The 90's Lip

Like most young females I have been spending the last few months trawling the shops for my perfect 90's lip a la Kylie Jenner...damn I have a major girl crush on her ha!

But today I can finally announce that I found my perfect lip combo in....

August Favourites

So I have finally broken my hiatus!

I didn't really plan on taking a break from blogging to be honest but it all got a bit much with university as I have been super busy with clinical placement and exam revision since I last posted.  Exam was on Wednesday though and hopefully I've gotten the blogging bug back.  So without further ado...onto my favourites for August!

Eucerin Dermo Purifyer Cleanser
I was sent this a few months ago by Eucerin to try out this relatively new face wash and I've been really enjoying it since I finished my clinical trial back at the start of July.  My skin had improved a lot due to the trial and I feel that this face wash has really helped to prolong the results.  It's really gentle on my skin and doesn't leave it feeling dry and tight after using despite it being a gel that can foam up a bit when you really work it into the skin.

Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet
I bought this whilst I was on holiday as I was fast running out of the face cream I had taken away with me.  I saw the poster for it in the window as it had just been launched that day and when I tried some of it on the back of my hand it felt so cooling and smoothing that I had to get it.  The fact that it's a sorbet makes it really cooling when it's a hot day and the thick gel like consistency is easily absorbed into my skin, and I definitely feel it has hydrated my skin a bit more.

Body Shop Honey Bronzer
I think most bloggers have already raved about this bronzer but I thought I'd pop in my two cents too since I've been loving it so much - as you can tell from the photo!  I bought this in the second lightest shade and I've been using it with a big fluffy brush to do a soft contour on my face for everyday as I feel it's a bit more subtle than Benefit's Hoola which I would normally use.

Max Factor False Lash Effect
My mum has used this mascara for years but I finally decided I'd get one for myself after seeing Amelia Liana rave about it on her YouTube channel.  This stuff really does make it look like I'm wearing false lashes and I've worn it every single day since I got it...I think I even prefer it to Benefit's They're Real mascara.

Topshop Glow

I've actually had this for about 4 months but I've really been using it more since I've been more tanned from my holiday.  It's a gorgeous bronzey hued cream that can be used as an eyeshadow but I use it more as a highlighter on my cheekbones and I find it still gives me that perfect post-sunshine glow.

Bioderma Micellar Water

I was very lucky to be able to pop over to Calais for a day when I was in holiday so I obviously picked up 2 massive bottles of this gem! I do think it's amazing but I am slightly disappointed by it not being as good at removing my eyeliner as I thought it would be.  That aside I do absolutely adore it and I'm already rationing it when I've barely touched the first bottle!

Netflix
Another thing I'm a little behind everyone else on the planet with is Netflix.  I finally decided to set up an account after my sister in law getting on at me to watch Breaking Bad and Orange is the New Black.  It's her fault I barely get out of my bed now that I have a break from uni!  I've only been watching BB and OINTB and so far OINTB is winning.  I've been told to stick with BB since I've only just started season 2 and apparently it gets much better and more exciting soon.

Reading

Back in June, Essie Button had Sanne from Books and Quills on her YouTube channel talking about books to help you get back into reading.  Now I am a major book hoarder.  I am constantly buying books but never reading them and I refuse to get a kindle.  But over the past couple of month I have managed to read a grand total of 6 books which is pretty unheard of for me apart from when I read the entire Twilight series in 2 weeks.  Whilst I was on my summer holiday I read Shock of the Fall (interesting), The Lemon Grove (saucy) and Gone Girl (AMAZEBALLS!).  I have since read The Bees which is just an unbelievable imaginative story about - you guessed it - bees. Laline Paull managed to make them seem so humanised in my head and I really enjoyed it.  Major recommendation from me.  Currently I'm reading A Game of Thrones as I want to watch the tv series but decided I would read the books first. I have now unfortunately been warned that this may take quite some time and although I feel like I'm doing quite well with the book so far (I'm on page 133) I still haven't reached the end of the first episode *cries*.  I shall not be defeated however and I will finish these books if it's the last thing I do!

Hope you guys enjoyed reading about my favourites and I promise I won't leave it too long to blog again :)

What have you guys been loving this month?

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick

The Daily Face

We all have that fail safe makeup look that we always go to every day or are in a rush and this is mine.

Stila at Marks and Spencer

On Sunday I decided to pop into my local Marks and Spencer store and discovered that they now stock Stila cosmetics. Even better they have 20% off all beauty products until the 23rd of April!

The Review - L'Oreal True Match Foundation and Lumi Magique Primer

So I thought it would be better to kill two birds with one stone in this review since I only ever use these two products together.

Up until about 3 weeks ago I was always a matte face lover purely due to my oily skin and thinking that it would make my makeup last longer if it was powdered.  However, back in December I saw a post by Liana Beauty on the L'Oreal True Match Foundation where she sang it's praises and gave it dupe status to the almighty Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and thought I'd better take my first step into the glowy skin crew.

L'Oreal have a guide here to help you find your perfect shade of True Match from neutral, warm or cool tone but when I went to swatch it on myself in Boots I found I was more suited to N2 than N1 so it sort of made it easier for me.

This is a medium coverage foundation but it's also buildable and buffs into the skin really well. I have found that I'm actually using less concealer now that I use this foundation which can, in my opinion, only be a better thing for my skin and blemishes.  It gives a great glow to my skin that lasts all day and when my oily skin does start to push through it doesn't look weird.

The fantastic glow that I get with the True Match is probably in no small part due to the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer - I really need to try TM on it's own to get a real idea of it.

L'Oreal claim this primer "illuminates the skin" which it definitely does and that it gives "8 hours of hydration". Not so sure on that last claim as I have oily skin anyways so dry skinned gals this might be a good one for you.

I actually pair this with my Benefit Porefessional which helps to hold off the oil breakthrough, then the Lumi Magique gives me that ethereal glow - I use the term ethereal very loosely around me ha! 

It's a white pearlescent liquid primer and I only use this from my hairline down to the hollows of my cheeks as I feel it doesn't sit too well on the blemishes along my jawline.  Beware of that handy looking pump on the bottle though as it does tend to dispense quite a lot of product that goes to waste if you use a full pump.  Although it is pearlescent it isn't glittery and seems to blend into my skin a lot better than the similar MAC Strobe Cream and smoothes out my skin aswell - even when used without my Porefessional.

I feel that Lumi Magique is what has given such a boost to my base since I started using it along with True Match and will definitely be putting both onto my forever repurchase list.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation £9.99 at Boots

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer £9.99 at Boots

Product Review : Revlon Colour Burst Matte Balm

I'd never really gotten into the crayon style lipstick/balm craze as they were always too sheer and glossy for my liking but when I first saw these on blogs a couple of weeks ago I was hooked without even seeing them in the flesh!  I finally managed to get to Boots to buy some of these about a week after they were released. Luckily there was a 3 for 2 promotion on Revlon aswell!

Shade 235 - Mischevious

I'd describe this as an apricot orange shade.  

Shade 210 - Unapologetic

A coral pinky red.

Shade 220 - Showy

I'd describe this as a soft fuschia, it still has that brightness but without the shocking pink.

Unfortunately my photographs don't do the colours of these balms any justice whatsoever...just imagine them that bit brighter.  Even better go swatch them all on your arm and spend 10 minutes trying to decide which ones to get.  It's not as easy as you'd think!

The formulation of these balms is fantastic for being a matte finish.  They glide on so smoothly and your lips feel moisturised all day but without the stickiness...it feels almost as if there isn't even anything on your lips.  I managed to wear these whilst drinking two bottles of juice and eating the dregs of a cake mix (naughty I know) without it going patchy.  There was slight fading of the inside edges but nothing obvious like you would expect.

Overall I'm head over heels in love with these and if they ever get discontinued I'll feel a pain similar to that when I saw the last Harry Potter movie (I still don't think I'm quite over it).

November Glossybox Review

I was going to film my review but my camera has ran out of battery and I can't find the cable to charge it - nightmare!

B. Complete Long Lasting Nail Polish in Seafoam

This is a gorgeous colour and I have one very similar from Essie called Mint Candy Apple.

The formulation of this nail polish is great.  I found it quite streaky on application but this settled out with the second coat.  It does say it's long lasting but I found mine started to chip on the tips very quickly - although this is probably due to the nature of my job rather than the nail polish itself.  I haven't had a chance to test it again properly due to my university placements and working part-time aswell so hopefully over Christmas time I'll be able to wear it for a few days without any chip hazards coming at me.

B nail polishes are available to buy from Superdrug in 33 gorgeous shades - £4.99/8ml

Emite Make Up Micronized Eyeshadow in Dams.

Haven't really had much of a chance to properly try this out either - the joys of having full time placement, writing an essay and having a part time job!

The shadow is a matte black shade and is very easily blended. I didn't find there was any fallout (if any) which is always a big plus in my eyes no matter the colour.

I think I'll probably buy more of their shadows in the future.

Available to buy from the Emite Makeup online store - £16.80

Yves Rocher France Cocao & Raspberry Hand Cream

My hands have been really dry lately with it being so cold now and washing my hands 50 billion times a day whilst I'm on placement and this has been pretty good at helping cure any dry flaky patches I get.  The scent is mouth watering and my hands drink this up super fast without leaving my hands feeling sticky or greasy.

Available to buy from the Yves Rocher website for a bargainlicious £1.95 where they also have shower gel, lip balm, body lotion and home fragrance in this scent yay!

Vichy Idealia Life Serum

I think I was accidently given two of the serums and one sample of the Vichy Smoothing and Illuminating cream but nevermind.

I found the serum very well absorbed by my skin.  The formulation itself has a slight pearlescence to it but it doesn't work like an illuminator like the cream.  I did feel a slight difference in my skin after using it but personally I don't think the amount supplied is enough to be able to notice a big difference in my skin.

Available from Boots - £29.50 for 30ml.

Elegant Touch Rapid Dry for Nails

Firstly, I don't know why I have bought one of these before...it's amazing!!! No longer shall I have to scream in frustration when I bump my nails 5 minutes after painting them.

I timed this for the 60 second claim it offers and my nails were so perfectly dry that I was actually able to go and blowdry my hair after 1 minute without any damage to my manicure whatsoever - lifesaver in a can! I think I'll be using this product for a very long time to come.

Available to buy from Superdrug and Boots - £3 for 125ml.

Overall this was a very pleasing box and I'm looking forward to the next one...more makeup please though!

G

xXx

November Glossybox Unboxing

So last month I was really disappointed with my Glossybox.  It was themed as Dark Romance but the closest thing to that was a lip tint. Check out my review video here.

 

Needless to say I was expecting a much better selection for this month and bloody heck it didn't disappoint!

 

 

This months box doesn't have a theme but the magazine is all about Christmas wish lists and has some really nice items in it.

B. Complete Long Lasting Nail Polish in Sea Foam.

This is a gorgeous shade. I have a very similar one from Essie so we'll see how this one lasts.

Emite Make Up Micronized Eyeshadow in Dams.

Pure black eyeshadow...one of my favourites! From trying this on the back of my hand it's a very smooth powder that is highly pigmented and seems like it'll blend really well. Perfect for festive party smokey eyes.

Vichy Idealia Life Serum

I actually got two serums and one smoothing and illuminating cream. Not sure if that's what was supposed to happen...means I technically get an extra product to try out yay!

I've used a Vichy face wash before which I really liked so I'm expecting big things from these.

 

 

Elegant Touch Rapid Dry for Nails

This is perfect for me because every time I paint my nails I have an uncontrollable urge to pee - my bladder has the worst timing haha!

 

 

 

Yves Rocher France Cocoa and Raspberry Hand Cream

Oh sweet baby Jesus! I started salivating when I read the scent of this.

Normally I don't really like chocolate scented creams (I always think they smell really plastic) but this is heavenly! I've already decided that quite a few people are getting one for Christmas!

There's also a special offer for Glossybox subscribers with this company -  buy their raspberry home fragrance and shower gel, enter a special code and get a free perfumed shower gel, lip balm and hand cream!

You'll smell me before you see me this Christmas!

 

I'll be doing another review video once I've had a few weeks to try out these products so I'll be posting a link on here once it's up.

 

I've also reviewed my first ever Birchbox on my YouTube channel.

 

Gillian

X