Weekend Haul | Boots, Superdrug, Primark, New Look and Debenhams

After a morning spent at school in a Tudor costume (don't ask), running eight year-olds to the loo, I needed some retail therapy. So I headed to the shops and bought a few new bits.

Before I get into the things I purchased today, I thought I'd mention my new hairdryer. It's from Tresemme and was bought for me by my father with our Nectar points - did you know that good-for-nothing nectar points can now be exchanged for vouchers worth double the amount of points (I'm not sure if this is still the case, but it was about a week ago!). It's this one.

Okay, now onto the fun stuff (unless you like electrical appliances).

 

I didn't do my usual hour in Primark - I only picked up a few bits. I needed some short leggings as I hate wearing dresses without something underneath - these were £3 a pair and come in a variety of colours - I chose white and navy blue. During summer I live in flip flops and so I bought a couple of new pairs - at a pound per pair you really can't go wrong. One pair is floral and the other a teal stripe. 

 In New Look I chose two bandeau tops to wear under racer-back vests in purple and orange - these cost £2.99 each. Then I found this gorgeous mint green vest with a cute collar that's classy but can still look fun and girly for £6.99.

 

In Boots there were bargains to be had - a ghostparties recommended Dove Leave in Conditioner for only £1.79 and a £2 off coupon made this 17 lipstick in Belle only £2.79. In Superdrug I repurchased my beloved Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser for 1/3 off at only £2.29 and a new top coat from MUA for a pound.

 

Poundland was also a treasure-trove as I found these two Milani quads and this nail polish remover sponge thing (sorry - I have no idea what their real name is x).

 Then in Debenhams there was this gorgeous dress from Henry Holland in the sale with a pretty cat print for only £10! Then I found two Burt's Bees tinted lipbalms in Red Dahlia and Hibiscus for £4.99 and this cat necklace (theme... I think so) for just £2.

So that's my haul - I hope you enjoyed and please leave me a comment if you'd like me to review any of the products mentioned!

Speak soon x

 

 

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipgloss Review and Swatches | 115 Rose Cocoon and 525 SOS Red

Firstly, I am so sad that these lipglosses are not part of the Rimmel UK line (why not - it is Rimmel LONDON, is is not?) and so, I have found them for you here priced at only £1.50 each in every shade. Secondly, this is my second lipgloss post - I hope you don't mind.

So, why have a fought to find these? Why, because they are amazing! The cream formula lasts for ages on my lips and they really are moisturising!

My shades are Rose Cocoon (found in Poundland) and SOS Red (found on Xtras).

Rose Cocoon (left) is a baby pink with a lot of shimmer in it however it looks very girly and cute on.

SOS Red (right) is a bright red shade but is extremely wearable and is my go-to nighttime lip.

These are non-sticky and contain and SPF of 15 so why not?

Especially if you live in the States and so can buy these in your local drugstores!

MUA Power Pout Review and Swatches | Broken Hearted and Justify

As soon as I heard about these I was obsessed with finding them. On the day they were released (10th April) I skipped into Superdrug only to be really disappointed with the shade range - similar to the Revlon ones, the shade range is quite cool-toned and the shades I had seen online and loved were not up to my expectation.

However, the shades I found and did like are really amazing. 

As you can probably see, Broken Hearted (bottom) is a pinky red with silver shimmer in it (not noticeable on the lips). I have worn this so much and love it.

Justify (top) is an orange that is brilliant and quite red/orange on the lips.

Pros - The twisty thing at the bottom feels a lot stronger and tighter than the Revlon one and the colours are a lot brighter on the lips than Revlon. They're also a bargain at only £3 each.

Cons - The bullets are slightly smaller than the hole that they are in so they wiggle about and squish against the sides when you use them. Also, the lids are too big so they fall off in your bag and the bullets get dirty.

Overall, I like these products but the packaging lets them down so I will not be buying any more.

Seventeen 17 Ultimate Volume Lip Gloss Review and Swatches | Very Berry and In the Nude

I love these lipglosses so much and I can't believe I only own two!!!

Firstly, these are only £3.99 each and there's always some kind of offer on (e.g. 3 for 2, BOGO 1/2). Secondly, the colours are phenomenal and they are so pigmented - they look like lipstick on the lips. Last, they are really creamy and not sticky at all.

 

Very Berry (left) is a beautiful plum red with slight shimmer but nothing too vibrant. It is a perfect Autumn shade.

In the Nude is a gorgeous tan/bronze nude that looks incredible with a tan and a simple outfit.

I give these 5/5 and recommend them to everyone along with 17/Seventeen makeup in general as it's not praised enough.

NOTD | Lipssofacto-Inspired Marimekko Poppies

I love Lipssofacto blog and when I saw this post I knew I had to try it... and this is what happened. A little messy but still cute. 

I used: essie ridge filling base coat, MUA Natural Days, 17 Caribbean Coral, LA Colors Art Deco in Black, Primark Top Coat.

I applied my base coat, then added two coats of the MUA colour. I used a dotting tool from Amazon (link)  that I love and find is perfect for this kind of thing. I used a smaller tool to add MUA Natural Days inside the coral poppies and then added a few small black lines with the stiper tool from LA Colors (available from Beauty Base in Westfield). Last was my top coat - ta-da!

I really love this nail look and am hoping to write a post soon about nail art for beginners - what do you think?

 

Wishlist #2 | April 2013

Unicorn Tee - Orange Circle £13.79

Blueberry Nail Polish - Barry M £3.99

'Killing Rachel' Book - Anne Cassidy £6.99

Cream Blush 'Pinched' - Revlon £7.99

Mole Handbag - H&M £14.99

Hop into Spring 2013 | Update Your Makeup Bag

Any excuse to buy more makeup...

 Spring is here and after all the dark cranberry and black eyeshadows of Autumn I am pleased to bring back teals and shimmery cream shades for Spring. Although I am one for heavier (not heavy, heavier) makeup in the Winter than in the Spring, I won't be ignoring my favourite foundations but they won't get as much use as my BB Creams and Tinted Moisturisers. 

 Anyway, here are a few products that I think will suit Springtime well and they are all drugstore/high street - yay!

Rimmel BB Cream

This BB Cream is one of my favourites as it gives a dewy finish and a really lovely glow to the skin. It is easy to blend and lives up to 8 out of 9 of its claims; it primes (lasts all day on me), minimises pores, conceals, covers, smoothes, mattifies, brightens and helps protect against sun damage with SPF 25. However it does not moisturise my skin as it says it will. 

This comes in 3 shades - Light (my shade), Medium and Medium/Dark. Light is a little darker than my skintone but bronzing up my neck makes everything even - I wouldn't go for this if you are very very pale.

Cost: £6.99 (bargain!)

MUA Blush Perfection Cream Blush

I've not tried many cream blushes but these are some of my favourites as they are creamy and so easy to blend. I have three colours; Dolly, a bright peachy-coral, Bittersweet, a shocking Barbie pink, and Blossom, a neutral browny-peach. These leave a dewy finish so not best for oilier skins unless you set them with powder (e.g. powder blush or translucent powder).

Cost: £2.00 (OMG!)

Eyeshadow - MUA Heaven and Earth Palette, Miss Sporty Duo in Lively Spirit and Natural Collection Single in Mermaid

The Heaven and Earth Palette is a staple in my collection as it contains some beautiful shades (my faves swatched) including a near-white highlight and a lovely brown I use in my crease really often.

Cost: £4.00

Miss Sporty Eyeshadows and makeup in general is completely underrated but the shadows come in a large shade range and are super pigmented as seen above).

Cost: £2.59 (can sometimes be found in Poundland)

 Natural Collection's 'Mermaid' eyeshadow is great for use on the lower lash line as it gives a pretty blue pop!

Cost: £1.79

NEW Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya

 

I love this coral for spring!!! It gives the lips a nice orange tint and makes the whole face look a lot more bright and I love it soooo much! The formula, as with all the butters, is so creamy and makes my lips soft as a baby's butt! I love these but they are a bit pricey for the high street but worth it.

 Cost: £7.99

So the cost of re-vamping our makeup bags is... £29.36!!!

That includes:

Rimmel BB Cream

MUA Cream Blush in Bittersweet

MUA Cream Blush in Dolly

MUA Cream Blush in Blossom

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette

Miss Sporty Duo Eyeshadow in Lively Spirit

Natural Collection Single Eyeshadow in Mermaid

NEW Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya

Under £30 for all that!!! Plus 3 for 2 at boots!!! Brilliant!!!

What will you be updating your makeup bag with this season? Would you like to see a summer update when it comes around?

Witch Anti-Blemish BB Beauty Balm

I am in love with BB Creams at the moment and, being an acne sufferer, I was drawn to this one containing witch hazel. 

On the back of the box:

Witch's Beauty Balm is ideal for blemish prone skin. It evens out skin tone, smoothes and hydrates whilst providing an immediate visible improvement in the appearance of your skin. SPF 15 protects the skin whilst the natural witch hazel helps keep it clear, leaving you looking flawless, radiant and natural.

Advantages:

• Good Consistency - easy to apply with your fingers or a brush (I use the e.l.f. stipple brush)
• Contains witch hazel that targets and treats blemishes while covering them
• Contains SPF 15 (good if you live in a hot country, not like me in cold England!)
• Natural Coverage - good for everyday wear depending on personal taste
• Oil Free
• Great Value at £6.99

Disadvantages:

• One Shade (fits paler skins with pinkier undertones)
• Says it is also a moisturiser but for drier skins I wouldn't just use this
• Not ideal for night-time full coverage faces

Just after application

After blending in

Final Verdict:

I like this BB Cream as it feels like skincare on the skin and is perfect for my everyday makeup. I also love the price!!!

4½ / 5

Witch BB Cream is available to buy at Boots and Superdrug in the UK.

http://www.boots.com/en/Witch-Anti-Blemish-BB-Cream_1277150/?CAWELAID=1474302957

Dupes for Essie Nail Polish Colours? (Bahama Mama and Fiji) | New Nails from MUA

First things first: I have never tried an essie nail polish colour, only base coats so I cannot vouch that these are exact dupes so don't kill me if they aren't.

MUA Natural Days - Essie Fiji

MUA Plum Noir - Essie Bahama Mama

 

So... what's similar?

 The packaging is so similar it's unreal! MUA have certainly copied essie in their revamp.

The colours, from what I've seen in boots and on blogs, are extremely close.

And the differences...

Though the packaging is similar looking, the amounts are different - essie contains 13.5ml whereas MUA contains just 6.2ml.

Swatched on the left is Plum Noir and on the right is Natural Days, the left is one coat and the right is two - a good, opaque colour after just two coats.

The price difference is quite considerable also - MUA is just £1 but essie is £7.99-£8.50! I know which I would choose!

So, which will you try - MUA or essie?

Monthly Favourites | March 2013

I cannot believe that I almost forgot about this post... oops!

Just to add, this month was a skincare turnaround as my skin became super dry and I broke out like bonkers so I have been using a lot of new products.

Skincare & Hairare

The No7 Beautiful Skin Day and Night Creams have been my skin saviours this month - after I was so sick my skin became so dry and flaky that I couldn't wear makeup because it just made it worse, these put it back to normal and I cannot recommend them enough!

Then I started to use Neutrogena's Pore and Shine Daily Scrub and it has smoothed my skin and makes my pores appear so much smaller - amazing! One downside is the smell - yucky!

I'll always have a hot cloth cleanser in my beauty cupboard as they're so good for removing full coverage makeup and a favourite is the No7 one as it's creamy and non-irritating.

A new Tresseme hair product is the Keratin Smooth Conditioner and it makes my hair smooth and soft and really prevents frizz.

Then another Tresseme hair product is the Liquid Gold Restorative Oil as it smells amazing and contains argan oil that stops flyaways.

Did you get a Percy and Reed sample in your issue Glamour Magazine? I recieved the No-Oil Oil that I have been applying to my hair when it's wet as it really helps with flyaways and detangaling.

Make-Up   

The Sleek Face Form Kit is a must for contouring - when I couldn't find the Face Contour Kit I opted for this and I'm so glad I did as the rose gold blush is amazing on my pale skin.

Soap and Glory's Kick Ass Concealer really did Kick Ass this month, or more Kick Dark Circles as it has covered them up and made me look wide awake when I was actually asleep.

March has not been the month of mascaras but e.l.f Lengthening and Defining helped so much and made my lashes long and thick.

A new lip butter shade from Revlon stood out and that is Juicy Papaya - amazing coral-y orange that will be gorgeous for spring.

Revlon Balm Stain in Cherish is a love for brighter pink lips for a pop on a colder day with a balmier texture to stop chapping throughout the day too.

The MUA Undress Your Skin Foundation was my foundation of choice in March and it has provided coverage and a glowy finish for duller skin.

Maybelline Colour Tattoos have always been a favourite of mine but I've loved On and On Bronze this month for a hint of darkness.

I finally got my hands on NYC Sunny Bronzer and although not too pigmented at first, once the top layer wore off it became suddenly super pigmented and gave me a sunkissed glow.

Thanks for taking the time to find out my monthly favourites

What are your's?

Love,

Lizzie x

What's in my Travel Makeup Bag? | Easter 2013

 I just got back from a weekend away in the Chilterns! Although it was only a four-day trip I wanted a selection of makeup so I could change up my makeup easily.

For foundation I took my new Revlon Photoready BB Cream - loving this, totally worth the hype - and my Max Factor FaceFinity All Day Flawless Foundation in Warm Almond as it gives a really flawless finish. To make my makeup last all day I also used the Revlon Photoready Primer as it's smoothing and keeps my makeup lasting for ages - the MUA fixing spray really helped with makeup longevity too. 

Then for concealer I took a cult favourite, Collection Lasting Perfection, as it covers all amazingly. I also took Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch as it brightens and makes the whites of my eyes pop! Then a new find is the Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer (as seen in my last haul) because it can be kept in my handbag for top ups of powder and concealer. Then my powder was Revlon's Nearly Naked as it is super creamy and adds a little coverage.

 

I finally managed to seek out NYC Sunny Bronzer and love it - similar to MUA Bronzed Perfection but a bit more orange. For highlight MUA Undress Your Skin's one was fitting as it is so luminizing! Then as I needed a mirror and a selection of blushes with limited space I chose my Fashionista Blush Palette (cinnamon, rose thrill, New York, London) as these are some of my favourite blushes.

Then for brows I chose my MUA Brow Kit and Collection Clear Mascara to keep them in tip-top shape. For mascara I was greedy and took 3 - Maybelline Falsies Flared (terrible - I'm put off Maybelline mscaras as it's clumpy, stinky and wet), Soap and Glory Thick and Fast (clumpy and the brush is too big) and e.l.f Lengthening and Defining (good for definition). For priming I needed to finish my e.l.f eyelid primer that never seems to run out so I took this.

 For eyeshadow I took two cream shadows - Maybelline On and On Bronze and Benefit's Tattle Tale - as bases. Then I also brought my MUA Undress Me Too as I like the lighter colours for holidays. Then for eyeliner I took a brown (Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl in Cocoa Bean), a black (Diego Dalla Palma Black Eyeliner) and a nude (Rimmel Scandaleyes in 005 Nude).

Then for lippies I have (left to right):

Front Row:  Revlon Lip Butters in Juicy Papaya and Strawberry Shortcake, Natural Collection Lipstick in Sand Castle and L'Oreal Caresse in Tempting Lilac. 

Back Row:  MUA Lipgloss in shade 3, Revlon Balm Stain in Cherish and 17 Lip Gloss in Very Berry.

I had a very good weekend and I hope you did too!