Just another Beauty Blogger

Topshop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels

2012-03-08T19:00:00.001Z

Hey girlies. For the past couple of weeks I've found myself reaching for Topshop's 'Flush' cream blush as part of my everyday make-up routine. I always seem to go through fazes of blush-lovin' - I'll use something constantly for a week or two, then find something else in my stash which takes my fancy and start using that instead. As I've been enjoying 'Flush' so much (especially with a bit of 'Pearl' cream colour base sweeped over the top) I decided that I needed another Topshop cream blush in my make-up collection. I went shopping on Tuesday to buy my boyfriends birthday presents, which gave me the perfect opportunity to make a quick pit-stop in Topshop and pick up another blush. I ended up choosing 'Head over Heels' which is a gorgeous peachy pink toned blush.

L-R: peachy 'Head Over Heels' and 'Flush'

The packaging is compact and sturdy, with the typically Topshop simple, scruffy polka-dot design on the top. With the packaging being white you'd imagine it would get dirty really easily, but surprisingly my black NARS packaging ends up looking a lot more dirty! It includes a generous size mirror which is perfect for on-the-go touch-ups throughout the day. The formulation of Topshop's cream blushes are completely different to MAC and the NYX blushes I've tried. In the pan they a cream consistency and glide onto the skin in exactly the same way, yet dry to a matte and slightly powdery finish. Although it dries matte, as a cream it blends into the skin beautifully and seamlessly and still leaves a healthy, glowing complexion behind. They can be applied simply with fingertips or with a brush (my personal favourite being Sigma's F55 - I find duo fibre brushes work perfectly with cream blushes.)

Topshop cream blushes are without a doubt my favourite 'drugstore'/highstreet blushes out there. I can't even single out anything about them I don't like about them. They have a lovely selection of shades, the packaging is cute and compact and they only cost £6 (whereas a MAC cremeblend blush will set you back a whopping £17.50!)

What do you think of Topshop cream blushes?

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Real Techniques Core Collection

2012-03-01T16:59:00.000Z

Hey girlies. The other week on Instagram I posted a picture showing something very exciting; the Core Collection by Real Techniques /Samantha Chapman. It's safe to say every ~~man and his dog~~ beauty blogger/Youtuber is aware of the hype surrounding these brushes, and if not, you should! Samantha Chapman, one half of Youtube's Pixiwoo's released her own collection of brushes last year. When they first released in the UK they were only available online, which wasn't a major issue although let's face it, having to pay for delivery is never a bonus. As of very recently they've been introduced into Boots stores, which is great news for us as it means no more pesky delivery charges and we get advantage points when be buy them and we can even buy them with our advantage points (which is what I did!)

The Core Collection consists of four brushes; the contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush and the buffing brush all for £21.99 - amazing! It also comes in a handy little case which is perfect for travelling as it not only folds up and protects the brushes, it also unfolds into a brush holder. I only bought the set for two of the brushes; the contour brush and buffing brush. The other two are a little hit and miss for me and I can't really see myself getting much use out of them compared to the other two. All the brushes are made of super soft synthetic taklon brushes, which means they are great to use with cream and liquid products.

Two brushes definitely steal the show for me; the contour and buffing brushes.

The contour brush is just what I hoped it would be; soft, precise and it's tapered shape means it fits perfectly in the hollows of your cheeks to create cheekbones. I've been looking for a brush like this forever and almost gave up hope of finding an affordable contour brush. So far I've only used it for bronzer (powder and cream), although I can imagine it working perfectly for blush and highlighter as it's just the right size. Let's face it, we all love a good multitasker!

The buffing brush definitely deserves the hype it gets across the beauty community; it applies foundation perfectly! If you like brushes like ELF's powder brush or Sigma flat/round top kabuki's to apply foundation then you will love this brush. I haven't touched my ELF powder brush since getting my hands on this and don't think I'll be going back to it any time soon.

The pointed foundation brush is a bit of an odd one. It's not wide enough to be used as an all-over foundation brush, unless you have a lot of time on your hands and to be honest, I think it would have been better if it was just an ordinary sized foundation brush. I'm definitely not going to abandon it yet and am going to see how it fares with cream blush.

The detailer brush again is a little bit of an odd one for me, but that's only because I'm so used to applying concealer with my fingers as opposed to a brush and I apply lipstick straight from the bullet. It's a useful little brush to have although I don't think I'll be reaching for it as often as the others.

I can see why the detailer and pointed foundation brushes are included within the set, as it's a face brush set, although I feel including either the blush or stippling brush instead would have done the set a lot more favours. Even though I won't get as much use out of two of the brushes, the collection is definitely worth the price, even for just the buffing and contour brushes!

Read my review on the Real Techniques Blush Brush here.

Have you tried any Real Techniques brushes?

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Important - Read Me!

2012-02-28T19:52:00.003Z

Hey girlies. Some of you may be aware that Google Friend Connect will be deactivated for non-blogger hosted blogs as of the 1st March which is this Thursday. Clearly I live under a rock as I only heard about this the other day! Truthfully, I'm not quite sure what's going to happen come Thursday, although I've heard if you keep up to date with my posts through dashboard then you're going to need to find another way. You can do this either through...

Bloglovin'

Twitter

or

Hellocotton

I've only just made a Hellocotton profile, but it's another way to keep up to date. Bloglovin' is really easy and simple to use; it also has an app which means you can keep up to date whilst on the go. Also, I know it's not a way to follow my posts but I'm also on Instagram. Just search for @justanotherbeautyblogger and you'll find me.

I'd also love if anyone could shed some light onto what all this means for bloggers and followers of blogs.

Seven Deadly Beauty Sins

2012-02-17T16:13:00.002Z

Hey girlies! First off I want to say a massive thank you as a few days ago I reached 500 followers! Crazy! Everyone says it but I really didn't expect to reach 50, let alone 500! I know my posts have been a little sporadic and few and far between, but I'd love it if you could all stick with me. I'm currently in my third (and final) year at university and as you can imagine I have a lot (understatement) of work to be doing. Recently I've seen the 'Seven Deadly Beauty Sins' tag floating around and fancied doing it, so here goes...

Greed
What is your most inexpensive beauty product? What is your most expensive?

The most expensive beauty product I've bought (to date) is my Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel, or Bronze Universel. I wanted it for my birthday last year, but couldn't find it anywhere for the life of me. So my birthday came and went without it but a few weeks later I went shopping and managed to hunt one down, the rest is history. I haven't found myself reaching for it the past few months as it's a product which I much prefer using in the summer.

My most inexpensive beauty products are my MUA eyeshadows, of which I own three. I did have four but my first attempts at depotting weren't that successful (I'm also missing a huge chunk of my blue pan, which I conveniently cut out of the camera ;). At only £1 a pop they're certainly the cheapest single pan shadows on the market, but that certainly doesn't reflect onto the quality of the shadows. They've been highly raved about in the beauty community and rightfully so.

Wrath
What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What has been hardest to find?

Out of all the 'Seven Deadly Beauty Sins' posts and videos I've read/watched, the vast majority have all show the same product which they have a love/hate relationship with: the Naked palette! It's the first (and only) pricey palette which I've bought, which all the more pains me to say that I don't get as much use out of it as I intended and hoped I would. This isn't entirely down to the palettes fault, I just don't always reach for eye-shadow on a daily basis. Luckily for me I bought mine before Benefit increased the price to £36 (keerrazzy!) It is full of gorgeous shades though, although truthfully I prefer the shades in the Naked 2 palette better.

The hardest product to find by a mile has to be Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel. It sold out everywhere online so I dragged my boyfriend into every Chanel counter in Boots, House of Fraser and Debenhams around to no avail. A week or two later I went shopping (with my birthday money burning a Chanel shaped logo in my pocket). First stop was HOF; they didn't have any but took my name and number and would phone me when they got them in. Then I went into Debenhams and low and behold; they had one! Only negative (apart from spending £29 on a bronzer) was they had ran out of Chanel bags. Yes, I'm a bit of a bag whore. Months and months and months later (about eight months, no joke) I got a phone call from HOF telling me they finally had some in. Ha!

Gluttony

What are your most delicious beauty products?

My most 'delicious' beauty products, without a doubt, are my NARS products. Although the packaging is a magnet for attracting fingerprints and make-up, there's just something about the sleek, black design which oozes sophistication. It's simple, but oh so special. I own five NARS products altogether and am chuffed to say I haven't paid full price for any of them! I picked up Laguna bronzer and Ondine shadow in two of ASOS's many sales, Deep Throat with the £9 for £20 ASOS voucher Groupon did last year and my newest additions; two multiples which I picked up from Cheapsmells for half price!

Sloth

What beauty product do you neglect due to laziness?

You may have saw from my New Years Beauty Resolutions post that one of my resolutions this year is to wear more eye-shadow. One of my attempts to get more use out of my shadows was by buying a Z palette which I've depotted (some more successfully than others) some shadows into. I've been good and have been swapping thick liner for shadow, although sometimes I just don't give myself enough time to apply and blend, blend, blend, or am sometimes just too plain lazy. Ooops!

Pride

What beauty product gives you more confidence?

If I was told I could only have one make-up item forever (I like to be dramatic) I would hands-down choose foundation. Don't get me wrong, I love eye-liner in all shapes and forms, always have and always will, but I absolutely hate my skin. Luckily for me, my sister had the acne gene, but instead I was cursed with the patchy, dry, uneven skin tone. If I'm going out and need make-up on, foundation is the one thing I can't miss out.

Lust

What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

I think this is such a stupid question when all the rest are about beauty products. A sense of humour is a must! I like men with nice backs, shoulders and arms. Now that doesn't make me sound odd at all...next question...

Envy

What item would you most like to receive as a gift?

link

Anyone want to buy me the NARS Danmari palette?

What are your seven deadly beauty sins?

xxx

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Clarisonic Mia - A Week In

2012-01-25T18:49:00.003Z

Hey girlies. If you saw my 'Christmas Wishlist '11' post you would have seen I asked ~~Father Christmas~~ my parents for the Clarisonic Mia as my big present for Christmas. I got given money instead and so unsurprisingly as soon as ASOS had them back in stock I placed my order. The only thing which put me off from buying a Clarisonic ages ago (and I think it's the same for a lot of people) was the price as in no way is it a cheap purchase. I was debating whether to hold out for a 20% discount code, but my skin has been so rubbish lately I just couldn't wait and run the risk of them selling out yet again. It wasn't all bad though as I got 10% student discount off the usual RRP. I still cringed a little when I pressed the 'confirm order' button though. Also kind of gutted I didn't hold out as a few days after mine arrived, the white Mia's were on Buyapowa for £90!

Even though it arrived two weeks ago, I only started using it last Monday. This was because of one thing and one thing only - the dreaded Clarisonic breakout! I was going on a big night out with work on the following Saturday and I had only just got over my exam stress breakout, so I didn't want to spark up another war on my face with a big night out looming. So the Monday after I cracked out my Clarisonic and started a whole new phase in my skincare routine. I've been using it morning and night for a whole week and am glad to report I luckily haven't experienced the dreaded Clarisonic breakout (yet) that most people seem to get within the first week or so of using it. I've noticed my skin is much softer too. The only negative was I really didn't like the way it felt when I used it on nose - you can feel all your cartilage vibrating, bleurghhh. I've been using it with my No7 cleanser (only because I want to use it up), and am currently on the search for a good, Clarisonic-friendly cleanser. A week in and I'm glad I finally took the plunge and bought it, after months and months of debating with myself whether it was going to be worth it or not. I'm just excited to see the improvements it makes over a longer period of time, of which I'll keep you posted on. :)

Buyapowa now have the pink Clarisonic Mia's in their 'coming soon' section, so if you're thinking about buying one that would be the perfect chance to save some money. A couple of weeks ago they had the white Mia's which sold for £90, £30 less than the RRP. Make sure you type in your email address so you don't miss out, as there are only limited numbers available!

Are you the proud owner of a Clarisonic or tempted to buy one?

xxx

Winter Lip Saviours

2012-01-17T17:29:00.000Z

Hey girlies. Every winter I can guarantee that my lips will completely dry up with the cold and windy weather. It means that I ditch my lovely lipsticks and glosses for SOS emergency lip products When I get dry, cracked and flaky lips I do the worst possible thing - pick. It's probably the one thing which prevents my lips from healing quicker. This winter I've used an array of products which have helped to calm down and improve the condition of my lips. Dry, chapped and cracked lips aren't just limited to winter, which means these products will see the light of day throughout the year, even in the summer.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

Lush's Bubblegum Lip Scrub is the perfect gentle exfoliator for your lips and a product I use all year round, not just in the winter. The bubblegum flavour is by far the nicest smelling (and tasting) lip scrub out of all the ones Lush offer. All you do is get some on your finger (I find it helps if your finger is wet as it sticks) and gently rub it across your lips. Apparently you can lick it off, although I find the idea of eating my dead, flaky skin from my lips a little gross, so instead I just wash it off with some cold water. The only negative I've found is that the pot turns into a solid lump of sugar once you're about half way through (or at least it did for me), which resulted in me having to buy a brand new pot.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
When I first bought this it stayed unused in my drawer for months as I absolutely hated the smell and taste of it. (Good old internet shopping.) However, I turned to it in desperation when nothing else seemed to improve the condition of my lips and I'm so glad I did. I've gradually got over the smell and taste, which was the only reason why I didn't use it in the beginning. I tend to use this when I'm at home and just before I'm going to bed, as it does leave your lips very greasy looking. Apply a generous layer all over and let it work it's magic. The beauty with this product too is that it doesn't just have to be used on the lips, you can apply it to dry skin and even sun burn. Got to love multifunctional products!

Vaseline
Vaseline is probably the one product everybody owns, and if they don't, they should! It's probably the cheapest lip product on the market. Similarly to the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant, it's a multifunctional product that doesn't just have to be used on the lips. Again, similarly to the Eight Hour Skin Protectant, I usually use it at home and before I go to bed as I apply a generous layer which gives me the very sexy, very greasy lip look. It does the job though!

Blistex Relief Cream
I'm always a little worried leaving this around work in case anyone see's the 'Relief Cream' bit, as it sounds like a product which goes nowhere near your mouth (if you know what I mean). For me, Blistex is the ultimate product if you have dry, cracked and chapped lips. It has a nice minty taste which makes your lips slightly tingle, although this to me always makes it feel as if it's working. I usually take this to work with me when my lips are in need to some TLC, although you have to make sure to apply a relatively thin layer as otherwise it will leave you with white ghost lips (attractive!)

What are your go-to lip saviour products?
xxx

Winter Sale Buys

2012-01-09T15:31:00.000Z

Hey ladies! I thought I would do a little post showing you the few bits I picked up in the winter sales - emphasis on the word few. I didn't brave the Boxing Day sales as 1. I was working a rubbish 10-5pm shift and 2. I'm not crazy! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy shopping and finding bargains but other shoppers annoy me at the best of times. I think I'd end up throttling someone if I went shopping on Boxing Day. I went to town shopping the Friday after Christmas however I didn't end up buying anything that was in the sales. I was after a new pair of skinny jeans from either River Island or Hollister but ended up coming out of both shops empty handed. Hollister had 20% off of everything in store but their jeans. Helpful! Instead I braved Boots the day after Boxing Day to see what was left. I do love the Boots Christmas sale as all their Christmas gifts are half price and their perfume sets are reduced. Saying that, I only came out with two things.

James Brown Photo Fabulous Condition and Shine set. Was £15. reduced to £7.50.

This was definitely the best bargain out of the two. This bad boy only cost me £7.50, when the shampoo by itself sells for £6.99 - craazzzy! I needed new shampoo and conditioner as my Tigi ones were nearly empty so when I saw this I knew it was coming home with me. I picked up a few different sets as I couldn't decide which to buy (and to stop the annoying shoulder-hoverers from taking anything I was undecided about) but in the end I opted for this one.

St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Moisturiser set. Was £20, reduced to £10.

The other thing I picked up in Boots wasn't anything I particularly needed, I was drawn in because it was half price (I'm clearly a weak shopper!) I've tried the St Tropez gradual moisturiser before and to be perfectly honest I wasn't that impressed with it. From what I remember I barely changed colour at all and the smell isn't that great either Maybe I've just got too used to the lovely scent of Xen Tan? I only really bought the set for the gradual face moisturiser and if it hadn't been included I don't think I would have bothered buying it.

From top to bottom: No. 14, No. 17, No. 19, No. 21

Illamasqua False Eye Lashes. Were £12/£14.50, reduced to £5.

The last of my sale buys came from Illamasqua. Their sale had things priced as low as £5, which is what I took advantage of. I would have liked to have bought one or two of their cream blushes, however the colours they had on sale unfortunately weren't anything I would wear. I was tempted by their liquid illuminators, however I the rational side of me realised it would be a waste of money when I have High Beam and pearl cream colour base sitting in my drawers. So, desperate to spend some money I stocked up on four pairs of lashes instead. My order also came with a free sample of the new Freak perfume which smells absolutely divine. I've already added it to my birthday wishlist!

What did you get in the sales?

xxx

New Years Beauty Resolutions

2012-01-07T10:24:00.008Z

Hey girlies! Apart from the usual 'buy less,' 'save more money' and 'win the lottery' I don't really do New Years resolutions. This is for the simple fact that I most probably won't stick to them. However, this year I'm determined to change as 2012 is going to be the year for me; I'm turning the grand age of twenty-one and graduating. I'm officially going to be a grown-up! Scary stuff! I'll save what I am doing and what I plan to do in 2012 for a separate post so if you're interested in life posts keep your eyes peeled. Anyway, back to beauty! These are my New Years beauty resolutions for 2012...

Go Blonde

This is number one on my list! I used to have blonde hair when I was little but as I grew up my blonde grew into brunette. I've dyed my hair an array of colours and shades over the years; dark brown, mahogany, DIY blonde (did NOT go well and the biggest hair mistake of my life, well, that and an emo fringe!) Having learnt from my mistake I won't be dying my hair blonde myself, but instead will opt to pay an arm and a leg at a salon. The only thing that has put me off from going blonde professionally is the price, but if I want gorgeous blonde locks then it has to be done.

Do more with my hair

Whether I'm going on a night out, going to work, or staying at home I guarantee my hair will most definitely look the same - straightened. I got given the Babyliss Curling Wand last Christmas and can count the times I've used it on one hand. I've fallen into a hair rut as 1. It takes me no time at all to straighten my hair, 2. I'm not the best at curling hair and 3. My hair is cut into a graduated bob so I'm under the impression it's too short to do anything else with. WRONG. This year I'm determined to get curling my hair down to a T and to make sure I give myself enough time to do something different with it when I'm getting ready.

Wear less eye liner

For as long as I can remember, big, bold black eye liner has been my signature make-up. It's my comfort zone. Eye liner was the first make-up product I started to wear when I was around twelve - I'm now twenty. Eight years of pretty much the same everyday make-up is far too long. Also when your everyday make-up is pretty much the same as your going out make-up, you know something's wrong. The plan is to still wear kohl liner on my waterline, but no where near as much liquid liner on my lid, if any. As the saying goes, less is more.

Wear more eye shadow

This goes hand-in-hand with my resolution to wear less eye-liner. Less liquid liner on my lids means more room for pretty eye shadow. I have so many eye shadow palettes and what not which hardly get used (I'm looking at you Naked palette) it's ridiculous. I think the main reason I usually avoid shadow is that I don't normally have time, but this year I'm going to make time. In a bid to get more use out of my eye shadow I bought a Z palette before Christmas which I've started filling up with depotted shadows, now all I need to do is start using them.

Shopping the stash

It's safe to say I certainly have more than enough make-up for one person yet I only use a certain few products. This is mainly because I keep the make-up I use in acrylic drawers (my favourites) on my chest of drawers, while the rest of it lives under my bed. The logic behind shopping the stash is to rediscover some long-lost gems which have previously been unlawfully abandoned to the depths of my bottom drawer, as well as to save my money.

Have you made any New Years beauty resolutions?

xxx

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(Images taken from weheartit)

Find me on Twitter and Bloglovin'

2012-01-04T10:13:00.001Z

This is just a quick little post telling you where else you can find me.

Click on the links to follow me on Twitter and Bloglovin'

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Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year! xx

My Christmas Wishlist '11

2011-12-20T20:57:00.000Z

Hey girlies! This week I've well and truly got into the Christmas spirit: Sunday night I put on Hairspray (such a good film) and wrapped all of my presents and last night I went ice skating at an outdoor rink with loads of people I work with. As Christmas is only five days away (crazy!) I thought I would do a post showing you what I've asked for this year.

Unfortunately for ~~Father Christmas~~ my parents, I no longer ask simply for sweets and this year a Clarisonic Mia was at the very top of my list. In typical girlie girl style I asked for it in either pink or lavender. I don't think my parents really 'get it', so whether I get given it or not we'll just have to wait and see.

Similarly to last year, Soap and Glory have brought out another massive Christmas set in the form of the Big Splendour. I didn't get one last year and so have jumped on this years bandwagon and asked for it. It's such good value for money at £25 and I know I'll use up every single product.

Yesterday I went with my boyfriend and picked out my Cath Kidston bag. I couldn't decide between two patterns and after standing in Cath Kidston for ten minutes in front of the mirror, with one on each arm, I finally decided on the Bird Day Bag. I think the shop assistant thought I was going to run out the shop with them as the mirror was right next to the door...

What have you asked for this Christmas?

The Little Black Lace Dress ft Missguided

2011-12-07T13:25:00.004Z

Hey girlies. Missguided is one of the first websites I go to when I'm on the look out for a new going out outfit, although it wasn't until October that I finally placed my first order with them. I had been wanting a lace dress for ages, so I decided on their Aldara dress. It came in a whole range of different colours and to tell you the truth, I had trouble deciding which one to choose. I finally went for the safest option, black and even though I have enough LBDs to last me a lifetime, I justified it by telling myself I didn't yet have a LBLD (little black lace dress!) The bright blue and burnt orange Aldara dresses are on my shopping list for next summer!

I love how Missguided package their orders in little dust bags. It just makes it that little bit more special and is completely unique (at least I haven't found any other online retailer who does it).

When I ordered the dress I wasn't 100% sure if the high neckline would suit me and I'm always a little conscious of my bony shoulders being on display, however I absolutely loved it! When I was walking out of the toilets a girl even came up to me and said she loved my dress too, haha. It came with a brown plaited belt too which I switched for a leopard print belt from Primark. I've kept the plaited belt though as I think it'll look great on the dress in the summer with a cropped denim jacket, making it a dress perfect for all year round. The only little negative I have about the dress is that it is see-through to the point where you can see where my legs start. It's easily fixed though by just adding a black body-con skirt underneath and let's face it, in the winter we want as many layers on as possible, even on a night out!

You can buy the Aldara dress from Missguided here for £23.99 and if you're a student you can get 10% off with an NUS Extra card. They are also offering free next day delivery if you order before 8pm Thursday, meaning you can have it in time for the weekend!

Bloggers' Christmas Party!

2011-12-05T13:24:00.000Z

Hey girlies! December has officially begun which means only one thing...Christmas! One of the things I love about this time of the year are Christmas parties and this post is to let you all know about THE bloggers' Christmas party of the season which cannot be missed!

MyStreetChic.com are hosting a Bloggers' Christmas Party and we want as many of your gorgeous faces there as we can squeeze in! It's sponsored by Boohoo, who are showcasing their latest party wear in a fashion show and you'll also get given an exclusive goodie bag! I've bought my ticket and am literally counting down the days. My work Christmas party is the day after so something tells me I'm going to be a little worse for wear when it comes to Sunday.

'Are you a fashion or beauty blogger keen to meet other bloggers? Come along to our Christmas party and fashion show at 7pm on Friday 16th December at Java Bristol, where you'll be able to meet your fellow MyStreetChicas, receive an exclusive goodie bag packed with gorgeous treats and see the latest partywear from Boohoo.com live on the catwalk. Afterwards, our DJ will spin the tunes, leaving you to crack out those dancing shoes.

The event takes place at Java in Bristol on Friday 16th December from 7-10pm.

Tickets cost £5 and include a complimentary drink on arrival, a goodie bag and entrance to the Fashion Show and After Party. There are a limited number of tickets available so register now to avoid disappointment!

Please note: You must be over 18 to attend.'

You can buy as many tickets as you like, so feel free to bring along a friend or two - the more the merrier! If you want to know anything else check out the FAQs page here. Oh and don't forget to buy your ticket. It's guaranteed to be a great night and let's face it, who doesn't love a good old party?

The New Kids on the Block - Soap and Glory & 17

2011-11-12T12:22:00.000Z

Hey girlies! Unless you live in a cave I'm pretty sure you would have heard about all the new product and brand releases which have been hitting our high-street shelves lately. The other day I finally gave in and bought two new products which I've been eyeing up ever since they hit the shelves of Boots; Soap and Glory's Lid Stuff palette and one of 17's Metallic Eyes mousses. Still on my list to tick off are 17's magnetized nail polish, along with the new Fashionista range in Superdrug.

Being the owner of the Urban Decay Naked palette, MUA Pro Heaven and Earth palette, 17 Metallic Nudes palette and Sleek's Storm palette, the last thing I needed was yet another neutral palette so much so that I told myself I would never again buy any neutral eye-shadows (with the exception of MAC!) That clearly went out the window, along with £10 of my hard-earned dosh when Soap and Glory brought out their What's Nude palette...ooops.

In my defence, the majority of shadows in the palettes I already own are shimmery, whereas 3/4's of the What's Nude palette are completely matte (which is the main reason why I bought it). Again, in my defence none of my other palettes will fit in my make-up bag, whereas the Soap and Glory palette fits perfectly! See, how could I say no?! ;) The palette contains all the colours you'd need to create a soft and subtle neutral eye, yet you could easily vamp it up to a more dramatic, smoky eye too. All of which come with their very own little name; Vanilla, Pink T, Mudhoney and Aubersheen (why I love Soap and Glory, they're so witty!)

In their little pot, 17's Metallic Eye's look like they'll be the high-street equivalent to MAC Paint Pots. As soon as your finger touches the surface you'll know they're completely different. My experience of Paint Pots are a greasy-like texture, whereas 17's Metallic Eye's are light and airy like a chocolate mousse (nom nom). The colour can be built up or blended for a light, hint of colour and can be used on their own or as a base under powder shadows, similarly to Paint Pots yet at a fraction of the price. They're rumoured to be a very cheap dupe for the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre shadows, although I won't be spending £22.50 on one any time soon to find out, not even in the name of research!

L-R: 17 Metallic Eyes in Wild Nude, Soap and Glory What's Nude shadow and Urban Decay's Sidecar.

Although the photo doesn't show it, in person Wild Nude looks practically identical to Urban Decay's Sidecar shadow, so if you're a fan of shimmery taupe's Wild Nude will be right up your street! They also come in a few other shades too :)

Zebra Print NOTD

2011-11-08T15:25:00.001Z

Hey girlies! I decided to give nail art another whirl last night with my Models Own nail art pen and a No7 polish I picked up with one of my many £5 off No7 vouchers. Surprisingly out of all the nail polishes I own (and believe me, there are quite a lot) I don't own a simple and effortless nude. I thought it would be the perfect 'grown up' shade (note to self, you are twenty and a grown up) for when I start going to interviews for graduate jobs, now there's a scary thought!

I began with the intention of giving leopard print nails a second attempt, (you can see my first attempt here) however I decided to give something else a go and opted for a different wild animal instead, zebra. After looking up a few images on Google, I armed myself with my nail art pen and began to draw random lines across my nails. It's pretty much that simple! The only blunder I made was on my ring finger, where I didn't wait long enough for the black polish to dry before I applied my top coat *DOH!*

I'm really getting into this nail art malarkey :)

Also, I've just bought my ticket to the Bloggers Christmas Party which is happening Friday 16th December at Java on Park Street (Bristol). Check out Lyzi's post for more info and buy your ticket HERE! Hope to see all your lovely faces there! :)

YSL Rouge Volupté #1 Nude Beige

2011-11-04T14:48:00.003Z

Hey girlies! Last Friday I finally gave in and bought a lipstick which I have been drooling over forever, the infamous and coveted YSL Rouge Volupté in #1 Nude Beige. Now there is absolutely no way I would part with £22 for one of these babies, regardless of how gorgeous (or slightly gaudy) the packaging may be. I bought mine from CheapSmells.com and although the lipstick still wasn't exactly cheap (it's taken the title of most expensive lipstick I've ever bought), I ended up saving myself £6, proof that it definitely pays to shop around!

Apart from its luxurious packaging, Rouge Volupté lipsticks are renowned for their smooth texture and glide-on consistency. They definitely don't disappoint and completely surpassed my expectations! If you get the chance to, definitely give them a swatch next time you're by a counter, you'll understand what the hype is about. I've heard that the staying power of Rouge Volupté lipsticks aren't amazing which is a shame, especially as they don't come cheap, although I'm yet to give it a fair test run myself so only time will tell.

Naming the lipstick Nude Beige is a little naughty on YSL's part and could easily throw you off, especially if you aren't one to look up online swatches before ordering. Although it is a lovely shade, it is definitely not what I would call a nude or even a beige for that matter! When I hear the word 'nude' I instantly think of ~~naked people~~ GOSH Darling and MAC's Creme d'Nude, not a soft pink lipstick which essentially is what YSL's Nude Beige is.

L-R: YSL Rouge Volupté in Nude Beige and MAC Creme Cup

As soon as I swatched Nude Beige it instantly reminded me of another lipstick I own, MAC's Creme Cup. They aren't exactly the same, however they are pretty damn similar! The only visible difference is that Creme Cup is a shade or two pinker than Nude Beige.

Another thing to mention is if you aren't a fan of scented lipsticks, you may be put off my the Rouge Volupté's fruity watermelon scent, something I completely wasn't expecting. I have to admit though, I much prefer MAC's signature vanilla scent...sorry YSL.

First Attempt at Leopard Print NOTD

2011-10-17T16:19:00.000+01:00

Hey girlies! If you saw my post a few weeks ago on my pink polka dot nails, you'll know that I finally got round to ordering two Models Own nail art pens from ASOS. I decided the next time I would use them I would give leopard print nails a try, as I seriously lust after them every time a new post showcasing them pops up! As it was my first attempt, I thought I would only paint it on my ring finger, so if it looked terrible it would hopefully be a little less obvious than if it were on every finger (clearly I had a lot of faith in myself, haha).

I used Barry M's 'Peach Melba' which has to be one of my favourite ever nail polish shades! I then applied random splodges of a white Bourjois polish I found lying around, then used the thin brush side of Models Own black nail art pen around the white polish. I then topped it all of with Sally Hansen's quick drying top-coat which I blogged about here! My left hand (the one photographed) looked a lot better than my right hand, although that's pretty much always a given when it comes to nail polish due to me being right handed.

Even though they could have looked a lot better, I received a tonne of compliments from random people in work and at uni so I must have done something right! Next time I give leopard print nails a go I'm definitely going to be more adventurous with the colours I use, instead of sticking to the pretty safe colours that I used. I'm also going to paint them on every nail too, no matter how terrible my right hand may look!

Are you a fan of leopard print nails?

Halloween DIY - Quick and Easy Fake Wounds

2011-10-16T10:34:00.001+01:00

Hey girlies! With it being Halloween in just over two weeks, I thought I would do a DIY post on how to create your own gory and bloody wounds! I created mine on my hands so it would be easier for me photograph, however they can be put anywhere and everywhere, in all shapes and sizes! I plan on having some on my face as well as on my hands for Halloween, although I'll probably end up getting carried away and putting them everywhere! The big problem is I haven't decided what to dress up as yet. It's between a wicked Alice in Wonderland, or a blood splattered/dead nurse, but I really can't decide?!

What you'll need...

1. Toilet paper

2. Eyelash glue

3. Fake blood

4. One or two fluffy eye shadow brushes

5. Matte brown powder bronzer/eye shadow

6. Matte red and purple powder eye shadow

7. Red lipstick/cream blush/lipgloss (optional - alternatives to fake blood)

*Click on the photos to enlarge*

1. Apply a generous layer of eyelash glue in the rough shape of your desired wound.

2. Cover the glue with a layer or two of toilet paper, making sure to leave it bumpy and textured as this will create a more realistic wound.

3. Apply a layer of foundation which matches your skin tone (or a white/lighter foundation if you're going for the dead look). This will even out the contrast between the white toilet paper and your skin tone, as well as giving you a blank canvas for the following steps.

4. Using a fluffy eye shadow brush, apply a matt bronzer (or eye shadow) onto and around the paper. I used the contour shade from Sleek's Contour Kit. This will add definition to the skin and wound, as well as giving the effect of bruising.

5. Using a combination of red and purple eye shadows, fill in and around the paper, making sure to bring the purple shadow outside of the paper so to create the effect of sore, bruised skin, whilst concentrating the red in the centre of the wound.

6. Blend the red, purple and matte brown bronzer to your hearts content, until you are happy with your wound. You could even add hints of green and grey to give the effect of dead, mouldy skin.

7. To give the appearance of a fresh, wet wound, you can apply a variety of red coloured products depending on what you have at home or that you want to use. I used a combination of cream blush and Benefit's Benetint on the longer wound and fake blood on the larger one. As the pictures show, the fake blood definitely gives a much better bloody effect.

Et voila!

The beauty with this is your blending and wounds don't have to be tidy, the idea is to make a mess which in turn makes them look much more realistic. A real wound or scar wouldn't look tidy or well-kept, so neither should a fake one. Just have fun with combining your shadows and fake blood until you're happy with the result.

Another bonus is that using eyelash glue means it should be suitable for all over your skin, as it has to be sensitive enough for use around your eyes. You should also find that the glue and toilet paper act as a barrier between the fake blood (which usually stains) and your skin.

As well as adding green or grey shadows to give the effect of dead, mouldy skin you could also reduce the amount of red you use along with avoiding fake blood, to give the impression of a scar as opposed to a wound, similarly to the longer wound (although this wasn't intentional, haha).

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

Recent Beauty Bargains

2011-10-14T12:46:00.002+01:00

Hey ladies! Over the past week or so I've managed to nab myself some damn good bargains when it comes to make-up, so I thought I'd do a little post to show you what I've picked up. Let's face it, we all love a good bargain and these bits were just too good to refuse!

I heard through the blogging grapevine that Boots were selling off all of their Prestige make-up. I've had a look online to see whether they're selling off and revamping the brand or if they've gone into administration, but I can't find any reason as to why. Anyway, I must of been one of the last people to hear about it as when I went to my Boots there wasn't very much left at all, apart from a few eye and lip liners, along with the two products which I quickly picked up!

As I've recently hit pan on my beloved ELF Eyebrow Kit I thought I would try out Prestige's eyebrow offering. The kit comes with two powder shades; a cool, light ash brown and a much warmer, red shade. Depending on your eyebrow shade you can either use one or the other, or even mix the two to match your personal eyebrow shade. The kit comes with a little eyebrow brush which is a little too stiff for my liking, however I love how snugly it fits inside the kit and makes it perfect for travelling and saving space in your make-up bag.

I also love how they've included a pair of mini tweezers too, which is very 'Benefit Brow Zings' of them, which again makes the kit perfect for travelling! The kit also comes with two eyebrow arch stencils which I'm yet to try out, as well as a good sized mirror which just reinforces how great the kit is for travelling or if you're on the go! Truthfully if I had paid the original £9.99 for the eyebrow kit I would have been a little disappointed, especially compared to ELF's £3.50 Studio Eyebrow Kit, however for £2.49 I'm definitely not complaining!

Unlike with the eyebrow kit, I didn't particularly have a valid reason to buying yet another make-up brush, however the shape and size of it instantly drew me in. All of my blush/bronzing brushes are big and rather chunky, apart from my Sigma duo fibre F55, however as the name suggests, it is the perfect shape and size for both blush and contouring (reminds me a little of a more flimsy and cheap MAC 109). Originally the brush would have cost £7.49, however it cost a very affordable £1.87!

As I briefly mentioned in my last post, on Monday I popped into town to buy a book which I needed for Uni and as I was there I quickly went into Primarni and TK Maxx. My sole reason for going into TK Maxx (as always) was to have a nosey at their make-up, as I've heard a few people managing to pick up NARS for crazy cheap prices! Unfortunately I didn't find any NARS, however I didn't walk away empty handed as from the corner of my eye I spotted the plain cardboard packaging of Stila!

I opened it up to find the perfect golden powder highlight, something which my make-up stash has been desperately after! All of my highlighters, whether they are powder or liquid form are all cool and silver toned as opposed to warm and golden. Unfortunately the powder had slightly crumbled away around one of the corners and the pan had also come away from the packaging. I took it to the till, showed the lady and asked if they could take anything off but was informed they don't take money off of anything (which I thought was a little odd) however the crumbly corner wasn't anything major and the pan was nothing a little super glue wouldn't fix, so I parted with my £3.99 (RRP £16) and walked off a very happy bunny!

If you follow me on Twitter you may have seen my tweet a few weeks ago about the ASOS sale and how I had bought a NARS eyeshadow for a little over £10 (normally cost £16.50 if bought directly from NARS). I couldn't decide on which shadow to buy, however I finally managed to whittle it down to three; Ondine, Galapagos and Abyssinia. After looking up swatch after swatch of all the different eyeshadows I finally settled on Ondine, which is described by NARS as a 'plum with gold shimmer.'

Undeniably it is a lovely shadow, with taupe and brown tones mixed in with the plum, and subtile shimmer without leaving chunks of glitter all over your lid, however unfortuntely I am a little disappointed with the staying power. After a couple of hours it looked as though I didn't have any eyeshadow on at all. Similarly with Prestige's eyebrow kit, I wouldn't have paid full price for Ondine, however if I had I wouldn't have been impressed with the value for money.

Have you bought any bargains lately?

Primark Jewellery and the MUST HAVE Storage Solution

2011-10-10T16:36:00.002+01:00

Hey ladies! Sorry I haven't posted in a few weeks, but I've been super busy getting back into the University routine of having to actually wake up before 10:00am and actually doing work! I'm actually really excited for this year; it's my third and final year *DUN DUN DUNNNNN* and the one which will have the biggest impact on my overall degree, as it is worth a whopping 75% of my final grade! It's so scary to think that in one year I will have turned 21 *gulp* and I'll no longer be a student!

Even though I haven't posted I've still been reading all the new posts people have been popping up and I have even added a 'Favourite Blogs' tab at the top of my page. I think these are such a good idea as they not only show which blogs I enjoy reading, but it also lets other people find blog's which they may have otherwise missed or not yet come across! Even though I've been MIA from blogging I've still been alive on Twitter, which you can follow me on here!

After uni today I quickly went into town to buy a book in time for tomorrow.Whilst I was in town I popped into Primark mainly to have a nosey at their knitwear (I ended up buying two chunky and cosy jumpers), however whilst I was wandering round the jewellery section something else caught my eye. With my current jewellery stand overflowing and looking rather blurgh, I quickly realised this was the answer to my jewellery storage needs, even more so when I looked at the price...£3!

With a chuffed little grin on my face I popped it into my basket and decided that I also needed to buy some new bits to fill it with. I bought myself a pair of gold filigree earrings which I love as the gold is the perfect shade (not yellow and tacky as you often get with cheap gold jewellery). I also picked up two long necklaces which will look great with a plain white tee and chunky knitted cardi! The earrings and green stone pendant were both £2.50, and the chunky charm necklace was £3.50.

This is what the jewellery organiser looks like when (almost) full! The bottom three rows are bigger than the rest, which make them great for housing bangles and larger pieces, although you can only fit a couple in each section.

To me the organiser is pretty much perfect in every single way; it's compartments are clear so you can see what jewellery you have in each section, it has a hanger at the top so you can hang it on the back of your door or inside your wardrobe if you want to keep it hidden and it's reversible so you can store twice as many things...Oh and it's only £3!

The Top Coat to Top Them All

2011-09-16T16:56:00.000+01:00

Hey girlies! I was in Boots the other day spending my No7 vouchers (I picked up their new Beautifully Matte Foundation, which I am in love with, along with a few other bits) when I remembered, after seeing it on someone's blog, that I wanted to try out Sally Hansen's quick drying top coat. I remember the days when the only fast drying top coat on the market was Seche Vite, which not only left you with faster drying nails but also a considerable dent in your purse!

Gone are the days when only Seche Vite could solve our nail painting woes, as I was greeted by a whole host of different brands promising perfectly dry nails in 30-45 seconds!

OPI Rapidry Top Coat, £13.25
Seche Vite, £9.95
Save The Nail 45 Second Top Coat, £6.95 (currently on offer in Boots for £4.63)
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri £6.08

No longer will we have to frantically blow onto our nails to encourage them to dry faster, and we will no longer have to walk around like Edward Scissorhands making sure not to touch anything for the fear of ruining our freshly painted nails. Admittedly if the Save The Nail top coat was on offer when I was shopping I would of picked that up instead, sacrificing an extra 15 seconds of drying time to save myself some pennies.

Not only marketed as a quick dry top coat, Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri is also an 'Anti-Chip Top Coat,' although aren't all top coats intended to give you longer lasting, chip free nails?! Truthfully I can't tell the difference in regards to chip-resistance compared to any other top coat I've used in the past. However, that isn't the special trait of this top coat, it's promise of touch dry nails in 30 seconds is, of which I'm pleased to report it does live up to!

As with pretty much any top coat, all you have to do is apply your base colour, wait for 2 minutes, apply one layer of Insta-Dri top coat and 30 seconds later you will have dry nails! It works exactly the same if you use nail art pens too, just wait the required 2 minutes then apply the top coat.

I definitely won't be returning to the dark side of non quick drying top coats any time soon - they take far too long and no matter how careful I am, I can guarantee I will find a smudge on at least one of my nails (which after being especially careful not to move for half an hour is very frustrating)!

Pink Polka Dot NOTD

2011-09-14T14:55:00.003+01:00

Hey girlies! After seeing post after post on leopard print nails and other designs I knew I needed to get my hands on some nail art pens. Yesterday I finally gave into temptation and ordered two (black and white) Models Own WAH nail art pens from ASOS. Thanks to them offering free next day delivery they arrived this this afternoon and I straight away played around with them, ignoring my tummy's grumbles for the lasagne waiting for me downstairs!

The pens have a long thin brush to create stripes and lines, and a nib applicator to create precise designs such as polka dots. I had a nightmare trying to remove the clear plastic lids on both pens, so much so I thought I'd never get it off! Eventually persistence paid off and off popped the lids! Admittedly this isn't the most adventurous attempt at nail art, however I'm pretty pleased with how it looks (especially as it is my first proper attempt). I liked it so much that I polka dotted my toes too!

I know I'm a little late to jump on the nail art bandwagon, however it was the same when the glitter nail came around (of which I now love)! I'm yet to try the accent nail though, the one where you paint your ring finger a different colour to the rest, but I'm sure I'll be jumping on that soon enough. I think all three of them make such a nice fun change to ordinary painted nails which do get a little tiresome after a while, even with all the different shades there are out there!

I used Barry M's Pink Flamingo, which has been one of favourite go-to shades this summer, Models Own nail art pen for the polka dots then topped off with Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri topcoat (which I'll be doing a blog post on very soon)! Shockingly these Models Own nail art pens are my first dip into the world of Models Own (I know, shocking right?!)

Are you a fan of nail art?

University Advice

2011-09-05T17:15:00.001+01:00

Hey girlies! As you know, September is the month that people begin university, whether it's as a first year fresher, or a second or third year student (or more depending on your course). Whether you leave home and move miles away or if you stay at home to study, starting university is still a very daunting prospect. I made the decision to stay at home for university, as it was a lot cheaper and my campus was only a 10 minute drive away, so it made perfect sense for me to. Later this month I'll be beginning my third, final and most important year of my degree, scary!

Facebook is your friend!

If you're moving away into halls, it's worth taking a look on Facebook as lots of people post what block and flat they're living in, so you might be able to meet people before you actually arrive. Even if you don't want to introduce yourself online, it's worth having a nosey to make sure you aren't living with a group of nuns or aliens! People also do the same for what degree they're studying so you might find people on the same course as yourself.

Facebook is also great for keeping up to date with what's going on in the student world, from flat parties, student balls, Carnage, you name it! University societies also have Facebook groups so again you'll be able to stay up to date with what's what if you decide to join a club or society. Joining societies are a great way to meet people, and is something I regret not doing as soon as I began uni. Although my friend and I did give pole fitness a go for a few weeks last year, haha!

Be organised, work hard and try your best!

Last year I had one big folder for all of my modules, however this year I've bought myself one for each so I don't have to carry round all of my work with me, just what I need for each module. You don't have to spend a fortune on folders etc, the plain pink ones were from Wilkinsons and were two for £1 (can't go wrong with that, especially on a student budget) and the polka dot ones were only £1.49 each in WHSmith. Can you tell I like pink?!

Get yourself a mid-year diary/student planner! It will help you stay up to date with important deadlines for assignments, remind yourself of things to look up and research, along with other important things such as rent dates if you've moved away. I picked mine up surprisingly from Sainsburys for just under £5.

Other essentials I use include pukka pad, post its, page tabs, revision cards, highlighters, USB and earplugs (because some people still can't read the 'silent zone, please do not use your mobile phone' signs, plus when you're trying to concentrate every little sound seems to get on your nerves).

Try not to leave things to the last minute! It's not like school or sixth form where you can make an excuse and hand it in the next day. Deadlines are exactly that; for my course if you fail to hand your assignment in by 2pm on the day, you won't get marked for it, end of. Plus if you leave it to the last minute you'll look back and know you could have done so much better if you'd only been more organised and started it sooner.

Other tips...

The library is there for a reason, so use it!
Be sociable and enjoy yourself, three years will fly by!
Get a part time job - I had TWO in my first and second year!
University is a lot different to sixth form/college, so be prepared.
Get an NUS card, student discount is a big bonus of being a student.
Take part in discussions and don't be afraid to speak up in seminars, you'll get a lot more out of them if you do.
Know the difference between your grade boundaries, it'll help you understand what makes an essay a 2:1 as opposed to a 2:2.
Don't always buy brand new books, you'll save yourself money by buying secondhand. Amazon is a great place for both new and secondhand, and are usually the cheapest place to buy books from.
If you're told to buy a specific edition of a book - buy it! There's nothing worse than being sat in a seminar waiting for someone to find a page.

The First UK BB Cream on the Block - Worth the Hype?

2011-08-30T10:46:00.003+01:00

Hey girlies! Finally the much anticipated arrival of the highly hyped about BB cream is finally here with the introduction of Garniers new 'Miracle Skin Perfector' which is marketed as a BB cream. I ordered mine from Boots a few weeks ago and picked it up from my local store a couple of days later (no delivery costs make Sarah a very happy bunny!)

For those of you who are unaware, BB Cream stands for Blemish Balm Cream. BB Creams are huge in Asia, although the trend is quickly spreading to the West like wild fire! Truthfully I'm a little surprised I bought it as I'm a dedicated medium/high coverage kinda gal when it comes to foundation. I think it had a little to do with it's labelling as a BB cream and all the hype surrounding the Asian cult products.

Garnier describe it as an 'all-in-one skincare solution' which 'gives an even skin tone with a healthy glow, blurs imperfections and redness, smoothes the appearance of fine lines, hydrates for 24 hours and helps protect with SPF 15.' There are only two shades to choose from (light and medium) which is very similar to the shades available in tinted moisturisers, although we seem to be missing a shade Garnier, where's dark?!

Obviously two shades are not enough to even attempt to match every individual skin tone there is out there. I'm sure there are people who don't even match a Mac shade and look how many they have on offer! As with what I've found with other tinted moisturisers I've tried, they are all pinky toned shades and unfortunately Garniers offering is no exception. However, as the coverage is so light you can of course get away with it.

The other potent aspect of the product which may not be to everyones taste is it's scent, which reminds me of sun lotion combined with a fragranced moisturiser. If you don't like the smell of Bourjois' Healthy Mix foundation (which I personally really like) you probably won't enjoy the scent Garnier have given to their BB Cream.

Garniers 'Miracle Skin Perfector' is priced at £9.99. You get a generous 50ml of product for your money, which is a lot more than your usual 30ml found in a foundation bottle. For a tinted moisturiser I do think it is reasonably priced, especially when you think of how rare there are to find when you go searching through the makeup stands in Boots and Superdrug. The only brands which spring to mind are Natural Collection (£1.99) and No7 (£12).

So is it worth the hype? Personally I would have to say no, it isn't (sorry Garnier). I really wanted this to be the product which changes my face routine in the mornings, however to me it seems to be nothing more than a tinted moisturiser, just with the label of a BB cream. Yes it did cover some of my redness and imperfections, along with giving a 'healthy glow' as promised, however isn't that just what a tinted moisturiser does? Or have I completely missed the point?

What are your thoughts on Garnier's BB Cream?

A Few New Purchases

2011-08-26T10:15:00.001+01:00

Morning girlies! As I haven't done one in a while, I thought I would do a post showing you a few new things I've picked up this month.

Two weeks ago a couple of the girls and I caught the train to Cardiff for a day of shopping and lunch which was lovely. I had my second experience of Nandos and to tell you the truth I'm still not entirely sold. The food isn't that cheap considering Nandos ethos is fast dining, and I'm still not bought on the whole serve yourself drinks and what not.

I only went with one thing firmly in my mind to buy; a Cath Kidston makeup bag. I went with the intention of buying the £12 one, however in person it looked a little too big for what I was after, so instead I picked up the size smaller. It also comes with a little matching mirror on the inside which is a handy extra!

We were walking through Debenhams when from the corner of my eye I spotted an Illamasqua counter! I don't have an Illamasqua anywhere near where I live, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I bought their Rich Liquid Foundation and so far love it, especially applied with my Sigma F82. It even survived a night out without slipping and sliding around!

In Superdrug I picked up Sleek's Pout Polish in 'Peach Perfection' which I haven't stopped using. I've used it for work, and on a night out instead of a gloss. In just over a week I've made a rather considerable dent in it which I'm pretty proud of, especially as I've only ever bought one other Pout Polish which I've barely used. (Stay tuned for a post on both very soon!)

The other thing I picked up from Superdrug was Sue Moxley's Shimmer Brick. I'd seen a few posts mentioning that all Sue Moxley products were half price, however my Superdrug had hardly anything left (obviously I was too late on the bandwagon). For £3.25 it's definitely a steal, although I haven't used it enough times to make my mind up completely on it.

On the theme of Cath Kidston, look at this! As soon as I saw it in Primark I had to pick it up as its floral pattern and material instantly made me think of Cath Kidston! It's quite small, unfortunately too small to fit my new makeup bag in (perhaps an excuse to buy yet another one?) however it was too cute and autumnal to pass up, especially for only £7.

What have you been buying recently?

Don't call me a Hussy

2011-08-23T07:18:00.001+01:00

Hi girlies! Last week I was casually browsing through the beauty sale section on Asos when I stumbled across quite a few Illamasqua products. What caught my eye the most were the powder and cream blushes, and since I've only ever tried their bronzing duo (another Asos sale bargain I picked up last year) and foundation (as of only recently) I was eager to try out more from the brand.

I couldn't decide whether to buy a cream or powder blush, my self restraint (and bank balance) forced me to choose either one or the other. To make my decision making even harder, there were loads of shades of each to choose from! Numerous online swatches later I finally settled on Hussy, a powder blush described by Illamasqua as a 'bright candy pink' with a matt finish. Most of Illamasqua's blushes (if not all) have matt finishes, which appealed to me as the vast majority of blushes I own are shimmery.

Admittedly in the pan Hussy looks rather scary, Illamasqua certainly weren't lying when they called it 'bright.' In person Hussy looks more of a coral pink and a little less bubblegum pink, however once applied gives a gorgeous fresh flush to the cheeks. Hussy reminds me slightly of Sleek's Pixie Pink blush, another bright matt pink which initially scared me, however soon became one of my firm favourites!

Illamasqua blushes retail at £16.50, however Asos currently have them on sale (and were also offering an extra 10% off sale items) which meant Hussy only cost £11.88. There aren't very many shades left in either powder or cream finishes, although if you do find a shade you like I'd definitely pick it up as Asos have upped their extra 10% off to 20%, making them even cheaper! Just type in EXTRA20 at the checkout for an extra 20% off sale items.

The £3 McQueen Style Skull Scarf

2011-08-15T17:26:00.001+01:00

Hey ladies! On my latest trip to Primarni I was having a nosey round all the accessories (as you do) when I spotted this beauty from the corner of my eye. The first thing that sprung to mind was "this is rather McQueeny," although obviously without the £165 price tag!

Clearly the price isn't the only difference between Primark's latest offering and the real Alexander McQueen skull scarves, however for the price you definitely won't hear me complaining.

The scarf comes in two different colour combinations; grey and mustard (pictured) as well as black and white. However, the black and white one looked a little too much like pirate fancy dress for my liking!

It's material is light and floaty, making it perfect for summer. Pair it with a black maxi dress and cropped denim jacket and you're good to go! And even though summer is unfortunately coming to an end (when did it even start?) throw the scarf over a chunky knitted cardigan and you're set for the fast approaching autumn!

What do you think of Primarks latest addition? Will you be picking one up?

Au Revoir Sarahbox04, Aloha Just Another Beauty Blogger!

2011-08-07T10:59:00.000+01:00

Hey ladies!

Just a quick little post to let you all know that what was sarahbox04.blogspot.com is now justanotherbeautyblogger.com!

I bought my own domain and it's finally completed the transition from my old blog to my brand spanking new one.

So just incase you were confused as to where Sarahbox04 was, I'm still here, just blogging under a new name! :)

You can also find me on Twitter here!

What's In My Night Out Bag?

2011-08-05T13:09:00.000+01:00

Hey ladies! After seeing Beauty's Bad Habit post on what she carries with her on a night out, I was inspired to show you all what I take with me for a night on the town, just in time for the weekend!

Clutch bags are pretty new to me, even though they've been gracing the underarms of many for quite a few years now. I always used to use across the body bags (rest in peace Marc B Chelsea bag) as they could generally hold more things, plus they were safer as it would be strapped across your body (que motherly lecture).

I picked this clutch up in the Bank sale at the beginning of the year for a pretty bargainous £10. I'm so glad I did as I have used it on every night out I've been on. It's surprisingly spacious and even has two seperate compartments for added security. Plus I love the studs and faux suede material; it literally goes with anything and everything!

Unfortunately a little bag equals a small amount of slap I can carry around with me. If I had room I would happily include my foundation and powder (and a brush would be handy too), along with eyelash curlers and blotting papers, but alas I do not own a Mary Poppins bag so I have to be strict and selective in what I take with me.

I don't normally take a lipgloss and lipstick with me, it's usually either one or the other depending on what I fancy wearing on my lips that night. If I'm stuck on what to wear I will without fail reach for Revlon's colorburst lipgloss in pink ice or plink! lipstick by Mac.

If my skin is looking pretty good (on very rare occasions) I won't take concealer with me, however more often than not my skin won't be 100% perfect so concealer is a must for topping up any blemishes or redness.

Anyone who knows me will know that eyeliner is a must in my makeup routine; without it I feel the same as I do when I forget to wear a watch or put my earrings in...naked!

I love my little Pauls Boutique mini perfumes; they came in a set of three and are the perfect size for carrying with me on a night out, plus they smell lovely.

My little purse is from Accessorize and is the perfect size for nights out. It holds all the essentials; money and my ID. Plasters are a must, especially as I'm not a fan of wearing flats or little heels on nights out and I can guarantee my feet will be a little battered and blistered after a night out (the things us girls go through).

My favourite chewing gum because there's nothing worse than seeing someone you know, having to get up close to talk and having booze breath. My house keys, pretty self explanatory. Before I go out I'll always take my car key off from my house keys, as it means one less thing I can lose.

Finally a comb and hair clips are a must to tame my hair on a night out. I can guarantee my fringe will be clipped back by the end of the night (not by choice but by sweaty necessity...nice).

What things do you carry with you on a night out?

MUA Pro 'Heaven and Earth' Palette

2011-08-02T18:07:00.000+01:00

Hey ladies! I mentioned on Twitter a few weeks ago that I had taken the plunge and deleted my blog. I had been toying with the idea for quite a while as I felt I had hit a dead end with what to blog about. After a change of heart Sarahbox04 has been resurrected from the blogger graveyard and has since had a little revamp with a new header.

When Superdrug brought out their MUA range, there was one product which seemed to stand out from all the rest, the eyeshadows, which (along with everything else by MUA) cost less than the price of a bag of Haribo! MUA have since heard our beauty prayers and brought out a range of eyeshadow palettes in their new professional range. The palettes consist of twelve equally sized eyeshadows for only £4, which works out at only 33p per shadow - BARGAIN!

I picked up the 'Heaven and Earth' palette which is full of shimmery and glittery neutral shades. There's not a single matt shadow in the palette, so those who are faint-hearted when it comes to shimmer should save their precious pennies and stay away!

The palette houses three highlight shades, each and every one perfect for the brow bone or inner corner to make the appearance of wider, more awake eyes. Along with three shades for highlighting, MUA have included soft and rich browns, along with a rich autumnal burnt orange, making this the perfect palette to transition you from summer to autumn.

*Click photo for larger image*

(First half of MUA Pro 'Heaven and Earth' palette)

(Second half of MUA Pro 'Heaven and Earth' palette)

If you don't have the money for Urban Decay's 'NAKED' palette or missed out on 17's Limited Edition 'Metallic Nudes' palette which I blogged about here, I'd definitely recommend getting your hands on the 'Heaven and Earth' palette by MUA.

The MUA Professional range are available in some Superdrug stores and online, where they are offering free standard delivery until Monday 8th August. Now there's no reason not to pick one up if it takes your fancy!

99p Biore Nose Strips Dupe!

2011-06-08T15:06:00.001+01:00

Recently there's been a lot of hype around the Biore nose strips, however at over £8 a box they aren't particularly cheap to buy! I've used nose strips on and off for a few years and throughout those years I've tried a variety of different brands, such as Boots tea tree and witch hazel as well as the much raved about Biore nose strips, neither of which are particularly cheap.

A couple of weeks ago I popped into my Savers to pick up a bottle of St Moriz (of which they were sold out) and on my way out noticed these, nose and face strips for only 99p a box!

Similarly with the Biore nose strips, you get 6 strips in a box! The instructions are exactly the same as with all the other nose strips I've tried; apply to clean moistened skin, leave for around 10-15 until the strip has dried and stiffened, then gently peel off.

It's not only the instructions which are exactly the same, but also the results! Regardless of whether I've spent £8 on a box of Biore nose strips or 99p on a box, they all work exactly the same and give the same results. There's something satisfying (and a little gross) about seeing what the strips have removed from your pores!

Needless to say I won't be shelling out over £8 for a box of Biore nose strips again!

Real Techniques Blush Brush by Samantha Chapman

2011-06-04T22:46:00.000+01:00

I can't believe we are half way through the year already, the past few months have seemed to fly by! Although I finished my exams late May I've been packing in the overtime at work hence the lack of posts. However through the midst of working I've managed to do a bit of shopping, surprise surprise, although it's mainly been holiday and summer clothes shopping.

A couple of weeks ago I realised my elf complexion brush just wasn't cutting it for me anymore, so after eyeing up Samantha Chapman's blush brush since its release I decided to give it a try. I ordered mine from love-makeup.co.uk for £9.99. Price wise Sam and the Real Techniques team have hit the nail on the head; affordable in comparison to drugstore brushes and a bargain compared to Mac!

The brush is perfectly shaped and tapered to 'contour and define cheeks' with both blush and bronzer, making it a universal tool and a great brush to have in your makeup bag. The taklon bristles are super soft which allows the brush to sweep product exactly where you want it, without irrating or scratching your skin like some bristles can.

Admittedly the flat base wasn't one of the reasons why I was drawn to the brush, however it is a little added bonus, particularly useful when drying your brushes off. The pink handle is another added bonus which I love as it brightens up my makeup area and matches my bedroom, haha!

I'm yet to see any disadvantages of the brush; it's affordable, keeps its shape perfectly, even after being squished into a makeup bag, it can't get week around the ferrule as it doesn't really have one and it is yet to shed a single bristle, even after washing. As much as I rate my Elf brushes, my Real Techniques blush brush has definitely taken centre stage when it comes to applying my powder blush and bronzer!

What are your thoughts on the new range by Samantha Chapman?

NEW Barry M Spring Shades - Peach Melba and Blue Moon

2011-05-20T19:08:00.001+01:00

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't blogged in quite a while, almost three weeks to be exact. This Thursday marked the end of my exams and the start of my four and a half month long summer - it's a hard life being a student ;)

The other week I found myself craving some new nail polish colours (like I haven't got enough already) so I ended up buying the two new shades by Barry M; peach melba (318) and blue moon (317). I'm not really a fan of blue nails as I think it makes my hands look dead, however I really like blue moon and have been sporting it for the past couple of days.

Out of the two shades peach melba is definitely my favourite and I can see myself wearing it non-stop throughout the summer! I applied two coats, however as the picture shows it didn't apply evenly all over, so I'd recommend going over with another coat just to even it out.

I plan on switching up my blog throughout the summer and posting a lot more, so stay tuned! :)

NARS Deep Throat Blush

2011-04-26T12:49:00.002+01:00

Unless you live in a cave I'm pretty sure you all would have heard about the ASOS voucher codes Groupon were doing a few weeks ago. Word spread like wild fire and of course I too jumped on the bandwagon as it was an offer too good to pass up. The deal was you bought a voucher from Groupon for £9 which was worth £20, meaning you got £11 free to spend online.

I did browse through the clothes, however nothing really jumped out at me, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for me to try out NARS; a brand I have lusted over for a while (and still do!)

By the time I had decided I wasn't going to use my voucher on clothes, all of the decent shades of blush and multiples had already sold out. I checked back daily for over a week and finally saw all the famous shades of blush back in stock. I decided against a multiple in the end (although I am still lusting over them) and after looking up swatch after swatch online I finally decided on Deep Throat.

I only paid around £9 for my NARS blush (tehe) however they normally cost £20.50.

Of course if you're shelling out a fair amount of money for something, you expect its packaging to reflect how much you've paid (at least I do!) NARS packaging is simple and understated, yet at the same time sleek and sophisticated. Inside the box the blush is enclosed within a cardboard sleeve which not only gives the blush added protection during delivery but also gives a more expensive feel to the overall product.

The packaging of the blush is the same understated yet sleek design as the secondary packaging. MAC's packaging feels plasticy and cheap after comparing it to NARS rubberised and compact design.

The compact includes a well sized mirror which is very useful (something which MAC lacks), especially if you're on the go and need to touch up throughout the day. It means a seperate mirror is one less thing you have to carry around in your handbag. Plus you wouldn't be ashamed to pull it out of your bag.

The added touches such as the cardboard sleeve and plastic film on top of the blush help to soften the blow of spending £20.50 on a blush. Packaging wise you definitely get what you pay for.

Deep Throat is described by NARS as a peach with shimmer, however to me I feel it is a lot more pinky toned than peach. Either way it truely is a lovely shade and the golden shimmer gives a gorgeous glow to the skin. Unlike with some blushers, the shimmer is fine so doesn't leave big chunks of glitter all over your face.

For £20.50 you only get 4.8g of product whereas MAC give you 6g of product for £17, making them much better value for money. Deep Throat feels just as soft and velvety as a MAC blush and for me stays on just as long as any other blusher. However with MAC you don't get names such as Deep Throat and Orgasm, as well as the level of packaging NARS give.

I'm definitely glad I picked up Deep Throat with my Groupon voucher, at around £9 for a NARS blush I definitely can't complain. Would I have paid the full price? Shamefully, yes. Although not any time soon with my MOT, insurance, tax and holiday clothes to pay for!

I'll have a NARS Deep Throat dupe post up very soon!

Sleek Shimmer Blush - Rose Gold and Pomegranate

2011-04-13T14:24:00.003+01:00

I'm sure most of you remember last year when Sleek brought out their infamous Rose Gold blush! I took a while to jump on the bandwagon; I had always meant to get it, but for some reason I just never got round to it. For the past couple of weeks I've been looking online however it's always been sold out. By chance I had a look online the other day and it was finally back in stock! I quickly popped it into my basket along with Pomegranate that I had also been eyeing up for a while.

I think Sleek blushes are brilliant; I also own Pixie Pink, a bright matt pink which gives the perfect flush to my cheeks! They come with 8g of product for only £4.30, whereas with Mac you only get 6g and they come with a much heftier price tag! The packaging is sleek (excuse the pun) compact and sturdy, and even comes with a good sized mirror on the inside. True with all the Sleek blushers I've tried, a little really does go a long way which makes them even better value for money!

Pomegranate is described as a shimmery blush with burgundy undertones. It's a perfect shimmery plum raspberry colour. It's shimmery without leaving big specks of glitter on your face which can often be a problem with shimmery blushers.When I first opened it up I was a little apprehensive as it's much darker than any other blush I own, however I think it'll look perfect when I'm rocking a tan in the summer!

Rose Gold is the only reason why I placed my order and I'm so glad I've finally got my hands on it! Once blended out it gives a perfect pink glow whilst at the same time adding a gorgeous golden sheen to the skin! I can tell this is going to be my go-to summer blush, it's perfect!

The photo really doesn't do Rose Gold justice!

Tangle Teezer - Worth the hype?

2011-04-12T15:13:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I decided that my hair brush just wasn't cutting it for me anymore, especially after seeing how much hair it was pulling out of my head. Don't get me wrong, my hair brush wasn't a cheapy one, yet I felt it still yanked my hair out, especially after I had just washed it. So, on one of my many Boots trips I wandered over to the hair section and eyed up the Tangle Teezer. At just over £10 I thought it was pretty pricey for a lump of plastic, however I gave in to its promises and bought it! I of course had to pick up the pretty pink one!

It's shaped to fit the palm of your hand perfectly which makes brushing your hair with it, whether wet or dry so much easier. It reminds me of brushing your hair with a paddle brush..except without the handle which at first feels a little strange; however after a few times you get used to it.

As the picture shows there are a row of long bristles, then short ones; the pattern repeats itself throughout the length of the brush. The bristles (is bristles the right word? lol) are a lot softer and much more flexable than my Tony & Guy hair brush which I used to use religiously. If I brush my thumb over my hair brush it actually hurts a little; whereas with the Tangle Teezer the bristles move with the movement of my thumb. So if my Tony & Guy brush hurts my thumb, imagine what it's doing to my hair?!

Admittedly it is pretty strange looking compared to a normal hair brush; the picture below reminds me of a woodlouse on it's back...just me?

You can use it on both wet and dry hair; I especially like using it on wet hair as it detangles and brushes through my hair without feeling like it's pulling out my hair.

The Tangle Teezer is not only meant to reduce hair breakage and damage, but it also claims to improve the natural shine of your hair. Have I noticed my hair more shiny? Truthfully no, however perhaps I will with a lot more use (and less heat styling..) I have definitely noticed a significant drop in the amount of hair left behind in the Tangle Teezer than with my normal hair brush which I'm loving; proof that it's yanking out less of my hair and inevitably improving the condition of my hair.

I'm definitely glad I bought it; however I still think it's a bit overpriced for what it is...plastic. I haven't noticed an improvement in the amount of shine my hair has, however I definitely have noticed a significant drop in the amount of hair left in my brush which to me makes the Tangle Teezer worth every penny! If like me you're worried about what damage your brush might be doing to your hair, definitely give the Tangle Teezer a go!

My 3 Go-to Spring/Summer Polishes

2011-04-08T08:09:00.000+01:00

You may recognise this post from fellow blogger Siobhans blog as I wrote it as a guest post whilst she's sunnying it up in Dubai; lucky lady!

I was browsing through my nail polishes the other day deciding which colour to use (in the end I stole one of my Mums). I was thinking of doing a favourite polish post, however I didn't see much point in showing you colours which I won't be wearing until autumn/winter (which I refuse to think about), such as Barry M's grey and navy which are my go-to winter colours. Therefore I decided on my top three spring/summer colours! It was surprisingly easy to pick three, especially as I have nearing on forty polishes...oh my!

These are the colours I find myself wearing more than any other, especially during the summer.

From left to right; Barry M's Raspberry (273), Coral (296) and Rimmel's Rose Libertine (405).

As they show, I much prefer red and pinky toned polishes than any other, especially when the sun's shining!

Barry M's Raspberry is not only one of my favourite spring/summer colours, it's also one of my favourite shades from Barry M. It's such a lovely colour; not quite red or pink, just perfectly inbetween!

Barry M's Coral is a lot less orange and much more coral toned in person than the picture shows. I tend to wear it more on my toes than my fingers, probably because I much prefer red/pink polishes on my fingers. It's the perfect colour to compliment a tan!

Rimmel's Rose Libertine is similar to Barry M's Raspberry in the sense that it's inbetween two colours; it's not quite pink as it has a hint of coral tones to it. It looks fab on toes or fingers, where ever you choose to rock it!

What are your favourite colours for spring/summer?

Collection 2000's answer to YSL Touche Eclat

2011-04-06T15:46:00.001+01:00

As I recently hit pan on my studio finish concealer I thought it was time to look for another one. I ended up picking two from Collection 2000; the much raved about Lasting Perfection concealer and their Illuminating Touch concealer, both of which I had never tried before.

What instantly drew me to Collection 2000's Illuminating Touch concealer was how much it reminded me of YSL's Touche Eclat with its twisty bottom and brush applicator. The packaging isn't anything fancy, but you can never judge a book by its cover! After swatching a few shades I knew I had to pick it up; it was surprisingly creamy with really good coverage.

Similarly to Touche Eclat, Collection 2000's Illuminating Touch concealer is specifically designed to lighten and brighten the under the eye area. Normally this would be the job for my Erase Paste by Benefit, however for the past few days it's taken a back seat and well deserved break from my daily makeup routine.

I picked up shade 2 'natural' which is a perfect match for under my eyes. I find the brush works well to put the concealer on; it's both soft and supple, however you need to use either your finger or a brush to blend it in. I've also found quite a lot of product comes out after only a couple of twists which can be a bit annoying, however if you intend to incorporate it into your everyday makeup routine I can't imagine the excess on the brush drying up and going to waste. Another down side is unlike with other concealers such as Erase Paste and Studio Finish, you can't see how much product you have left.

The first picture shows just how much product can come out if you aren't careful! The second picture is after brushing the concealer in with the brush; proof more blending is a must. The final picture is after blending in with my fingers.

I can definitely see this becoming a regular in my makeup routine; it's affordable, with great coverage and designed perfectly to fit into a makeup bag! Definitely worth considering if you're on the hunt for a great under eye concealer!

Vichy Dermablend Foundation

2011-04-05T14:09:00.000+01:00

Along with pretty much everyone else, the first time I heard of Vichy Dermablend was from Lisa Eldridge's acne covering video on Youtube. After seeing it and reading a couple of reviews I realised that I needed to try it out for myself. My go-to high coverage foundation is Mac's Studio Sculpt, however it is by no means a cheap foundation at £23 a tube! I bought my Vichy Dermablend from Boots for £14 for the same amount of product; 30ml.

I was a little put off at first due to its limited colour range and the fact there are no testers to swatch, however as I'm naturally pretty pale I went for the lightest option; opal. As long as you do a little research into the colours before you go out and buy it you'll be fine; there's only around five to choose from so there's not much chance of picking the complete wrong colour for you. You could always mix some with a lighter or darker foundation to try and achieve your actual skin colour; I've mixed it a few times with Mac's Studio Sculpt in NC30 which works perfectly when I'm rocking a little bit of a tan.

If you like light and sheer foundations Vichy Dermablend will definitely not be for you! It's definately not for the faint hearted as it's a medium to full coverage foundation, perfect for if you have anything you want to hide and conceal such as acne scars, other scarring, dark circles and/or redness.

In my case the main problem is redness. I don't know what it's from as I luckily don't suffer from acne or even spot prone skin, but whatever the reason is I like having it covered. I have a few freckles on both sides of my lower cheeks which I'm not too bothered about, however I wouldn't say no to a foundation which covers those up to!

Completely makeup free...

The results...

No concealer used, just the foundation applied with an Elf studio powder brush!

Bye bye redness and freckles!

Hello flawless (well, almost)!

The pictures prove what a brilliant job Vichy Dermablend does at covering up the bits you aren't fond of! I sometimes powder over my Mac msfn just to make sure it stays in place; which it does anyway. I normally do this when I'm going to work and even after 5 hours my foundation has stayed in place and looks as if I've only just applied it! If it ever does look a little tired I just spray onto my face a little Fix+ and buff it in and I'm good to go!

This definately won't be the foundation I use in the height of summer (unless my skin is really terrible, touch wood) or on my holiday, however whilst the weather is still pretty miserable and windy here in the UK it's perfect! I'm looking forward to testing how it withstands a night out and in photographs!

Have you or are you tempted to try it out?

Spring Summer Wardrobe Switchover

2011-04-04T15:40:00.000+01:00

As the sun is beginning to make more of an appearance I thought it was about time I switched over my wardrobe, from winter wear to my spring/summery clothes. My dull blacks and greys were depressing me so it was definately time to brighten things up a bit. Admittedly I don't see myself wearing one of my maxi dresses anytime soon, but looking at all my summer clothes makes me even more excited for summer! Even more so now that me and the boy have booked our summer holiday and are jetting off to Turkey at the end of June ♥ I've never been to Turkey before so if you have any tips or things to do there I'd love to hear them!

On the left hand side is mainly going out wear, then moving across are leggings, tops, a few dresses from last summer and then finally knitwear. Half of the tops and cardigans I hardly wear, so a clear out was definately in order. Along with the fact the bottom of my wardrobe was a tip and I could barely move anything on the rail as it was stuffed full!

Out with the dull...

...in with a bit of colour, texture and pattern...

I have a three door wardrobe so I moved my going out wear to the last section, leaving my everyday wear to have the most space in my wardrobe.

Going from left to right now are; playsuits, dresses, maxi dresses, jumpsuits, tops and cardigans.

I've done a little bit of summer clothes shopping and once I've picked up a few more pieces I'll be doing a similar post to what I did last year showing all my spring/summer buys!

Will you be having a little spring clean through your wardrobe?

My March Must-Haves

2011-03-30T17:50:00.001+01:00

The last time I did a favourites post was all the way back in November last year! Four months on and unsurprisingly some things have changed; I hate my Illamasqua liquid liner and after a brief stint of using a Maxfactor liquid liner I'm back to using my old faithful; Collection 2000's Fast Stroke eyeliner. However one product from November has remained a constant favourite, and to be honest I think it always will be and that's Next's Just Pink perfume!

Next 'Just Pink' perfume is by far my all time favourite everyday perfume! I first got bought a bottle years ago in secondary school and it's stuck with me ever since. It's very inexpensive at £6 for a 30ml bottle or £12 for 100ml. The larger size is better value for money, however if you're after a handbag friendly perfume the smaller size is probably best as it won't weigh your bag down as much. I've lost count of how many bottles I've got through; it's such a gorgeous scent and best of all the scent lasts all day too!

In January I wrote about Sanctuary's Illuminating Moisture Lotion which I purchased a large tube of after recieving two small versions in a gift set for Christmas. I used it everyday until the end of January where I then starting using Oilatum instead. For the past week or so I've begun using it again and I'm so glad I've gone back to it; it's such a lovely product! Its only downfall is that I have to store it upside down as it leaks a bit. You can check out my review here!

I purchased Vichy Dermablend foundation just over a week ago as I was after a high coverage foundation, without the price tag of Macs Studio Sculpt which is my go-to for good coverage. So far I'm really impressed and it hasn't left my daily routine or makeup bag since I bought it. I'm not going to say too much on it now as I'll be posting a review very soon.

At the start of the month I bought a couple of things from Maxfactor and as I had spent over a certain amount I received a free gift; one of the things included was a mini sized Masterpiece Max mascara. I haven't stopped using it and will definately be buying the full sized version once it's finished. I think the reason I like it so much is due to the size of the brush; I'm not a fan of big brushes such as Loreal's Volume Million Lashes so this is the perfect size, making it near impossible to get mascara anywhere other than your lashes!

L-R: Plink!, Topshop blush in Flush and No7 Amazing Eyes Pencil.

A couple of weeks ago I took back some empties to Mac and got to choose a free lipstick as part of their Back 2 Mac scheme. I already had a rough idea of which colour I wanted to choose and as soon as I swatched it I knew I had to have it; Plink! It's a lustre finish and has such a gorgeous texture. It's the perfect colour for everyday and I have hardly stopped wearing it!

Last week I bought my first piece from Topshops makeup collection; slow on the bandwagon I know! Even though I only bought it last week it has instantly become one of my favourite blushes! I picked up the colour Flush and although it looks pretty bright in the pan, it adds the perfect natural flush (as the name suggests) of colour to the cheeks. I find it applies best with a duo fibre brush; I've been using my Sigma F55 non-stop!

With one of my many No7 vouchers I repurchased their Amazing Eyes Pencil which only cost me £2! I've bought numerous ones of these in the past with other No7 vouchers so I knew it would be an instant favourite. It has such a creamy and smooth formula which reminds me a little of Urban Decays eyeliners. It comes with a smudger on the end; perfect for a smokey eye and switching from day to night makeup!

What have you been loving this month?

Happy 1st Birthday

2011-03-29T15:21:00.000+01:00

Exactly one year and 245 followers ago I posted my first ever blog post!

Thank you to everyone who reads & enjoys my blog!
♥

Battle of the Gel Liners - MAC vs ELF

2011-03-22T20:10:00.002Z

I have to admit that I'm more of a liquid liner kinda gal, I just find it easier especially as you don't have to mess around with a separate brush. Also I don't think it helps that there aren't many gel liners in drugstores; I know Maybelline have recently released their Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner, as well as No7 with their spring collection, however that was only until fairly recently.

I own two gel eyeliners; Mac's Blacktrack Fluidline (£13.50 for 3g) and Elf's Black Cream Eyeliner (£3.50 for 4.7g of product).

Elf's eyeliner immediately looks the most appealing; £10 cheaper than Mac's Fluidline and it contains more product!

I have to hold my hands up and admit that I've neglected both products for quite a few weeks, as I find it a lot easier to use liquid liner. I bought Mac's Fluidline in December and bought Elf's Cream Eyeliner a little bit before that, so I was pleased that they haven't dried up yet! I do think Elf's eyeliner has dried up a little compared to Fluidline, although its nowhere near the stage where it can't be used!

I applied both gel liners with an Ecotools liner brush; on the left is Mac's Fluidline, on the right is Elf's Cream Eyeliner.

They both looked identical in colour pay off; there wasn't one which appeared less black than the other.

Test 1: Smudge/budge proof

I rubbed my finger back and forth over my swatches numerous times to see what kind of staying power they had.

A loss of colour did occur in both swatches, however only a small amount (so small it hardly shows up in the picture). Plus you have to ask yourself how hard would you rub your eye with a load of makeup on anyway?!

Test 2: Waterproof

Let's face it, there's nothing worse than panda eyes! I ran both swatches under a cold running tap for around 20 seconds.

No colour ran off whilst being held under the running water, however I did rub both swatches afterwards to see how they would hold up; as the picture shows both lost colour.

Test 3: Makeup Wipes

After the water test I then waited for both my swatches to dry again. I then used a No7 makeup wipe and rubbed it over both swatches; the same way I would if I were taking my makeup off.

As the picture shows Elf's Cream Eyeliner is still clearly visible, even though it's lost almost all of it's colour. Mac's Fluidline has nearly almost disappeared.

I then rubbed even harder over both swatches with my makeup wipe. The result: Elf's Cream Eyeliner is still visible, whereas Mac's Fluidline has completely disappeared!

The Verdict

Elf's Cream Eyeliner claims to be 'smudge-proof, budge-proof and water-resistant.' My tests have definately proved that it is smudge-proof, however I wouldn't agree totally with the claim it is water-resistant. Although it didn't run any product, it did move colour after I ran my finger over the swatch.

Mac claim their Fluidline liners are 'long-wearing' and 'smudge-proof.' After comparing my results, Elf have proved their Cream Eyeliner can withstand a lot more than Mac's Fluidline, however that can be both good and bad, as it makes removing your eye makeup that much harder! Unlike Elf, Mac don't claim their Fluidline liners to be waterproof.

Overall, both products have shown pretty much the same result after my at-home testing. The only thing which particularly stood out was Elf's staying power with the makeup wipe. I personally don't feel there was a clear winner or loser in regard to staying power and colour pay off, however Elf do win hands down on their value for money as Elf's Cream Eyeliner costs £10 less than Fluidline, and it contains more product!

Spring Pastels - 17's NEW Lasting Fix Polishes

2011-03-11T08:43:00.001Z

I went into my local Boots today (surprise surprise) to pick up a few bits and pieces. I was so organised that before I left I wrote myself out a shopping list so I didn't forget anything; there's nothing more frustrating than getting home and realising you've forgotten something!

I picked up one of 17's new Lasting Fix nail polishes, although I found it hard to pick which colour I wanted.
In the end I decided on Sweet Kisses, a name I think suits perfectly with it's soft, baby pink colour!

A couple of days later I popped back into Boots to buy some hair dye. I gave in and bought the other colour I was eyeing up, Woo Me. It's a lovely pastel lilac, which in some lights reminds me very much of Eyeko's lilac polish of which I did a post on last year.

On my ring finger I added a layer of Barry M's Pink Irredescent to give my nails some added sparkle!

You can't get away with one coat of either of these polishes, but tbh I'm yet to come across any brand of polish which only requires one coat. Two coats are perfect with 17's Lasting Fix polishes! They dry really quickly (a lot quicker than Eyeko polishes which I found took ages to dry) which is great if you're in a hurry or, if like me, you get bored of sitting around not touching anything in the fear of smudging your polish!

Best part of all; they're only £2.99 a bottle!

Boot's are also offering 3 for 2 on selected 17 products, so it's the perfect opportunity to pick up these lovely shades and their limited edition Metallic Nude palette of which I blogged about here!

£2.99 Ardell Lashes - TKMaxx Find

2011-03-07T18:02:00.001Z

After my lectures today I headed off into town on a specific mission to find something else for the boyfriends birthday. I went into TKMaxx to look at their designer boxers but it was a bit of a let down. Just as I was walking past the tills to the exit I noticed a whole row of Ardell lashes; there were loads! As soon as I saw the price I knew I had to stock up.

False eyelashes are never cheap unless you buy them from places such as Poundland but then you can't expect great quality for the price. A decent pair of eyelashes from the drugstore will normally set you back at least around the £5 mark, if not more, however the Ardell lashes were only £2.99!

Ardell are an American brand of lashes, although I have noticed places such as Boots and Superdrug selling them. In Boots they're in the same price bracket as most leading false lash brands at over £5 a pair - hence why I had to pick up a few whilst they were so much cheaper!

I picked up a total of four pairs of lashes which came to £11.96!

There were a few more styles than I picked up, however these four caught my eye the most! My least favourite are the 109's, however I thought I'd pick them up and give them a go, especially considering the other three pairs are all pretty similar. My favourite two are definately the Demi Pixies and Luckies!

Next time you're near a TKMaxx definately pop in and have a look. If you have time make sure you have a good look around as I found these nowhere near the beauty section! Take a look at the other TKMaxx find I blogged about.

Now all I need to do is decide which to wear on Saturday night, hmm...

I'm on Twitter!

2011-03-06T12:44:00.001Z

I've made myself a Twitter account...

You can find me at twitter.com/sarahtweetypie

(silly name I know)

I'm still getting to grips with how to use it, so bear with me!

The Sun is Shining & So Should Your Face - Highlighting

2011-03-04T12:23:00.001Z

As spring has officially begun and the sun has decided to show more of itself I thought it would be the perfect timing to dig out my highlighters which like myself, have largely been in hibernation during the winter months (apart from on the occasional night out, which then a highlight is a must!)

Highlights come in an array of colours, finishes and formulas; some with pink and golden undertones, glitter specks, liquid, powder, you name it... When looking for the perfect highlight there are two things to consider, the undertone you want as well as what formulation would best suit your skin.

If you have very dry skin perhaps avoid powder highlighters, as just like powder they will emphasize the dry, cracked skin on your face and will definately not help to improve the condition of your skin. Liquid highlighters will definately be your best friend if you suffer from dry skin!

During the summer months when my skin is more tanned (or when i'm faking it) my go-to highlighter is one with golden undertones as opposed to pink as I feel it looks more natural. However that is just my personal preference and just like with anything, it is important that you find something which suits you, as opposed to someone else!

Pink powder

L-R:

Mac MSF soft and gentle, Prestige sunbaked mineral bronzing powder & Sleek face contour kit in light.

Pink liquid/mousse

L-R:

Benefit high beam & Barbara Daly glow-up mousse highlighter.

Golden

L-R:

Illamasqua bronzing duo in glint & writhe and No7 skin illuminator in peach.

Whatever your budget is there will be a highlight to suit you! I have a mixture of drugstore (Sleek, Prestige, No7, Barbara Daly) and higher end (Mac, Illamasqua, Benefit) highlighters so don't feel you have to spend a fortune in the search for the perfect one!

A little tip if you're on a budget: Use vaseline on your brow and cheekbones as an affective yet inexpensive way to add a healthy glow to your skin!

Try using a shimmery eyeshadow on your cheekbones and matte, light eyeshadow in the corners of your eyes. In the day time opt for a natural matte brow bone highlight and in the evenings go for a bit of shimmer, which will look fabulous in photographs!

The beauty with highlighters (excuse the pun) is that whatever finish you opt for, they can all be applied with a tool you always have with you - your fingers! No7's skin illuminator and Benefit's high beam come helpfully equipped with a brush to apply with, however you always need to blend it out afterwards with your fingers anyway to get a natural finish. It's the same with powder highlights; if you don't have enough room in your bag for a brush, leave it at home and use what god gave you!

17 Metallic Nudes - The Affordable Naked Palette

2011-02-26T10:19:00.000Z

When wandering through Boots yesterday (no wonder I have so many advantage points, twice in one week?!) I noticed pretty much every brand had a 3 for 2 offer on cosmetics. If you could mix and match the brands I probably would have ended up with a few more bits, however I went in specifically looking for a new foundation, of which I'll do another post about!

I was browsing through the brands and spied two pretty little palettes from the Boots brand 17; one had pastel colours and the other which I picked up was called metallic nudes.

I love the packaging! It screams pretty and everytime I look at the pink and gold design on the front it instantly reminds me of spring, which is fast approaching! It does feel plasticy, however at the same time it feels sturdy and compact. It doesn't feel very cheap either, which I think is aided by the lovely pattern on the front.

The palette comes equipped with its own large mirror and double-ended spongetip applicator, perfect for if you're on the go! There are six colours in the palette, all of which (as the name suggests) are metallic. The colour pay off is brilliant for such an inexpensive product! I love how the colours aren't set out in the typical way of a palette too!

The colours remind me of a smaller, cheaper alternative to the Urban Decay Naked Palette which I bought last summer, and at more than a quarter of the price (and size) it's a lot more affordable for those who refuse to part with a lot more money for the Naked Palette.

On the top row of my hand are colours taken from the Urban Decay Naked palette and on the bottom are some of the colours taken from 17's Vintage Love Metallic Nudes palette.

Urban Decay Naked colours from left to right - sin, sidecar, half baked and toasted.

As the swatches show, some of the colours from the Metallic Nude palette can easily pass as cheaper dupes for some of Urban Decay's colours! Although the last colours swatched on my hand look completely different from one another, they look a lot similar in person as they both have pinky undertones which reflect the light!

I think this is a lovely little palette in every aspect; packaging, pigmentation, price and colour!

Definately worth its £5.49 price tag!

No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser

2011-02-23T22:11:00.001Z

Last week I popped up to my local Boots to repurchase oilatum moisturiser as mine was on it's last legs and decided to pick up the No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser. Seeing as though I had accumulated a lovely sum of advantage points I decided to put them to some use and so technically it didn't cost me anything, although it's normally £9!

I've heard so many people talk about the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and was fancied giving it a go, however the price put me off. So when I heard No7 had a cheaper alternative, I knew I had to have it!

It costs £9 for 200ml worth of product and also comes with a muslin cloth.

The Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish costs £21.95 for exactly the same amount of product, however comes with two muslin cloths. Helpful for when one's in the wash, although not necessary and I'm not sure it justifies the £12.95 price difference?!

For obvious reasons I can't compare the two products, seeing as though I only own one of them (duhh), however I have compared the two sets of ingredients of which many they have in common. Admittedly Liz Earle's rosemary and chamomile essential oils sound appealing to our senses and skin, however it still contains complicated names of ingredients of which don't sound like they could be good for our skin!

The cleanser itself has a lovely scent to it, not overpowering or like chemicals, it smells fresh and clean. It's a rich, creamy forumla which is great for my often dry and dehydrated skin!

The idea of the hot cloth cleanser is you gently massage over dry skin in circular motions. Run the muslin cloth under comfortably hot water, wring out the excess and place cloth over your face and relax whilst the hot cloth gently opens your pores. Then using the cloth, lightly polish off cleanser in circular motions, to remove any impurities.

After splashing my face with cold water to close up my pores (surprisingly refreshing), I then apply a generous amount of my oilatum moisturiser. I normally use my hot cloth cleanser on an evening before I go to bed, as then my skin has all night to absorb my moisturiser.

It's a lovely product, of which I don't think I can fault. You get a load of product for a much more affordable price, it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and it smells clean, fresh and feels hydrating. I definately prefer it to using my Soap and Glory scrublet as it feels like it does a much more thorough job at leaving my skin feeling clean, soft and feels much more delicate on my skin.

If you're reluctant to splurge on Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish give the No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser a go, especially if you have a spare £9 in advantage card points!

Bourjois Volume Glamour Mascara

2011-02-09T22:53:00.001Z

I've been using Loreal's Volume Million Lashes in extra-black for the past couple of weeks but to put it plainly it just hasn't been cutting the mustard! I find the wand far too big, especially for my diddy bottom lashes, meaning I always end up with spots of mascara on my eyelid and under my lower lashes, sexy! Pretty annoying too as it's not what I'd call an inexpensive mascara at £11.99!

So last week in a bid to beat off the mascara blues I found myself looking through the different brands in Boots. I first picked up Collection 2000's Big Fake Lash mascara as I know it's been highly raved about in the blogging world. However the whole point in my search for a new mascara was because I couldn't get on with a fat wand, which Collection 2000's BIG fake lash mascara has!

I wandered past the Bourjous makeup and noticed their Volume Glamour mascara for £5.99 as opposed to its usual £7.99. I haven't ever tried any Bourjous mascara's, or heard too much about them, and after looking at it's small yet perfectly formed brush I was sold!

The top brush belongs to the Bourjous mascara and the bottom is Loreals Volume Million Lashes, which is tapered and a lot wider.

I promise my eyebrows and lashes aren't actually white, they're just covered in foundation!

Both pictures are taken with uncurled lashes and as you can see by the second picture, the mascara does a fabulous job in separating and creating length in my lashes! Even with a couple of coats, my lashes don't feel stiff or overcoated in mascara. The size and length of the wand is perfect for coating my long outer lashes, or my diddy inner corner and bottom lashes!

If you're like me and can't get on with big wands, or perhaps you just fancy a new mascara I'd definately recommend Bourjous' Volume Glamour Mascara, plus it's a steal at half the price of volume million lashes!

Have you tried any Bourjous mascaras?

theBalm, Bahama Mama - TKMaxx Find

2011-02-03T21:18:00.000Z

On my last shopping trip I popped into TKMaxx to have a nosey around. I love looking at their handbags and home and beauty items as you can normally find some great bargains, of which that day was no exception. A big lady was on her hands and knees round the skincare and beauty section, so I waited for an opportunity where I could squeeze past and dove into where the makeup was.

There were a couple of Urban Decay items and a few NYX palettes (I received one for Christmas so I wasn't that bothered), however from the corner of my eye I spied something else...

...theBalm's Bahama Mama Bronzer, which retails at £19.00!

I opened one up to have a look at the bronzer itself, apart from having whopping great big finger marks in, the colour looked a gorgeous matte bronzer, just what I was looking for! (I was very glad I decided against parting with £23.50 half an hour earlier for Benefit's Hoola).

I must of opened and look through about seven of them until I found a perfectly untouched one - hallelujah!

The packaging is cardboard, similar to Benefit however much more slimline which makes it a fab space saver for any makeup bag! It contains less product than Benefit's boxed blushes, with over 3g less. Unlike Benefit it comes equipped with a mirror inside, another great space saver for makeup bags! It comes with an outer cardboard sleeve, and the inside packaging closes with a magnet. Although it's small and lightweight, it feels sturdy, although I'm sure with prolonged everyday use the cardboard will no doubt end up looking shabby.

Below on the left is a swatch of Bahama Mama and on the right is Illamasqua's Writhe bronzer. I swatched the two together so you could get a better sense of Bahama Mama's colour rather than on it's own or left in the pan.

As the picture shows, Bahama Mama is a true matte brown (the perfect colour and finish for a bronzer) whereas Illamasqua's Writhe looks much more orange toned with obvious shimmer running throughout. I definately think Writhe would look better with tan, whereas I hope Bahama Mama will work well when I'm both pale and tanned!

I'm yet to try Bahama Mama out other than swatching, however I'm hoping I've eventually found the perfect bronzer for me, and at a very lovely price of £5.99!

Have you tried any of theBalm products?

ELF 100 Eyeshadow Palette

2011-01-25T12:35:00.000Z

I picked up the ELF 100 piece e/s palette whilst they were holding their sale. It normally cost £15 however I got it for a very reasonable £7.50, which worked out to just over 7p per eyeshadow!

Admittedly I'm not a big fan of wearing overly colourful eyeshadows, but if ever I do want to I know I have pretty much every colour under the sun to choose from, and for £7.50 it was impossible to say no to.

The packaging is nothing to rave about. The palette comes in a see through, plastic case with ELF etched on the front. It feels and sounds cheap and plasticy, however for it's bargain price I'm not particularly fussed. It comes with a small mirror on the inside and 2 sponge tip applicators, which in my opinion aren't worth saving. Two sponge tip appplicators for 100 eyeshadows? Hmm...Plus if you're carrying around the massive palette I'm sure you have room to carry a couple of eyeshadow brushes with it.

Have a look at the third column along, I think ELF put a shadow in the wrong place, lol!

The palette comes with a combination of both matte and shimmery shades.

The shimmery shadows are the best thing the palette has to offer and are by far my favourite as they have fab pigmentation!

The pale matte colours are pretty disappointing, so definately don't rely on this palette for all your eyeshadow needs!

Not only are the pale matte colours disappointing, but so are some of the darker shades.

Below is a swatch of the matte black, the swatch on the left is on its own and on the right is on top of Bare Study paint pot (see my post on it here). As the below picture shows, using a base definately helps enhance the colour, although it still doesn't come up as the deepest, darkest black. Another proof that you couldn't solely rely on this palette.

I would definately recommend using a primer or e/s base with all of the eyeshadows, especially when using the matte.

The packaging is simple and cheap looking and the matte shadows are pretty disappointing. The shimmery shadows are by far worth buying the palette for, although I definately wouldn't have paid the original price of £15 for it!

What are your thoughts on the palette?

Boots £5 off No7 Vouchers

2011-01-20T11:39:00.000Z

I don't know why but whenever Boots are giving out £5 off No7 and Ruby & Millie vouchers I always end up with loads, normally about five or six of the things! Clearly I spend too much money in there, although you only have to spend £5 in store to receive one. So if you used one of your vouchers on anything which costs over £10, you'll receive another voucher back!

You have ten more days to spend your £5 off vouchers as the offer ends on Sunday 30th January.

The fab thing about the vouchers is that you don't have to just spend them on cosmetics, it can be almost anything, although check the terms & conditions on the back of the vouchers just to make sure!

I've spent my vouchers on all sorts of products in the past...

No7's 'Amazing Eyes Pencil' which still to this day has to be the best pencil eyeliner I've found. It's so creamy and soft however this makes it run out pretty quick, although with the £5 off voucher it only costs £2.50! In the past I've picked up No7's soft & soothed gentle cleanser which I love!

I've also used one of my vouchers in the past on their green colour calming primer. Even though I used the whole tube up, I don't remember it making a dramatic difference to the staying power of my foundation.

I bought the No7 skin illuminator (before all the hype) in peach. I've barely used it however I think that's partly due to the fact is has a brush applicator. If it was just in a pot or a squeezy tube I think I may be more inclined to use it. Last time Boots were dishing out their No7 vouchers I picked up little vanity mirror which only cost me £3!

I used three of my vouchers the other day on three eye brushes...

L-R: Smokey eyeliner brush, eye colour brush, eyeshadow blend and contour brush!

These normally cost £6.64 each, however with the vouchers they only came to a very purse friendly £1.64!

I really do love it when Boots give out their £5 off vouchers, not just because you can spend them on pretty much anything from the brand, from makeup, skincare and accessories but because it brings everyones attention to the No7 brand. I don't know about you but when I'm in Boots looking at the makeup I used to stay away from No7 as it always seemed a brand for an older woman, not really a nineteen year old. Plus in my local Boots the No7 section is apart from the rest of the makeup brands, so it's not only physically but visually distanced from everything else. They really do have some brilliant products, which is made even better when we can get £5 off them!

What have you bought with your No7 vouchers?

The Story of the Little Paint Pot - MAC Bare Study

2011-01-19T20:36:00.000Z

Whether or not we want to admit it, we all at some point have judged something or someone by initial appearance. More often than not we become pleasantly surprised to find this judgement couldn't be more far from the truth. I've been a book judged by it's cover and yet I've also held the position of judge on others.
I'm digressing :)

Here's the story...

I bought my first ever paint pot the other week. After looking at online swatches and debating which to choose I eventually picked Bare Study.

I wanted a matte finish which looks pretty much like my natural eyelid colour, just better!

As soon as I saw it I thought *uh oh* - definately not what I was after!

Obviously I didn't read the word 'frost' when ordering - duh.

It sat on my bookcase on top of its returns note for about a week as I was determined I was going to return it. Probably out of sheer laziness of not being bothered to buy a bubble wrapped envelope then drive to the post office I opened it up and decided to give it a go.

I'm so glad I did!

Sorry for the pretty poor swatch attempt, I tried it on the back of my hand but the light didn't pick it up at all!

It's quite a thin, silky/greasy texture which once put on the eyelid blends perfectly without looking greasy at all. I haven't used it as a base as of yet, however looks perfectly lovely by itself - it brightens up my lids without looking too shimmery or shiny. In fact, once on the lid you can barely notice any shimmer at all which is just what I wanted! The fact it looks fab on it's own is perfect for when you don't feel like dolling up with eyeshadow or in my case, if you just don't have time! It definately won't be my primary use, but it's also the perfect colour for a brow bone highlight. However, I'm not sure if the texture would work well on the cheekbones, maybe I'll give it a go and find out. You never know, I might be pleasantly surprised yet again!

It's true what they say, you can't judge a book by it's cover!
What products have you given a second chance to lately?

Glittery NOTD and Blogger Help!!

2011-01-10T12:56:00.000Z

I haven't done one of these posts in a while so I thought I'd take a snap of my newly polished nails!

I much prefer pinks to purples on my nails, however when looking through my collection, ummming and ahhhing over which colour to choose, I found myself reaching for bright purple!!

I applied two coats of Barry M's bright purple (303) and then on both my ring fingers I applied a coat of pink iridescent. I then topped it all off with my GOSH clear top coat to help it last a little longer.

I've only ever used pink iridescent once before and found it a complete nightmare to remove! Even nail polish remover wouldn't get rid of it - I had to resort to picking it off myself.

Also I need some blogging help...

After my time out from blogging all my posts now take hours to appear in the mini-feed!

Like my latest post about the ELF sale, I published it in the morning and it didn't pop up until around 4pm!!

Does anyone know how to help? :(

I'm wondering if changing from sarahbox04.blogspot.com to just sarahbox04.com will make any difference?

Although I've heard stories where people's posts have completely dissappeared and they have to start all over again, which I really don't want to have to do.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sanctuary Illuminating Moisture Lotion

2011-01-04T11:20:00.005Z

For Christmas I was given a Sanctuary Spa gift set which included lots of little goodies as well as two mini tubes of their Brightening Facial, Illuminating Moisture Lotion. Admittedly I had never looked at any Sanctuary products as I always thought of them as more of an older womans type of brand, and boy do I wish I discovered this little gem sooner!

I'm already on my second mini tube of it and love it so much that I bought the 75ml tube in Boots which was on offer for £9.99 (usually £12.99).

As I have very sensitive skin I tended to use E45 as my moisturiser and avoided lotions and potions with all types of ingredients and chemicals in incase they irratated my skin, which they usually did! I'm pleased to report I've finally found one which doesn't irritate my skin! Hurrrrraahhh.

Usually around this time of year the cold weather tends to produce random dry patches of skin on my face (sexy, I know), but since using it I haven't had any dry skin on my face and it feels healthy and hydrated (which is very rare for me!)

As the product is a lotion it feels much lighter on the skin than a cream would. It gives that fresh faced feeling and dewy look and avoids a greasy finish and the feeling of clogged up pores (which none of us want!)

Ingredients include soybean oil, bergamot fruit oil, sunflower seed oil and papaya fruit extract which let's face it, sound like they'd be good for our skin! Such ingredients give the product a fresh, lemony/citrus scent - yummy!

Not only does the packaging promise '24 HOUR HYDRATING PROTECTION FOR LASTING RADIANCE,' it also boasts an SPF15 meaning it not only moisturises but also protects your skin from the suns rays - a perfect moisturiser for any time of year!

Admittedly I haven't noticed my skin looking any more 'radiant', however it has kept my skin soft and hydrated which I definately can't argue with.

Definately my winter skin care saviour, i'm just sad I didn't discover it sooner :( lol

Have you tried any Sanctuary products?

xxx

Versatile Blogger Award

2011-01-03T20:08:00.001Z

I was tagged by the lovely http://starsglittermagic.blogspot.com/

♥

The Rules:

Thank and link back to who gave you the award

Share 7 things about yourself and answer another 10 questions

Pass it along to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy

Leave your recipients a note telling them about the award

Seven things all about moi:

I stopped eating meat for about 6 years, until the other week when I was tempted by a piece of bacon! Lol

I don't know what job I want at the end of my degree

I'm loved up and have been non-stop for the past year ♥

I couldn't live without my older sister ♥

I wish I was a bit shorter

I wish I had smaller feet

I once won £200 worth of Topshop vouchers!

Question time:

Why did you create this blog?
I created my blog so I could stop boring the people in my life about the girly things I enjoy! :)

What kind of blogs do you follow?
Mainly beauty related blogs as I'm not really a fashionistaaa! I also have a few general ones about peoples day to day lives too

Favourite makeup brand

ATM, MAC

Favourite clothing brand
I like H&M for plain things - bodycon skirts and t-shirts with a little something different (one I own has lace on the sleeves, the other with ruffles) which can either be dressed up or down. I also really like River Island, although some of the things they get in just makes me cringe!

Indispensible makeup product

Foundation - I never go out the house without it

Favourite colour

Pink :)

Favourite perfume
At the moment is Pauls Boutique 24/7, however all time fav is Benefit's My Place or Yours Gina!

Favourite film
I don't have one favourite but 27 Dresses never fails to put a smile on my face

What country would you like to visit and why?

Americaaaaa, because it's big and looks amazzzing :)

Make the last question yourself and answer - If you had a magic wand and could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Even though I complained above about wanting to be shorter and have smaller feet, I'd much rather choose bigger boobs over either of them lol!

I tag:

http://affordabletreats.blogspot.com/

http://viviannadoesmakeup.blogspot.com/

http://effiesmakeupbox.blogspot.com/

http://95hannaah.blogspot.com/

http://fashionturntotheright.blogspot.com/

http://lora505.blogspot.com/

http://thebristolbeautyblog.blogspot.com/

xxx

ELF Studio Stipple Brush - REVIEW

2011-01-03T09:35:00.002Z

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago I placed an order on ELF after seeing they had released their Studio line stippling brush. I bought a few other things too but the main reason was because of the brush.

ELF say: "Perfect for adding definition to cheekbones or highlighting with soft layers. Use with any face product such as foundation, powder, blush, etc to build your coverage from sheer to heavy."

Hmmm....

I say: I tried the brush out with my Studio Fix Fluid however it didn't work out how I thought it would. I'd been used to using the powder brush which is a lot denser and therefore gives a higher coverage, which is what I prefer. If you like a sheer, light coverage when it comes to foundation this may just be the brush for you!

Even though the brush disappointed me on the foundation front, it has been constantly in my makeup bag and has become an everyday favourite when applying my bronzing powder. As it gives light application it makes it almost impossible to tango yourself!

I'm not sure if I would use the brush for blush, especially as I now own the Sigma F55 which is just the right size for my cheek, however what works for one person doesn't always work for another and for the very affordable £3.50 price tag, it's worth having a go at finding out.

On the left is ELF's Studio Stipple Brush compared with the Sigma F55 on the right.

The ELF brush is a lot bigger in size than the F55 which makes precise application more difficult, however for applying a light coverage foundation and powder this would be perfect!

Have you tried ELF's Stipple brush yet?

xxx

New Year, New Brushes - SIGMA

2011-01-02T13:11:00.006Z

On Black Friday Sigma were offering free international delivery on all orders, as a sort of consolation prize to those of us not in the US. I took the rather attractive bait and placed an order for three face brushes, although believe you me, I could have ended up buying a lot more than I did!

If I remember correctly I think my order took about two weeks to arrive, which considering it's coming from across the Atlantic ocean isn't bad at all.

My order arrived before Christmas which means I've had time to play around with the brushes to find which works with what products the best!

The brushes came in the usual red organza bag and were each individually wrapped inside, along with leaflets on how to clean your brushes and leaflets showing all the brushes Sigma sell.

Round Top Synthetic Kabuki - F82

$16.00 (£10.26)

I decided I wanted a new foundation brush as my ELF powder brush just wasn't cutting it for me anymore. When I saw the Round Top Synthetic Kabuki I knew it had to be my new foundation brush! I've been using it with my MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation and it works like a dream, giving even and precise coverage due to the shape of the brush and density of the bristles. I haven't gone back to my £3.50 ELF Studio Powder Brush and don't see myself doing so any time soon - the F82 is my new baby!

Small Duo Fibre - F55
$14.00 (£8.97)

My first ever duo fibre brush *gasps in horror!*I've been using this one with powder blush and it allows for light buildable application. The size fits perfectly on the apples of the cheeks and I could imagine would also be a good brush for applying precise bronzer/contouring. I'm looking forward to trying it out with my MAC cremeblush to see how it applies.

Tapered Highlighter - F35
$16.00 (£10.26)

I'm not too sure why I bought this brush tbh and I have to admit I haven't used it anywhere near as much as I have the other two brushes. I've used it a few times to contour with my ELF Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder but I haven't used it to apply highlighter (as the name indicates). However last night I placed a fairly large MAC order and bought the MSF in Soft and Gentle so hopefully I'll be using the F35 to apply.

I also got a free travel size E25 Blending brush which I'm yet to try out.

xxx

Merry Christmas to ME ♥ - MAC Haul

2010-12-15T20:41:00.000Z

Last week Debenhams were offering 15% off on their beauty counters as opposed to their usual 10%, so I treated myself to a few 'essentials.'

So in I went, shopping list in hand (no joke) lol!

The MUA was really nice and didn't push products onto me at all, she just listened to what I was after and off she went to find the perfect colours for me.

I bought five products in total (and a foundation pump) which all came to just under £60.

I was in need of a new foundation and having got through three tubes of Studio Sculpt and having hated the Mineralize SPF15 foundation compact I decided to give Fix Fluid a try and so far I really like it.

As all my liquid liners seem to be drying up I thought I'd see how I got on with Blacktrack Fluidline. I bought an Ecotools angled brush to use with it, although it seems a bit too soft so am going to look out for something better.

I desperately needed a new eyeliner pencil so bought the eye kohl in smoulder, which is super long which should last me for some time.

I told the MUA I wanted an eyebrow pencil - she brought over both fling and spiked to try. I haven't really heard people talking about fling, especially as much as spiked but it was a perfect match for my brows!

The last thing I wanted was a lipstick, the only thing is I didn't know which one! I said to the MUA that I wanted one like my lip colour, just better! Off she went and came back with one in her hand. Then I remembered seeing swatches of Cremecup which looked really nice so I mentioned that one to her - which is the one she picked out anyway! Creeeeepy lol!

What have you been buying yourself for Christmas? ;)

xxx

Have you heard? £3.50 ELF Studio Stipple Brush

2010-12-07T09:57:00.000Z

ELF have released quite a lot of new items recently, including their bamboo brushes and more additions to their studio line. What I was really excited about though was the new Studio Stipple Brush!

ELF say...

"The layered bristles create a soft airbrushed look that's perfect for applying foundation or adding colour definition to cheekbones or highlighting with soft layers. Use this brush with any liquid or powder face product such as foundation, blush or bronzer to build your coverage from sheer to heavy."

Of course I had to order one, although at first I did put two into my basket! That was until I remembered that I did order three Sigma brushes whilst they were having free international delivery on Black Friday.

I'm really looking forward to trying it out - I wonder how will it compare to ELF's Studio Powder Brush, which has quickly become a makeup must-have!

I also ordered the Studio Makeup Mist & Set, Cream Eyeliner in Black and a Studio Blush in Fuchsia Fusion!

Have you or will you be trying out ELF's Studio Stipple Brush?

xxx

LOVING - Animal Print

2010-11-24T13:48:00.000Z

River Island leopard print jacquard print scarf, £14.99

Pauls Boutique Molly bag, £55

xxx

NOTD - Barry M Instant Nail Effects

2010-10-19T14:38:00.000+01:00

The other day I popped into Boots to pick up a new foundation and as I walked past the Barry M stand noticed one, lonely bottle of their new Instant Nail Effects all by itself on the shelf. Obviously I couldn't leave it behind so I whisked it into my basket.

Above I have on Barry M's Strawberry Icecream, Instant Nail Effects and GOSH clear topcoat.

I quite like the effect it gives, it's definately different. I'm thinking of using it with a white nail varnish come halloween when/if I dress up as a cat (original) to give me a paw print-esk effect on my nails. I'm definately more of a one colour kinda gal when it comes to polish, but it's something new for a change!

It's getting so cold lately :( but I suppose that only means one good thing...

CHRISTMAS!

I put the fire on when I got home from uni and settled down with the book I'm reading for one of my modules and my little dog. I read a handful of pages then fell asleep :) haha, I'm getting old!

xxx

LAUREN CONRAD Style

2010-10-08T13:31:00.000+01:00

♥

Due for release on the 14th of this month

Have you pre-ordered yours yet?

I have.

xxx

REVIEW Xen-Tan Mist Intense

2010-10-08T12:53:00.001+01:00

The other week I was contacted to see if I would like to review Xen-Tan Mist Intense. Obviously I jumped at the chance as I was chuffed with the results I had from Dark Lotion and am always on the hunt for the perfect tan!

I was very kindly sent a 148l bottle of Mist Intense along with the sunless tanning mitt which is recommended to use together. Mist Intense retails for £21.95 on Xen Tan's official website and the mitt retails for a very affordable £3.50. (Perfect too as you can rinse it out and re-use it!)

If you search online however you can find Xen Tan cheaper elsewhere. For the same size bottle, Mist Intense costs £17.50. I bought my bottle of Dark Lotion from feelunique where it cost £17.99 as opposed to its rrp of £25.95 (it pays to shop around!) PLUS feelunique offer free p+p too.

When comparing both Dark Lotion and Mist Intense in relation to amount of product for your money, Dark Lotion seems the better option offering just under 100ml more product for only a couple of pounds more, or if bought from feelunique for only 49p more!! However, both products offer different application methods than one another, which is where you have to decide which is more important, value for money or ease of application?!

I definately find using a mitt a lot easier to apply fake tan. For one, you don't have to worry about thoroughly washing your hands afterwards to make sure you don't end up with oompa loompa hands. Plus, it's a lot easier to get to those awkward *hard to reach* places, particularly the back. When using Dark Lotion (with bare hands) I often had a few battles in the bathroom, along with arranging myself in some very strange positions to make sure I got my whole back covered.

Unlike my newest tanning purchase, St Tropez's Bronzing Spray (which I'm still yet to try out - sprayed one leg then gave up due to the horrible smell), the spray nozzle requires repeat *spritzing.* As Mist Intense is designed to be used with the tanning mitt, this is perfect as it allows you to have full control over how much product gets onto the mitt and in turn, your skin.

Before application my skin was clean, exfoliated and moisturized in 'problem' areas such as my wrists, elbows, ankles, heels and knees - all areas which get dry, thus resulting in uneven application.

**WARNING - the following images contain foot shots!** LOL

Left leg on both images has no product on.

First image is with one application of Mist Intense on right left.

The second image is with two applications of Mist Intense.

As you can see, one application gives a good change in colour compared to my normal skin tone, however two coats give a much darker finish which is what I was after.

First image is with two applications on both legs.

I then went to bed and let the colour develop overnight.

The second image is the *morning after* after washing off the instant colour.

As you can see, Mist Intense gives a lovely tanned colour (of which I find very difficult to achieve with fake tan).

Both Mist Intense and Dark Lotion have lovely scents (something I never thought I'd say when talking about fake tan) and give a gorgeous colour to the skin. Definately the best *faux* tan I've tried (and trust me, there's been a lot!)

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Would I recommend? Definately!

Have you tried any Xen Tan products? What are your thoughts on them?

xxx

MAC Haulin'

2010-09-29T12:54:00.000+01:00

Last week my MAC order got delivered and to my disappointment one item, my Mineralize Skinfinish Natural was completely smashed! :( I also bought their Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation in NC20, which was thankfully in one piece (although I haven't made my mind up about it yet).

I was going into town the next day and even though I read online that MAC bought online would have to be sent back, I thought I'd give it a go and went to my MAC.

The lady was really apologetic and lovely, however they did say it would have to be sent back.

Grrrr!

On my returns note it said that if any items were damaged or faulty then I would need to ring a number and speak to someone.

The lady on the other end of the phone was reaaaaaally quiet and I didn't hear what she said, but instead of saying 'pardon?' I just said 'oh okay, thank you' and ended the call. Duh?! Although I did vaguely hear her say something about something being sent out to me and to keep hold of my faulty item. I assumed they'd send me an envelope or something to send it back, however to my surprise today a parcel got delivered!

YAY!

A MSF Natural in light/medium still in one piece!

So looking forward to using this - anyone else a fan of MAC MSFN's?!

xxx

I just bought a few bits...

2010-09-15T19:17:00.000+01:00

Last week when I was '80th birthday present for my Nanny shopping' with my Mum and Sister, I saw a coral maxi dress in Miss Selfridge (we took a detour before M&S - I don't think my Nanny would of appreciated a maxi dress...or anything from Miss Selfridge for that matter).

Anyway, all throughout the summer I told myself maxi dresses would not suit me and tbh didn't really give them a second glance, or even bothered to strip off in a store changing room to see whether or not I was proven correct or pleasantly surprised! Plus, I wasn't jetsetting off anywhere hot, sunny and foreign so I figured I would just look as if I thought I was in St Tropez whilst wandering Weymouth with only the kind of St Tropez tan you can buy in a bottle slapped on.

Whilst online browsing last night I noticed they had added a few maxi dresses to their sale, including one in the style I had seen last week but in pink instead of coral, and at £12 instead of the £24! So, once I had finished work today I ignored my tummy's grumbles for food and headed straight for Miss Selfridge. VOILA - they had the pink maxi dress in a whole host of sizes hung up on their sale rack. I grabbed an 8 and a 10 and headed straight for the changing room. An eight fitted better around my bust but was a tad ankle biting, so I chose the ten, which brushes the floor and covers my toes!

I saw the knitted waistcoat which I included in my A/W knitwear wishlist too whilst I was in Miss Selfridge. Let's just say it's no longer in my wishlist - it looks nothing like what it does online. *:(* Guess I'll just have to keep looking for a chunky knitted waistcoat.

Whilst wandering around an unfamiliar Boot's trying to locate the faux tan section ;) I noticed there was an offer on Impulse body fragrances for '2 for £3' as opposed to £1.89 each. I picked up my old faithful 'Into Glamour, but wanted to try a new one. I must of sprayed at least half a dozen up into the air and pulled the same unimpressed and on some instances disgusted face, until I finally gave up and picked up another of my trusty 'Into Glamour' bottles. It's such a lovely scent, apparently 'a blend of exotic oriental scents and citrus notes.' It's much lighter carrying around one of these bad boys as opposed to a glass bottle of perfume, and at their very affordable price tag, you don't need to be afraid of spraying too much!

After trapsing up all the aisles I eventually found what I was looking for - on a teeeeny tiny end, barely visible. I noticed the other day that ASOS have 20% off of St Tropez online, however as my Xen Tan dark lotion was pretty much on its last legs I didn't really fancy waiting a week for it to come through the post, plus buying it in Boots means...advantage points ♥ !! I've only ever tried their gradual tan lotion which tbh, is pants and a waste of £14! I opted for their self tan bronzing spray which cost £20 for 200ml, still comes in dearer than Xen Tan's Dark Lotion, which includes just under 50ml more product! However I'm hoping as it's a spray it will give me a similar outcome as when I had my spray tan, which didn't leave any dodgy areas at all! However my face probably went bright red as I was topless and the girl spraying me was my boyfriends friends girlfriend - try saying that when you're drunk ;)!

xxx

Get 10% off ASOS.com ALL YEAR!

2010-09-13T11:52:00.000+01:00

Not only are ASOS offering free UK delivery and returns on all orders, they now offer NUS student discount throughout the whole site, all year round!

All you have to do is have a valid NUS Extra Card which costs £11 from http://www.nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra/

It not only gives you 10% off ASOS.com, but also over 70 brands including Gio Goi, Topshop, Miss Selfridge and more...

xxx

Good old Miss Selfridge...

2010-08-25T12:04:00.000+01:00

Whilst shopping for wellies for V Fest (which was fab btw) I got drawn like a magpie to Miss Selfridge's shiny jewellery section!

I picked up a few bits then noticed the big sign right above my head reading 'all sale jewellery, buy one get the cheapest free.' Never one to pass up a bargain I doubled up what I had in my hand and ended up walking away with this lot, which came to the tidy sum of only £6!!

I always tend to buy rings but never wear them, probably none of them ever seem to fit my fingers properly. The silver one is adjustable which made it even more appealing to me, and for the fact it worked out to cost £1!

I've been after a plaited bracelet for ages and finally found one! It reminds me of the Disney Couture plaited bracelets but for a lot less of the price.

And finally I picked up three sets of earrings!
The large set alone normally costs £8!

I didn't end up buying any wellies but I was rather chuffed with what I did walk out with!

You know when you see something and you're like WTF?!...

2010-08-10T20:07:00.000+01:00

Well I just had one of those moments whilst innocently browsing through ASOS's 'jumpsuits & playsuits' section...

Who in their right mind would part with £135 for this load of toooosh!?!

Give me some sequins and tissue paper and I'm sure I could come up with something better!

Urgh.

What's in my makeup bag?!

2010-07-23T12:40:00.001+01:00

Here's what I usually keep in my makeup bag...
(Don't judge me...lol)

- Large Hello Kitty makeup bag, H&M £1 in sale -

Brushes

C108 Flat Bronzer brush - used to apply liquid foundation. Elf Complexion brush - used with powder, Elf Warm Bronzer to mix all four colours together as well as blush. C104 Angle Blush Brush - used with my Elf Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder to give accurate defintion to the cheeks and cheek bones. The angled liner brush I use with the Elf Eyebrow Kit as I lost the little brush it came with. The eyeshadow brush is used with the lightest shade in the Elf Warm Bronzer to apply all over the lid.

Face

No7 Colour Calming Primer - because it's always fun rubbing green coloured stuff into your face :). Revlon Colorstay in 150 Buff - my newest addition which I adore! It gives fab coverage and lasts for ages! Definately the best foundation ever - possibly even better than my purse busting Mac Studio Scuplt *que gasps.* Benefit IT Stick - surprisingly creamy for a stick concealer, and can't complain as was free with Glamour magazine! Rimmel Stay Matt Pressed Powder in 002 Peach Glow - used to matt my skin after foundation and to set makeup.

Elf Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder - not so keen on the blush but love the bronzer! Looks great when used with the C104 brush shown above. Elf Warm Bronzer - looks great when mixed in together. I also use the bottom left shade as a shadow when I want a natural look! Both products well worth their low £3.50 price tag! Sleek Blush in Pixie Pink - looks electric pink in pan but gives a gorgeous baby pink glow to the apples of the cheeks!

Lips

All nudes - Elf Natural Nymph, Gosh Darling, Revlon Peach Petal and Benefit Didn't Hear It From Me.

Eyes

Benefit BADgal Lash, Benefit eyebright, Benefit BADgal eyeliner, Collection 2000 liquid eyeliner - the best liquid eyeliner brush I've found, Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin - which I sometimes just use by itself to give the lid a nice shimmery colour, eyelash curlers and Elf Eyebrow Kit in medium.

I don't carry round too much, do I...?

Oh my GOSH Darling!

2010-07-07T15:03:00.000+01:00

Owh dear :(

I'm refusing to throw it away.

I'll just have to manage for the time being with a deformed lipstick!