Category: BEAUTY

BEAUTY

NATURAL COLLECTION MAKEUP REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date May 4, 2018
37 Comments on NATURAL COLLECTION MAKEUP REVIEW

Hey Guys,

Today I’m reviewing some of the products within the Natural Collection range! I have such a soft spot for this brand as it was the only makeup I used when I was younger. It was actually the first brand that I ever tried! I started wearing very very light makeup (we’re talking basically might as well not be on my face) when I was about 12 for discos and parties. My mum would apply it and she would often use their lip glosses and lipsticks on me when we went on holiday so I could feel dressy and grown-up (lol) and so I thought I would relive some of my fond memories and also see what they currently have to offer!

Whilst I was visiting Bath with my boyfriend (click to read my post about our trip here), I managed to pick up these bits and pieces from the range! I love the simplistic packaging – it kind of gives me Topshop Makeup vibes what with the capital letters and the plain colours (love it). I tried to grab a good variety of products whilst also getting things I know that I will use so I hope this gives you some idea of what to expect from Natural Collection.

BRONZING POWDER – GOLDEN GLOW* – £1.99

First up is their Bronzing powder! It’s a lightly tinted powder with a subtle shimmer which I actually really like as I think it makes me look healthier. I tend to go for shimmery products when the sun starts to come out because when they catch the light it can look so pretty and they give off a gorgeous natural glow. This isn’t the most pigmented bronzer in the world and I wouldn’t expect it to be however I think I actually prefer that as it’s not too intense and it makes it easier to build up. It’s also enriched with camomile to help soothe and protect!

BUY THE BRONZER HERE*

POWDER BLUSHER – PEACH MELBA* – £1.99

I love a good peachy blusher and this ticks all the right boxes! It gives a subtle hint of colour to my skin and isn’t too intense so it’s perfect for more natural looks. It’s super easy to blend and build up (if necessary) as well. I love how delicate and subtle it is and I cannot wait to use it during Summer. It also contains camomile to help sooth and protect your skin.

BUY THE BLUSHER HERE*

TINTED LIP BALM – CRANBERRY KISS

I’ve been using these glosses for YEARS now and I honestly think they’re fab. I very rarely wear glosses as I prefer a matte look but whenever I need some extra moisture, I turn to these straight away! This was actually the first shade of their tinted lip balms that I ever used and I love the subtle pop of pink that it gives my lips. If you’re looking for something lightweight and really subtle, I’d definitely recommend trying these out!

LIQUID EYELINER – BLACK MATTE* – £2.49

I tend to go through phases of wearing liquid eyeliner. Recently I’ve been loving a more natural look but I know there will come a time when I need that extra something to make my eyes pop! When it comes to eyeliners, I like something that is really easy to apply and allows me to be really precise when I want to do a winged look. The brush is so tiny it’s perfect! I love using this to perfect my wings and also it’s smudge proof so what more could you want?

BUY THE EYELINER HERE*

BLUSH AND GLOW – BRONZE* – £2.49

I really wanted to try this because anything compact that has multiple products in is just such a winner in my eyes. I love being able to carry less and more at the same time! This little due contains a silky matte bronzer as well as a shimmering highlighter to give you a pop of colour and glow when you need it! The bronzer was much more pigmented than I expected but it’s definitely not too intense and can be built up if necessary. The highlighter was really pigmented however and it creates a lovely and natural looking shimmer to my complexion. For less than £3 you can’t go wrong really!

BUY THE DUO HERE*

TINTED LIP BALM – CARIBBEAN CRUSH

Unfortunately I can’t find links for either of the lip balms but I’m sure they still have them in store! I love using this shade to add a coral/nude gloss to my lips – particularly when I don’t fancy having anything intense or pigmented. Plus, they feel so nice and moisturising too so they’re lovely when you have dry lips that need repairing!

Overall, I actually really like these products. I like that they’re very focused on a natural look which is pretty hard to find these days. I also like that the packaging is simplistic and not too cluttered. I really like Natural Collection anyway because they offer such fantastic products for extremely good prices and it’s perfect for those that don’t want to pay ridiculous amounts of money for some good makeup. They also offer lots of shades, which means there are lots of options when choosing what would suit you best. I would really recommend trying these products – and the rest of the range, out! Don’t forget to follow me on my social media which I’ve linked below as I’d love it if you came and said hi!

N xxxx

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

*Anything marked with an “*” are affiliate links, which means I earn commission through every click, however all opinions are my own!

Tags BEAUTY, Beauty Blogger, blog, blogger, Cosmetics, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Swatches

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX APRIL 2018: CATH KIDSTON – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date April 24, 2018
No Comments on BIRCHBOX APRIL 2018: CATH KIDSTON – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

How are you all? I’m so glad that I’m finally able to review my April Birchbox! I have been at home for a while, so I wasn’t able to get hold of all of my post that arrived back at my flat. I’ve only just managed to get my hands on it and I have some really exciting posts coming up as a result! Below, I’ll include some info all about Birchbox, who they are and that they do, so if you just want to see the review – keep scrolling!

Birchboxis a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!

Click here to read my March Birchbox review!

*RRPs correspond to full-size items in the Birchbox shop!

This April, Birchbox have teamed up with British brand Cath Kidston to bring us a little sunshine! As soon as I heard that this month’s box was in collaboration with Cath Kidston, I knew that the packaging would be amazing! I don’t tend to shop there very often but I’ve always loved the way that they present their products and the beautiful designs that they bring out every year. The box is so pretty and I will definitely be using it to store things in!

The theme for this month is focused on doing things to brighten up your day. I love this concept as sometimes it’s very easy to become overwhelmed with all of the negative things going on and I end up losing sight of all of the great things. It’s been so nice to have some sunny weather and to see the flowers all coming out as these little pops of colour make me so happy and I love that this packaging reflects that! Even when things are getting me down I just know that looking at this gorgeous box will brighten my day for sure! This box has a great variety of products which I’m happy about as I like to try lots of different products in my spare time.

ModelCo – Baked Highlighter in “Moonshine”– RRP £24*

I have used the ModelCo mini contour stick which I have used religiously, every single day since I received it last year, so I had high hopes for this product when I first saw it! As most of you probably know already, I absolutely love highlighters and I have a scarily big (and growing) collection so I was super happy to receive another one this month! This highlighter is gorgeous and I love that it has a bronze tint to it which will make it perfect for summer. It’s really pigmented and easy to blend out however it’s such a shame that we were sent such a small sample. I think, personally, I would rather have one less product as opposed to a tiny sample of this one as it would be worth having some more to play around with.

CHECK OUT THE HIGHLIGHTER HERE

Beautaniq Beauty – Fill + Tame Brow Gel – RRP £8.60*

I have to say I’m more of a powder girl when it comes to my brows but I reckon I’ll use this because the colour is almost spot on. I also like how small the brush is, which makes it easy to control and apply, particularly if you prefer a more natural look. I love the packaging – it makes a change from the typical brow products you see around and it’s much prettier to look at! I like the fact that the formula is not only vegan but it’s also enriched with aloe leaf extract which keeps your brows nourished instead of straw-like (something I will do anything to avoid when it comes to brow gels).

CHECK OUT THE BROW GEL HERE

Cath Kidston – Hand Cream – RRP £2.50*

I’ve really been loving hand creams recently! I have one in my bag at all times and I’m slowly getting through my current tube so this came at the perfect time. It smells AMAZING and apparently it’s their signature scent – I can totally see why. It contains notes of jasmine, orange flower and vanilla! As well as smelling great, it actually works (always a bonus) and I will definitely be buying more of this. Also this packaging is to die for, it’s adorable!

CHECK OUT THE HAND CREAM HERE

Lumene – Valo (Light) Overnight Bright Sleeping Cream – RRP £22.50*

I really like the idea that whilst you sleep your skincare can be getting to work as I don’t always have time to really treat my skin. The formula is rich in anti-oxidants and targets dehydrated and fatigued skin (hello yes I’ll take ten please). It features Cloudberry seed extract, vitamin C and Hydraulic acid which all work to replenish your skin’s moisture levels! It leaves your skin refreshed and balanced which is definitely something I’m going to need with exams rapidly approaching.

CHECK OUT THE CREAM HERE

Marcelle – BB Cream Golden Glow Illuminator – RRP £22.50*

I’ve been sent this before and I actually really enjoyed using it last summer. It’s pretty much like a bottle of pure glow! It makes me look more awake and much healthier -the perfect holiday companion when I didn’t want to wear lots of makeup. If I were to label my skin type I would say dewy/oily, so I always go for products that work with that. This cream hydrates my skin as well as controlling shine (I don’t want to be blinding people when the sun hits my face) I always go for a dewy look when it comes to everyday makeup so this product fit right into my collection. I’d really recommend getting hold of this – it’s one of my faves!

CHECK OUT THE CREAM HERE

I hope you enjoyed this review as much as I enjoyed writing it! I also really enjoyed taking all of the photographs for this post (it gave me an excuse to use flowers again) Let me know if any of you received this box and what your thoughts were – I really liked it! It was nice to get some new things that I haven’t tried before and there was such a great variety of products this month too. Don’t forget to give me a follow on my social media to keep up with what I’m doing and to say hi – I love hearing from you!

N xxxx

Go ahead and use my link (here) to subscribe and you will get £5 off your first Birchbox!

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Tags April, BEAUTY, BIRCHBOX, blogger, Cath Kidston, Cosmetics, Floral, Flowers, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Unboxing

BEAUTY

MAKEUP REVOLUTION – FAST BASE FOUNDATION STICK REVIEW, PHOTOS & SWATCHES

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date April 20, 2018
6 Comments on MAKEUP REVOLUTION – FAST BASE FOUNDATION STICK REVIEW, PHOTOS & SWATCHES

Hey Guys,

I’m back with another review! This time, we’re taking a look at possibly one of the most talked about makeup products right now. I decided to take the plunge and raid the Makeup Revolution counter at my local Superdrug store. They’re newer products are usually sold out everywhere which drives me nuts because I’ve been desperate to get my hands on one of these for a few months now! A fellow blogging pal of mine (Becca – check out her blog here) tweeted about doing a massive Makeup Revolution order and it made me bite the bullet and risk heading into Superdrug for another hunt for this product and thank god I did but Becca, I blame you if I end up buying the whole bloomin’ range.

Today I’m reviewing the Fast Base Foundation Stick* so let’s get into it. The packaging immediately pulled me in! This was always a given, as I’m a sucker for anything rose gold (it’s an addiction, a problem in-fact). The packaging is a gorgeous matte, nude colour – very similar, if not identical, to the Soph X palette (read my review here). The full range offers a whopping 18 shades and I hear that they are planning to expand this even further. It’s about time brands started doing this!

I absolutely love that you can apply exactly the amount you need and the texture of it is goes on like a dream, it practically melts into the skin. I’ve always preferred a dewy finish to my foundation and this gave me exactly what I was looking for! I was a bit skeptical about the whole stick situation but it’s really surprised me. It’s so precise and it means that I don’t waste a lot of product, especially if it becomes an everyday foundation.

I have fairly yellow-toned skin and let me tell you, it’s a nightmare trying to find the right shade of any foundation/concealer. Once I find something that works, I’m always nervous about trying anything else as it’s so hard to find something to suit my skin tone. So I picked the shade F6 as this seemed pretty much perfect for me. It’s slightly too dark but honestly it blends out so well I can barely notice and nobody else has either! Swatching this was the first time I used the product and I was so shocked at just how creamy and smooth it felt on my skin! I didn’t have to desperately drag the stick around whatsoever, it was super easy! I blend it out with a beauty blender but sometimes I use a brush first to spread the product out a bit. I was left with a beautifully dewy finish which is always something I look for in foundations. It made me look healthy and energised and if that’s what you’re after, trust me, it’s worth trying out! The coverage is INSANE which I wasn’t expecting whatsoever. It hides blemishes, scarring and probably your biggest secrets. I 100% recommend this foundation and if you haven’t tried it yet you definitely should! Let me know what you think of this foundation in the comments.

N xxxx

CHECK OUT THE FAST BASE FOUNDATION STICK HERE*

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*Anything marked with an “*” are affiliate links, which means I earn commission through every click, however all opinions are my own!

Tags #Concealer, #Foundation, BEAUTY, blog, Makeup, Makeup Revolution, Photography, Photos, Review, Swatches

BEAUTY

URBAN DECAY NAKED FLUSHED – NOONER REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date April 17, 2018
4 Comments on URBAN DECAY NAKED FLUSHED – NOONER REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

Finally the sun has arrived here in the UK and it’s about time! I was getting so sick of the cold and gloomy days, I just couldn’t find the energy to get things done. I’m excited to feeling more energised and motivated by this much nicer weather! Today, Im reviewing The Urban Decay Naked Nooner Palette*. This caught my eye back in December and I’ve been waiting to post about it for a while now so let’s get into it!

The packaging is super pretty and simple, similar to most of the Urban Decay Naked products. I love the reflective rose gold text on the grey, it really stands out and looks so nice in my collection. I also like that the packaging shows what the products look like too.

The actual palette itself it made from plastic – the expensive-feeling kind and it’s also got this grogeous sparkly/metallic sheen to it. Again, the rose gold writing stands out and I think this really emphasises that it’s more of a high-end product.

All of the Urban Decay Naked Flushed palettes contain three different shades of bronzer, highlighter and blusher. I chose Nooner as it contains the shades that I consider to be the most wearable for me. I love that there are three products fit into one palette as it makes this palette perfect for travelling and on-the-go makeup. Using one palette instead of three takes up so much less room in my makeup bag. I also really like that the products work well together, particularly the bronzer and the blusher as both give me such a healthy glow! The bronzer is generously sized, as is the blusher. I was lightly disappointed with how small the highlighter was however, I’m not a huge fan of it anyway so I’m not that fussed.

The bronzer is a fairly light shade but it’s definitely buildable. I like that it’s warm-toned as this suits my skintone best. It reminds me slightly of the Hoola Bronzer by Benefit actually. It gives me such a gorgeous healthy bronzed look. I can’t wait to use this in Summer and on holiday. The bronzer is also super easy to blend and apply and it doesn’t look muddy or patchy at all. It’s definitely not the most intense bronzer I’ve ever used but it’s perfect for the more natural looks that I like to create.

The blusher is such a pretty and flirty shade of pink. It’s buildable so you probably won’t go overboard in one sweep. I’ve always been quite timid with blusher so I was actually glad to find that this shade wasn’t too intense. This blusher looks so nice with Spring-themed outfits and makeup (pastels).

The highlighter is the most disappointing part of the palette. I understand that this palette is probably for natural makeup looks but it certainly didn’t need to be this basic. It’s more glittery and chalky than creamy which was really annoying. I don’t hate it, I just own better highlighters so I will probably use those. It’s a shame because it looked like the perfect champagne-shimmer shade! However, when I want something really subtle I think this will come in handy.

Overall, this palette isn’t the best but it also isn’t the worst. It’s definitely not for those that want something intense, I’d say it’s better for someone just getting started with makeup. It’s a nice palette, it’s just lacking in some areas, which isn’t what I would expect when it’s from Urban Decay. It’s also quite annoying that the three shades aren’t separated by anything as they tend to get mixed up sometimes and that can make it difficult to apply each product precisely to one part of the face. However, all three products in this palette are really easy to blend so any mistakes can quickly be fixed. I also love how easy it is to carry and it will make travelling with makeup so much easier. I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know what you think of it in the comments as I love hearing from you!

N xxxx

BUY THE NOONER PALETTE HERE*

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*Anything marked with an “*” are affiliate links, which means I earn commission through every click, however all opinions are my own!

Tags BEAUTY, blog, blogger, Cosmetics, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, urban decay

BEAUTY

MAKEUP REVOLUTION – CONCEAL AND DEFINE CONCEALER REVIEW, PHOTOS & SWATCHES

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date April 13, 2018
4 Comments on MAKEUP REVOLUTION – CONCEAL AND DEFINE CONCEALER REVIEW, PHOTOS & SWATCHES

Hey Everyone,

I have another review for you today! This time I’m taking a look at the Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer* which has become a bit of a hot topic within the beauty and blogging community. I was so excited to find this in my local Superdrug store as they’re pretty much ALWAYS out of stock and ordering online scares me incase I get the wrong shade. Either way, I ended up buying it and I thought a review would help the undecided out there.

If you haven’t heard already, the beauty community has been heavily debating whether or not this concealer is a dupe for the Taste Shape Tape. I haven’t tried that so I can’t draw a direct comparison, however, I’m personally interested in testing it out as a drugstore concealer as an alternative to the ones that I already love and use regularly. The packaging is a gorgeous metallic purple-pink colour which makes a change from the usual packaging brands seem to opt for (black lid, clear tube). It’s available in 18 shades (wow) and it was so easy to find the right one for my skin tone. If you’re panicking about which one would work best for you, check out the descriptions on the Superdrug website as Makeup Revolution have kindly explained the undertones in each shade.

As you can see, the doe foot applicator is huge which I love as it means I can really make the most of the product whilst being able to get it where I need it to be in one clean swoop. I prefer to blend it in with my beauty blender so that I get a nice flawless finish. I also find that on days where I don’t want or need full coverage, using a wet sponge can make it more sheer. I like to go back over it with a tiny bit of translucent powder or banana powder to brighten the area even more and to set it properly too.

I was actually surprised at how creamy the formula is, even though this is a full coverage concealer! I found it super easy to blend out and it doesn’t feel cakey whatsoever. It lasts all day and even managed to remain put during a 5 hour IKEA marathon. It’s probably worth mentioning that I also used their Pro Fix Fixing Spray for added protection! I can’t find any flaws with this product and I honestly think it’s one of the best drugstore concealers I’ve ever tried. The fact that it retails at only £4 is AMAZING too, as it makes it an affordable alternative to the ridiculously overpriced high-end products whilst also offering you the same high quality. I strongly recommend giving this fabulous concealer a try! Let me know what you think of it in the comments!

N xxxx

BUY THE CONCEAL AND DEFINE CONCEALER HERE*

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*Anything marked with an “*” are affiliate links, which means I earn commission through every click, however all opinions are my own!

Tags #Concealer, #Foundation, BEAUTY, blog, Makeup, Makeup Revolution, Photography, Photos, Review, Shopping

BEAUTY

I HEART REVOLUTION – BRONZE & SHIMMER {REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS)

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date April 10, 2018
12 Comments on I HEART REVOLUTION – BRONZE & SHIMMER {REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS)

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed anything from I Heart Revolution product, but I just had to share this one with you! I’m always looking to see what they’re bring out as they’re pretty much a conveyor belt of dupes. I have a bit of an obsession with bronzers and highlighters and I feel like I’ve tried my fair share of them, however I’m about to introduce you to my all time favourite…

Today, we’re talking about the I Heart Revolution Bronze and Shimmer duo. The adorable compact consists of a powder bronzer and highlighter to keep you glowing all day every day.

The packaging is adorable and matches the rest of their scrummy chocolate palette collection. I’m always impressed with their packaging actually! Considering that they’re a drugstore brand, the fact that they’re competing with the likes of Too Faced when it comes to branding, is pretty impressive, right? It only retails at £6 and let me tell you ladies and gents, may the makeup gods make us truly thankful.

The compact comes with a generously sized mirror which makes it perfect for on-the-go application and space-saving whilst travelling! Does anyone else end up packing way too much makeup in their suitcase or is it just me? I’m always looking for products that will take up less space to avoid the embarrassing weigh-in at the airport…The pans are really nicely sized too! Sometimes, when it comes to smaller compacts, the amount of product we get isn’t great but that’s not the case here! On that note however, you may have noticed the bronzer pan is slightly bigger and I kind of wish it was the other way round. It may sound fussy but I’m actually in love with the highlighter so I’d happily bathe in it if possible. Both the bronzer and highlighter have a gradient so you can find the perfect shade for you within both pans! How handy is that?

The highlighter is just beautiful – it’s the kind of shade I always go for as I think it compliments my skin-tone the most! I don’t really go for the whole iridescent vibe so this is the closest I can get without catching the light and blinding people. It’s one of the only highlighters that sits perfectly on top of my foundation. I cannot believe it only costs £6. It’s currently my go-to even though I own some highlighters from high-end brands like Bobbi Brown and Urban Decay.

Yep. That’s it, I’m in love. I was already impressed just from looking at them, let alone after I’d done swatches. It’s probably worth noting that I barely even had to touch the pan in order to pick up a substantial amount of product, both are very pigmented! The bronzer provides the most gorgeous golden-brown glow for an all year round “I’ve just been on holiday” look. Speaking of which, how stunning will it look in summer? It’s one hundred percent become my sparkling sunshine companion. To be honest, I reckon I’ll even wear it in Winter too. It’s at that time of year that my skin could do with a bit of a helping hand and I think this will make me look less white walker-like, you know? I’m all for a bronzer with a touch of sparkle to it as I find matte bronzers rarely work out for me and make me look muddy – if you know, you know. Also – it can be used as an eyeshadow, thank me later!

So, what do I think? In all honesty, I think this product is a 10/10. I can’t find anything wrong with it at all! It’s rare that I don’t have a criticism in some shape or form but this my friends, is perfection. If you want to glow like a lightbulb but you don’t want to take out a loan, this is definitely one to consider. It’s affordable, the quality is insane and it’s giving those brands at the higher end of the price range something to lose sleep over. It’s often out of stock in Superdrug so I’d recommend ordering it online if you can!

Get the Bronze & Shimmer duo here

What do you think of this product? Have you tried it for yourself? Let me know in the comments. As usual, I’ve linked all of my social media so be sure to come and say hey!

N xxxx

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Tags blog, Bronzer, highlighter, Makeup, Makeup Revolution, Photography, Photos, Product Review, Review, Superdrug

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX MARCH 2018: BE PRESENT NOT PERFECT – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date March 16, 2018
2 Comments on BIRCHBOX MARCH 2018: BE PRESENT NOT PERFECT – REVIEW

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!

Check out my review of last month’s box here!

I really love this month’s box design, it’s so vibrant and fresh coloured which makes it perfect for Spring. Turquoise happens to be my favourite colour too! The boxes are always so beautifully designed and I nearly always keep them to store my makeup and stationery in.

The theme for this month is focused on being “present not perfect” which I believe is a great way of thinking. I know I have spent too much time worrying about how I look to the point where it’s actually stopped me doing things. For example, when I have bad skin I think about it so much that sometimes it means I’m not really listening. I think it’s so important to be present and involved in conversation but also so that I don’t miss out on the things that are important to me. It’s still okay to have ‘off’ days but don’t let the small things get in the way of what you want to do! I may do a post about mindfulness as it’s really helped me out on difficult days.

This month’s box has a great variety of products including some makeup and skincare – not to mention a makeup brush too! I love that there’s always a range of different items in each box as I like to try lots of different things out in my spare time. I feel like this box came at the perfect time too as it seems to be focused on “clear skin” which is exactly what I need right now!

BLAQ – Peel Off Mask – RRP £14

I was so happy to discover this product in my March Birchbox. I’ve never tried a charcoal mask before and the choice is always so overwhelming whenever I go into Boots or Superdrug.I’ve only used this mask once and it’s absolutely brilliant! It was super easy to apply and it dried within 15-20 minutes. It also came off pretty easily too which was a relief (didn’t fancy looking like a panda for the rest of the week). This mask definitely cleared up my skin, took all of the gunk out and dried out any spots that I had. I will definitely be using this up within the next week. Also, I would recommend applying it with one of those little spatula-like thingies as it’s very sticky and would make a bit of a mess otherwise. I used my face mask kit from Primark (it’s only £2 and it’s a lifesaver). This mask isn’t to expensive either which I like, but if you have any cheaper drugstore recommendations do let me know!

BUY THE MASK HERE

Benefit – BADgal BANG! – Volumising Mascara – RRP £21.50

Right so I’m going to get my first thought out the way – I’m not feeling the name of this product, it kind of made me cringe and I just can’t imagine being like “Oh could I get a BADgal mascara please?”. However the name has nothing to do with the product itself which actually happens to be fab. I’ve always loved using Benefit’s mascaras and I always have one of their minis in my handbag. I love the idea of a thickening mascara as I have very straight and boring lashes. I also love the “slimpact” shape of the brush as it’s narrow and will coat all of my lashes meaning I don’t have to faff about at weird angles. I’m really excited to give this a try as it’s promising some great things!

BUY THE MASCARA HERE

Manna Kadar Cosmetics (FULL SIZE) – Radiance Split Pan Bronzer And Highlighter Duo – RRP £17

I’ve been sent a lot of Manna Kadar beauty products over the years and I’ve always enjoyed using them. Often their cosmetics are very travel friendly in size and they’re usually a duo or a “3 in 1” kind of product. I was so surprised at how pigmented this bronzer and highlighter was. The only problem is, getting a bush into the bronzer and picking up enough product evenly on my brush will be a bit of a pain as it is a bit too small. I will definitely be using the highlighter as I reckon it’ll look stunning on the inner corners of my eyes and under my brows. However, if this is the full sized product, I probably won’t be paying £17 for another one as it just doesn’t seem worth it to me.

BUY THE DUO HERE

Sebamed – Clear Face Antibacterial Cleansing Foam – RRP £7.99

I was really happy to receive this product this month as it seems like a great product for problem skin. Recently with stress my skin has decided to abandon it’s usual routine and it’s been breakout central. I’ve been looking for cleansers that don’t irritate my skin or work too aggressively and I reckon this is it! I’ve been using this before bed and first thing in the morning over the past week and I’ve noticed such a difference. It’s definitely dried out any blemishes and has stopped any further breakouts which is exactly what I wanted! I’m also super impressed with the price as £7.99 for a great cleanser isn’t bad at all, especially if it actually does what it says on the bottle. I like the packaging too as it looks quite clinical and that automatically makes me think “clean” which is what I want my skin to be after-all!

BUY THE CLEANSING FOAM HERE

Spectrum Collections – C06 Tulip Eye Contour Brush – RRP £4.99

I’ve received a couple of Spectrum Brushes from Birchbox now and I couldn’t be happier about it! I absolutely love Spectrum and their products are so affordable yet they’re always of such great quality. This brush is perfect for blending out smokey eyes (I tend to do these every day so yay) as it’s tapered so it means I can be more precise when blending darker shadows. It’s so fluffy too and I’m all about fluffy brushes, I find them so much easier to work with. All Spectrum brushes are animal-friendly as well as gorgeous so they’re definitely a brand worth checking out!

BUY THIS BRUSH HERE

I’m really pleased with this month’s box. As usual, there’s a great variety of products

Overall, I am really impressed with this month’s box. I love receiving boxes with a variety of products as after all, that is why I signed up for Birchbox in the first place! I really love that there was two full-sized products too as we usually only get one (which is still fab). Let me know if you are subscribed to Birchbox and what you thought of this box or if you are subscribed to any other beauty boxes, I would love to know!

Go ahead and use my link (here) to subscribe and you will get £5 off your first Birchbox!*

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*Anything marked with an * is either paid/sponsored content, however all opinions are my own

Tags BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Benefit, BIRCHBOX, Cosmetics, Makeup, Photography, Review, Skincare

BEAUTY

PRIMARK ‘NUDES’ MAKEUP RANGE – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date March 2, 2018
18 Comments on PRIMARK ‘NUDES’ MAKEUP RANGE – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Hey you,

I’m back with another review of course but first can we just talk about this bloody weather? Why has it decided to snow all of a sudden? I was so excited about the sun coming out and now the Beast from the East has well and truly arrived. Nottingham has seen pretty much non-stop snow over the past few days and I think we’re all over it. Especially when I live at the top of a hill and need to get to uni most days. Anyway, with that rant over let’s get on with the review. Today, I’m going to be talking about one of Primark’s (many) new makeup ranges. I’ve always been a fan of their low priced clothing and great value for money homeware but they have only just started paying close attention to the trends within the beauty community. They’re just so on the ball with keeping up with the latest thing, I honestly don’t know how they do it and how they churn out so many products so fast! I popped into my local store last week and I was so impressed with how much their makeup ranges have improved.

I spotted their “Nudes” range straight away. Does it remind you of anything? Yep, there are some serious KKW/Yeezy S6 vibes up in here. If Primark are trying to dupe those ridiculously pricey products, I think it’s definitely worth taking a closer look as these could save us a lot of money! Who doesn’t want to save money when it comes to makeup? In terms of the packaging, they’ve ticked every box in my opinion. These nude and pinky tones are everywhere at the moment too so they did a pretty good job picking up on that. My bedroom at home is a mixture of pink and grey so anything nude fits right in – I’m super excited to add these bits to my collection.

2 x BLENDER SPONGES – £2

I have tried Primark’s beauty blenders/sponges before and I was so disappointed. It was kind of like smacking small rocks against your face which wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for. I noticed that there were some included within the “Nudes” range and I thought I would give them another shot. I was pleasantly surprised, I absolutely love these! They feel expensive – I know this sounds strange but they feel firm and well made (pretty much exactly like my actual Beauty Blender). I think these are such great value too at £2. I would happily pay £1 for a beauty blender every time I needed one as my usual sponges cost a fair bit to replace. I simply hold these under the tap and squeeze out any excess water before applying my foundation with them – they work just fine! I will definitely be buying more of these.

EYELASH CURLER £1.50

I’ve always kind of thought these things are a myth or a gimmick. Growing up, my best friend always used one every single day and swore by it but I just never really thought it would make a difference. You’ll have to excuse the state of my eyebrow but I just thought it was worth showing you the results. I’ve always had long eyelashes but they literally do NOTHING and it makes me want to cry, they just stay straight no matter what product I’m using. So somehow, my brain started working properly and I realised that eyelash curlers were the solution. These worked wonders on my lashes and actually made them do something for once. I’ve been using these every day since I bought them! Also, my lashes are still curled when I wake up so these must be doing a good job!

2 x TWEEZERS – £1.50

I know this is pretty boring but I was in dire need of some new tweezers. Last year I started using false eyelashes and I would use my regular tweezers to apply them and after a while they just got a bit sticky and clumpy and so they couldn’t be very accurate when I needed to sort my brows out (as you can see from above photo of my face hahah) I like that this pack includes average sized tweezers but also some more narrow-headed ones for more precision. Plus they’re pink and my old ones were boring and grey so yay!

MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK & LIP LINER – THRILL SEEKER £3

NOPE. Straight up this disappointed me SO much. First of all, it’s super drying and it literally made my lips look and feel like shrivelled up prunes. Secondly, the lip liner broke off as soon as I got it out to swatch it, so I had to hold the tiny nib in my hand to try and get anything from it. Thirdly, I do not rate lip liners that aren’t pencils as you basically get zero product and if it breaks like mine did, there’s literally nothing you can do about it. Finally, the liquid lipstick dried a kind of brown/coral nude and not the pinky toned nude that it looked like it would be. It made me look so washed out. Also, it smelt of chemicals and didn’t have that typical toffee smell that most liquid lipsticks have. Overall, I’m very disappointed and Primark definitely need to work on the formulas of their lip kits.

MATTE EYE SHADOW PALETTE – £4

I was so impressed with this palette given it only retails at £4. It’s so beautifully packaged – very similar style to the Kylie Cosmetics 9 pan palettes. The colours are really pretty and elegant and they work well together, especially for Spring. I think the pigmentation of these shadows is so good, I didn’t have a single problem with blending them out and none of them were patchy. The only thing I will mention, is that the final shade I swatched (bottom right of palette) is supposed to be a purple, but no matter how many photos I took, the brown undertones took the limelight. I would really recommend trying this palette out as it’s not that different to those that I’ve spent more money on from higher-end brands. Well done Primark!

METALLIC EYE CREAM – ENCHANTED – £2

I love a good cream eyeshadow and I rarely find ones that I love, I tend to use Kiko’s cream shadows. However, I was really pleased with how this turned out. It’s pigmented, it’s creamy and easy to blend and it’s available in a few gorgeous shades. I love using this as a base for when I do halos or cut creases. I can’t wait to use this on holiday – it will look so pretty when it catches the light. I really recommend trying these out as they’re fab quality but also great size for your makeup bag.

BODY SHIMMER DUST – £4

YES. I am loving this product. It’s pretty much a luminous powder that blends out to add a gorgeous glow to your skin. It makes me look so much healthier and polished and I am obsessed with it. The packaging is so sleek and luxe too, it looks so much more expensive than it actually is. I also really love the little sponge/pad that it comes with as it’s so soft and works so well with the powder. You also get a huge amount (11g to be precise) of powder which will go A LONG way. I can’t wait for summer when I want to add a natural glow/shimmer. I absolutely recommend this product, it’s so gorgeous and it blends out so easily to add a stunning natural glow. 10/10.

Overall, I think this range is brilliant. Although the liquid lipstick was an absolute no from me, the rest of the products were all great and barely cost anything. I think they’re onto something here and they’re certainly giving Kim K something to panic about when it comes to price tags. Let me know if you want me to review any of the other Primark make up ranges as there are a few that have caught my eye. I hope you enjoyed this review even though it’s quite lengthy. I wanted to go all out with this as I tried reading some reviews myself and they didn’t include that many of the products. Let me know what you guys think of this range and whether or not you’ve tried or want to try any of the products included.

N xxxx

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Tags BEAUTY, Beautyblogger, Budget, England, Haul, Makeup, palette, Photography, Photos, Primark, Review, Shopping, Swatches

BEAUTY

MAKEUP REVOLUTION STROBE HIGHLIGHTER – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date February 27, 2018
6 Comments on MAKEUP REVOLUTION STROBE HIGHLIGHTER – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Hey you,

Tam Beauty are the company that own Freedom, Makeup Revolution and I Heart Makeup. They’re cruelty free and are based in Britain. You’ll most likely spot their products in your local Superdrug* store. I own a fair amount of their products but I’m always looking at their new ranges in my local drugstore! I’m just so impressed with how far they’ve come and how they manage to keep up with the latest trends in the beauty community whilst keeping their products affordable! I’ve reviewed some of their other products (just search makeup revolution on my home page and they should all be there). Today, we’re going to be looking at Makeup Revolution‘s strobe highlighters! I have always loved the formula of this brand’s highlighters, in fact I use the Ultra Pro Glow palette almost every day.

When I saw these at £3 each, I had to try them out! Although the packaging is pretty basic and plain, I like that it isn’t too clunky as I hate makeup that takes up unnecessary space in my drawers. I also like that you can see the colour of the highlighter too as it adds a nice luxe look to my collection.

There’s a variety of highlighters available in this range, so there’s something for everyone. I chose these two as I tend to wear more caramel coloured highlighters rather than those really intense white/pink iridescent ones. On the left we have Rejuvenate* and on the right is Gold Addict*.

Without Flash (normal daylight) Left – Rejuvenate* / Right – Gold Addict*

With Flash (they changed position because this was taken on a different day – you aren’t going mad) Left – Gold Addict* / Right – Rejuvenate*

As you can see, both are incredibly pigmented, considering they’re only drugstore highlighters. I have to say, I wasn’t expecting either of them to be this gorgeous or for them to swatch this well! Apologies for how different the photos look from each other, I wanted to include a flash and non-flash shot so the lighting was completely different. They highlighters aren’t chalky or powdery and they’re super creamy and easy to blend out which I find is a must when it comes to highlighters. I like my highlight to be natural looking – I don’t suit the blinding look as well as some do, I find it doesn’t sit nicely on top of my makeup and eventually I just look like a shiny lightbulb (no thank you). They’re both buildable and can be applied wet/dry. I’ve tried using setting spray with both of these highlighters and it enhances the pigmentation SO much! Gold addict is a highlighter that I would wear every day and Rejuvenate is probably a shade I would use for a shimmery bronze look during summer or on holiday.

Overall, I think these highlighters are amazing. They cost just £3 each and yet they’re giving my high-end products a run for their money! I love the fact that you can apply them wet or dry and they still look just as flattering on the skin. The formula makes them blend beautifully and this means that they can easily build if you want a more intense look.I strongly recommend trying these out if you’re looking for a new glow but you don’t want to spend your life savings. You can get these on Tam Beauty’s website (Gold Addict/Rejuvenate) or online at Superdrug (Gold addict/Rejuvenate). Let me know what you think of these or if you’ve tried any!

N xxxx

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*Anything marked with an “*” are either sponsored or affiliate links, however all opinions are my own

Tags BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Makeup, MakeupRevolution, Photography, Review, TamBeauty

BEAUTY

MY CURRENT TOP 5 FRAGRANCES

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date February 23, 2018
5 Comments on MY CURRENT TOP 5 FRAGRANCES

Hey you,

I wouldn’t say I’m an avid collector of perfumes or fragrances but I definitely have some favourites and these tend to chop and change throughout the year. Today I’m going to be sharing my current favourites with you! I went for a selection of sprays and perfumes and although it doesn’t look it, it’s a coincidence that they’re all pink!

Victoria’s Secret Fragrance Mist – Temptation – £17.72 (Currently £6.89)

I was originally obsessed with the Victoria’s Secret’s (now sadly discontinued) Strawberries and Champagne fragrance. I decided to take the plunge and try a new one and to my surprise I fell in love with another! Temptation is such a gorgeous scent, with fresh apple and saguaro flower. This spray embodies the best fruity floral combo I have come across. I really recommend testing this one out, it’s just too good to miss out on! You can get it here*. Also, it’s worth checking your local Superdrug* stores as they often have offers on these sprays!

BUY TEMPTATION HERE*

Primark Fragrance Mist – Crème Brulee

I actually love Primark fragrances. I was so impressed when they released lots more last summer – I particularly loved their mango and papaya scent (SO GOOD) which I think they still have in some stores. This spray was something I came across when browsing through their new in fragrances and I’m so glad I did. Firstly, I love the packaging. The cute little handwritten-style font and the pretty nude coloured bottle immediately caught my eye. I then noticed that it was labelled “Crème Brulee” which is one of my favourite desserts and flavours. This fragrance is definitely for those that prefer sweeter and more sugary based scents, as it contains hints of French Vanilla and White Musk. (Sorry I couldn’t include a price because I can’t find it anywhere, but it will definitely be under £5)

Soap and Glory Body Spray – Sugar Crush – £4

I really enjoy using products by Soap and Glory. I love their packaging, their branding (quirky phrases and names) and the quality of their products is always fantastic. If you want to see what my faves are, check out my post, where I review lots of Soap and Glory bits and pieces! This scent is by far my favourite in their entire collection, it’s sweet with a fruity lime twist. It features lemon oil and Elemi oil whilst also including vanilla, sweet lime, ginger and smashed brown sugar. It’s definitely a fragrance for those that like something zingy and refreshing! It lasts so long too, so you don’t have to worry about topping up if you’ve got a busy day ahead of you. This is also the travel mini, so it’s perfect to keep in my bag for on the go spritzing!

BUY THE SUGAR CRUSH SPRAY HERE

Zoella Fragranced Body mist – Let’s Spritz* – RRP £8.

This is a new favourite of mine. I bought this body mist for the first time towards the end of last year and since then I’ve bought a few bottles, to make sure there’s one wherever I go! It’s definitely up there with my favourite fragrances ever. I love the packaging with the gorgeous lace design on the back and the metallic blue polka dot lid. It’s just so pretty to have on my dressing table. This spray features Raspberry and Cassis making it a gorgeous fresh and fruity spritz. I am a lover of all things berry scented so I was immediately drawn to this after testing it out. It’s so long lasting, I find I can still smell it on me right at the end of the day when I sprayed it ten hours before. Very impressed! I usually buy mine from Superdrug.

BUY LET’S SPRITZ HERE*

Nina Ricci – Nina – RRP £46 (50ml)

This is my ultimate fave. I’ve been wearing this since I was a little girl. My mum gave it to me as a gift before we went on holiday and I was just so excited that I had a perfume with my name on it (cringe but who doesn’t want that as a little girl?!) It was my first proper perfume and I wore it all the time and it was just so special to me. It’s one of those scents that really takes me back every time that I smell it. The ornate apple-shaped bottle is absolutely gorgeous and it looks stunning wherever you put it! It’s another sweet and fruity fragrance (noticing a pattern here?) with top notes of lemon and lime. It’s strongest notes are praline, vanilla, red toffee apple (omg) and peony. It also includes cotton and cedar. Although you wouldn’t necessarily put these ingredients together, they work so beautifully in this perfect little bottle. It’s definitely for those that prefer a sweeter, fruity and floral fragrance. There’s a few others in the collection but this is the only one that I am obsessed with.

BUY NINA HERE

I hope you guys enjoyed reading about my favourite fragrances at the moment. They do tend to change a lot throughout the year, so I reckon I’ll be doing another one of these posts over Summer too! Let me know what your favourites are too as I’m always looking for new fragrances to try.

N xxxx

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*Any links marked with an “*” are either paid/sponsored/affiliate, however all opinions are my own

Tags BEAUTY, Favourites, Fragrance, Lifestyle, NinaRicci, Perfume, Primark, Soapandglory, VictoriasSecret, Zoella, ZoellaBeauty

BEAUTY

URBAN DECAY NAKED ILLUMINATED POWDERS: REVIEW, SWATCHES AND PHOTOS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date February 20, 2018
2 Comments on URBAN DECAY NAKED ILLUMINATED POWDERS: REVIEW, SWATCHES AND PHOTOS

Hey you,

I hope you’re all doing well. Today I’m back with another review for you! I am all about highlighters at the moment, I just love how much healthier and more awake I look with a little bit of a glow! I’ve been trying out lots of different ones recently so I hope you don’t mind (I know I wouldn’t – I’m a tad obsessed) highlighter spam over the next couple of weeks.

Today, we’re going to be talking about Urban Decay’s Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powders. I’ve heard so many great things about these and I’ve been dying to try them for so long. I’ve also read a lot of negative reviews saying that these were bad “highlighters” and that they lacked pigment or that it was too glittery – it’s worth keeping in mind that these are shimmering powders that are designed to illuminate and not necessarily be used just as a highlighter. I’m extremely fussy when it comes to shimmers and highlights as I prefer more natural shades as opposed to the extreme ones (blue and green?!).

I like the idea that these are more stripped back and delicate, as any powder products with a heavy consistency just aren’t for me. If you buy this expecting a highlighter, you might not get what you’re hoping for so keep that in mind! They retail at £24 each. Of course, in true Urban Decay style, the packaging is gorgeous and features a nude camo-print which I LOVE. I’m a huge fan of brands that put a lot of work into their packaging, because I’m someone that is drawn to more luxe and pretty looking products.

The powder comes in a rose-gold box and it includes a generously sized mirror as well as a dome-shaped flat brush (you have to open a separate compartment underneath the powder – amazing use of space) I applied the powder with this brush and I have to say I missed using my usual fluffy highlighter brush. I reckon I would use this when travelling because it would save space but it’s also the perfect sized brush for when you want to apply product in a specific area.

URBAN DECAY – NAKED ILLUMINATED SHIMMERING POWDER – AURA – £24

The first shimmering powder that I chose is called Aura. I went for this shade because it has a pink-bronze tone to it, which I reckon will look so nice during the summer months or for when I’m on holiday. This powder is smooth and silky and gives my skin such a healthy and beautiful glow. It’s definitely a more natural glow but that’s what I was expecting and hoping for when I bought it. Although this is technically a powder, there’s still a colour payoff and it’s so easy to work into the skin. I saw some comments saying it left a layer of glitter but I found that it was super easy to blend in and it looked so natural!

BUY IT HERE!

URBAN DECAY – NAKED ILLUMINATED SHIMMERING POWDER – LUMINOUS – £24

Luminous is a gorgeous champagne shade which I love as it’s slightly lighter than Aura, so it can act as more of a highlight for my skin tone. This powder has the same soft and silky texture to it and gives off an equal amount of shimmer and sparkle as the others in the range. I cannot wait to use this when the sun comes out more and I can blind people with the light reflecting particles on my cheekbones (hands down the nerdiest thing I’ve ever said). Its just so light and easy to wear and it’s velvety texture is just SO freaking good.

BUY IT HERE

Overall, I really like both of these products. I’m so excited to use these during summer when I’m wearing more natural makeup looks or when I’m on holiday and don’t fancy making much effort. I purchased these fully expecting a shimmering powder, hence why I wasn’t disappointed when neither provided me with a crazy intense highlight. Saying that however, it’s definitely buildable but if you’re looking for something intense from the off, this probably isn’t for you. If you are looking for something like this, check out the Urban Decay website for more info! Let me know what you guys think of these and whether or not you’ve tried them, I’d love to know! I also reviewed the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette – so click here if you’re interested!

N xxxx

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Tags BEAUTY, blogger, highlight, highlighter, Makeup, naked, Photography, Review, urban decay

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX FEBRUARY 2018: BEAUTY THROUGH THE DECADES – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date February 13, 2018
No Comments on BIRCHBOX FEBRUARY 2018: BEAUTY THROUGH THE DECADES – REVIEW

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!

Check out my review of last month’s box here!

We were given a choice between a 70s, 80s or 90s and I have to say it a was a tricky decision, they all looked so good! I opted for the 70s design, so my box is a real throwback with a gorgeous retro floral print. Beauty is about the classic tips and tricks as well as trying out the latest trends so I’m loving this combination! I will definitely be keeping and re-using this box as it’s just too pretty to throw out.

This month’s box has a good mixture of products including two full-sized makeup items, skincare and hair care too! I love when there’s a good variety of products to try out, so I was really happy when I saw the contents of my February box.

(FULL SIZE) The Beauty Crop Eyeshadow Trio – Love You So Latte – RRP £7

I love eyeshadow – I’m sure you’re aware of this by now, but I could honestly buy palettes every day if I had the funds! So when I saw this I was so excited to try it out. The trio includes two shimmers and one matte so it’s perfect for creating smokey and defined looks. I love how there’s a variety of shades in this little compact, as it means you can travel with it and still create a few different looks. The shadows are rich in caffeine and are packed with antioxidants to help brighten and tighten the skin, keeping your eyes bright and awake! I reckon these are flattering for any skin tone and eye colour too which is an added bonus to any product in the beauty community! These shadows are also vegan and cruelty-free with no sulphates or parabens too! It’s a shame the compact is so tiny but then again bigger palettes are harder to take on the go! The shimmer shadows were super pretty and creamy so they blended out well, however the matte brown shade was a bit harder to blend and swatched a little bit patchy.

(FULL SIZE) ModelCo® – Crème Rouge – RRP £14

I love cream products. I use a dewy foundation so products with creamy formulas blend so nicely on top. I often use a cream contour, blusher and so this was immediately something I was interested in. This 2-in-1 formula can add a pop of pink to your cheeks and your lips. It’s so easy and creamy to blend so it adds a healthy and natural-looking tint and doesn’t look too heavy on the skin (my swatch was to test how pigmented it was, I obviously wouldn’t rock about with that much product on my face!). I like that you can choose exactly how much product you want too, depending on whether or not you want a brighter pop of red or a more subtle hint.

Percy & Reed – Quite Frankly Flawless Finishing Polish – RRP £10.

I’ve always liked Percy and Reed products, I think they’re really luxurious and also so beautifully presented and packaged. I was intrigued by this product as it claims to be a leave in polish, which isn’t something I would normally go for. However, the ends of my hair could definitely do with a bit of shine. The polish is packed with horse chestnut extract and sunflower wax to give soft and flexible hold whilst also hydrating your locks!

UPDATE – I tried this today and I absolutely loved how it made my hair feel. It smelt amazing and didn’t leave my hair feeling sticky or oily. I could definitely feel that something was there but it wasn’t noticeable at all! It made my hair look more alive and healthy which are the main things that I look for in hair products and treatments. I’ve received a lot of Percy and Reed stuff over time so if you would like a review let me know as I can definitely do one for you!

Luseta Beauty – Coconut Milk Hair Mask – RRP £26

I hadn’t heard of this brand before I received this month’s box so I was excited to try this product out! I have quite damaged hair as I tend to use a lot of heat-based tools (oops) and I’m always looking for something to revive it! This mask helps to restructure hair back to it’s original and healthy state. The coconut milk, rich in vitamins C, E, B1, B5 AND B6 adds moisture and conditions the hair to tackle any dryness. This mask is sulfate, phosphate, & paraben free too! I will keep you updated with this as I will be doing a hair pampering evening soon!

Balance Me – Wonder Eye Cream – RRP £20

As a student, I don’t tend to get many full nights of sleep so any product that helps to disguise this is a godsend! This eye cream has a 3-in-1 formula smooths, softens and brightens (yes please) and it’s packed with chamomile, lemon, cucumber oil, witch hazel (one of my faves), anti-oxidant spruce knot, virgin coconut, reship oil and carrot oil (is there anything that isn’t in this product?!). My skin practically drinks this stuff up instantly and it leaves my eyes looking so much brighter!

Go ahead and use my link (here) to subscribe and you will get £5 off your first Birchbox!

Tags BEAUTY, Beautyblog, BIRCHBOX, blog, blogger, Lifestyle, Makeup, Photography, Product Review, Review

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX JANUARY 2018: OHH DEER – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 12, 2018
26 Comments on BIRCHBOX JANUARY 2018: OHH DEER – REVIEW

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!

If you want to see last month’s review, click here!

This month’s beautiful box is in collaboration with the British stationery gods over at ‘Ohh Deer‘. I absolutely bloody love this company – I’m even subscribed to their stationary subscription service too (click here for my November Papergang box review).

The January Birchbox is a pretty good mixture of skincare and makeup. This month seemed to have less well known brands than some of the other months, but the products are still all lovely. We were also given a cute little sheet of stickers too which I’m loving as they’re perfect for putting in my bullet journal/blog planner.

(FULL SIZE) Lord & Berry – Blusher Crayon in Peach : RRP £8

First up we have a crayon blusher. I picked this last month in advance (Birchbox usually offers this for every box – you can pick one of two products) because I knew it would be a good colour for more summery makeup looks. At first I was a bit terrified when I swatched this because I’d gotten so used to wearing dark coloured makeup over the Winter months but I reckon it’ll be an easy transition once Spring arrives (asap please because I’m fed up of it getting dark by 4 o’clock). I also like that it’s super creamy in it’s consistency so it’s easy apply and to blend in. I wasn’t sure about the whole ‘crayon’ idea however it’s meant I’ve been able to put the blusher exactly where I want it. I use a dewy foundation anyway so I prefer makeup that glides onto my face rather than putting something powdery or dry on top of it. I’ve also always loved using peachy/coral coloured lip and cheek products during Summer so I will definitely be keeping this around to test whilst I’m on holiday! It will definitely save me some space in my makeup bag as I won’t need to carry a whole compact and a brush. If this product takes your fancy, get yourself one here.

Marcelle – Waterproof Eyeliner in Charcoal : RRP £10.99

I always forget how much of a difference eyeliner makes. I keep thinking ” Something doesn’t look right, what’s missing ?” and it’s always eyeliner! This product really excited me as it’s waterproof. I hate getting panda eyes a few hours into my day or after a sobbing through an episode of Grey’s Anatomy so I tend to look for waterproof products – especially when it comes to eye makeup. This eyeliner stays put and doesn’t budge for a good few hours, I only had to touch it up once in a whole day – very impressed! Grab one here!

Thermaliv – Night Cream : £21

I have always loved night creams, masks and treatments as they’re so simple and easy to use. Just plonk them on and all you have to do is go to sleep to wake up feeling fresh faced and ready to go. This product contains sea chamomile and vitamin E which leaved the skin feeling nourished and plump. It is quite pricey though so I’m not sure if I would buy the full sized version once this sample has run out. However, if this sounds like something you’d be interested, you can get yourself one here!

Paul & Joe Beauty – Moisturising Foundation Primer in 01 Dragee : RRP £24

I’ve recently started using primers and I’ve really noticed a differenced in how my makeup applies once it’s on. It makes such a good base for my foundation so I was super pleased to see this product in this month’s box. This primer is enriched with botanical extracts providing extra moisture for your skin as well as having a subtle gold shimmer that creates a healthy and dewy look which I am all about. I really recommend this product, so if you want to check it out, you can do so here!

Afterspa – Amazing Makeup Remover : RRP £5.50

I cannot get over how unbelievably soft this product is. It removes any kind of makeup including mascara and waterproof eyeliner – SAY WHAT? It isn’t necessarily as easy as a makeup wipe but it certainly saves you some dosh given it apparently lasts up to 1,000 washes! All you have to do is soak it in warm/hot water and you’re ready to go. It’s a great idea plus it also is a great option for people that have sensitive skin. Grab it here if you want to check it out for yourself!

Overall I think this box is great value for money. One of the products is full sized and it costs £15 – whereas the box itself costs £10. I think there was a good mixture of skincare and makeup in this month’s box

Let me know if you are subscribed to Birchbox and what you thought of this box or if you are subscribed to any other beauty boxes, I would love to know!

Go ahead and use my link (here) to subscribe and you will get £5 off your first Birchbox!

Tags BEAUTY, Beautyblog, BIRCHBOX, blog, blogger, Bullet Journal, Design, January, Lifestyle, Lord and berry, Makeup, Marcelle, Ohhdeer, Photography, Product Review, Review, Skincare, Spring

BEAUTY

LUSH: “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” BOX REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 10, 2018
No Comments on LUSH: “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” BOX REVIEW

Hey you!

Today I’m back with another Lush review except this time we’re going to be talking about their “The Night Before Christmas” box. I’ve always been a huge fan of Lush’s Christmas ranges, particularly the Snow Fairy collection, which I reviewed the other day! Check that out here. I also love Lush’s stance on animal testing which you can read more about here.

“Slip into a bath before Christmas and summon some well-deserved peace and tranquility.”

The packaging for this is just so gorgeous! I love the dark purple and the gold aesthetic plus I also love the moon and stars design. It makes me feel warm and cosy just looking at it! I feel like Lush are absolute pros when it comes to vibrant and colourful packaging – it’s partly why I look forward to any seasonal ranges.

This box includes two products; the Shoot For The Stars bath bomb (my fave) and the Christmas Eve bubble bar. I love that they both match with their deep blue colour and astrology theme.

SHOOT FOR THE STARS BATH BOMB – 200g

“Honey-scented sparkles of Brazilian orange and bergamot waltz in a swirling, cobalt sky.”

This is my absolute favourite bath bomb that Lush sells. I love the smell, I love the look and I LOVE how it makes my skin feel after I’ve had a bath. I love launching this one into the tub and waiting for the water to turn a gorgeous shimmery turquoise. The little gold stars smell like a mixture of toffee and honey and they release the most gorgeous shimmer into the water, making it perfect to sink into before bed. It’s such a warm and comforting scent to get you relaxed and cosy on a cold Winter’s night! I usually get a few of these in stock before they disappear after Christmas. I wish it was an all year round product! I really recommend trying this one out if you haven’t already.

CHRISTMAS EVE BUBBLE BAR – 100g

“Bubbles piled high smell lovely and bright. Uplifting ylang ylang puts moods just right.”

This was a new product for me, I’d never seen it before I opened this set, however it came out every year between 2009 and 2014 and was one of Lush’s most popular Christmas products. It was revamped and brought back, much to many people’s delight, last year! I usually crumble a small bit of the bubble bar under running water (or I just hold it under for a while) until soft fluffy bubbles begin to fill the tub! The scent of Christmas Eve is super relaxing and comforting, as it features both jasmine and ylang ylang. It’s more floral then I would typically go for as I am usually a more buttery/vanilla kind of girl – but I still enjoyed using this! I would recommend this if you enjoy floral, clean and fresh scents in particular.

This is definitely a lovely box to give or receive for Christmas as it contains two really lovely products and they are packaged so beautifully too. I really recommend buying Lush’s gift sets after Christmas when they are on sale as they’re obviously cheaper but you can also get a lot more for your money. I usually get a few in stock before they’re unavailable and then I can enjoy these products and scents all year round until they’re back again (thank god). Let me know what you thought of this set or whether you love or hate these products in the comments.

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, blogger, Christmas, December, January, Lush, Luxury, Pamper, Photography, Product Review, Review

BEAUTY

LUSH: SNOW FAIRY COLLECTION REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 8, 2018
36 Comments on LUSH: SNOW FAIRY COLLECTION REVIEW

Lush are one of my favourite companies for beauty and skincare. I love the quality of their products, the huge range that they offer and also where they stand on animal testing (read about it here). They always impress me with their seasonal ranges but also with their more permanent products too like the Fluff Ease hair treatment, which I mentioned in my December 2017 Favourites post! If you didn’t know already, the Lush Snow Fairy scent is my all time favourite bath and shower range EVER. I also mentioned their shower gel in my December Favourites post too, so as you can probably tell, I’m a huge fan! They bring their Christmas goodies out in October/November and it’s literally like Christmas coming early every time for me. This year, they introduced some new bits in the Snow Fairy collection. I know these aren’t available online anymore but they are disappearing fast in their stores as they are on sale after Christmas. I have managed to accumulate a fair amount of their bits and pieces as you can see, so let’s take a look….

‘SNOW FAIRY BODY CONDITIONER’

I used this body conditioner for the first time last year, and I was SO happy that it was available again this year. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated and also smelling of candyfloss which is a massive yes from me. It’s made with a fruity cherry infusion, moisturising mango and avocado butters which makes it perfect for tackling dry skin (which I get during Winter). All you have to do is smooth this over your skin in the bath or shower and wash it off for fabulous results.

‘SNOW FAIRY COLD PRESSED SOAP’

This smells bloody amazing plus it’s loaded with organic cocoa butter and almond oil. The soap lathers so nicely and it’s really softening too. It’s got the same candy and bubblegum scent which leaves your hands smelling fab for hours. Lush reassured us that no fairies were harmed in the pressing of this soap (finally I’ll be able to sleep now).

‘SNOW FAIRY JELLY BOMB’

For the first time ever, I actually didn’t like this Lush bath bomb. The smell was incredible however the ‘jelly’ aspect definitely isn’t for me. It dissolved as normal and then it created a sort of jelly-like layer on the surface of the water. All was well until these little jelly lumps started sticking to my body and all over the tub. I couldn’t get them off easily so I had to rub and scrub which wasn’t the most relaxing experience. I also found that I missed some of them too so when I got out to dry, they stained my towel. It’s such a shame that I didn’t enjoy this because this is my favourite range and I absolutely love a bath bomb. I would love to know whether you guys experienced this too or if you actually loved it!

‘MMMELTING MARSHMALLOW MOMENT’ BATH OIL

I’ve been buying these for a while now as they seem to be on sale all year round. They only cost £2.50 which is a complete and utter bargain. I place these in my bath and leave them to melt in the hot water. These make my skin feel SO bloody soft, I’ve never known anything like it. They contain cocoa butter and coconut oil which are super hydrating – perfect for any dry skin days. Of course, they smell like cotton candy which is too good for me to turn down. They have loads of different bath melts/oils available so I would really recommend checking them out!

‘MAGIC WAND’ BUBBLE BAR

This might be one of my favourite products. It’s so easy to use and it makes such a difference. I hold this under the tap as my bath is filling up for the most amazing bubbles. It smells like the typical cotton-candy scent that the Snow Fairy collection has too which only adds to my already amazing smelling bath! The best bit about this product is that it lasts so long as well so not only do you get lots and lots of bubble baths but you also get what you pay for! I would definitely suggest leaving it to dry in a dry place – sometimes when my shower hits it slightly it’ll use it up whilst I’m not paying attention! Also, if you aren’t a fan of glitter, this may not be for you…

SNOW FAIRY SHOWER GEL

I absolutely LOVE using this. It makes me feel super soft and smelling like sweet vanilla and candy floss. I use this very sparingly and I still smell and feel amazing afterwards. It lathers up really easily too, so a little bit goes a long way! There are different sizes available so if you want one to travel with they have a baby size and if you’re like me and practically live on this stuff, they have bigger bottles available too. It has a tiny bit of shimmer to it too, which makes my skin look so much more alive as opposed to it’s normal dull self.

This collection is my absolutely favourite. I buy it every year and it’s always something that I look forward too. I was disappointed by the bath bomb however if there had been some sort of alternative bath bomb available that would’ve been great! I know that most Lush stores have sold their Snow Fairy collections in the Christmas sales but there’s a couple of bits still available online if you’re interested. I’m sure that Lush will come out with it again next year (if not I may cry) and that there will be some new additions too. Let me know if you liked this Lush review as I’m always trying things out by them and I would be happy to share more of my thoughts with you! I would also love to know what you guys thought of the Snow Fairy collection this year – go ahead and comment your opinions!

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Christmas, England, Gifts, Lifestyle, Lush, Luxury, Pamper, Photography, Review, Shopping, Snow Fairy

BEAUTY

THE BODY SHOP: CHRISTMAS SALE PICKS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 5, 2018
12 Comments on THE BODY SHOP: CHRISTMAS SALE PICKS

Hey guys,

Of course, your girl has been exploring the Christmas sales. I recently posted a few of my finds from Zoella Beauty and KIKO too if you’re interested! I haven’t been looking in The Body Shop that much actually, I used to love their products and somehow I just forgot about them. I went in for a snoop around when I went to Bath (here’s my post on that too) and I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve always loved how great their products are and where they stand on animal testing (here’s their page on being cruelty free). They have SO many products and there’s absolutely loads of different scents too. They now sell cosmetics and skincare as well as bath and shower goodies. I have heard amazing things about their makeup so I may have to test these out for myself! Let’s take a look at what I did pick up from their Christmas sale.

No, I didn’t go crazy, but I did get some amazing goodies and they were on sale so it would’ve been rude to walk away empty handed! Can we talk about these scents too? Frosted Berries is my kind of scent for Christmas. I absolutely love anything that smells fruity or like berries so this was an immediate yes from me. I’ve never known anything to be Vanilla Chai scented before so I was definitely curious about this one. It smells HEAVENLY. Even if you aren’t going to buy this, please just go and give it a sniff because my GOD it’s just too good!

Okay so this was £2.50. WHAT?! Yep that’s right, it really was that cheap. The Frosted Berries Shower Gel comes in a 250ml plastic bottle and has a gorgeous little wreath design on it too (festive points are to be given for this, it’s so cute). This shower gel smells absolutely unreal. It’s fragranced with Red Berries, Vanilla and Cranberry so it’s super rich and fresh smelling. I love how it leaves my skin feeling soft and smelling amazing for hours. You can get it here!

Of course, I couldn’t resist getting my hands on the Frosted Berries Hand Cream too. This also smells incredible and you get 30ml of product, perfectly sized for your handbag! This also only cost £2.50 which is such a bargain. At first I was worried it was going to be one of those metal tubes that look like scrunched up tissue after the first use but it’s actually made of plastic so it won’t look gross. It’s also fragranced with Vanilla and Red Berries, but it’s especially enriched with Cranberry Seed Oil from North America. It’s a gel-cream formula so it really keeps your hands hydrated and soft. It doesn’t leave my hands feeling greasy either which is a yes from me. I love it! Grab it here if you’re interested.

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The Vanilla Chai Shower Gel also comes in a 250ml plastic bottle and has another cute little wreath design on it, I’m loving the festive vibes from these products. This is also priced at an extremely reasonable £2.50. It’s enriched with Vanilla extract and is fragranced with Vanilla (surprise surprise) and spiced up with Cardamon and Star Anise. I love the scent of this as it combines a buttery sweet fragrance with spices which I think is so perfect for the Winter months! Again, this shower gel lathers beautifully and leaves my skin feeling so soft. I really recommend this one, you can get it here!

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Guess what I picked up next? Yep, the matching hand cream. If you know me you’ll know I like sets so this was impossible to resist. If I love the shower gel, I’m obviously going to love the same scent for on the go use right? The Vanilla Chai Hand Cream comes in a 250ml squeezy tube, ideal for travelling with. Ten points if you can guess the price of this one too…yep, £2.50! The smell of this just makes me feel warm and cosy, do you know what I mean? It reminds me of being under a throw on the sofa with a warm drink. It’s also made from vanilla and spices so it’s the perfect festive scent in my opinion! It’s the same gel formula as the other hand cream, meaning it leaves your hands feeling super soft and hydrated and of course, smelling bloody great too. If you like the sound of this, you can grab it here!

The Body Shop had lots of products on sale and another scent in the Christmas range that caught my attention was called Frosted Plum, which you can check out here. Their Christmas range is still available on their website here, and I’m sure is still available in some stores around the country too. Let me know what you guys think of The Body Shop or if any of you have tried their Christmas products out too!

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Christmas, England, Festive, January, Pamper, Photography, Review, Sales, Shopping, Shower, Skincare, The Body Shop

BEAUTY

KIKO ARCTIC HOLIDAY BAKED BLUSH {REVIEW, PHOTO & SWATCHES}

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 4, 2018
27 Comments on KIKO ARCTIC HOLIDAY BAKED BLUSH {REVIEW, PHOTO & SWATCHES}

I only started using KIKO products in the last couple of years. I was drawn in by a sale (surprise surprise) during summer a couple of years ago and I haven’t looked back since! I have purchased so many things, from eyeshadow palettes to cream shadows, from foundations to metallic lipsticks and I am yet to have a negative experience with any of their products. I have to say, I think KIKO is very underrated, I don’t hear that much about them in terms of reviews etc and I’m not sure why that is as they are a great company! KIKO have been around for 20 years, with over 1,000 stores in 20 countries. It’s influenced by modern Italy, focusing on art, fashion and design. KIKO offer over 1,400 products ranging from makeup, skincare, brushes and beauty sponges. I really recommend checking them out.

Whilst I was in Bath (read about my trip here), I was delighted to find a nice and spacious KIKO store. I had to restrain myself as there was so many things that caught my eye! One thing that I did pick up was their Arctic Holiday Baked Blush in 01 Marmoreal Biscuit. This product particularly caught my eye because of it’s stunning golden chrome/holographic packaging, perfect for the frozen theme of the collection. I think it looks pretty high end actually. It is priced at £16.90 but it is currently on sale at £11.80

I was surprised when I found that the blush came in a little silver bag. It made the product seem so luxury and fancy, again, reminding me of high end brands. Also it’s perfect for travelling with as I recently went away and I opened my makeup bag to find that my blush had smashed and in the process had covered all my other things, so this little bag will come in very handy!

So the blush comes in a silver, mirror-style plastic packaging which I think looks very sleek and elegant and it was designed by Ross Lovegrove. I also think it matches pretty well with the icy/glacial vibes that seems to be going on.

I love the fact that there is a mirror included, again, making it brilliant to travel with. I am usually super fussy with blushes. I tend to run away from anything bright or baby pink and I typically go for more muted and musky. I really liked the shade as soon as I saw it, as it’s what I would usually go for. I also liked that it’s a baked blush with a metallic finish. I’m so used to seeing plain old matte ones and I feel like they can be quite harsh on my face (I might just be crap at blending) so I was keen to try out a different type. The blush is described to have a fragrance of “ginger and spices” which I’m not so sure about. It definitely has a subtle but pleasant scent, however ginger and spices didn’t come to mind when I first sniffed it. The smell disappears when applied to the face as well so I’m not fussed.

As you can see, this is super pigmented (this was one swatch). It has the most gorgeous creamy texture to it, which makes it so easy to blend out for a more natural look. It gives the cheeks the perfect glow and brightens up my whole complexion. I wear a dewy foundation so this blush enhances that by adding a healthy dash of colour to my face. It wears for hours and I have received so many compliments so I will definitely be keeping this in my makeup bag!

I absolutely love this baked blush. It’s basically everything I want in one – a dash of pink, a healthy sheen and a creamy texture! It’s also priced very reasonably given the immediate colour payoff and also the quality of the product in how it applies and also how it’s presented in it’s gorgeous holographic packaging. I feel like KIKO doesn’t fit into the drugstore category nor does it fit into the high end category either so it’s sort of in the middle, so I kind of expect to pay a tad more than I would from a drugstore brand. The quality of their products is always high and their packaging is always very nice too. If you like the look of this blush it’s also available in two other shades! There’s also loads more in this collection so click here if you fancy taking a look at what else is available. Everything in the Arctic Holiday collection seems to be on sale to so go go go!

I would love to know if any of you have tried this blush out or anything else in their Christmas collection. Also, let me know what you think of KIKO in general as I don’t hear that much about them and would love to know if you guys enjoy their products too.

N xxxx

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Blush, Christmas, December, Kiko, Kiko Milano, Makeup, Photography, Review, Shopping

BEAUTY

ZOELLA BEAUTY: SNOW’ELLA 2017 CHRISTMAS RANGE REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 3, 2018
9 Comments on ZOELLA BEAUTY: SNOW’ELLA 2017 CHRISTMAS RANGE REVIEW

Hello lovelies!

I have been a Zoella lover since I was around 13/14 years old. I used to read her blog and then I got really into her Youtube videos. I used to watch them religiously every day, some even twice! I have always admired her approach to mental health and her bubbly personality always cheers me up. Find her blog here, and click here for her Youtube channel! When I found out a couple of years ago that she was starting a beauty range (as well as a fab lifestyle range too) I was SO excited.

Her collections have been pun-tastic and if you know Zoe Sugg, you’ll know she loves a good old pun in all areas of life, so I wasn’t surprised to find that the 2017 Christmas range was called ‘Snowella’! I was extremely excited for this range. I remember watching her video where she introduced all of the products (you can watch it here) and I literally wanted everything that I saw. I was so tempted throughout most of December to grab these bits however I knew it would be available after Christmas too (when the sales hit), so I waited. I hate to be that person but I honestly can’t resist a bargain and there’s something way more satisfying about waiting to buy a product and when you finally get to, it’s cheaper than it was originally! So without further ado, let’s take a look…

1. You’re Cracking Giftset– £14*

*£4.99 in Superdrug now

I immediately wanted this because of the packaging, I mean it’s a flipping giant cracker with copper writing on it – come on?! Zoe definitely knew what she was doing with the packaging in this range actually, as it’s all so pretty and matching and it definitely makes you want it all so many marketing points to her for that one! First in the set, is the Snow Silky Body Lotion (100ml) and the Snow Fresh Body Wash (100ml) which both contain softening Peony, brightening Winter Cranberry and soothing Mint (similar to most of the products in the range). I like the packaging for these two, they have a matte finish plus there’s copper involved as well so I mean… Finally we’ve got the Winter Wonder Hand Handcream (90ml), which I originally thought was in a metal tube (like the body shop ones I already own) so I was kind of dreading using it as it would resemble a dried prune after the first squeeze. It turned out to be a plastic tube with a copper finish so I no longer have to lose any sleep over damaging the packaging (yes I am that sad). My skin is also as dry as sand paper during Winter so I do love a good handbag sized handcream and this is idea for on the go moisturising.

2. Snow Relaxed Bath Fizzers – £6*

*£1.99 in Superdrug now or £4 at Feel Unique

MORE COPPER PACKAGING – YES PLEASE. Within this set, you get two giant bath fizzers with giant snowflakes on them. These are filled with blue iridescent glitter so they look stunning in the bath and on your skin when you get out! The fizzers are loaded with Cocoa Butter, softening Peony, brightening Winter Cranberry and soothing Mint. They smell so fresh so I love using them for baths in the morning to wake me up.

3. Snow’ella Body Mist 100ml – £14*

*£4.99 in Superdrug now

I included the miniature body mist too, which comes as part of the All Four You giftset (I got this for my birthday). The larger bottle is available on it’s own with a gorgeous white pom pom attached. It’s definitely a bottle to have on show as it looks so luxe and delicate. I’m dreading the day this runs out! It’s the same scent as the rest of the products in the range, Winter Cranberry, Mint and Peony. Also, the reindeer is from Tiger for anyone eyeing him up.

4. Merry & Bright Bubble Bath – £10*

*£2.99 in Superdrug now

The Merry & Bright Bubble Bath comes in a huge 490ml glass bottle. You get SO much product plus it’s absolutely beautiful and looks so pretty on the side in my bathroom. The bubble bath has a slight shimmer to it which I love and it also creates the best bubbles for a relaxing pamper night in! It comes with a pom pom hair tie, which I actually use if I want my hair out my face in the bath or when I’m using a face mask. I will definitely be reusing this bottle after I’m finished with the product! This is also in the Snow’ella scent.

5. Brew Me A Bath Bath Teabags & Splash Of Milk Bath Milk Powder – £12*

*£3.99 in Superdrug now or £8.40 on Feel Unique

So up first we have the Brew Me A Bath Bath Tea Bags, which I was most excited about, I think bath tea bags are such a cool concept. You get 8 x 20g bags which I think is great value for money (eight baths worth). The teabags look like they’re real, except they are filled with pink powder and there’s a cute little Z on the tag. I leave them under the tap and the powder dissolves, adding some moisture to the water but also creating some bubbles.

The Splash Of Milk Bath Milk Powder contains four 40g sachets of powder. I wish it contained more as I absolutely love this product! Empty your sachet under warm running water for a milky white moisturising bath.

SPA’RRY SPA’RRY NIGHT – £11*

*£2.99 in Superdrug now or

I love this set as it comes with two products that are perfect for pampering yourself.

First, we have the Snow Polished Body Polish (100ml). I have to admit, I don’t actually use body polishes anywhere near the amount that I should. When I do use them, my skin feels incredible and always smells so lovely for hours afterwards. I like the fact that this body polish is foaming too, so it doesn’t feel to harsh on the skin like some of the others I have tried.

Snow Smooth Body Butter (100ml) I absolutely love this product. My skin also loves it too as it’s just so moisturising and I smell amazing for hours!

WINTER WONDER HAND HAND CREAM – £6.00*

*£1.99 in Superdrug now or £4.80 from Feel Unique

I picked up one of these even though it also came in the You’re Cracking set because during Winter I get through hand cream like it’s air so I thought I would stock up before I have to say goodbye to this range.

This range is absolutely gorgeous, the packaging ticks all the aesthetic boxes for me with lots of copper, grey and pink (matching everything in my bedroom to be honest) and I just love the wide range of products. This is definitely my favourite range so far, I’m super impressed. I have to say though, some of these products were quite pricey to begin with (those are the prices I’ve written by every product above) and had there not been a sale, I probably wouldn’t have bought them. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t good products or aren’t worth trying out, it just depends on your budget I guess. Let me know what you guys think of these products if you have tried them!

N xxxx

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*Anything marked with an “*” are either sponsored or affiliate links, however all opinions are my own

Tags Bath, BEAUTY, Beautyblog, Christmas, England, Photography, Review, Shopping, Superdrug, Zoella, ZoellaBeauty

2017 BEAUTY BLOGMAS

I HEART REVOLUTION: MINT CHOCOLATE PALETTE – REVIEW SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 23, 2017
25 Comments on I HEART REVOLUTION: MINT CHOCOLATE PALETTE – REVIEW SWATCHES & PHOTOS

BLOGMAS DAY 23:

You guys seemed to enjoy reading my review of Tam Beauty’s I Heart Revolution Golden Bar palette so I thought I would take a look at another in the collection. If you don’t already know about Tam Beauty, I’ve written about them before in some other reviews that I will link below! Long story short they’re cruelty free and based in the UK. They’re kind of an umbrella brand for Makeup Revolution, I Heart Makeup, Freedom and some others too. Today I’m testing out the Mint Chocolate palette, also from Tam Beauty’s I Heart Makeup brand. Enjoy!

READ MY SOPH X PALETTE REVIEW

READ MY GOLDEN BAR PALETTE REVIEW

The Mint Chocolate palette, like the others in the collection, features the amazing chocolate bar packaging, this time with a fluorescent light green and a dark brown base. Immediately this was a throwback for me! As a little girl I always used to get mint choc chip ice cream, it was my absolute favourite – the colours are spot on. It will cost you £8.99 – or in other words, a bargain.

A lot of people have said this palette is very similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture palette (I’ve also reviewed this) with it’s autumnal selection of shades, oranges, coppers and reds galore! I wish I had been using this through October/November as the colours are perfect for that time of year. The palette is mainly muted and warm however, there’s also some pops of colour, a bright yellow and a shimmery green. The palette includes 9 foils/shimmers and 7 mattes. I think it’s such a unique combination of colours which makes me even more excited to mess around with it. It seems there was an attempt to make it smell of peppermint but it actually kind of smells medicinal. Don’t worry though, it’s not really strong it’s just when you stick your nose in up close.

So here’s the first row…

Sugarcoated: A light champagne-gold foil/shimmer – Perfect for halo looks or inner corners. It’s super creamy but it takes a couple of goes to pick up a lot of pigment.
Engaged: A prosecco meets brown foil/shimmer – Super pretty and pigmented. It was easy to pick this one up and swatch it. I reckon this would look lovely all over the lid.
Tea: A pink-brown matte – I use this as a transition shade as it’s so simple and blends beautifully. It’s creamy and although subtle, it’s buildable.
Lust: A blue to brown foil/shimmer – This might be my favourite shade in the palette, it’s so unique and I’ve never owned a shadow like this (it really reminds me of the shade ‘Petrol‘ in the Soph x Palette which I reviewed a couple of days ago if you fancy having a peek)
Poison Ivy: A dark forest green matte – This is the shade I’m most disappointed with. It’s very patchy (you can see if you look closely in the photo) and I struggled to swatch it let alone blend it on my lids. It’s definitely buildable you just have to put some more work into this one.

The second row…

Secret: A rich warm brown matte – I love this shade, it’s really creamy feeling and it is great for warm smokey eye looks which I do all the time.
Worlds Apart: A red matte with pink and purple undertones – This one felt slightly more chalky but it still swatched well after I applied a couple of layers. I would most likely use this for autumnal looks but probably for festive ones too as it’s so rich and warm.
Distorted: A copper foil/shimmer with orange undertones – I am a sucker for anything gold or copper and this immediately lured me in. The quality of this shade, keeping in mind it’s in a palette sold in drugstores, is INSANE. It’s so pigmented and gorgeously creamy.
Rivals: An emerald green foil/shimmer – This shadow isn’t as creamy as Distorted and it’s slightly chalky/powdery feeling but it’s so pigmented and it still applies and blends really well. It’s the perfect shimmery green for festive makeup looks as there’s definitely some flecks of gold in it too!
Interupted: A cup of tea brown/nude matte – (Yes it’s spelt without a double ‘r’ so I’m not sure if this is a typo on the palette or intentional) So far I’ve used this as a transition shade in the crease or as a base for other shadows. It’s very soft and creamy feeling and it’s buildable too if you want it to stand out a little bit more. It’s just a bit too similar to my skin tone so it doesn’t show up that much on me.

Compromise: A brown foil/shimmer – At first I didn’t find this to be that pigmented but after another layer it was gorgeous. The texture was creamy as well which I love as it just makes applying and blending so much easier. I like that this is a warm toned shimmer too – right up my street!

The third and final row…

Awaken: A dark chocolate brown matte – Just like Poison Ivy I found this to be quite patchy but after a little bit more work it was okay. It’s warm toned too which I’m all about.
Disturbance: A bright yellow-gold foil/shimmer – Super pigmented and such a cool unique shade, I’ve never owned a bright yellow before either so I’m going to enjoy experimenting with this.
Commotion: A turquoise blue foil/shimmer – Turquoise is my favourite colour anyway so I immediately fell in love with this shade when I saw it.
High Standards: A champagne-pink nude foil/shimmer – Another pigmented shadow, perfect for halo looks and inner corner highlights. It’s so delicate and pretty looking.

Confession: A pinky-white matte – I’ve been using this as a base after I apply primer/concealer to my lid as it just doesn’t show up that well on me. However, it definitely brightens up my eyes no matter what I’m using it for.

In conclusion, it’s a great palette for the amount that you pay. No, not all of the shades are perfect in one swatch but it is after all, £8.99 so I can understand why this isn’t the case. However, every shade is buildable and can be as intense as you want it to be which makes up for any initial patchiness or lack of immediate pigment. I love the mix of shimmers and mattes which means I can take this palette anywhere and use it for a whole look on it’s own and the inclusion of a massive mirror helps with making it really travel-friendly too. I would recommend this palette to anyone looking to experiment with some coloured eyeshadows or if you would use this kind of palette every day. It’s only £8.99 so if you reckon it’s your kind of thing it’s not a terrifyingly priced product. If you already have this or are planning on buying it, let me know where you stand as I would love to know.

READ MY SOPH X PALETTE REVIEW

READ MY GOLDEN BAR PALETTE REVIEW

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, BLOGMAS, Blogmas2017, Eyeshadow Palette Review, I Heart Makeup, Makeup, MakeupRevolution, Mint Chocolate Palette, palette, Review, Superdrug, TamBeauty

2017 BEAUTY BLOGMAS

MAKEUP REVOLUTION SOPH X PALETTE – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 21, 2017
2 Comments on MAKEUP REVOLUTION SOPH X PALETTE – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

BLOGMAS DAY 21

Tam Beauty are the company that own Freedom, Makeup Revolution and I Heart Makeup. They’re cruelty free and are based in Britain. You’ll most likely spot their products in your local Superdrug store. I’ve reviewed their Golden Bar palette if you fancy taking a look. When I heard that Soph was collaborating with Tam Beauty’s brand Makeup Revolution to create a palette, I nearly passed out. I have watched Sophie’s videos for years now and she’s come so far I’m so proud to be a subscriber of hers. She is a Youtuber who is known as ‘Sophdoesnails’. She’s extremely down to earth and she’s soooo good at eye makeup looks. She also reviews the latest products in the beauty world, trying out all kinds of brands – affordable and expensive. I highly recommend that you go and check out her channel here. She also made an announcement video where she goes through each of the shades and explains her choices and reasoning behind the names and colours.

I’ve only just managed to get my hands on this palette so I thought a review was well overdue.

Let’s talk about this packaging. It’s a super pretty pastel pink colour that Soph actually designed herself. She’s very artistic (and extremely talented) and she actually painted the watercolour design that features on the packaging. I am loving the rose gold splatters and writing on it too (right up my street as you probably know). I will definitely be keeping the palette in it’s box as it’s just too pretty to throw away.

The actual palette itself is a matte nude, pastel peach colour with more rose gold lettering on it. It’s slim and lightweight and it’s also got a very generously sized mirror making it a brilliant palette to travel with or for on the go use.

Upon opening the palette you are greeted by 24 pans, 14 of which are matte shadows and 10 are shimmers. As you can see the palette includes a fantastic mix of shades giving you so many options when it comes to creating looks for every day or even looks for all out glam. There’s rich shimmers, bright pops of colour and even a matte black! What more could you need?! The shadows are all pigmented and buildable so you can be more subtle or go full on. I use a primer to ensure they wear all day long so I would recommend doing the same as you really get the most out of the shades. I would also recommend that you do your eyes before doing the rest of your face as I never learn and get a heavy dusting of shimmer all over my foundation covered cheeks – No thanks.

Penguin: A matte white – Quite powdery but is super pigmented for a white shadow.
Pancakes: A light neutral beige- Pretty accurate name for the colour actually, it’s a fab transition shade as well.
Fairy Lights: A white-gold shimmer – It’s not the most intense shadow in the palette but it’s still buildable and looks lovely for inner corner highlights or on the brown bone.
Pink Champagne: A pale pink shimmer – Again this isn’t very intense but it’s certainly buildable and looks so pretty on the inner part of the lid or even all over it.
Iced Coffee: A matte warm tan/neutral – Another perfect name. It really does look like the colour of iced coffee. I love using this to warm up the crease as a transition shade.
Cuppa Tea: A medium matte warm brown – I also love using this shade to warm up my eyeshadow looks.

Grow Old: A coppery-gold shimmer – This is so beautifully pigmented, I love it! I use this shadow all the time, it’s so warm and pretty.
Sparks Fly: A gold shimmer – The perfect gold shadow, it’s a must in any collection. It’s so pigmented and looks so gorgeous on the lids when the light catches it. I love using this for halo looks too.
Smokey Bronze: A dark smokey bronze metallic shimmer – You know me, I love anything bronze so I really enjoy using this shade. It’s great for smoking out shimmery looks.
Mixed Berries: A purple berry-toned shimmer – I’ve always loved using fun and bold colours within my every day makeup looks, so I was so happy to see this shade included in the palette. It’s also super pigmented too!
Tiramisu: A neutral matte medium brown – Again a great shadow for the crease as a transition shade. I also enjoy using this for more natural makeup looks too as it’s not too intense and can be blended out very easily.
Peaches: A warm matte peach – This is so creamy and pigmented. I love how rich and warm this shade is too. I can’t wait to use this in summer when I’m creating more orangey/gold looks.

Cloudberry: A matte light orange – This definitely has some subtle shimmer to it. It’s so pigmented and gorgeous I’m so happy this shade was included! Again, this will be perfect for warm toned looks in summer. I love that she named this because of the Moomin books too!

Pumpkin: A matte orange with red undertones – This shade surprised me so much when I swatched it. It’s so creamy and it’s extremely pigmented, I barely had to press on the pan to pick up what I did.

Pine Tree: An emerald green metallic shimmer – I can’t get over this shade. I am a lover of all things green and khaki as it’s a colour that seems compliment my skin tone so I was so excited about this colour being in the palette. It’s so unique and different from anything else that I have. I have really enjoyed using this for festive looks as it’s the perfect Christmas green in my opinion. It was the tiniest bit chalky to swatch but this didn’t cause any issues when applying.

Petrol: An iridescent metallic blue shimmer with brown undertones – I was really intrigued by this shade as I originally thought it was a blue shimmer. It’s actually a blue to brown shimmer. I was so surprised at how creamy feeling this shadow was. This is so unique, I’ve never owned an eyeshadow like this before!

Pug: A matte grey-brown taupe – Another shade that’s perfect for using in the crease or as a transition shade.

Danger: A red matte – I am a sucker for warm toned shadows so this is right up my street.

Strawberry Sweets: A matte warm strawberry pink – This is such a stunning shade. I like using this for my more bold coloured looks.
Festive Flame: Metallic red with orange undertones – Again this is a shade that’s so perfect for festive makeup looks.
Copper Coin: A true copper metallic shimmer with orange undertones – I LOVE THIS SHADE. It’s absolutely gorgeous and so pigmented for a drugstore shadow. Yes Soph!
Mugcake: A dark neutral matte brown – I have been using this to darken my outer v and it works a treat. It’s also warm toned which I am all about.
Rosewood: A dark cool toned brown with pink and purple undertones – I enjoy using this when I want a more cool toned but dark look.

Nightmare: A matte black – Finally a black shadow included in a colourful palette! It’s so fab for adding some drama to my eye looks. Perfect for a dark and dramatic smokey eye.

In conclusion, this palette is absolutely worth buying. For the price and the range of shades it’s just such good value. There’s so many different shades for every kind of look that you could wish to create and because there’s a mixture of mattes and shimmers you can create looks using only this palette. Some of the shades require a couple of layers to build up the colour payoff but of course, this is more than okay for a drugstore palette that only costs £10. I am so impressed that this was created by Soph and it’s the first thing she’s created – what an achievement! You can get the palette from Superdrug in stores and online and on Tam Beauty’s website.

I will be reviewing her highlighter palette soon so keep an eye out for that! If you’ve tried either of Soph’s products I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, Blogmas2017, Christmas, December, eyeshadow, Eyeshadow Palette Review, Makeup, MakeupRevolution, Photography, Review, Shopping, Sophdoesnails, Sophx, TamBeauty