the Mac counter I picked these two shades up, Crème Cup and Plink! They're both similar but I couldn't decide on which on to have so I got both! 

Top - Crème Cup   Bottom - Plink!

Top - Plink!   Bottom - Crème Cup

Plink! is a warm toned nude which is slightly pink. It contains a tiny aspect of shimmer that makes this Lustre almost a frost finish. The colour pay off is very subtle, just giving the lips a slight pinky sheen that tends to need reapplying often.

 

Crème Cup is a cremesheen and as the name suggests is very creaming and moisturising on the lips. The colour again is a pinky nude but this time I feel that it contains more cool/blue tones which transfers onto the lips to be quite pale. I find this finish to last a bit longer and only need reapplying very couple of hours of so.

 

Even thou I like both colours I still feel there is a better Nude out there for me. Which is your favourite Mac nude lipstick?  I would love to know.

 

Thank you for reading

 

Lou

xXx

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

I love painting my nails, I love trying out different colours and playing with textures, but one thing I hate about the whole process is removing my nail varnish. It seems to take ages and I get cotton wool stuck to my fingers and nail bed, it turns what would be an enjoyable task into a chore.

Now I may be a bit late with the whole "Magic Nail Polish Remover", I first heard of this concept on QVC while watching one of their Nails Inc shows. Nails Inc had brought out a Express Nail Polish Pot and it looked fantastic, but at the back of my mind I was thinking " it couldn't really work that well" and " its just TV magic making it look like the polish had been removed that easily". With this I forgot all about it and carried on with my life, until last week while in Boots I spotted this bad boy and for £4.99 decided it was worth a try.

I have used this a couple of times already and have been amazed that the product actually works! When it came round to photographing it for my blog I realised I was wearing the dreaded glitter nail polish! If you have ever tried to remove it you will understand the pain of getting glitter everywhere and having to allow at least 20 mins to get the awful stuff off your nails! So I thought I would show how quickly and easily it is to remove with the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover.

 

This product is a life saver and dare I say one of  the best products I've purchased  all year! You pop your finger in the pot which is filled with foam soaked in nail polish remover, there in a small whole where your finger sits snugly into. Once in, rotate the finger clock wise and anti clockwise for 4-5 seconds and then remove it and wait to be amazed!

With normal polish, when I say normal I mean non-glitter, the process only needs to be performed once but with glitter I had to do it 2 times for all the polish to be removed.  Even with the "double dipping" it took no time at all and I saved myself the mess of having glitter particles all over my hands from being transferred by the cotton pad.

The remover contains Sweet Almond oil which leaves your nails moisturised and smelling yummy.

 

This really is a great product and one that really works. I did just think it was a gimmick but alas it is not and one product that I will continue to use from now on.

My nail polish routine has been changed forever thanks to this little gem. Normally if I make a mistake I would think "oh s*d it" and leave it as it is because I couldn't be bothered to remove and paint them all over again, the fear of cotton wool being stuck everywhere and my nails looking like frosty the snowman are all gone. I can now remove the polish from one finger without disturbing the polish on the other nails. This is a genius invention, just need one for my toes now!

 

Have you tried this or the Nails Inc Express Nail Polish Remover, what did you think of it?

 

Thank you for reading

 

Lou

xXX