A Peek Into My Makeup Drawers

Hello!

So today I thought I'd give you all a brief little tour of my makeup storage as it is at the moment. Now then, a little disclaimer of "I'm well aware that this is too much makeup for one human being to get through in a life time but we all have hobbies right?" I also got a lot of this stuff with my staff discount at work, which kind of helps me justify the amount....! You may also note that I don't have a lot of bareMinerals stuff in here, which may seem quite strange considering that I work for them....why is this you ask? Well, it's because I recently decided to move pretty much all my bareMinerals stuff onto my desk where I get ready in the morning. Now then, this isn't set up in an ideal way at all but it's made my morning so much easy! I've also got a few other products on my desk like my Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, some lip liners and mascaras too. Right, let's get on with it!

So like most bloggers, I have the Ikea Alex 9 Drawer Unit to house most of my makeup. There is a reason this range is popular with people with a lot of beauty as it houses most items very well and you can divide the drawers how you want to (after you've brought dividers or re-purposed something - I chose to use empty beauty boxes for the time being as they work well and have a lot of space too.) The one complaint I have about these drawers is that they don't actually come out all the way, which isn't the end of the world but is a minor annoyance every now and then. Just something to consider if you're thinking of getting this unit.  

I have my perfumes sat on top of my drawers in the hopes that it'll remind me to use them more frequently and not just use the ones at work! Post coming soon on my current perfume collection. 

So here is the first photo of the top drawer. It houses some fancy jewellery at the back (some real pearls that my Mum got me and a Stella and Dot bracelet I won from work) then my limited edition bits and backups. So you can see the limited Christmas edition deluxe Mineral Veil by bareMinerals, which I definitely did not need at all as I have more mineral veil than I will ever get through I think....buuuuut.....the pot was so so pretty I couldn't resist!! The black thing at the front is a brush roll that i use whenever I have to take any brushes anywhere as I HATE putting them into makeup bags for some reason! I think this was part of a Lancome brush set a few years back...

Underneath my Mineral Veil I have some gift with purchase bits from Estee Lauder that I've not tried yet (I think I may have tried to mattifying one once maybe?) Then a mini Urban Decay Setting Spray, a limited edition slogan Touche Eclat (the one that says "I am not a morning person"), a few bareMinerals foundations that I've won from work but don't need to open yet (although that Complexion Rescue is probably coming out soon!!) and a couple of sample bits from when I've ordered stuff from the bareMinerals boutique/Online and they've been included in my order (surprisingly the primer sachets are really handy when I'm away as I don't have to carry my full primer and can just throw them away afterwards. The lip products are all backups of products I really like and don't want to be without!

Underneath the brush roll are some perfume samples that I've partially used and just don't know where to put. Most people would have them in their bag but when we get searched at work, it's hard enough trying to explain that, no, you haven't in fact stolen that lipstick from your counter, you tend to have bareMinerals products in your bag because you bloody well work for the company and want to top your lipstick up after lunch without doing it on counter! that you tend to not want to have to also explain about a perfume sample too.

To the right of the picture are two beautiful Burberry limited edition items that I just don't have the heart to use. I know I should do but.....the Rain of Shine blusher is just so beautiful that I don't want to ruin it and the bronzer is also beautiful to look at! First world beauty blogger problems right?

Next up is the face products drawer. Now then, I'm not one of those people that has tonnes of foundations or primers etc because when you work for a beauty brand, you wear their products 5 days out of 7 and, honestly, I love the bareMinerals foundations (well....most of them anyway!) so I don't see the point in buying other foundations as I know I won't use them within the time frame they have before going a bit manky. I'm definitely a bit more flexible with colour products when on days off or holiday. So in here we have a whole bunch of highlighters (the Estee Lauder Sultry Glow one is a favourite at the moment!!), Blushers, a few cream products and maybe about 2 bronzers...I'm clearly not a bronzer fan I guess! The mini bareMinerals one was from a boutique purchase and has been relegated to the drawer because I now have the full size one.

Next up is the eye drawer! This doesn't include big palettes as they are in a drawer further down due to space requirements. So in here we have a bunch of single shadows by NARS, Estee lauder, Urban Decay and some single ones by No7, Burberry and random other brands. I have a couple of Colour Tattoos but other than those I don't have a lot of cream shadows. I also have my lovely Tom Ford palette in here in the shade Silvered Topaz, which was the last one on my list to get after all the other ones i wanted were sold out on my friends discount....it's still beautiful but a tad....dull for my liking (I mean.....I have a lot of neutral eyeshadows so I wanted something a bit bolder if I was buying Tom Ford you know??) I also have the only Dior Eyeshadow palette that I've ever been impressed with quality wise. I mostly find their 5 colour palettes a bit lacking in pigmentation vs their individual shadows which are amazing!

On the right hand side of the picture are my eyeliners. I have a few Clinique ones that were free as well as a couple of Urban Decay sample ones. I brought a fair few of the Estee Lauder Doublewear pencils because they had some really pretty different colours (the Teal one is my personal favourite I think!) I also have my YSL sparkly mascara in there too.

Onto my favourite drawer....the lipstick drawer! A lot of highend lip products reside in here as I am an absolute sucker for packaging and have no shame about it! You might be able to tell that I have a little bit of a love in going on with Estee Lauder lipsticks right now! The envy range is amazing and I love all the finishes and the colour selection is amazing too. I've got a few of my highstreet lipsticks in here too, which are the ones that survived my extreme cull that I did a while back. At the back are all the Sleek Pout Paints as I love the way you can mix them to make your own colour, along with my collection of bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Liquid Lipsticks which I still miss so much! They were my favourites on counter before being discontinued!

We then have lipsticks in pencil form and my collection of Estee Lauder Liquid Lipsticks (two of which I found in TKMaxx recently! Score!) You can see I also really love the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils too! I found out that I get discount through my job recently and went a little bit mental with it!! They really are worth the money though as they stay on all day and are so comfortable to wear too!

The lipgloss drawer. Not a huge amount in here....but that's mainly because most of the lipglosses I own are by bareMinerals and are therefore on my desk and not in here. The Buxom ones are from years ago when we used to sell them on counter alongside bareMinerals stuff. I miss them! I then have a few random ones by various brands but overall I'm not a huge lipgloss fan....which is why this drawer is a bit empty looking! The Fresh Sugar Legends set is a present my brother got me a while back. They are nice enough but not something I would rush out to by again as I just don't like lip balm enough. The Dior box contains a mini lip maximizer and a mini lipstick. It was a gift with purchase ages ago and I think I've used the lip maximizer once? I should try to use that more often as some people swear by it! 

Aaaaand the big eyeshadow palettes drawer! Ok, so here we see that I have a bit of an Urban Decay obsession....what can I say? They do some really good eyeshadows!! It only slightly bothers me that my Naked 1 palette is in the really old packaging and doesn't match my other ones....

Underneath my Vice 3 palette is my Make Up For Ever Studio Case that has 12 shadows in and a full size liner. I love love love the MUFE eyeshadows! I would own all of them if I could I think! In here I also have the Chocolate Bar and Semi Sweet palette by Too Faced, a YSL limited edition palette, a Buxom palette that i chose the colours for that my brother got me when he went to America, another MUFE mini palette and the rest are all Urban Decay.

Finally, at the back of my eyeshadow palette drawer, I have my small selection of false lashes. I used to have more and need to get some more less extreme ones, but I barely ever have an excuse to wear false lashes these days so I just haven't bothered picking any more up since I had my purge of unused or out of date stuff. The main reason for keeping the Lancome ones is because of the box. I have no shame over this! The Illamasqua ones I got from TKMaxx a while back because I'd been wanting them for ages but couldn't justify the price for something that I'd really never wear... And the We Are Faux ones came in a beauty box I think a looooong while ago... Chuck in some never opened No7 eyelash glue and that's my makeup drawers done!

I hope you enjoyed this brief look in my makeup drawers and don't think that I'm using this post to brag etc. I really love reading these kinds of posts and watching them on YouTube and have been meaning to do one for a while. I might do a post on my currently desk set up so you can see the ridiculous amount of bareMinerals stuff I own (seriously....it's ridiculous!) or maybe a more in depth look in my makeup drawers? Let me know what you guys think and let me know if there's anything you want a more detailed review of with any of the products in my stash! Feel free to link your makeup drawer posts too as I do love having a nose round someone else's stash (and not just to get ideas as to what to buy next!!!)

Until next time,

xoxo

Empties and Misses - 2016 Part 1

Hello!

So today I'm taking you through a few bits I've used up and some that I haven't for various reasons....

• bareMinerals Combination Skin Moisturiser - Love this moisturiser but it's been discontinued and replaced with their AMAZING new skincare range instead. I'm currently using their oil free moisturiser called True Oasis instead and I'm in love. Would I repurchase? Well....no....because I can't and there is something better by bareMinerals now instead!
• B. Makeup Brush Cleanser - Man, I've used a lot of brush cleaners in my time. I have this habit of just weirdly wanting to try them all apparently! This is hands down my favourite that I've used so far. Cleans my brushes quickly, is anti-bacterial and doesn't smell like it'll be killing my lungs when I breathe it in...win, win, win! Would I repurchase? Yes and I already have! Plus Superdrug had it on offer so that was handy!
• bareMinerals Multi-Wrinkle Repair Serum - Love this serum....but see above with the moisturiser. Currently discontinued but I've switched to SkinLongevity, which is the new serum by bareMinerals so it's all good. Would I repurchase? No because I can't.
• bareMinerals Blemish Remedy Foundation in 01 Porcelain - This is my absolute favourite bareMinerals foundation EVER. I genuinely didn't think I'd actually use this as I don't have blemish prone skin but I tried it as I think it's important to know what each foundation looks and feels like when serving customers....and you know what? I bloody loved it!! I have super combination skin and it kept my oily oily forehead shine free and my dry skin didn't look dry at all during the day! Love, love, LOVE! Would I repurchase? YES! I actually ran out of this one before my new one arrived and I was distraught!! I have my new one now and I'm seriously considering buying a back up so I never run out again....
• bareMinerals Original Foundation in Fairly Light - This was my go to foundation before using Blemish Remedy and I loved it.....not so much now. I just feel shiny with it on now and in order to get the same effect that the Blemish Remedy one gives me I have to top up my translucent powder half way through the day. Basically, I'm really lazy so way do two things when I can do one and get the same result? Would I repurchase? Probably not. Unless my skin suddenly changes and Blemish Remedy isn't right for me. That being said, I have a full pot after getting a back up before trying the Blemish Remedy one....

• bareMinerals Universal Dark Eyebrow Pencil - It feels like I've had this pencil for years....and it turns out I have! Because it's so pigmented it's taken ages to use up! Also I do tend to use powder by itself some days, which means this pencil lasted even longer. I like how thin the nib is so it's really easy to have a very delicate brow or I can build it up too if I want. Would I repurchase? Yep....and you guessed it, I already have!
• bareMinerals Thrilled Lipliner - This is by far my favourite lipliner colour for me. It's like a "my lips but better" shade which means I can actually just use it alone to define my lips if I want. I have quite a thing for lipliners at the moment but this is the only one I've ever managed to use up (it's a twist up one too, which makes me happy!) Would I repurchase? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you can probably guess my answer to this one....(Yes....and i already have....!)

And now the misses...

• Boots Botanics Cleansing Toner - I got this in the hopes that it would be similar to the Pixi Glow Tonic...and it just isn't really. I think if you were on a really tight budget then this isn't bad and is brightening to some extent but for me personally, I just ended up going and buying the Pixi Glow Tonic anyway. 
• Garnier Micellar Oil-infused Cleansing Water - This wasn't a bad cleanser and I got it to try it as my "quick cleanser" for lazy days as I hoped it might be a bit better than the standard micellar waters that I've tried but a) the smell of this makes me want to heave and it lingers on my skin for too long so I want to wash my face anyway and b) nothing seems to beat my Bioderma for a quick lazy day cleanser (or pre-cleanser if I'm feeling fancy or had really heavy makeup on). Bioderma just seems to get more off and leave my face feeling cleaner. Plus the smell.....just no.
• Clarins One-Step Cleanser - I've used this before and didn't mind it (it smells a bit weird but it doesn't linger) but it just didn't agree with my skin this time. Again, I felt my Bioderma is better. luckily this was a deluxe sample so I didn't waste any money on it!
• Clarins Instant Eye Make-up Remover - What is it with Clarins and the smell of their products?! There's bloody Lily in everything apparently. I'd heard really good things about this eye makeup remover and my L'Oreal one is running out so I wanted to try a new one and thought this would be a good idea. Again, luckily it was a deluxe sample and I'm so so glad I didn't just get the full size one on a whim as the smell makes me feel physically sick and although it doesn't linger for ages afterwards as I sweep over my eyes with my other cleanser afterwards, just opening the bottle makes me feel pretty sick. I tried the Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover in a tiny sample too as the one on counter didn't smell too bad but when I tried it at home it was a real NOPE moment for me. I HATE the smell of lilies anyway (plus the are poisonous to cats (of which I have 3) so I dislike them for this reason too....) so to have it in a skincare product just bothers me a lot apparently!

• Nip+Fab Viper Venom Eye Roll On (no idea what it's actually called as the writing has rubbed off and I'm too lazy to Google it....) and Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix - Both of these products kind of smell like Sudocrem, which I don't actually mind, but I'm pretty sure these both actually caused an allergic reaction so they have been taken out of my routine as I used to have pretty bad skin and never like to risk it if I think a reaction is happening. It's not worth messing my skin up again because I feel I should use a product up so it's not a waste of money!
• Lancome Energie De Vie Smoothing and Glow Boosting Liquid Care and Sleeping Mask samples - These are currently available at most Lancome counters as free samples when you ask and is their new skincare range. Now then, this is really my own fault because I had a really bad reaction to the HydraZen samples I had a while back but I decide to try these and see what they were like. Guess what happened? Yeah that's right...I had a god damn allergic reaction to it. How annoying!! I really like the idea of this range but my skin really really does not. I basically smothered my skin in Sudocrem the night after my reaction, which really helped my skin. Guess I'll be sticking to my bareMinerals skincare then!

So there are my hits and misses for 2016 so far! I don't seem to go through a lot of stuff like other people do (or it's just the same stuff every time....(hello Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo and Conditioner!) which would probably get very boring very quickly....) but when I do I'll share it with you guys as I really enjoying reading these kinds of posts! Let me know if you have any hits or misses so far this year, or if any of my hits are your misses or my misses are your hits! As always, just because they are misses for me, doesn't mean they won't suit some of you guys! (also you may love the smell of lilies!!haha!)

Until next time,
xoxo

Review: bareMinerals Lash Domination Ink Liner

Hello!

So today I have the joy of bringing you a review of the brand new, not out yet bareMinerals Ink Liner!! This is bareMinerals first liquid eyeliner to hit stores and it's all very exciting! There was a QVC exclusive "smoke and define" liner which I think was liquid but it was never released in stores. Now then, I've not used a liquid eyeliner in years. Gel, yes. Pencil, yes. But liquid? I think the last time I used it was for my birthday night out about 2 years ago... I was a bit wary of having to use one on counter as well as I've not needed to put liquid eye liner on somebody else in about 4 years. Basically, it's been a while since using liquid eyeliner on anyone at all!

The packaging is nice and sleek. As you can see this liner is tied into the Lash Domination range which includes the Lash Domination mascara, and the new Petite Lash Domination mascara (same formula, smaller wand!) I think the thinking behind it is that they are all a bit more dramatic so all go together.

The ingredients list for those who are interested. Having just done a bit of research on some other top selling liquid liners, the bareMinerals ingredients list is much much smaller than others. I'm not saying this is a good or bad thing, but I'm all for less ingredients near my eyes!

The actual eyeliner. I love this packaging as it's sleek but feels nice to hold as it's not too thick or thin, almost the size of a typical Bic pen. The lid has a spring in it, so when you click it back into place it seems pretty impossible to damage the nib (fingers crossed anyway!) It has a more upmarket feel to it than some of the old bareMinerals packaging. They're really focusing on making the packaging as good as the products now, which is great in my opinion! (Spoiler alert: the new skincare packaging is beautiful!!)

As all of our makeup artists say "shake it to wake it!" Can't say I'm going to be able to say that on counter without feeling like a cheesy fool, but it's true. You have to give this eyeliner a good few shakes to get it working. When you shake it you can hear something inside that is designed to keep the liquid mixed but also to stop it from all coming out the nib at once (hello goth phase eyeliner....!) 

Now the important bit....the nib! It's a very thin tipped nib that can give you a very thin, tight line or you can use it on it's side to give you a thicker line. I'm personally a big fan of pen style liners, but I know this won't be for everyone. It's water resistant, so although it will dry in seconds and stay on all day, it's also very easier to take off. I've tried it over the last 3 days and had zero issues with it smudging or flaking, which I'm very pleased with. I'm a glasses and contact lenses wearer so I have sensitive eyes but I also tend to touch my eyes a lot too and I didn't have an issues with it. It was a bit strange putting liquid liner on for the first time in ages, but it was so easy to do and I didn't feel like I was dragging it across my eyelid either. It was super easy to fix any mistakes too (let's face it, there were always going to be mistakes the first time I used it!!) It has an almost slightly wet look finish I think as well. It doesn't dry down matte but it doesn't stay super shiny either. As I'd been used to pencil liner, I was wary about using it and also how quickly it might transfer onto the top of my eyelid (near the brow bone) I was pleasantly surprised that it was just as easy to use as a pencil and that there was absolutely no transfer at all as it dries almost instantly and stays put. Win, win, win for me! 

Now then, considering I'm terrible at calligraphy, I'm impressed by how easy it was to write my name in a semi-fancy way with this eyeliner! Below my own vanity is a selection of lines for you to see. All were done with the same liner and are to show you how easy it is to vary between a thick and thin line. The third line down was when the liner needed a shake, so it's slightly drier than the others. I will say that if you have any lines on your eyelid you will need to stretch your eye a bit to get a fluid line that doesn't miss the gaps, but I think this is true with all liners really.

The main points that I love about this liner are:

• Easy to use for beginners and experts alike.
• Thin and thick lines achievable
• Dries super quick
• Stays all day, but easy to remove
• No transfer
• Solid black colour
• Pen is easy to grip
• Packaging is shiny!Haha!

The main points I don't like about this liner:

• Only comes in black (at the moment....I guess it could come in more colours in the future)

That's literally it for my cons list for this liner. I've had a bunch of compliments when I've worn this liner and it was incredibly easy to do cat eye flicks, despite thinking I could never do them with my eye shape. I messed up a few times the first time I tried it, but it was very easy to remove and start again without messing up all my eye makeup. All in all, this is an absolute win for me and I now understand people who wear liquid eyeliner every day!!

I was lucky enough to be gifted this by bareMinerals at my latest training session but it is currently available as a duo set on QVC for £27 (with £2.95 postage) and will be available on counters in May for £17 each. 

Until next time,

xoxo

Whilst I may work for bareMinerals, all opinions are my own and I have not been asked to supply this review at all.

Review: bareMinerals Lovescape Collection

Hello!

So as some of you may know, I work for bareMinerals on one of their counters. I'm a Counter Manager and I bloody love my job! I've been with them for almost 4 years and I wouldn't change a thing right now. Having said that, I will now point out that I've not been paid for this post, all opinions are my own and I brought all of this with my own money. Disclaimer over, let's get on with it!

So, as I said, I've been with bareMinerals for almost 4 and every February/March they have a different collection come out. The first year it was the most beautiful blue packaging with bright colours in, the second year was a lovely rose gold collection and last year was the modern pop collection and then this year it's the Lovescape collection. All the previous years have had hits and misses for me personally but this years collection is just purely beautiful all round I think! From the boxes to the gold packaging to the actual colours, it's all just one hit to another for me! So let's have a little look shall we...

You can't tell me you don't love that ombre outer packaging! 

Side note: the bareSkin bronzer is a deluxe sample and not the full size product! (obviously...)

So the collection consists of: 

A limited edition version of bareMinerals best selling Perfecting Face Brush in gold (also the number one brush in the UK!)

Marvellous Moxie Lipstick in Chase Your Dreams.

Colour boost palette in The Stolen Heart.

Eyeshadow Quad in The Instant Attraction. 

Also in the collection is the bareSkin serum bronzer, but unlike the others this item isn't limited edition so will be available from now on as a full line product.

First up is the brush. I definitely didn't need this brush as I have the original one and, well....who really needs two of the same brush right? It turns out the I need two of the same brush!

As you can see from the picture above, the gold version of the Perfecting Face Brush is a big longer and the handle is actually slightly wider all the way to the bottom of the brush. For some reason this feels slightly weightier and nice to use for me personally. This meant that I could totally justify buying myself the gold one. Also it came in that pretty box...so you know....there's that too... In terms of usage, it's the same as the normal brush, pop a bit of whatever liquid product in the dip and then buff away! I tend to actually use mine to put my Complexion Rescue and Primer on together in the morning but it can be used for the bareSkin foundation or bronzer or any other liquid foundation or product. 

Marvellous Moxie lipstick in Chase Your Dreams - If I had to pick one items that isn't quite me out of this collection, it would be this one. I like it but it's a bit too "my lips but a bit frosted" for me. I prefer a brighter colour generally but I do like this for a nude that isn't too nude look. The slight frost to it does enhance your lips with that slight glow and is in keeping with the glowing look created by this collection.

Chase Your Dreams swatch. This is one swipe of the lipstick and you can see it's pretty pigmented in just that one swipe!

Ah, my favourite of the whole bunch! Eyeshadow Quad in The Instant Attraction. Colours from top left (left to right) are: Whirlwind, Happenstance, Anticipation and Meant to be. You can see I've used this palette a lot since buying it a week or so ago! It's my one of my favourite palettes ever I think. This is mainly because it's almost like the loose eyeshadows but in a compact form, so easier to use but just as sparkly! As usual it comes with a double ended sponge applicator and a large mirror (covered with the box in this photo so I don't scare you all!)

A new thing that bareMinerals have introduced in the last few months is this handy guide on the box for the eyeshadows. I think this is such a good idea for customers who don't have time to sit down and try stuff on and also for people who love makeup but might be stuck in a rut and need ideas.

Swatches of the eyeshadows in natural lighting.

From top to bottom:

Meant to be - Sparkly brown

Anticipation - rose toned sparkle with gold flecks

Happenstance - champagne sparkle

Whirlwind - (my favourite out of them all) it looks like a fairly nondescript matte peach shade...but....

.....it actually has a lilac shift to it in certain lighting (you made need to move your monitor a bit to see it well!) I love this as a cheekbone highlighter too as it gives a new dimension to my cheekbones. Basically the more you blend it, the more of a lilac shift it gets. Love it!

The Stolen Heart Colour Boost - This duo blush and highlight is gorgeous and can be swirled together for a sheer highlighted blush or used individually for a more intense blush and sheer pearl highlight. I like the latter and really wish this highlight would come out separately. They did a limited edition highlighter in Turn On a while ago and this is like that one, but in a compact form. 

Top - swirled together

Left - Highlighter alone

Right - Blush alone

The final addition to the collection is the only one that is staying as a permanent piece, and that is the bareSkin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer. This is the deluxe sample size that I had to try whilst I waited for my free full size one (perks of the job!) and it actually lasted me quite a long time actually. The idea behind this is that you can either a) use it alone for a healthy glow with minimal coverage b) use underneath foundation for a lit from within glow c) mix with foundation to make it a tad darker (perfect for Summer!) or d) use as an actual bronzer over your foundation.

It looks very dark when it first comes out of the bottle!

It's always quite runny so a brush is probably best to put it on with (hence the gold Perfecting Face Brush in this collection) If any of you have tried the bareSkin foundation, you'll find this easy to use despite it being a bit runnier than the foundation is, for those of you who haven't used the foundation it's really easy - just shake, drop and buff into your skin!

Once blended out on my very pale hand, you can see it just gives a healthy glow without looking obscenely dark on me. I was worried about how tanned I would look but actually, one drop just makes me look a bit healthier. I like to wear this under my foundation for a healthy glow from within look but that's only because I'm not a huge fan of bronzer in general as I feel like I'm very tanned very quickly and the very pale girl in me finds this odd!Haha! I've used it in various ways on customers and it's proved to be most popular (on my counter anyway) as a product to mix with customers current foundation to take it up a tone as Summer is round the corner (apparently....!) You can really see the glow on my hand in this picture!

Here is another picture of the bareSkin Bronzer in a different light. It's less glowy but you can see how it's got that subtle healthy glow about it.

So round up time:

Pros:

• Pretty collection all round.
• Everything is very pigmented and lends itself to a very pretty sunkissed look.
• Packaging is cute.
• Bronzer suits all skin types

Cons:

• Limited edition - once it's gone, it's gone (except the liquid bronzer thankfully!)
• Lipstick may not be universal for people who don't like frosted finishes.

Prices of items are (of March 2016):

Eyeshadow quad - £29

Colour Boost palette - £24

Brush - £24

Lipstick - £17

Bronzer - £25

I love that the prices of these items is the same as the non-limited edition versions - ie normal quads are £29 anyway.

I'm a big fan of this collection and this it might be one of the prettiest and most universal collections we've ever launched as a company. I just really want that highlighter colour to come out full size and full line!! So what do you guys think? Anything take your fancy from this collection? As always, leave me your thoughts below!

Until next time,

xoxo

Current Cleanser Collection

Hello!

So I have this little obsession with cleansers at the moment so I thought it might be a good idea to share which ones I'm using with you guys....also to shame me into not buying anymore for a little while too! Haha! I think when you go to take photos and realise you have FIFTEEN cleansers, you kinda go..."oh....oops....maybe I don't NEED that one by Trilogy that we've just got in at work..." so really this blog post is for me as much as it is for you guys too!

Ok let's start of with my "lazy day" cleansers. These are my replacement for face wipes as the alcohol in those things really dries my skin out and hurts my face a lot. 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - Brought this on special offer..it's ok but I wouldn't buy it again to be honest. It leaves me face feeling like I need to put moisturiser on and I don't like that feeling. (Sorry for the bubbles in the picture....I have a habit of automatically shaking my micellar waters as soon as I pick them up!)

B.Pure Micellar Water - Love this lazy day cleanser! It cleans my skin quite well but does leave a few traces of mascara on unless I'm a bit harsher with my cleansing (which I'm not around my eye area...) It's a good cheap micellar water and is good for all skin types. I'm quite a fan of the B. range in Superdrug as a cheaper brand of skincare. This is my second bottle and I've recommended it to friends and family members who are pretty bad at taking their makeup off as a good alternative to face wipes!

Nivea Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Water - I actually got this in a recent Glossybox so didn't buy it. It's ok I guess but feels like it leaves a film on my face, which I think is the moisturising bit to it. I wouldn't re-purchase.

White Rabbit Skincare Lime and Coconut Cleansing Water - Ok...firstly, we need to discuss how amazing this smells!! The first time I smelt it I honestly thought "I kinda want to try this as a cocktail!" it smells THAT good! As a cleanser it is fab for breaking down all makeup and leaving my skin refreshed and smelling nice. Despite having lime in it, it doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry. I would repurchase this in the bigger size too!

No7 Cleansing Oil - This was a impluse purchase after trying it in a sample. I didn't need it but I did have a voucher and Steph, who works on my local counter, is very persausive!Haha! This is a nice cleanser and does leave my skin really soft afterwards, it just takes quite a while to get all traces off and the smell might be a bit too much for some people. I don't think I'd buy it again as, unfortunately, the bottle does leak if it falls over.

White Rabbit Comfort Cleansing Balm - Again, I freaking love the smell of this! It's just so...comforting! This is a great hot cloth cleanser that leaves my skin incredibly soft and smooth afterwards. I tend to use a Micellar water first to take off most of my makeup and then allow my skin to dry before using this as a nice deep cleanse. I will buy this one again once my tub runs out....but that might be some time away as a small amount goes a really long way! (This came with a flannel too so I didn't have to worry about finding one to use it the first time which was a bonus!)

The Body Shop Camoile Cleansing Butter - I got this in a beauty box a while back and it's ok. I wouldn't rush out and buy it as I don't think it does as good a job as the White Rabbit Skincare one and as they are the same price I'd rather get an extra 10ml and a better cleanser for my £12!

B.Clean Melting Gel Cleanser - This is my go to quick "luxury" cleanser....if that makes sense? It works in a quicker way to the others but doesn't clean my skin quite as deep down I don't think. It removes all makeup but the others feel richer and deeper cleaning. It's a good one for when I'm not feeling too lazy but am not feeling up for a hardcore cleansing session! I would buy again but, again, a little bit goes a long way so it'll take a while to use up!

bareMinerals Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser - I'm not sure if I'll be able to express how much I freaking love this powder exfoliator from bareMinerals! It give my skin a nice scrubbing without feeling like I'm rubbing sand on my face. I know some people prefer that feeling, but my skin hates it and looks quite red afterwards. I wouldn't use this one to take off my makeup personally but I like that you can double it as face mask as well which I like to do once a week. I would definitely get this again and am waiting on one to arrive right now!

bareMinerals Purifying Cleanser - This is my daily cleanser. I use it in the morning in the shower to wash my face, one to two pumps is enough and I like how it leaves my skin feel refreshed afterwards. You can use this one to wash off all your makeup too (including eye makeup) but I tend to opt for more intense cleansers in the evening due to where I work (makeup everyday and lots of dust/running around means I want a deeper clean in the evenings!) I would never be without this cleanser as I love it as my morning fix!

bareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam - This cleanser has natural foaming agents in it so doesn't leave my skin feeling dry like other foaming cleansers can do. This is really for oily skin types so I don't use it much. I tend to use it after I've been to London for training or if I've been really ill as it really cleans down deep and drags out any impurities! I wouldn't necessarily buy this one for myself again as I don't use it much so would rather get one of the other two bM cleansers instead, but it is nice to have for when my skin is feeling particularly crappy!

md formulations Facial Cleanser for sensitive skin - I got this from work as part of a little try me kit as I liked the idea of it being a bit more hardcore for my skin. I went with the sensitive skin version to start with but think I might try the normal one next time. This kind of tingles on my skin a little, but in a good way! It eats away at dead skin cells instead of buffing them off like other exfoliators. You put it on dry skin and then wipe it off with a hot flannel and I really like how smooth my skin is afterwards! You do have to use a moisturiser with SPF in it if you use it in the morning though as it has AHAs in it to chemically exfoliate. 

White Rabbit Skincare Rosy Dew Creamy Cleanser and Basking Rose Soothing Toner - I got these in a small try me kit with the day cream too so I could see if I'd get on with a toner as most have so much alcohol in that my skin has never seemed to like them. I really like this duo together as they seem to remove all traces of makeup, including waterproof eye makeup! A little goes a long way too and my skin hasn't reacted at all! Both of these are for sensitive skin as I thought it'd be better to try the sensitive skin version although you can get these for other skin types too. I will be buying the full size versions when these run out.

[comfort zone] Cleasning Milk - This was another beauty box special and it does work quite nicely but I do feel like I always need something else afterwards to take off the residue. I'm not a fan of the somewhat flowery scent either so wouldn't buy again.

Phew!! That's all my cleansers gone through....hopefully this might help if you need a new cleanser for Winter or if you just want to see that you're not the only one with a ridiculous amount of cleansers!haha! Have you guys tried any of these or any that you fancy trying? I have recently invested in the No7 Cleansing Brush which works nicely with most of these cleasers but I will be doing a full review of that once I've had it for a little while so I can fully report on any changes in my skin for better or for worse (fingers crossed for better and not for worse!!) 

Until next time,

xoxo 

August 2014 Favourites!

Hello!

WARNING: Some ridiculous over explaining as to why I'm a terrible blogger! Haha!

So it's been a while since I did any kind of regular blogging really....and I honestly do want to change this!! It's been a really rough few months with my depression going full on cray-cray on me and leaving me with some new scars (one in a rather worrying place), a very confused brain that seems to think that getting in touch with people from the past would be a good idea (it would not) and some new pills that I don't like! It's been great times... However out of all this I've realised that one of the things that really does cheer me up is blogging! Now then, my main issue with blogging I think is that I set myself too many posts to do and then get overwhelmed before I even sit down to type one up....so I'm going to try to do at least one a week to start off with to get into a routine and then take it from there. Hopefully this will work and give me back something fun to focus on and to keep my brain active with exciting things rather than letting my depression beat me up again....

So...on with the August Favourites!!!

Now then, I find it really difficult to narrow down my favourites because I love loads of stuff month to month, so i tend to pile them all up and then sit down to think "now......what did I REALLY love and use more than once this month..." Makeup is particularly difficult as I work for a brand and therefore use their stuff 5 out of 7 days a week! To try and vary it up I only allow myself to add the bareMinerals products I've really really been loving this month and then I add in some stuff I've been reaching for on days off too.

So on with the first items...

Dior Addict Eau Sensuelle Perfume - I freaking love this perfume and it's just been discontinued!! Noooooooo!!!! It's a kind of light floral scent with a bit of sweetness to it as well. I'm not a fan of heavy floral scents but this one is just right for Summer. It stays on all day too, which is good as I clearly need to start conserving it!!

Rituals Qi Gong Anti-Perspirant - I love the scent of this deoderant and I love the fact that it doesn't set my Asthma off in the mornings like some sprays do! Also the fact that it works really well is a bonus too...

Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream - This mini stays in my handbag to hydrate my hands through out the day. I get quite dry hands throughout Summer due to using so much hand sanitiser at work so this is a handbag must have.

The Body Shop Mango Hand Cleanse Gel - Another handbag staple. I hate going to eat and not feeling like my hands are clean first. I get super clamy hands in Summer (lovely...) so I need this to make them feel clean again! Plus it smells AMAZING!

Mavala Nail Hardener - This is a recent discovery but it's love! Along with my hands getting dry due to hand sanitiser use/air con etc at work, my nails are taking a bit of a battering too. This has basically saved the day by stopping them from peeling as much as they were!

bareMinerals Blemish Remedy - Ah Summer.....how you love to bring out the blemishes randomly.... Luckily I've found my Holy Grail item to banish those blemishes! This is a powder you put on with a little brush that basically stops the blemish from getting worse, helps to heal it from outside and within (without the burn of liquid ones that can leave dry skin instead) and helps to stop further blemishes from joining the gang!

[comfort zone] Cleansing Milk - This came in my Glossybox for August so I've only had it for a couple of weeks but man do I love it!! It's so easy to use but leaves me skin feeling like it's just had a mini facial every night! Plus you can either rinise it off or just use cotton pads to take it off depending on how tired you are, which is a bonus as my new pills make me really really sleepy very quickly so if I've forgotten to take my makeup off before taking them, at least I have a lazy option! Haha!

White Rabbit Comfort Cleansing Balm - This has been my luxury facial cleanser for the month. I've had a bit of bad skin recently and this has been so gentle but because it contains rosemary essential oil I know it's also been slowly making my skin better too as rosemary is good for blemish fighting! My favourite thing about this has to be the smell which really can only be described as comforting...it just makes me feel so nice before bed! A tiny amount goes a really long way too and it takes off all remenants of my makeup so easily.

Estée Lauder Double Wear BB Glow - This has been my go to item for das off most of the time. It gives me coverage without feeling heavy and gives me a nice healthy look without looking shiny. I've also been using it underneath my bareMinerals original foundation for when I'm heading out on a day off too so I have a nice glow from within but want a bit more coverage.

bareMinerals Quad in The Dream Sequence - I LOVE this palette so much!! I would've worn it every single day to work if I could have....but when you're out of stock of a quad it's a bit frustrating for customers who love it on you and want to buy it! Everytime I've worn this palette someone has brought it at work! I think a lot of people get put off by the bright purple but it's so pretty when it's on as it has a kind of multi-tonal effect which draws your attention to it. The dark purple is a fab powder eyeliner for days that you don't want anything too intense too.

bareMinerals Blush in The One - My all time favourite blush by bM! It has pink and coral tones to it so it suits every single look that you might want to create. Plus I can change my lip colour and not worry about it clashing with the rest of my makeup.

Topshop Glow in Polished - I've been loving this cream highlighter in the inner corner of my eyes to make me look a bit more awake this month! I also love the very subtle glow it gives on my cheek bones too.

bareMinerals Ready Touch Up Veil SPF15 in Translucent - Another handbag essential all year round but especially for the warmer months. This is a compact of Mineral Veil so does everything that does (absorb excess oil, make pores/fine lines appear smaller, give a flawless photo finish etc.) but with the added SPF15 which is always handy for the days when the sun decides to shine in England!

bareMinerals Perfecting face Brush* - This is my absolutely favourite brush for liquid foundation from now on. It has a little dip in the middle surrounded by longer bristles on the outside and it just buffs my various liquids in so beautifully and evenly too! It's designed for bareSkin but works well with every liquid I've tried it with so far...including my Lauder BB Glow mentioned above!

bareMinerals Soft Sweep Cheek Brush - I rediscovered this this month in my stash of brushes and it's perfect for a soft sweep of brozer or blusher so I don't look overly bronzed!

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in Rebel - A perfect neutral lipgloss for every day. Exactly what I need in Summer!

Dior Addict IT Lash Mascara in Black - Loving the way this seperates my lashes and gives them length and volume at the same time. The fact that it doesnt melt down my face is a massive bonus also...

Revlon Lip Butters in Sorbet and Juicy Papaya - Both of these reside in my handbag fr a quick slick of colour and hydration when I'm out and about. I don't like taking my fancy lipsticks out during Summer in case they melt (noooooo!!!) and these lip butters are just great subtle colours to pop on in a hurry.

So those are my August favourites. Are there any items in there that you love or any you'd like more indepth reviews of?

Until next time,

xoxo

Sephora Haul!

Hello!

So a few months ago my big brother went to California, which he does about twice or three times a year. For some reason I'd NEVER thought to ask him to pop into Sephora for me (so many missed opportunities! Haha!) and when I mentioned it before he went this time he said "Yeah...of course I can. I go to a mall with it in every time I go...." I was kicking myself for not thinking of it earlier to be honest, but I soon got over that and started browsing the stores website and making a wishlist of everything I wanted to try.....I then had to amend my list to try and keep it under £100....and then under £50 if possible. It was tough but I managed to do it! (well....it was around the £60 mark but that was close enough for me!) I figured it was best to go for "try me" kits so I could get more bang for my buck (as it were...) and maybe treat myself to one item that I thought I'd really like, this way I could feel like I was getting loads for my money rather than picking 3 full size items that I may or may not like once he got them to me.

So here's the haul! My brother picked me up a postcard from the Mirage hotel that he stayed at in Vegas (I've ALWAYS wanted to go to Vegas! So jealous!) He sent me a video of his hotel room when he was out there too...it was insane and probably bigger than my entire house!

There is also the Sephora Summer Stash kit, Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings kit, Marc Jacobs Lip Gel and Tarte Blush.

So Sephora are well know for giving out samples...and like a good brother he listened when I said "take all the samples offered no matter what!" Haha! 

The Samples were: 

Philosophy Time in a bottle serum - Nice but it didn't "wow" me

Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation - I used to work for the brand so know not to put this hideous product on my face. Also it was in the darkest shade....lol no!

Prada Candy and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Samples - I work next to the fragrance section at work so get to try most fragrances out anyway but it was nice to sample the Prada one as I wouldn't have chosen to try it.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta 2 step cleanse - This was two pads to try and tehy were nice and left my skin feeling really nice. Not sure I'd buy the full size but nice anyway!

Living Proof Prime Style Extender Sachet - I've still not used this as I keep forgetting I have it!

Living Proof Style Extender Spray - I LOVE this! It really holds my hair in place without it going weird and crispy. I'll be getting him to pick me up a full size of this next time!

The lovely Sephora receipt! I'm going to have to look into getting him to start using the beauty insider thingy for me I think....

Right onto the products! I've had them for a good few months now so I can give a proper review rather than just excited babbling...

Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings

I just had to get this really because of the name right?? Also because I've been wanting to try Too Faced stuff for a while as well....Although I've recently discovered it on the online order system at work so I can use my discount on it! Win!! This set came with:

Better Than Sex Mascara - OMG. It's amazing!! Such good looking lashes in one sweep!! However.....like with all things that are better than sex, this comes at a price...(like how an orgasmic pudding comes with loads of calories!) this one dries really quickly in the tube I thought and also pulled out a few too many lashes when I took it off at night. Not one for a full size purchase.

Face Primer - This was ok but I didn't notice it doing anything spectacular so will stick with my bareMinerals one.

Shadow Insurance Eye Primer - I hate eye primers in tubes and I'll tell you why....they always seem to separate in the tube so I end up with a blob of primer surrounded by some weird liquidy stuff. It looks gross and puts me off putting it onto my eyes. Another miss for me.

Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer - Ok so this smells amazing and is pretty pigmented to boot. I like this fact this has a very very subtle shimmer and is dark enough to actually show up. Would I buy the full size? Maybe. I certainly wouldn't mind if I got another kit and this came in it.

Sephora Summer Stash Kit included:

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - I literally don't see any difference when I use this vs when I don't use it. Maybe it's because I'm already using makeup that stays on anyway? Would I purchase ful size? No....I just feel like I have a wet face for a bit and see no difference!

Make Up Forever eyeliner in teal - I love this shade and it's got AMAZING staying power! I would love to own more MUFE stuff if this eyeliner is anything to go by! I would purchase a full size but in a different colour as I see this one going on forever (no pun intended!)

Stila Eyeshadow in Kitten - This is lovely but I find I can only use it over the top of other eyeshadows otherwise it looks a bit weird. Not sure I'd purchase another one of these but maybe something else by them?

Deborah Lipmann Nail Polish - I've been wanting to try one of these nail polishes for aaaaages and I'm in love! I mean, the colour helps because it's awesome, but the formula is just lovely!

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Cheek Gelee - I wasn't really sure about this to start with but it's such a nice blush with a beautiful finish that can be built up if needed. 

Nars Laguna Bronzer - A cult classic that I've never tried....my god it's pigmented! This one is a tiny version of the full size and judging with how little you need, I'm guessing the full size will last you forever! It's a really nice bronzer and I can see why it's so hyped up!

Buxom Luminizer - I've got loads of Buxom lipglosses because they used to be sold on my counter but I'd never tried anything else by them. A tiny bit of this goes a long way but definitely impressed me enough to think I might need to try more Buom stuff!

OCC Lip Tar and brush - This is the item I was most excited about trying as lip products are my thang....ahem...I was pretty disappointed with this actually. I was expecting more pigmentation and longer staying power, like the Sleek Pout Paints, but it didn't give much colour and only lasted about 2 hours on my lips before I wanted to re-apply.

Marc Jacobs Mascara - I was pretty excited to try my first Marc Jacobs makeup product (well....my first Marc Jacobs anything except for the fragrances!) This mascara is really wet in formula and felt like it didn't really dry to my lashes like most mascaras do. It's a really nice mascara but I'm not I'd re-purchase this as it didn't "wow" me enough to take over my Dior IT Lash or bareMinerals Lash Domination.

A close up shot to show you the colours of the Stila Eyeshadow, Nars bronzer, MUFE Eyeliner and Josie Maran Cheek Gelee.

Oh my....it's the Marc Jacobs Lip Gel in Showstopper.... Now then, I love lip products...especially lipsticks. I had a look on the Sephora website and knew that I needed a Marc Jacobs one in my life, but just which one would I need? I was going to go for a pink of some kind until I realised that this red came in different coloured packaging and then I knew I NEEDED this lipstick in my life (I have a thing about different packaging...just see the amount of limited edition dvds/blu-rays I owe and you'll understand...) 

And just look at that colour!! It's like THE red I needed in my life! Move over other reds...this is THE one everyone should own. Firstly, the clour is divine - not to bright but not too dark. Secondly, look at the shape of the bullet....it's just...classy. Thirdly, the packaging....oh the packaging...it's magnetic and just snaps back into place in such a satisfying way that I want all my lipsticks to be like this please (Estee Lauder Envy lipsticks are quite close to be fair....) and fourthly the formula is just amazing. It really is gel-like in the way it glides onto your lips and never feels heavy. I will be lusting after all of these and picking up some everytime my brother goes to America (if he doesn't mind popping into Sephora each time...)

Tarte are a brand that people rave about and I'd never really looked at. I went for a blusher as it's something that I've never seen a bad review on....and now I know why! It's subtle but buildable, never looks powdery and stays put all day. Instant love! I went for the shade Dollface but again...might need to pick up a few more...

Here is a photo of my lovely brother! He's going back to Cali-Forn-I-A (I hear thats what the cool kids cool it right?) in November so naturally I've been making a list of things for him to pick up for me! I'm thinking some Christmas sets as they're always cheaper but if anyone has any suggestions, leave a comment below and I'll have a little look on the Sephora website!

What do you think of my first Sephora Haul? Anything you want a full review of?

Until next time,

xoxo