Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine - Nude Gloss

This is the Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine.  PRETTIEST PACKAGING EVER!  I got a little snap happy but a box this pretty deserves every photo it gets.

I picked this up whilst in Canada as part my Sephora haul.  I'd heard a lot about it, primarily from Anna and thought I'd give it a go.

The balm itself is smooth and not sticky, very easy to throw on before work and during the day.  Its ingredient include Shea butter and rice wax... unusual!  It keeps lips soft but I wouldn't say it was particularly repairing if you're prone to dryness and cracking (as I occasionally am!).  So I think I'll need to give my lips some TLC before I reach for it again.  But I have been applying it throughout the day since I got it...

The shade is a lovely nude/pink but the balm isn't very pigmented.  For me, that's perfect.  In a balm I'm not really looking for a heavy opaque colour so the Korres lip balm fits the bill!

The scent isn't particularly jasmin-y but again, scents can sometimes be overwhelming and this one certainly isn't.

The packaging is absolutely beautiful.  I've struggled to throw it away but think the time will soon come when I must...!  The little pot it comes is in small, portable and durable, it wont be getting and dents like your vaseline tin!

Overall I'm really glad I bought this product.  Sometimes all I want is low matenaine pretty make up and I love a glossy non sticky lip.  It may not be the longest wearing but I sometimes like to reapply something as luxurious as this every hour or so.

You can pick this up on Amazon or Feel Unique for between £5-6.

Are you tempted?  Are there any other lip butters you recommend?

House of Fraser Blogger Style Challenge

I recently saw this competition on a fellow blogger's page and just couldn't resist taking part myself!

House of Fraser are offering the generous prize of a £200 in-store shopping spree to the best blogger outfit made up of products sold by HoF.  As far as I'm concerned finding clothes I love in House of Fraser really isn't a challenge!  I remember going in with my mum in my youth and stroking the soft leather handbags...!  Enough of that though!  Here are my AW 12/13 picks!

1. Phase Eight - Daria Sequin Jumper £65

Metallics are going to be big this season and what better way to showcase them than on some knitwear?

I love the texture of this jumper and also the fact that it can be dressed up with a leather skirt or down with jeans or leggings.

2. Oasis - Faux Leather Biker Mini £45

This is a lovely little skirt with biker style quilting on the sides and zip details taking it away from your usual leather body con. Love!  Leather is always a good purchase as it comes in season after season and will be one of the hardest working items you own.

3. Head Over Heels - Pashy Zip Boots With Studs £49

These boots are an absolute steal!  They look really high end with the studs, zips and detailing but come in very cheaply compared to their Topshop, Asos counterparts.  My ankle boots are most definitely my footwear of choice at the minute and are a must buy for AW 12/13

4. Decadorn - Prussian Leather Wrap Bracelet £36

A lovely metallic bracelet to create an instant arm party!  Will match everything.

5. Coast - Robin Necklace £35

A chunky necklace can jazz up any outfit.  Mixed metallics are girl-grungy and will match all outfits perfectly. I particularly like the rings on this lovely Coast number.

6. Nars - Duo Eyeshadow in Hula Hula £23.50

This beautiful duo of shimmering gold and rose is the perfect way to give yourself a glossy party eye.  Nars shadows are famously well pigmented and these gorgeous shades will certainly be well used.

7. Bobbi Brown - Creamy Eye Pencil in Jet £15.50

A classic black kohl will add just the right amount of grunge to this shimmering metallic look.  This pencil from Bobbi Brown is creamy, smooth on application and has a sponge on the other end for that lust-worthy smoky eyed look. Perfect!

8. MAC - Lipstick in Shanghai Spice £14

You can't go wrong with a MAC lippie and this gorgeous pinky shade will offset a smoky eye perfectly.

9. Nails Inc - Nail Polish in Victoria £11

Victoria is a BIG favourite of mine.  It is probably my most worn shade and I couldn't resist including it here!  It is feminine but dark and the polish itself has great coverage after just one coat.  A MUST BUY.

10. Viktor and Rolf - Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum £48

Last (but most certainly not least) is Flowerbomb.  A cult perfume and my FAVOURITE.  It gives a gorgeous, feminine scent which is spicy enough for Winter and floral enough for Summer.  It has to feature here!

And there you have it.  What do you think?

Will you be heading to House of Fraser this week?  I know I will!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy

So as you may know I recently spent 3 weeks in Canada travelling around the Rockies and British Columbia.  Whilst I was there I spotted a Sephora and got VERY over excited!
After running in I spent a VERY long time browsing and decided I wanted to buy something that I couldn't get back home.  Having heard all the hype I went for this...

the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy.

Tipsy is a warm, coral powder blush which boasts an impressive 12 hour staying power.  It's a lovely pigmented shade, I was a little surprised at how much colour I got from so little product so I think a stippling brush is the best way to get just the right amount of peachy glow. But I'm VERY impressed.  The shade is warm making it appropriate for Summer AND Winter which is rare in a coral blush.

The packaging is solid but not too bulky which should help avoid any cracking or damage and also has a mirror inside making it good for when you're on the go.

Now for the big question:

Does it last 12 hours?

....YES!

I have been wearing it for the past few weeks and can confirm it doesn't require any touch ups.

I know I will find myself reaching for this product time and time again.  It really does deserve all the hype it gets.  It's also good to know that it doesn't contain any parabens, petroleum or mineral oils making it kind to break out prone skin!

It retails at $25 dollars and is available in Sephora.  I'm afraid Tarte only ship within the US but I gather that these beauties can be found on ebay...

What do you think of the Tarte Amazonian Clay blush?

Hope you're having a good weekend!

Sunday DIY: At Home Manicure...

There's nothing quite like having freshly manicured nails but for those of us who have neither the time nor money to get them done professionally all the time, perfecting the at home manicure is a must!

You will need:

Nail clippers

Nail file

Cuticle trimmer

Cuticle stick

Base coat

Nail polish

Top coat

Cuticle oil

Hand cream

and a bowl of warm soapy water

All of these are easily available about boots and worth investing in to keep your nails in tip top condition.

1.  Start by using the nail clippers to trim your nails to a uniform length, I usually take them reasonably short as my nails are prone to breakage.  Now using your nail file, file them to your desired shape (square, round, oval, squoval (great word!) - oval tends to suit everyone).

2.  Place your hands in the soapy water for 5 minutes to allow your cuticles to soften.  Using the cuticle stick, push cuticles back and trim using your cuticle trimmer.  Try and be gentle whilst doing this as cuts can be painful and infections can occur, (you have been warned ladies!)

3.  Next apply your base coat.  I've used Nails Inc Kensington Caviar basecoat.  Even if you decide to skip your topcoat NEVER skim your basecoat as it protects your nail from becoming stained but also gives your polish something to cling on to, making your manicure last longer, so it's win win really!  Allow to dry then apply your colour of choice.  Allow to dry again and add your topcoat, I've used the Nails Inc Kensington Caviar topcoat which gives a lovely gloss to my nails.

4.  Finish off my popping a little cuticle oil onto the nails, I've used the O.P.I. Avioplex oil which has a lovely melony smell and has really sorted out my dry nails!  I finally used a little of the Cath Kidston hand cream to leave my hands soft and pampered!

All of these products are easily available at Boots, so stock up and spoil yourselves in the sun this Sunday afternoon!

Rituals Salt Scrub

As you may have seen I, like many bloggers, have succumbed to the beauty box.  My box of choice is the Glossybox and it was in one of my monthly arrivals that I first came across Rituals.  I had seen the brand before but had never purchased anything from it so the foaming body wash was quite a treat!  IT SMELT INCREDIBLE.  I was raving about it to anyone who would listen.  Unfortunately on the 3rd day of it's existence in my life I had a slight accident whilst on a trip to Bath...

I can still smell it....

So! Despite this, I had slightly fallen in love with it and went to my local House of Fraser to replace it sharpish! Whilst there I also picked up the Himalaya Wisdom salt scrub and was similarly impressed.

Now I don't know about you but the idea of a basil and mint scrub doesn't immediately start me jumping for joy but let me tell you, it works!

The scrub is thick without being uncomfortably abrasive and leaves my skin feeling suitably moisturised and gorgeously fresh.  Having used it for a few weeks now I can definitely see the difference.  I have always had dry bumpy skin on the tops of my arms (common in a lot of girls but SO ANNOYING) and this has definitely helped to reduce it.  I just love the tingly feeling and the scent it leaves on your skin which I think has helped me to remember to use it at least once a week and keep up the good habit of exfoliating!  Despite using it quite frequently the pot is a great size and I have barely made a dent in it.  I know it will last for a really long time.  My love affair with Rituals is slowly developing...!

Rituals Himalaya Wisdom scrub salt is available from House of Fraser or online here and costs £12.90

Have you tried any rituals products? Are there any you can recommend to me?

Look Double Hit Lip Review

Whenever a make up range emerges from an unlikely source, we can be forgiven for having a few reservations.  It seems only natural that MAC, Nars, Benefit etc have years of experience and will therefore produce make up at a higher standard.  Every once in a while however, I am proved well and truly wrong and this is one of those times!  Enter the Look Beauty range...

Having seen this in Superdrug and feeling a little adventurous I picked up the Double Hit Lip in Rose Riot.  At £7 it sits right in the middle of the market and I'd say it was very purse friendly!

The product consists of a matte(ish!) lipstick at one end and a matching gloss at the other.

You can either wear them separately or together (as in the photo above)

Rose Riot is a lovely but very wearable bright pink shade.  The lipstick is nicely pigmented and has good staying power.  Since purchasing I have started wearing this most days and have found it to last just as long as its MAC contemporaries!  The gloss isn't too sticky and has a strong sweet candy smell, which I love but some may find a little overpowering...

Over all I am very impressed with my first purchase from the range and look forward to exploring it further...

What do you think? Do you have any products from the Look range?

Until next time...

Review: Deborah Lippmann, Happy Birthday

I must admit that whenever I have seen reviews or swatches of the various rainbow glitter polishes I've been left largely uninspired.  Its quite lucky then that I stumbled across this beauty on a trip to House of Fraser...

Nails - Deborah Lippmann in Happy Birthday and Nails Inc in Bruton Street

Almost an exact dupe for OPI's Raindbow Connection, the Deborah Lippmann contains numerous sizes and shades of glitter on a clear polish base.  After three coats the nail is coated in glitter (but not too much!) and looks just as fab with a dusky pink (as above) as it does with Slate Grey or black.  It's a really versatile polish with just one problem... IT REALLY DOESN'T PHOTOGRAPH WELL!

I think the reason I was uninspired by it was because it looks a little sparse and tacky in photographs because you cant see the shine and how it catches the light but trust me.  Go and find a tester and try it out.

It is quite an expensive polish coming in at a hefty £14 but I imagine this will last me for a really long time and frankly, I cant stop staring at my ring finger as I type which is surely what it's aaaall about!

This gorgeous rose shade was part of my Christmas haul and yet again Nails Inc have produced a wearable, highly pigmented flattering shade.  I can see this becoming a staple in my day to day nailwear!

What do you think of glitter polishes?  Are you still in love with them or are you getting a little bored?

Warm Jewel Tones for Chilly Winter Weather...

I am fresh back from a trip to London to forage in the British Library and write an essay on Chivalry in Arthurian Literature.... which was as boring as it sounds.  But London was vibrant and exciting as ever.
Best of all, I found myself a lovely new coat!

Coat: Topshop

I've been looking for a new coat for almost the last 12 months!  I've been very picky as in my head I'd imagined my dream coat to be camel and was being quite stubborn about looking at anything else, until I saw this beauty.  These photos really don't do the bottle green tweed justice.  It is beautiful.  I've already had so many compliments on it!

It also comes with a detachable fur stole which can be worn with chunky knit jumpers or on top of any other coats you might have!

Jumper, Coat, Leggings and Shoes: Topshop (Yes, I have a problem!)

Bit of a mismatch of photos there but wanted to give you a good view of this gorgeous coat and how well it matches the shades, textures and patterns of my existing winter wardrobe.

Another new discovery is this lovely rust nail polish from Nails Inc, called Fenchurch Street.

This shade is the perfect winter warmer for your nails!  It is versatile enough to look cosy in the day time but classy in the evening and is wonderfully pigmented.  One coat was enough to give an even all over colour (but I did two just in case!) and finished with Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat.

Sorry for the slightly disjointed post, I still have MUCH of my Christmas goodies to review so please bear with me..!

Also wanted to say thanks as I had my most views ever 2 days ago, I'll endeavour to keep you entertained..!

P.s. Don't forget that the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette goes on sale on Debenhams.com at midnight tonight (Friday 6th Jan), I will most definitely be trying to get my hands on one!

Illamasqua Skin Base Review

If you are an avid blog reader like myself, you'll have had to be living under a rock all year to miss the hype surrounding Illamasqua's latest offering, their Skin Base Foundation.  I have finally managed to get my little mitts on it during my trip to Manchester...

Here's what Illamasqua have to say about it:

"Inspired by the cult Asian market Beauty Balm creams, Skin Base Foundation is a brand new, refined formula unlike anything on the UK market. Easily blendable, it effortlessly creates a perfect complexion, and like the entire Illamasqua foundation range, is undetectable in a professional HD environment. Suitable for all skin types, it smoothes, softens and conditions your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage."

First of all, I really like the packaging.  I've been using Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC25 for the past 5 years and it is refreshing to have a squeezy bottle rather than faffing about with pumps which inevitably caused me to use more product than I needed.  Good start Illamasqua!

The foundation itself is more fluid than Studio Fix Fluid which is one of the reasons I decided to try something new.  This spreads like a dream meaning you barely need to use any of it.  I also felt that it blended to and matched my skin tone all over my face.

I'm using SB06

So, here is a little before and after shot! (The light is brighter in the second photo, I haven't gone three shades paler!)

As you can see the coverage is natural and super flattering.  It evens out all my blemishes and red spots as well as giving a gorgeous healthy sheen. I. LOVE. IT!

It feels soft on my skin and has a pleasant smell when applying (small joys!).

As I occasionally get an oily T zone I set the foundation with a little powder on my forehead but otherwise it wasn't necessary.

If you're not lucky enough to live near an Illamasqua counter then you can buy it online here.  And they also offer a really handy Shade Comparison Chart with other Foundations on the market, here.

Overall all I can offer is a positive review (as one might expect from every blogger known to man making this their foundation of choice...!).  And here's the full effect + my usual day to day makeup...

Just another quick note, I purchased my foundation at Selfridges in Manchester and the girl who served me was just so lovely and helpful and even popped it on plus some blusher for me, go and give her a visit!  (Hi Sophie and thank you!)

So, have you given this one a go?

NYE: Day to Night

So, first things first.... HAPPY 2012!

Vest, blazer and jeans: Topshop
Trainers: Converse.  (I actually got these in China some time circa. 2006...!)
Fur: Topshop
Bracelet and Necklace: Thomas Sabo

Hope everyone had a great New Years Eve and here's to the year ahead...
This is what I wore during the day AND night for New Years Eve, with a few minor adjustments...!  Because I had a 2 and a half hour drive up the M6 to Manchester for my celebrations I needed to travel light and be ready for a quick change on arrival.  So, I packed my trusty Miss Selfridge 'Acne-a-like' boots to add a bit of height and my brand spanking new Too Faced 'In Your Dreams' palette and I was good to go...

Foundation: Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC25

Bronzer: Mac in Refined Golden

Blusher: Too Faced in Wanna Play?

Lip Gloss: Too Faced in Give it Up

Brows: Benefit Brow Zing in Light

Mascara: Benefit Bad Gal Lash

On arrival I simply reapplied foundation around my T zone and under my eyes, added a few extra lashings of mascara and opted for a classic purple smoky eye.

Eyes: 

Lid to brow bone: Too Faced Eye Shadow in Full Moon (silver shimmer)

Lid: Too Faced Eye Shadow in Dream On (dark violet)

Crease and Lash Line: Too Faced Eye Shadow in Seduce (midnight blue)

This is the first time I have used this combination as instructed in the beautiful palette and I was really pleased with the result.  Although I was initially concerned as the shadows weren't as pigmented as they appeared in the palette, as I began to layer them up they blended beautifully and were actually just dark enough to create a dramatic yet classy smoky eye.  The purple really made my hazel eyes pop!

I'm becoming quite a fan of Too Faced shadows, have you tried any before? Are there any I need in my collection?

Happy New Year everyone!

Glitter for 2012! (Instagram)

Wasn't planning on posting again today but just couldn't contain my excitement about these nails inc polishes

Gold Glitter - Nails Inc in Finsbury Park

Pearlescent Plum - Nails Inc in Regents Palace

Aren't they gorgeous?!

I got these in a set for Christmas alongside 3 other festive shades and thought I would give them a go for New Years Eve and I really couldn't be happier.

I was a little dubious at how good the coverage of the gold polish would be but was really pleasantly surprised, perfect after just two coats!  The plum shade is a lovely pearlescent multi tonal colour with navy undertones and the good coverage you would expect from any Nails Inc polish.

Alas... My love affair with Nails Inc continues!

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a suitably stylish 2012...

Eyebrows/HD Brows review.

Hello lovelies!

Apologies again for my short hiatus.  It's so easy to forget how much work goes in to moving in to a new uni house, from making sure you have adequate storage to attempting to fit all your clothes into an inadequate wardrobe to building a bookcase (YES! I built a bookcase....from Ikea but even so.  My first foray into the world of flat-pack furniture was largely successful!).  Because of that blogging had to take a back seat but I am slowly getting back into routine and getting round to writing everything that I have had planned.

So!  I think women often feel that shaping their eyebrows is a daunting task that can so easily go wrong so often spend money getting them threaded/waxed etc.  Whilst I am a huge fan of threading, (and think you should have it done every once in a while!) as a student it simply isn't feasible to be throwing my pennies away like that all the time!  With this is mind I thought I would show you the 'rules' of eyebrow shaping at home.

1. To determine where your brow should start, hold a pencil or make-up brush along one side of your nose.  Where it crosses the inner corner of your brow is where it should begin.  Unfortunately my brows start a little short of that point so I just let mine start where they begin!

2. Now angle the brush across the iris which will show you where the highest point of the arch should be.

3. Finally angle it to the end of the outer corner of the eye which is where the brow should end.

4. With those angles and lengths in mind, use tweezers to pluck the stray hairs.  Don't be afraid to pluck above the brow if you need to but be careful!  Once this is done fill in the brows using light, feathery strokes as if you were drawing individual hairs.  I have used the HD Brows kit that I received in my first glossy box, see here.

As you can see in the pre-filled photos, my eyebrows are VERY fair compared to my hair colour and also very thin.  Because of that I ALWAYS fill in my brows and I think it is a really important step in the daily make up regime.  It works wonders to lift your face and complete your eye make up.

As for the HD Brows kit, I'm a fan.  I had been using a Benefit gel eyebrow kit and hadn't used powder before. I'VE BEEN MISSING OUT.  The powder is so much more subtle and natural looking.  I have done them quite lightly in these photos because it was day time, using the second darkest shade.

I'm afraid that the crack in my set has gotten worse and just crumbled on my way to uni:

Disappointing but as I said, that particular colour isn't the right shade for my brows so I'm not too upset!

Today is a chores day, slowly getting my life in order!  Here's what I'm wearing:

Dress: Topshop

Belt: River Island

Cardigan: Topshop (old!)

Please ignore my horrendously clashing nails!  They will be getting a different lick of paint before the day is through!

Hope everyone is well,

Cath Kidston Inspired Nails... Part Two?!

Hello Lovelies!


So, yesterday I did a Cath Kidston nails tutorial and couldn't believe the response it got!  I've always been a huge fan so it really was great that fellow Kidston lovers appreciated my sloppy nail painting!
For my London trip I decided to paint my nails in a big AW trend, polka dots...

Navy and white are always a winning combination.  I used Nails Inc in Kabaret and the Andrea Fullerton Nail Art pen in Kathleen.  What I love about this look is how lovely it looks against any outfit.  They really stand out without looking brash or tacky.

Whilst uploading these photos I also noticed something else.... Navy and white polka dot is remarkably similar to another Cath Kidston print! Oops... obsessed much? I think so.

What's your favourite print?  Any nail art requests?

Have a lovely weekend!

September's GlossyBox!

Today was a bit like Christmas.  A little pink box with mysterious interior but very promising packaging appeared in my post box.  My very first GlossyBox had finally arrived!  Given that I ordered it 4 weeks ago I was beginning to get a little impatient/concerned about its whereabouts but I the excitement of seeing it sitting there just about made up for it!

For those of you who don't know, the premise of GlossyBox is that you pay a fixed price of £10 a month to receive a box filled with some of their favourite products.  The box is beautifully prepared with black paper and pink ribbons hiding the booty underneath!

The idea behind this month's box is to take popular products from across the world that are unusual or have something different to offer and bring them to the UK.

Here's what was inside and what GlossyBox has to say about them:

"1/ Dead Sea Spa Magik - Salt Brushing

Voted 'Best Exfoliator' by You Magazine.  A harmonious blend of pure Dead Sea Salts, vitamin E and coconut oil, with hypnotic citrus aroma, make this a wonderfully pampering body exfoliator.

2/ Green People - Fruitful Nights

Night treat for face and neck.  this 'magic' night cream smoothes fine lines and improves pigmentation marks.  Using pineapple and wild berry extracts, dead skin cells are lifted away revealing younger skin.

3/ HD Brows - Eye&Brow Palette

Eyebrow experts HD Brows have developed this fantastic multi-use eye palette containing four matte ete-brow colours.  They double up as eye shadow and eyeliner as well as lasting 24 hours!

4/ Neal and Wolf - GLOW Super Shine Spray

GLOW is a weightless spray that adds deep, lasting shine.  Its unique formula also helps to smooth hair, control friz and reduce static.  The result?  Incredible all-over shine that leaves hair glowing!

5/ Plum by Mary Greenwell - Eau de Parfum

Plum is the signature fragrance by world-renowned celebrity makeup artist Mary Greenwell.  A stunning classic chypre with a memorable modern twist."

So!  All sounds very promising.  I'm planning on having a nice relaxing bath tonight (I did Body Pump at the gym last night and OW OW OW today!) so will use the salt scrub then and that shine spray will come in handy tomorrow for my trip to London.  Same goes for the HD brows.

One little complaint.... My HD brows set was broken when I opened it...

Very disappointing but I suppose it cant be helped, no ones fault.

Overall, I love the surprise element of Glossy Box!  If you want to learn more, click here to go to their website.

I'm off to London tomorrow so may not post for a few days but I will have more for you on my return!

Until then lovelies,