Merry Christmas!

Hello lovelies, 

Just a little note to say Merry Christmas! Hope you're all having a wonderful day filled with happiness and lots of scrummy food! 

Fragrance Direct Wishlist

Hello lovelies,

Let me first start by saying that this post is in no way affiliated with Fragrance Direct, I just really love their site. If you're not familiar with Fragrance Direct, it's a website that sells all things beauty related at bargain prices. Without further ado, here are my fabulous Fragrance Direct finds:

Giorgio Armani Si Gift Set 50ml - £57.99

Every time I go into Sephora, I always spritz myself with this. It's expensive but the gift set option is great, it smells so mature, yet modern. It makes me feel all grown up and sophisticated. 

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque 250ml - £10.99 

This has been on my wishlist forever and a day. My hair is really in a state at the moment and is in desperate need of some nourishment. 

Rimmel 60 Second Nail Polish 8ml - £0.99

If you're an avid reader of my blog, then you'll already know just how much I love Rimmel and especially the formula for this polish. And at less than a pound per polish, you really can't go wrong.

L'Oreal Colour Infallible Eyeshadow 3.5g - £1.50

There's been so much chatter about these little pots, especially the shade Cranberry but I'd probably go for the shade bronze goddess, it would work so well with greeny blue eyes.

OPI Nail Lacquer 15ml - £3.99

I love OPI nail varnishes but can never bring myself to pay their full RRP. I'm particularly after Excuse Moi, it's a gorgeous multi coloured glitter with a red base from the Muppets Collection 2011. I'm not too bothered if the polish comes from a previous collection, I pick based on the shade. 

Just until 9am tomorrow morning, Fragrance Direct are offering an extra 10% off gift sets when you use the code GIFTSET10, making it the perfect time to grab those last minute gifts. 

Have you done a Fragrance Direct Haul recently?

Review: La Roche-Posay Serozinc Toner

Hello lovelies,

I'd heard so much about this product and on a recent trip to the pharmacie, it just fell into my basket. For those of you not in the know, Serozinc is  a Zinc Sulphate solution formulated with just that and little else, it can be sprayed on a cotton pad and swept over the face post-cleanser and used as a toner.

Serozinc is anti-bacterial and purifies the skin, as well as soothing irritations and prepping the skin for moisturiser. Zinc is a natural astringent so it's great for my combination skin. I've been getting dry patches with this weather but this really soothes them. I've found that I've been suffering from less blemishes and any existing ones are quickly fading. I wouldn't be put off even if you have sensitive skin, as the zinc is a natural element and it's actually really gentle. 

I tend to use this every couple of days, I wouldn't use it everyday as the zinc acts as a natural exfoliater and I like to switch this up with my beloved Botanics toner. I originally used this by spraying Serozinc directly onto my skin but I found that I was wasting quite a lot of product, so now I spray onto a cotton pad and sweep it across my face.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc can be picked up in the French pharmacies for around the 6 euro mark but if you're not planning a trip to France any day soon, then you can order Serozinc off Ebay for £13.75 including postage. 

Have you tried Serozinc?

Review: Rimmel Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in 020 Pink Rose

Hello lovelies,

If you haven't tried the Rimmel blushes yet, you're in for a real treat. I seem to be naturally gravitating toward Rimmel at the moment for all my makeup needs. I've yet to find a Rimmel product that doesn't tick the boxes for me.

I picked up Pink Rose off ASOS after looking at swatches and reviews online. Moving into Winter, I like my blush to give me that rosy glow as if I've just stepped inside from the cold and the majority of blushes that I own are more coral toned for the summer, when I have a bit of colour. I swept Pink Rose on my cheeks first thing in the morning and it's still there at 10pm.

I find you have to be quite light on application, I was a bit heavy handed the first time round and ended up having to pat the colour down, I would say Pink Rose has medium pigmentation. It just adds a lovely natural sheen.

My only bugbear is the packaging, it's quite flimsy and it's not something I would just fling into my bag, I'd be worried about the compact cracking and I find it a bit tricky to open. Nevertheless, I don't want to detract from what a gorgeous blush this is and it's definitely one of my Winter staples.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush is available from ASOS for £3.99

Have you tried any of the Rimmel blushes?

Monthly Favourites/ November

Hello lovelies,

Eeeeekkkk 22 days till Christmas! 20 days till I get to go home! I just had to get my little excitement outburst out of the way first. I really don't want to say I can't believe it's already December but honestly I can't, time just seems to be flying by. I've only got a few items that I've really been loving this month as I haven't really switched up my routine that much. I picked up the L'Oreal Skin Perfection Serum at the airport and so far so good but I don't think I've been using it long enough to definitely say it's a fave but it deserved a mention.

Mavala Nail Polish in 195 Shimmer Violet - £4.50

I spotted this whilst having a little nosy around the French pharmacies and couldn't not pick it up. Shimmer Violet is one of four polishes from the Arabesque Collection, which feature four metallic shades inspired by Autumn/Winter 2013. Shimmer Violet is a gorgeous light glossy purple with a hint of shimmer running through it, perfect for all those Christmas parties!

L'Occitane Shea Butter Dry Skin Hand Cream - £8.00

I may have featured this previously in one of my favourites but at the moment it's the only product working on my hands. They never normally get dried or chapped but this year, they're cracking. I don't know whether that's a mixture of now doing the washing up or spending days outdoors but they're definitely in need of some tender loving care. I've never been much of a fan of hand creams as I find them too greasy or they don't absorb quick enough but this is my saviour, it's so nourishing and I find myself slapping it on throughout the day. 

Bioderma Micellar Water - £4.50

I picked up a mini to try out because I went to Rome for the weekend. There's so much talk of Bioderma in the bloggersphere so I'm pretty sure you've heard of it. I wouldn't say it benefits my skin but it's such an effective makeup remover and just dissolves any makeup. I do like it but wouldn't say it's any different to the L'Oreal Micellar Solution if you can't get your hands on this.

Have you tried any of these? What products did you love throughout November?

Review: Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

Hello lovelies,

Now you all know what a fan I am of the Wake Me Up Foundation and I'm always on the look out for anything that will banish those hideous dark circles under my eyes. I picked this up recently in my Rimmel haul and it has certainly been put to the test today, after 5 hours sleep I had to get up for a plane and I've been up since 4.15am, so don't look too great...

I absolutely love this concealer, it definitely lives up to my expectations. It's quite thick but it blends out so well and doesn't crease or settle in the fine lines under my eyes. I picked this up in the shade ivory, which I believe is the lightest shade. I tend to be a lighter shade of concealer for my under eyes as it illuminates the skin and does make me look more awake, which I certainly needed this morning!

The Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is available from ASOS for £5.49 (they have free worldwide shipping)

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend. I went on a spontaneous trip to Rome, so I'll pop a few photos up in my next post for you all to see. 

Have you tried any budget friendly illuminating concealers?

Rimmel Haul

Hello lovelies,

I'm going to hold my hands up and say it has been a while since my last post. But there is an excuse for that, I've been working so hard for I don't know how long... I've forgotten what the outside looks like and all contact with human beings has ceased to exist. So my little blog has been put on the shelf but I have finally got a little time to myself.

Now I'm meant to be saving my pennies for Christmas but I was in desperate need of a new foundation so ended up going to ASOS to put in a cheeky Rimmel order. I'm actually shocked at the price of foundation in France it's at least twice the price of in England, and it's difficult to get hold of certain brands unless you're looking for L'Oreal or Bourjois. But you know when you only go to buy one thing and end up with five, that happened so I thought I'd share with you what I picked up.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Soft Colour Mono Blush in 020 Pink Rose - £3.99
Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer in 020 True Ivory - £5.49
Rimmel London Kate Matte Lipstick in 111 Kiss of Life -£5.49
Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in 660 In Love with Ginger - £6.49

Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation SPF 18 in 102 Light Nude - £6.99

I think in all this came to around £16.00 due to various offers that ASOS had running. I'd never thought to buy makeup from ASOS before but they regularly have offers on and it's free shipping which is fab for me or anyone living abroad and wanting to get hold of the brands that they know!

Have you tried any of these?

Beauty Stocking Fillers

Hello lovelies,

Before we know it, the big C word will be here. Stocking fillers are my favorite treats to buy for others, I love being able to choose a selection of little items that I know will be right up their street. I'm thinking of doing a series on stocking stuffers, for kids, boyfriends etc., so let me know if you're interested. Today, I thought I'd show you a few products that would fit nicely into any beauty lover's stocking!

Philip Kingsley Happy Hair Days Kit - £19.99 at FeelUnique
This gift set contains 10 x 20ml of Philip Kingsley's best-selling shampoo's and conditioners. I'm a sucker for mini beauty products anyway and this is a great way of trying out what Philip Kingsley has to offer besides the beloved Elasticiser.

Pur Minerals Show Off Collection - £22.50 at Marks & Spencer
Considering one of the Lip Gloss sticks costs £16.00 on it's own, this set is incredible value. Pur Minerals isn't a brand I've tried before, purely due to it's cost but I'm definitely going to add this to my Christmas wishlist.

Soap & Glory Clean Getaway Gift Set - £10.00 at Boots
Who doesn't love Soap & Glory? This set contains minis of Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel, The Righteous Butter Body Butter, Calm One Calm All stress-battling softening bubble bath and Hand Food Hand Cream. 

I Love Lots Of Bubbles Mini - £3.50 at Superdrug
This set contains 6 minis from the I Love Family! I Love is a budget brand, but for what it is, I think it's excellent quality, I love their Strawberries & Milkshake range and their packaging reminds me slightly of Philosophy.

Prepare to Party Gift Set - £10.00 at Avon
This gift set contans a SuperShock Mascara , an Ultra Colour Lipstick , a True Colour Eyeshadow Duo,a Glimmerstick Eyeliner and comes in a chic black evening bag with a total value of £31. I would love to receive this as it contains everything you need for a Christmas night out.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Or do you leave it to the last minute?

Magazine Freebies #4

Hello lovelies,

I for one love a freebie, I love it even more if it's beauty related and some of my favourite magazines have really come up trumps this month!

1. Glamour: £2.00 - Choice of 4 Kate Spade for Nails Inc Nail Polishes (10 ml) in Soho Silver (silver metallic), Uptown Glamour (gold metallic), Big Apple Red (festive red) or New York Noir (glossy black).

Plus The Body Shop Joy Card - this is  a voucher that is worth either £3.00, £5.00 or £100, you just take it in-store to find out!

2. Elle: £4.00 -Choice of 3 Benefit Lip Glosses (6.5ml travel size) in Dandelion, Hoola or Coralista 

3. Marie Claire: £3.90 - Rituals Fortune Scrub Shower Cream Scrub (100ml worth £10.00)

4.  Cosmopolitan: £3.60 - Orly nail polish (5.6 ml worth £5.00) in Star Spangled (ruby red), Hair Band (glittery gold), Country Club Khaki (neutral hue) or Naughty (vampy red)

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Nails Inc polishes but this one is definitely a hit! I think I might ask my friend to pick me up the glossy black as it'll be perfect throughout Winter.

Have you treated yourself to any of these? Which one is your favourite gift?

Review: V05 Plump It Up Amplifying Blow Dry Lotion

Hello lovelies,

Lets just get this out the way, my one aim in life is to have big voluminous hair... think Beyoncé. So anything that promises to inject a bit of volume and life into my hair is going to make it's way into my bag. After I've bought it of course... My problem is that I have lots of hair but it's fine, so can just end up getting dragged down by products, I've been on a search for that miracle product for years.

I have to get this out the way first, this is not a lotion. A lotion to me is something that has a cream like consistency that you rub throughout your hair, this is a spray. I'd seen reviews of items from the same range but never anything about the Plump It Up spray, so I decided to risk it and give it a go.

After washing my hair and towel drying it, I liberally spritz this all over my hair from the roots to the ends, there's no point having voluminous roots if the rest of your hair is flat. Then I tip my hair upside down and blow dry it. 

I was actually surprised by the results, my hair resembled a lions mane until I brushed it out and tamed it, I was left with very thick looking hair, which is a mean feat considering my hair type, and even after straightening, I still had big hair. But in a good Beyoncé way. 

Just a few things to note about the spray; it has heat protection within it, which is always an added bonus as I can't always be bothered to use it (bad me!), it doesn't leave your hair sticky and I find the volume lasts all day without the damage that backcombing causes.

Overall I'm really pleased with Amplifying Blow Dry Lotion, it's an absolute star for flat hair because you can spritz it all over rather than just in your roots.

The V05 Plump It Up Amplifying Blow Dry Lotion (SPRAY!) is available from Superdrug for £3.69 (currently on 2 for £5.00) 

What's your favourite volumising product? 

The Sunshine Award!

Hello lovelies,

So this is a first for me, I've been nominated for a blogger award! I had seen these floating around but never really knew much about them, so I did a little bit of research into what the Sunshine Award is really about.

According to one site, the Sunshine Award is for “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”. I want to say a huge thank you to Ebony Jay from EbonyJay Beauty My Way, it's such a honour to know that others enjoy reading my blog and I never imagined that anyone would feel creatively inspired by me!

The Rules

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.

2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.

4. List bloggers (8-12) that you believe deserve some recognition and a  little blogging love, usually newer or up-and-coming blogs.

5. Write 11 questions for them to answer in their award post

6. Let all the bloggers know that they've been nominated

Questions

What do you think makes you different from other bloggers?

I wouldn't say I was necessarily different from anyone. I write about beauty and that's what I share with those of you who read my blog. I just hope my personality and my honesty comes across in my writing. I like to review products that you don't see much of and I try not to follow the trends.

Was there ever a time you thought about quitting?

I did! I think I did two or three posts and then life took over... But now no, I enjoy it so much and really feel like I'm just becoming a member of the blogging community.

What time of day do you find yourself blogging the most?

I don't really have a set schedule, I should try to set a day per week aside but I just blog when I feel like it. There's nothing worse than feeling like you've to blog when you just lack any inspiration.

What is your favorite makeup essential?

I've said for years that I can't do liquid eyeliner and now I wouldn't be without it.

What do you think you could do to make your blog better?

I would like to have a complete blog design. I don't understand these html codes and I doubt I ever will, I would love to be able to ask someone to do it all for me.

What music are you obsessed with at the moment?

I really do love a mixture of music, I can't stop listening to Gabrielle Aplin and Arctic Monkeys.

What do you do when you can't think of anything to write about?

I tend to have a look and read other blog posts, sometimes I'll spot a product that I've had for ages and continually use but have bypassed it for a review.

What was the first beauty product you ever used?

I have no idea! Probably shampoo but I think my first makeup was a Miss Sporty Foundation that made me look orange.

What is your hair texture like?

It's fine but there's a lot of it. 

What was your first blog post ever about?

My first blog post was just a little bit of an introduction about me and what I wanted this blog to be. I still don't feel like I've reached exactly how I would like it, but it's a work in progress.

Do you have an iPhone or an android? 

I have three phones... and no I'm not a drug dealer. They're all android and used for whichever country I'm in. I'm the one who stands there pulling different phones out their bag trying to work out which one is ringing.

11 Random Facts About Me

1. If I see anything penguin or duck related, I have to have it in my life. This is why I have so many pyjama bottoms covered in penguins.

2. I cannot stand the run up to Christmas. Why does it have to start in October?

3. I still buy Petit Filous yoghurts for myself at the age of 21.

4. I have curved little fingers.

5. I hate not working. I just love having a set pattern and feeling like I'm doing something.

6. None of my family or friends know about my blog

7. I am Yorkshire girl who doesn't like tea.

8. I only ever eat puddings with teaspoons.

9. It's the first time I've ever lived away from home so I chose to move to a different country.

10. I have lived here for two months and only realised yesterday that airplanes go past my window every 5 minutes. I just thought it was the wind.

11. I have never met another blogger.

My Questions

1. How often do you blog?

2. Favourite perfume?

3. Please share your most embarrassing fashion memory

4. Last holiday you went on?

5. If you could go anywhere in the World, where would it be and why?

6. What's the one beauty thing that you never do?

7. What was your last high-end makeup purchase?

8. Do your family and friends know about your blog?

9. How did you start off blogging?

10. If you had to eat the same food for a month, what would it be?

11. Have you ever thought about giving up blogging?

My Nominations

1. Eloise and Mary from Mallow Beauty Blog

2. Nafisah from Bamblings of Naffy

3. She Wears Burgandy

4. Genna from stylingnovice.com

5. Naomi from Pennies for a Pound

6. Jennifer at Tiger Lily Beauty

7.  Brittany at Socks & Sandals

8. Kendal at It's-called-fashion

Thanks so much to Ebony Jay for tagging me!

October Favourites

Hello lovelies,

Now I know this is a bit late but I was at home last week and although I thought I would have time to blog, I just didn't. It really hit me just how much I miss being at home, being able to understand what's going on the majority of the time and seeing all my friends and family but heyho...I'll be back at Christmas!

H20 Plus Aqualibrium Marine Toner - $17.00

I picked this up several months ago and it seems to be discontinued in the UK now but it's available in the USA. I tend to lean toward alcohol free toners and this has really helped to keep my skin clear and calm. It's a lovely toner that doesn't strip the skin but removes all traces of dirt. I still have a couple of bottles left... don't know what I'll do when I run out!

Ren T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid 50ml - £26.00

I've only got a 15ml sample size but I have really enjoyed using this and it would definitely be something that I would consider repurchasing. This product claims to reduce shine and balance combination skin and as you all know, mt T-Zone can get very oily throughout the day when wearing makeup. I find that I don't have to worry about my skin getting oily and it really calms my skin down. Ren is a brand that I'm definitely going to explore more.

Seventeen Supreme Shine Lipstick in Bon Bon - £4.99

I only picked this up as I had a half price voucher from the Boots machine and looking at the shade in the bullet, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near it. Bon Bon is a nude pinky brown shade which I really love. This lippie applies semi-sheer but it's easily buildable, it's not quite as glossy as the Mirror Shine range but the colour is more pigmented. I found this lasted about 4 hours before needing reapplying but wore well. What really draws me to this range is that my lips can get quite dry, especially during the Winter months and these are so moisturising. 

Revlon Nail Art Moon Candy in 280 Orbit - £7.99

I remember there being a huge amount of hype when these were released and I never really got it. But now I do. I love the way Revlon have matched up a dark base coat with an iridescent holographic top coat, they make a perfect pairing for Autumn. I will be doing a NOTD post at some point to show you the true effect.

What have been your October Favourites?

Review: M&S Autograph Mattifying Primer

Hello lovelies,

This primer was the very first that I tried, I've tried others, yet this is the one that I always end up coming back too. I feel like a very loyal Autograph primer user, currently I'm saving it to use on long days and evenings out because it's not that easy to pick up in France, but when I pop home next week, I'm definitely going to stock up.

The mattifying primer comes in a 15ml tube which is clear, so you can see in advance when you need to re-stock, there's nothing worse than finding first thing in the morning that you've come to the end of a product and don't have a backup - first world problems.

I pop this on in the morning or before a night out after I've moisturised. The formula is super light and it absorbs so quickly. There's none of that waiting around for 5 minutes whilst you wait for it to absorb, you can pop your makeup on almost instantly. It creates a smooth base for applying makeup and I notice my skin looks better - flawless, when I've used it.

I look for primers that are oil-free or help to regulate oil, as through the day I turn from glowy to an oily mess and the longer that I can go before needing to top up my makeup the better. This primer ticks the boxes, it's oil-free and helps to keep your skin shine-free. This is great for oily-combination skin as it contains a sebum regulating ingredient which helps to keep oil under control. 

It's definitely a product for those of us with oily-combination skins and a staple in my makeup bag.

Autograph Mattifying Primer is available online and in certain M&S stores for £12.00 (currently on 3 for 2, which covers hundreds of items).

Have you tried any items from the Autograph range?

Review: Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in 110

Hello lovelies,

You may have seen me pick this up in my recent haul and I'm going to surprise you all by saying it's the first Rimmel lipstick I've ever owned, and now I'm certain it won't be the last.  

I picked up 110 on offer from Asos and picked it based up on the swatches on the website, which in all honestly weren't very realistic but they were a good price and the matte promise appealed to me. Shade 110 is a lovely vibrant red-coral colour. In the bullet, it does appear more coral but when applied, it definitely has a red undertone. I think it's a nice alternative to a standard red lip and would suit a range of skin tones. At first, I wasn't too sure if it was a bit too bright for me but I've really warmed to it, and it really brightens up a dark outfit.

(I would have took a picture of it on my lips but I'm feeling a bit under the weather at the moment, so have just done a swatch for you.)

I won't go on too much about the packaging as you can see for yourself what it's like, I really like it. I believe it comes in the standard "Kate" casing but it's red to distinguish the matte range.

The lipstick has a very light scent to it, it doesn't smell like kiddies makeup and you don't notice it. I really like the formula of this, despite being matte, it isn't overly drying on the lips and doesn't cling to dry patches. I tend to pop a lip balm on underneath but I do that with the majority of the lipsticks that I wear. It lasts a good 3-4 hours before needing reapplication, I tested it out on a night out!

I'm just about to put an order in for a few more shades, there's a total of 5 shades so I may just treat myself to them all!  Asos currently has an offer on that runs until 9am tomorrow morning where they are £3.50 each instead of their normal £5.49 - bargain! 

Have you tried any other matte lipsticks? How do they compare?

Best of Beauty Advent Calenders

Hello lovelies,

I've heard much talk flying around this year about Beauty Advent Calenders and I decided that I'll cover the very best of the bunch. I know you're all thinking Christmas is ages away, right? Wrong, only 2 paydays left until the big day! Whether you're looking to treat yourself or a pre-Christmas present for a special somebody, these would fit the bill...

Ciaté Mini Mani Advent Calender - £42.00 (Exclusively available at Selfridges)

""Every girl's diary can now be filled with a daily dose of delectable mini nail treats, as behind each door lies a very colourful surprise. Gorgeously packaged with seventeen of Ciaté's bestselling mini Paint Pots, four mini Caviar blends, and three extremely special exclusive Paint Pot glitter shades you'll not find anywhere else, ever."

The Mini Mani Advent Calender for 2013 includes a generous 17 of Ciaté's best selling mini Paint Pots, 4 mini Caviar blends and three exclusive Paint Pot glitter shades that you'll never ever find anywhere else! At £42, it certainly isn't cheap but would make the perfect gift for nail art fans. Going on the reaction last year, I would purchase sooner rather than later as these sold out super quick.

Boots Beauty Advent Calender - 24 Days of Beauty Treats - £30.00 (available exclusively to Boots instore and online)

"Wake up every morning to a new beauty treat and fill the month of December with gorgeous gifts to pamper yourself from head to toe. Featuring brands such as; Soap & Glory, Nails Inc, Paco Rabanne, Juicy Couture, Rimmel, Mavala, Umberto Giannini and many more...."

Out of all the Beauty Calenders, this one excites me the most, it's a budget friendly option, yet still contains some great little surprises! You get 24 treats ranging from mini's to full sized from some top beauty brands worth over £65.00. There are plenty of spoiler posts online if you want to find out the exact contents but I think that ruins half the fun!

Selfridges Beauty Advent Calender - £84.00 (exclusive to Selfridges)

"Selfridges' exclusive bijoux Christmas advent calendar brings you the best in beauty. From Viktor & Rolf, Yves Saint Laurent, Kiehl's and Giorgio Armani to Lancôme and Maison Martin Margiela, you can discover a precious treat behind every door to make you dazzle, sparkle and shine this festive season."

This little beauty is a little pricey and unfortunately way out of my budget, however it does contain some really high-end beautiful products including fragrance, makeup and skincare from the likes of Lancome, YSL and Kiehl's . I definitely wouldn't be disappointed if I received this, it's a great way of trying out some luxurious products!

(Image of 2012 calender)

Word on the grapevine  You Beauty is set to release a calender for this year, but as of now, there has been no news of when or what the contents will be. If last years is anything to go by, I'm pretty sure it'll be fabulous. Last years cost £59.95 and was worth a whopping £210! If I hear anything, I will be sure to let you know, but keep your eyes peeled ladies!

Have any of these tickled your pickle? Do you still get Advent Calenders?

NOTD: Kiko Nail Lacquer in 254 Wine Red Microglitter

Hello lovelies,

Just a quick one today. I picked this up in my big Beauty Haul as I'd been popping in and out of Kiko and decided that it was about time I tried something.

Wine Red Microglitter is a gorgeous deep claret red with a slight purple shimmer running through it, it's such a perfect colour for the Christmas season. It's quite opaque and if I was in a rush, I would just settle for one coat. The second coat just really brings out the purple sheen.

Application wise, I really like it. The brush is a good size and it goes on without smudging. My only issue is that it takes forever to dry, I tend to now do my nails watching catch-up tv as it takes a good 20 minutes to be touch proof. I have to say with only a days wear and without a topcoat or a base coat, it has started to wear a bit.

I will probably pick up a couple more shades, the range is massive. Kiko is quite readily available in Europe but unless you live in London in the UK, it's ordering online, sorry folks! However, I noticed on the website, they're offering free delivery to new subscribers, I presume that's to a newsletter of some sort.

Kiko Nail Laquer is available from Kiko (surprise, surprise) for £3.90. 

Have you tried anything from Kiko?

Review: L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3-in-1 Micellar Solution

Hello lovelies,

I was in two minds whether to review this, as everyone and their dog has tried it and there has been so many reviews of it flying around. But I thought I'd add my tuppence for what it's worth, L'Oreal Micellar Solution is the very first micellar water that I've tried, I've been toying with the idea of buying Bioderma to do a comparison. Let me know if you beauties are interested in that!

In case you've completely missed the bandwagon. a micellar solution is simply a very light fluid which feels like water but is designed to effectively dissolve makeup, unclog pores and tone without causing any irritation. Unlike other makeup removers, a micellar solution is non-greasy and removes makeup rather than moving it around your face. Supposedly your skin should feel soft, moisturised and toned after using it but is that really the case?

I think I picked this up in Superdrug on an introductory offer, and at the time, it was causing quite a stir in the beauty world as it's considerably cheaper than Bioderma and easier to get hold of. I tend to use this as a pre-cleanse, I squirt a bit onto a cotton wool pad and sweep it over my face. It does a good job at removing and dissolving the face makeup but when it comes to eyes, I'm sorry to say it let me down. I found it left residue and although I do wear waterproof eyeliner, this is designed to be 3-in-1 and I shouldn't have to use another product. Saying that, I always cleanse, tone and moisturise after using the micellar water, so it's not really a biggy for me, maybe I'm just too picky?

The micellar solution doesn't have much of a scent (well to me anyway), but that makes sense as it's marketed as being suitable for sensitive skin, which is always an added bonus. My skin always feels clean after using this but I can't help finding it slightly drying. My only other niggle is the top, I find you end up squirting it all over as the hole is just too big...I'm getting into dodgy territory, so moving on... 

I suppose my review is a mixed bag, I'd recommend it to someone who is looking for a quick and easy makeup remover or something to pre-cleanse with but personally, I wouldn't use it on it's own. That's just my personal preference.

You can find the L'Oreal 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution in Boots and Superdrug for £4.99, and both stores currently have offers - 3 for 2 and £3.32 respectively, which is great for anyone who wants to stock up.

 Have you tried L'Oreal's answer to micellar water?

The Watch Hut Wishlist

Hello lovelies,

Now this is a long story but I'll cut it short, I've been in France about 6 weeks now (heading home in 10 days! Yayyyy) and I still haven't got round to getting a French phone. I use my phone for everything, I am literally reliant on it and feel like I've lost part of me. So when I'm sitting in a French Civil Law Seminar, I want... I need to know how long I've got left before I can go back to bed. My only problem is I don't own a watch, well I do but it's at home and it's far too expensive for me to wear everyday. Why do we always save nice things for best? So I've been doing a bit of online browsing and put together a few of my favourite time tellers.

Casio Baby G-Shock Rubber Strap BGA-110-7B2ER - £70.00

Swatch Unisex Cherry Berry Watch - £32.00

Michael Kors Ladies Lexington Watch MK3230 - £155.40

I'll definitely be putting in an order. The Watch Hut offer free next day delivery if you order before 4pm, which is always a bonus.

Have any of these took your eye?

*Sponsored post*

Beauty Haul

Hello lovelies,

I know, I know!I said ages ago that I had a haul coming up and I've only just got round to it. I came to France with virtually nothing, so I needed to pick up a few things but you know when you only need a couple of things and then there's offers and you end up buying probably three times the amount of stuff that you needed, well that happened. I picked up a few things from ASOS, who had a great offer on Rimmel which just doesn't exist in France (Thank goodness for free international delivery!), Kiko and Yves Rocher, the French version of the Body Shop.

I only went to order a hair mask online and ended up picking up several items, the offers were amazing!

Tradition de Hamman Moroccan Clay Mask for Face & Hair - £8.45 (normally £16.90)
Monoi de Tahiti Lagoon Hair & Body Wash - £1.50 (normally £3.00)
Botanical Hair Care Hair Repair Oil - £7.63 (normally £10.90)
Shine & Fill Base Coat - £7.90
Yves Rocher Lipstick in Peach - £3.60 (normally £7.20)
Summer Glow Moisturing Lotion Face & Body - £9.45 (normally £13.50)

I only went on ASOS to look at dresses and ended up browsing over to Beauty. Shock-horror, these are my first Rimmel lipsticks, I've always been curious but never actually bit the bullet, well I have now.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Pink Blossom - £3.99
Rimmel London Wake Me Up Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in Sand -£4.99
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick in Nude Pink - £4.99
Rimmel London Kate Matte Lipstick in 110 - £5.49

These were just a few odd things I picked up, apparently you can't buy a shampoo and conditioner together on offer in France, so I ended up buying two lots of the same shampoo and conditioner. Those pesky clever Frenchies making me spend more!

Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo - £1.34 from Boots (normally £2.69)

Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner - £3.99 from Boots

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm - £9.50 from Feel Unique (I've already done a review on this, which can be found here)

Kiko Nail Lacquer in 254 Wine Red Microglitter - £3.90 from Kiko

Have you tried any of these? What did you think?