Nail of the Day: #182 Blushing by Creative Nail Design

(Above: Blushing by Creative Nail Design)

So, today I'm wearing a lovely nude colour which is a good versatile colour if you're not sure what outfit you're going to be wearing. This nail varnish is REALLY pigmented. Usually with nude colours you have to do layer up on layer to get the colour opaque. But with this one I just did two coats and it is completely opaque. 

Hope you have a great day, and don't forget to follow :)

January Favourites

My favourites for the month of January:

-MAC eye shadow in 'Emabrk'

-MAC eye shadow in 'Shroom'

-Too Faced Full Bloom Ultra Flush Powder Blush in 'Sweet Pink'

-BK42 Bullet Crease brush from Crown Brushes

- Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

-Mac Penultimate Brow Marker

-Gucci Eau de Parfum II

(Above: Mac Eye Shadow in 'Shroom' - left, and 'Embark' -right.) 

Shroom is the perfect highlight colour and has just the right amount of shimmer. Embark is a nice deep, reddish brown colour perfect for the crease.

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(Above: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation)

I've been using this foundation for quite a few months now, it gives a lovely, dewy finish and applies really nicely. It doesn't make me break out and it last for hours!

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(Above: Too Faced Full Bloom Ultra Flush Powder Blush)

I've had this blusher for a number of months now, but have only started using it religiously this month. It's a lovely sheer pink colour, with just the right amount of shimmer. 

(Above: Too Faced blusher in 'Sweet Pink')

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(Above: MAC Penultimate Brow Marker)

This little treat makes doing your eyebrows a doddle! It's easy to apply and makes it really easy to give your eyebrows shape and definition, and it lasts for hours, even without setting it!

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(Above: BK42 Bullet Crease brush from Crown Brushes)

This brush is the perfect size to fit right into your crease and blends your eye shadow out really well. Its long handle gives great precision and it's not expensive!

(Above: Gucci Eau de Parfum II)

This perfume is by far my favourite from my vast collection! It's the perfect scent to blast a bit of summery-ness into these cold winter days.

If you'd like me to do a full review on any of these products don't be afraid to ask, and remember to follow! :)

You can get the products mentioned from:

MAC Products- Their online store UK ( http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/ ), US ( http://www.maccosmetics.com/index.tmpl ) or in many department stores.

Bourjois Foundation- UK Boots Stores or online ( http://www.boots.com/ ), US ( I'm not 100% sure, but I think Ulta stocks Bourjois )

Too Faced Blusher- UK and US ( http://www.beautybay.com/ )

Crown Brushes- UK ( http://www.crownbrush.co.uk/ ), US ( http://www.crownbrush.com/ )

Gucci Eau de Parfum II- ( http://www.boots.com/en/Gucci-Eau-De-Parfum-II-Spray-30ml_11507/ ), US ( http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/123612999990099# )

Nail of the Day: My Private Jet by OPI

So, I'm back to my dark nail varnish! 'My Private Jet' is very similar to 'Twilight' by Ciate Paint Pots, but instead of golden flecks, 'My Private Jet' is packed full of silver shimmer with reddish undertones. I absolutely adore this colour! Definitely one of my favourites.  

I hope you have a wonderful day and as always feel free to ask me any questions :)

Glossybox: January 2012

What was in January's Glossybox?

-Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner

-Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream

-Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream

- FAB Body Moisturiser 

-Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer- Dewy Finish

and also this little treat below :) 

The first item in my Glossybox was this Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Plum. At first I was a bit bewildered by the shape of this product but after some research I discovered it was a handy contraption so that you can sharpen the eye liner right down and you still have a handle. I am not overly impressed by the pigment of this product as you do have to go over it a couple of times to build up the colour. However, this product does smudge out really well so it's great if you want to create a smokey eye.

(Above: Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in 'Plum')

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The second item in the box was this Murad Skin Perfecting Primer which is supposed to give a dewy finish. The product has a thin, silky consistency and a little goes a long way. It is slightly tinted, so may not be suitable for pale skin, but on darker skin tones it blends in really nicely and evenly. I've not yet tried this under foundation but I shall give an update, once I have done so.

(Above: Murad Skin Perfecting Primer and the blended in product to its right)

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The next item was this FAB Body Moisturiser. This product is meant to nourish the skin, relieve dryness and lock in moisture. The first thing I have to say about this product is about its packaging. As the moisturiser is so thick it is really hard to squeeze it out of the bottle, so I think this would be better suited for tub rather than a bottle. This is an all natural product so is unscented, which is good if you plan on wearing a perfume and you don't want the smell of your moisturiser to overpower it. This sinks in really nicely to your skin and leaves it feeling nourished and fresh. 

(Above: FAB Body Moisturiser)

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The next two items in the Glossybox were the Extra-Firming day and night creams from Clarins. I was really glad when I received these as I have used them before and loved them. The day cream has a nice and light formula, perfect for underneath your foundation as it sinks in really well and creates a nice moisturised base.

(Above: Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream)

The night cream has a thicker consistency than the day cream, as you would expect from a night cream. This feels absolutely luxurious when applying to your skin, it melts in and leaves your skin feeling smooth and supple.

(Above: Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream)

If you are not subscribed already, you can subscribe here ( http://home.glossybox.co.uk )

Glossybox is a monthly subscription which costs £10 plus p&p, which you can cancel at anytime.

I hope you find this helpful and let me know what you thought of your Glossybox or if you have any questions about it, feel free to ask :) 

Drugstore Vs. High End: Volumizing Mascara Review

Today, I will be comparing Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara Shocking Volume and Maybelline Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara, which both claim to be volumizing mascaras. 

Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Mascara Shocking Volume

I bought this mascara when I was at the Yves Saint Laurent counter looking for a nice lip gloss, when the YSL representative insisted she try their new mascara on me. She applied it just on the tips of my eyelashes, on top of the mascara I was already wearing. When I looked in the mirror I was initially impressed and purchased the mascara. However, when I used it at home by itself, I wasn't as impressed. This mascara has a very thick consistency and tends to clump at the tips of your eyelashes when applied. It also smells very perfumed which is a little odd considering it's a product for your eyes! As for it volumizing effects, it does add volume but it just looks a bit clumpy and thick.

(Above: YSL Shocking brush)

 Maybelline Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara

I bought this mascara, as I was always a fan on the original Colossal mascara. I would say that the formula is pretty much the same, the Cat Eyes possibly has a slightly thinner consistency. So, the main difference is the brush. The Cat Eyes has a quite a narrow, spoon shaped brush which I think is ideal for applying mascara as you can really get it into the base of your eyelashes, which aids the volumizing affect of the mascara. It separates and defines your eyelashes really well and because of the shape of the brush it also fans them out nicely.

(Above: Maybelline Cat Eyes brush)

..and the winner is : Drugstore!

I hope you have a fantastic day, and feel free to ask any questions :)

Nail of the Day: Purple With A Purpose by OPI

So I decided to paint my nails a fun, bright colour as lately I've been wearing black, gray, dark purple, dark blue and so on and so on. The quality of this varnish, as with all OPI nail lacquers, is excellent. The first coat does apply a little thin but with the second coat, you get the bright, dazzling shade you see in the pictures. 

Hope you have a wonderful day, and as always feel free to ask any questions :)

Top 3 Highlighters / Review

A review of 3 of my favourite highlighters. These are:

-Benefit High Beam

-MAC Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl'

-MAC Iridescent Powder in 'Silver Dusk'  

Benefit High Beam

High Beam is described as a 'Satiny Pink Liquid Highlighter'. The colour is a very light pink, with slightly blue undertones, so I would recommend this for paler skin colours. Benefit also offers 'Moon Beam', which I would recommend for darker skin tones. This product is so pigmented, but not over shimmery (see photo below) which is the problem with many highlighters on the market. The brush makes it super easy to apply, and it blends really nicely. As for the durability, it lasts really well and doesn't begin to look greasy towards the end of the day. 

(Above: High Beam with blended in product to its right)

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MAC Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl'

Pearl is described as 'Pale Gold with icy shimmer'. By this description you think that this would be for darker skin tones because of its golden colour, but this colour really is suitable for most skin tones. This product is quite pigmented, but more subtle than the High Beam, so more suitable for daily use. The consistency is thick and creamy so it does take a little effort to blend (I just use my finger to apply), but once blended it gives a really nice , subtle sheen. I wouldn't say this stays put quite as long as the High Beam, but lasts without spreading shimmer down your face! 

(Above: Pearl with blended in product to its right)

MAC Iridescent Powder in 'Silver Dusk'

Silver Dusk is described as 'Pinky Beige with Silver Shimmer', which makes it sound very shimmery, and although it's more shimmery than High Beam and Pearl, it's not as it sounds. It's a less subtle sheen than the other two products mentioned, so not recommended for everyday use. But as a special occasion highlighter, this is the best! I apply this using my MAC 130 Short Duo Fibre Brush and just tap it along the top of my cheek bones. It spreads out nice and evenly and the light really reflects off it. As this is a powder product it stays put for hours and hours without budging!

(Above: Silver Dusk with blended in product to its right)

(Above: MAC Iridescent Powder in 'Silver Dusk')

Hope you find this helpful, and feel free to ask any questions :)

Where yu can purchase the products mentioned:

You can get both MAC and Benefit products from department stores such as Debenhams and Selfridges in the UK and stores such as Sephora and Nordstrom in the US.

Also online at:

Sephora- http://www.sephora.com/

Nordstrom- http://shop.nordstrom.com/?origin=tab-logo

Debenhams- http://www.debenhams.com/

Selfridges- http://www.selfridges.com/

L'Occitane Shea Butter Body Range Review

I received this lovely gift set for Christmas from a friend and I'm absolutely in love with it. I'd had a L'Occitane fragrance before (Cherry Blossom), but I'd never tried out their Bodycare range, so this was the perfect Christmas gift. The Shea Butter line is a range of body and face care products that each contain a certain amount of pure Shea Butter. The line has a gentle frangrance, it reminds me slightly of baby powder so not over powering if you're planning on wearing perfume as well. I also ADORE the packaging design, as it has a really vintage and classic feel about it. Shea Butter has many benefits including:

-Soothes skin irritations

- Rich in Vitamins A, E and F

-Moisturises skin without clogging pores 

L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream

This hand cream is 20% Shea Butter, and you can really tell. It has a thick, creamy consistency and melts into your skin just like butter. It leaves your hands feeling smooth and hydrated and not at all greasy!

L'Occitaine Dry Skin Foot Cream

This cream is 15% Shea Butter, and so is not as thick as the hand cream but is just as luxurious. This product has a slightly different scent to the other products in the Shea Butter range, as it has added Lavender Essential Oil. It sinks into your skin really fast and leaves your feet feeling nourished.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Shower Cream

This shower cream has the same scent as the other products in the line but a lot milder. It is 5% Shea butter, and feels lovely on your skin, but it doesn't lather up very much at all. Although this isn't a negative as once you've washed the product off, it leaves your skin feeling nicely cleansed and moisturised. 

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Lotion

This body lotion is 15% Shea Butter, the same as the foot cream, but its consistency is a lot thinner. That said, it feels just as moisturising and again sinks in lovely.   

L'Occitane Extra Gentle Milk Soap

I've not yet used this soap but I will give an update once I have done so :)

These products are my new bodycare favourites, and I will definitely repurchase!

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions :)

You can purchase the products mentioned in store at most Debenhams and on their online store ( http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigate?ps=&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&x=0&y=0&txt=shea+butter )

You can also purchase directly from the L'Occitane site ( http://uk.loccitane.com/FO/shea-butter.htm )

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in '513 Black Pearl' Review

I purchased this nail varnish a number of weeks ago, but have only just gotten around to using it, and I must say it's not all I thought it would be.

I prepared my nails by filing and buffing the edges to the shape that I desired. I then wiped over the nail surface with acetone to remove any oils (this helps the varnish last longer). I then applied my base coat ( I used Stickey by Creative Nail Design). Then comes the nail varnish, I applied one coat of 'Black Pearl' and it appeared a bit thin and see-through, but after the second coat it was completely covered and appeared the same colour as in the bottle. I waited for that to dry and then applied my top coat ( Seche Vite). 

The end result was brilliant, and the colour looked amazing (see below).

But this didn't last long, and the varnish started chipping after about a day. For the price  (£17.50!), I expected a little more. But for a night out this nail varnish makes you feel just that little bit more glamorous, so why not treat yourself?

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions :)

You can purchase Chanel Nail colours at many Debenhams and Selfridges and also on their online stores.

Selfridges- http://www.selfridges.com/

Debenhams- http://www.debenhams.com/ 

Top 3 Eyeshadow Primers/ Review

A review of the three leading eye shadow primers on the market. These are:

-Urban Decay Primer Potion

-MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly'

-Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

This primer has a light velvety consistency, and glides on effortlessly. It does take a little while to sink in though, before you can apply your eye shadow. When applying the eye shadow the pigment really sticks to the primer so it does take quite a lot of blending for the shadow colour to look seamless. As for staying power, I would say it stays put for around 6 hours but then it does start to crease slightly. 

MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly'

The consistency of this product is quite thick and therefore a little hard to blend so I would suggest applying with a concealer brush. As for the colour it's a nice natural nude colour, but is quite light so may not be suitable for darker skin tones. When applying the shadow it smooths on really nice and the pigment of the eye shadow really stands out. Although, this product isn't specifically a primer so even though it does create a flawless finish it doesn't stay for long and starts to crease after just a few hours.

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Saving the best until last, Urban Decay Primer Potion is by far my favourite eye shadow primer. It again has a light, velvety consistency much like the Shadow Insurance, and feels like silk when applying. It sinks in instantaneously, and creates a nice matte finish to apply your eye shadow. The eye shadow goes on nicely and blends easily. The staying power for this is amazing, it lasts for hours and hours, but comes off nicely when it's time to remove your make-up.     

The eye shadow I used for these photos is 'Parfait Amour' by MAC.

I hope you found these reviews helpful if you're considering purchasing an eye shadow primer but just can't decide which, and as always feel free to ask any questions :)

You can purchase the products mentioned from:

-Urban Decay Primer Potion (new packaging) http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/urbandecay/g/eyeshadowprimerpotion/ 

- MAC Paint Pot in 'Painterly' 

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/1573/Eyes/Shadow/Paint-Pot/index.tmpl

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance

http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/toofaced/g/shadowinsurance/ 

-MAC Eye Shadow in 'Parfait Amour' 

http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/363/Eyes/Shadow/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl