Tag: Cosmetics

TOO FACED GINGERBREAD EXTRA SPICY PALETTE – REVIEW & SWATCHES

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date December 4, 2019
29 Comments on TOO FACED GINGERBREAD EXTRA SPICY PALETTE – REVIEW & SWATCHES

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Welcome to Blogmas Day 4! Today, I have another palette review for you and this one is particularly festive. I was lucky enough to receive the Too Faced Gingerbread Extra Spicy Palette for my birthday (thanks dad), so I’ve been putting it to the test over the last few weeks. I’m so excited to finally share my thoughts with you!

*This post contains affiliate links

The Too Faced Gingerbread Extra Spicy Palette launched earlier this year as part of their 2019 holiday collection. If you didn’t already know, it’s actually a follow up to their incredibly popular Gingerbread Spice Eyeshadow palette, that was released last year. They had a lot to live up to!

PACKAGING & PRICE

There’s no doubt that this palette is a stunner. Too Faced are known for their cute and themed packaging, it’s something they always do well! The palette is housed inside a tin, which features the cutest little gingerbread couple on the lid. Inside, the palette has a generously sized mirror which has a decorative border featuring the same little characters. If this packaging doesn’t make you feel all festive inside, I don’t know what will. How much is it? The Too Faced Gingerbread Extra Spicy Palette retails at £39, which is the standard price for most of their eyeshadow palettes. Where can you buy it? You can get hold of the palette from Too Faced’s website itself, or through other retailers such as Look Fantastic, Selfridges, ASOS, Debenhams and John Lewis.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Inside, there are 18 eyeshadows, including a variety of mattes and shimmers. Sticking with the holiday theme, each shade has it’s own festive name inspired by Christmas sweets and treats. Not to mention, the palette has a sweet, lightly spiced scent, which is dreamy. It features a great selection of rich and warm-toned shades that can create looks for every occasion. It’s the perfect palette to create some spicy daytime looks as well as some smouldering smokey eyes.

Swatches of the first row: Vanilla Waffles – Drizzle it

1ST ROW SWATCHES

Vanilla Waffles – Cream/light beige with a matte finish – This shade is buttery soft to the touch and it blends like a dream. It’s pretty much the perfect base for me! It’s also great to use if you go slightly overboard with a darker shade, as it lightens and brightens in seconds.

Cookie Cutter – Light-medium peach with flecks of pink/gold glitter and a frosted finish – This shade is so gorgeous. It reminds me of the shade “Bang Bang” in Urban Decay’s Naked Cherry palette, which is one of my favourites! Its the tiniest bit chunky so I tend to apply it wet and in small amounts so that I can get it to look smooth on my lids.

Soft and Sweet – Medium pink/coral with a matte finish – In terms of texture, this shade is slightly powdery. Once blended, it can sheer out a little so I’d recommend building it up over a primer.

For The Graham – Light brown with warm undertones and a matte finish – This is an every day shade for me, I love using it as a transition into something darker for Autumn and Winter looks. It’s a basic shade but it’s a staple. Like Soft and Sweet, it’s slightly powdery but it’s easy to work with over a primer.

In a Pinch – Bright orange with warm undertones and a matte finish – I love this shade. It’s pigmented and easy to apply and blend with or without the use of a primer. It a perfect matte shade for those that love creating simple warm-toned looks.

Drizzle It – Reddish rose gold/copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish – The pigmentation of this shade is so intense! It’s definitely one of my favourite shades in the palette. I love how festive it looks on my eyes, it works beautifully alongside Vanilla Waffles and Soft and Sweet.

Swatches of the second row: Lick the Spoon – Cookie Call

2ND ROW SWATCHES

Lick the Spoon – Medium peach with silver reflects and a frosted finish – The pigmentation of this shade is gorgeous! It’s not as buttery as I’d hoped it would be so it does feel slightly dry. However, if you use a wet brush and a patting motion, the pigment should pack onto the lid nicely.

Spicy Mami – Deep copper with orange and gold flecks and a satin finish – This shade confuses me a little bit. It looks as if it’s going to be a one-swipe metallic wonder however it actually takes a little bit of work. I always apply it on top of a primer using a wet brush to get the most out of it. It’s not as glittery as it looks, it actually has more of a satin finish to it.

Extra Spicy – Deep orange with warm red undertones and a matte finish – I was actually really impressed with the pigmentation of this shade. It was a tiny bit powdery in the pan but it still applies and blends really easily.

Half Baked – Dark copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish – I find myself reaching for this shade all the time. It’s just so pigmented and pretty! It works beautifully with Soft and Sweet or Butterscotch. It’s also really smooth and easy to work with – I love it!

Butterscotch -Bright, light orange with yellow undertones and a matte finish – This is my favourite matte in the whole palette. I love using this on its own to give a more subtle hint of warmth to my makeup looks. It’s nicely pigmented and easy to blend out too.

Cookie Call – Deep reddish brown with purple undertones – This shade didn’t swatch particularly well and I think that’s because it requires some building. Once I’ve got it to a level of intensity that I’m happy with, it looks fine! I have to admit, it’s not the most festive of colours but it does work well with a few of the other shades in the palette.

3RD ROW SWATCHES

Plenty of Dough – Medium peach with warm undertones and a matte finish – Another slightly drier matte, but when used wet or over a primer it’s good to go.

Candy Queen – Light copper/gold with a metallic finish – This shade is so pretty! It’s probably the shade that I reach for the most actually, even on the days where I’m aiming for a more “natural” look, I can’t resist! Also, just skip straight to using this with a damp brush – thank me later.

Gingerbread Glam – Reddish-brown with warm undertones and a matte finish – This honestly blends like a dream, it’s another go-to matte shade for me.

Hot Tamale – Berry red with warm undertones and a matte finish – Such a pretty shade! I can’t create a pink makeup look without it. It’s very pigmented so be patient with it when it comes to blending.

Cinna-moan – Dark copper with warm/red undertones and a matte finish – Once blended, this shade has a habit of sheering out a little too much. However, it’s easy to build up with a couple of layers of application.

Midnight Snack – Dark black base with flecks of blue/turquoise glitter and a sparkly finish – I wasn’t too keen on this shade at first as it just didn’t seem particularly festive or cheery. That being said, it’s actually a great shade to create some smoky looks – perfect for a Christmas party! It works really well with Hot Tamale.

WHAT DO I THINK?

Overall, I really love this palette. The colour scheme is gorgeous and it compliments the original palette beautifully. It’s definitely going to be a popular palette for the holiday season, I reckon it will sell out pretty fast. If you’re into creating warm-toned looks, using pinks, oranges and coppers. For those that want something more icy and cool-toned, this probably won’t be the one for you. In terms of formula, some of the mattes and a couple of the metallics needed some building but there was nothing that a wet brush and a primer couldn’t fix. I also noticed that a few shades were drier in texture so, again, using a wet brush can help with this! The packaging is absolutely gorgeous. It’s so festive and colourful!

*Get the Too Faced Gingerbread Extra Spicy Palette here

Let me know what you think of this palette in the comments! Don’t forget to follow my socials – come and say hey!

N xxxx

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Tags BLOGMAS, Christmas, Cosmetics, December, eyeshadow, Gift, Gingerbread, Makeup, palette, Photography, Photos, Review, Too Faced

BEAUTY

MOPBOX: SEPTEMBER 2018 – LET IT GLOW*

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date August 28, 2018
2 Comments on MOPBOX: SEPTEMBER 2018 – LET IT GLOW*

Hey Guys,

How are you doing? I’m currently ignoring the fact that I need to be packing for a holiday that I’m going on in less than 24 hours. I’m going to Mallorca with my boyfriend and his best friends (another couple). We’ve only been on family holidays together so I’m excited to be going away with just him. I’ve also never been to Mallorca so I’m looking forward to exploring a new place. I plan on sunbathing as much as possible and topping up my tan so that during Autumn I don’t look like a ghost (although I could make that work for Halloween).

*Paid AD & Gifted Items

This is a paid collaboration, however all opinions are my own!

Today’s post is another collaboration with MOPBOX, a new makeup-only subscription box, here in the UK! I’m a makeup addict so this is exactly the kind of subscription that I need in my life. Subscriptions are open on the first of every month and stay open until the 28th (unless the boxes all sell out) and your box is then shipped around the 30th via Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For postal service. You can choose from three different subscriptions; monthly, 3 months or 6 months. If you sign up for 3 or 6 months, you pay monthly with a saving, instead of an upfront payment, however, cancellation is at the end of your plan if you choose to subscribe to either one of these!

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

Each box features a stylised makeup-look to create and it also includes the makeup, tools and brushes to help you do it! There’s also a magazine inside, with a step-by-step guide showing you exactly what to do. I think these boxes will be so inspiring for any budding makeup artists or for anyone looking to boost their confidence in order to express themselves through makeup!

HOW MUCH IS IT?

Monthly Subscription – £24/month

3 Month Subscription – £23/month

6 Month Subscription – £22/month

IS IT WORTH IT?

Last month’s box was amazing. I was extremely impressed with the products that were included. The sizes were all very generous and the brands were all great too. One of my pet peeves with most beauty subscription boxes is how reluctant most of them are to include decent sized products. I would happily pay more per month to receive normal sized beauty products than tiny little ones that I can’t really test properly. From what I’ve seen, the boxes from the last two months (August and September) are definitely worth the money.

CHECK OUT MOPBOX HERE

READ MY REVIEW OF LAST MONTH’S BOX

This month’s theme is focused on creating a glowing makeup look – perfect for the last stretch of summer! I love using products that make my skin look radiant as I use lots of liquid products and I don’t really like to have a matte face. I am still haunted by the days where I wore so much powder that I probably looked like a cake (year 8 throwback). Just like last month, we received another lovely magazine which provides information about every product including their RRPs (I find this info helpful when working out if I am getting my money’s worth). There is also a step-by-step guide, teaching you how to create this month’s look, featuring tips and tricks from industry professionals! Just by flicking through the magazine, you can tell that that MOPBOX is different from the rest.

Phase Zero – Metal Foil Eyeshadow in “Gold Roses” – RRP £4.75

I practically jumped for joy when I discovered that this product was included in my September box. I love anything gold and when it comes to eyeshadow, it’s a staple in my makeup bag. I always go for a shimmery base, whether I wanted one or not, it just seems to happen every time. The texture of this foil shadow is difficult to explain. It reminds me of the Kylie Cosmetics Wet Set – it’s kind of springy and wet and it applies so smoothly as a result. Swatching it was a piece of cake as it’s so pigmented! I always worry with cream shadows whether or not they will take a lot of blending however this one takes seconds. The quicker you work, the easier that it blends out! It’s even better on the eyes as it stays put for hours when applied properly (using last month’s MOPBOX brush). Although we received it in a Summer box, it will be amazing to work with during Autumn with warm orange and red shades.

Elizabeth Arden – Maximum Volume Mascara in “Black 01” – RRP £22

I was shocked that they included such a high end product in this month’s box. The mascara itself nearly costs as much as the whole box – wow?! I’m always changing my mascaras up as I have extremely boring lashes that just go in a straight line unless forced (anyone else?). This product actually works for me which is very rare! I love how well it separates my lashes and makes them look much longer – another rare find for me! Normally I don’t like to spend too much on mascaras however this one is clearly worth the money.

Model Co – Highlighting Trio – £16

Well, you know me and my cream products – I’m obsessed! I just love radiant and glowing makeup looks and this is the kind of product that I search high and low for. The fact that three shades are included in one little pot is perfect for saving space in your makeup bag plus I can see myself using all three to contour, highlight and as a blusher too! The formula is so creamy and smooth, it’s so easy to apply over foundation and it also blends really easily too. I’m also a huge fan of Model Co’s products anyway so I knew that it was going to be good before I’d even opened it!

So Susan – Haute Light Pencil – RRP £15

Sometimes I find that using black eyeliner can just be too much and it makes me look terrifying. I’ve been looking for a good white or cream liner for ages to try and brighten my eyes instead and all of a sudden this one arrived! Last month we received a So Susan palette and it was great quality so I had my hopes up for this product. So far, it’s living up to my expectations and it’s been a staple in my makeup bag since I received it! I absolutely love it. Don’t worry about it being dramatic either, it’s very natural and creamy rather than white so you won’t look crazy. My eyes are the one thing that I actually like about my face so I love using products that enhance them and make them stand out more. This pencil is an absolute yes from me!

NYX – Lip Lingerie in “Bedtime Flirt” & “Push-Up” – RRP £7

I’ve been debating about buying these for such a long time. I’ve only heard good things but I just couldn’t make my mind up as there are so many shades available! I was so happy to receive these two minis in this month’s box as it gave me a chance to properly test them out. I tend to wear reds at this time of year but I wear nudes a lot too so I can definitely make these shades work! They swatched beautifully and they lasted a long time – I carried on with my day as usual and they were still there when I was getting into bed! I’m so impressed with the formula and the staying power! I love that we received two in this box as well!

Sunkissed – Hello Sunshine Powder – RRP £3.99

My skin is normally somewhere on the darker side of pale (not white and not quite olive) and I tan very easily so I always use warm shades when it comes to contouring or bronzing products. I just find that cool toned shades look awful on me! Typically, I also go for bronzers with a slight shimmer to them however this one is matte so I’m interested to see what I can do with it. Also, how generous is this pan? It’s HUGE! This is what I mean, you really do get your money’s worth with MOPBOX! Even though this bronzer only retails at a few pounds, it just goes to show that subscription boxes don’t always have to include sample sizes.

Bourjois – Khol and Contour 16hr Pencil – RRP £4.99

Although I mentioned previously that I don’t always like to use black eyeliners, when I need to add some drama to my makeup looks, this is the kind of product that I look for! I’ve always loved Bourjois (I’ve been using their foundation for over 7 years now) so I was keen to try this pencil out as I knew the quality would be good. I was right! It’s pigmented and easy to apply. It’s the kind of product that can turn any daytime look into a night-time look in seconds! When they say “16H” – they mean it! It’s so long-lasting and it’s smudge proof so whether you’re sobbing in the toilet with your pals or you’re dancing the night away on the sweaty dance floor, this pencil has got your back!

MOPBOX – Powder Brush – RRP £16

I just can’t get over the quality of the MOPBOX makeup brushes. This month we received a large powder brush – perfect for setting powder or bronzer! It’s so soft and you can tell that it’s high quality too just by the weight of it. I’m so impressed with this brush and I’ve been using last month’s almost every day, more than some of my high-end brushes! I’m really excited to see what other brushes we will receive!

Overall, this was another fantastic box. There isn’t a single thing I would change or improve here – everything is amazing. It’s very rare that I don’t have something negative to say about a subscription box as there’s usually something that doesn’t suit me etc. but in this case, I have nothing but praise! MOPBOX is just ticking every box for me. I understand that some of you may be thinking well if she’s being paid to write this post, she’s probably biased. Well if you’ve read my disclaimer page, I wouldn’t recommend anything to you unless I would buy it myself. So regardless of the fact that this is a collaboration, I would subscribe to MOPBOX anyway if I wasn’t working with them. If you’re looking for a new beauty subscription or you want to become more familiar with makeup and how to use it in different ways, this is definitely the box for you! What do you think of these products? Do you have any suggestions for how they could improve or anything that you really love? Let me know in the comments! I’ve included all of my social media below so be sure to come and say hey!

READ LAST MONTH’S REVIEW

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, Beauty Blogger, blog, blogger, Contour, Cosmetics, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Subscription, Trends, Tutorial

BEAUTY

MOPBOX: AUGUST 2018 – FESTIVAL FEVER*

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 27, 2018
2 Comments on MOPBOX: AUGUST 2018 – FESTIVAL FEVER*

Hey Everyone,

Today’s post is super exciting as it’s in collaboration with MOPBOX, a new makeup-only subscription box, here in the UK! You know how much I love makeup so this is a dream come true for me! Each box is shipped on the 26th of every month via a ‘signed for’ postal service. You can choose from a monthly subscription, a 3 month subscription or a 6 month subscription – whatever suits you! I’d personally go for the monthly subscription and this only costs £24 per month, which I think is amazing value for what you get. Each box features a stylised makeup-look to create and it also includes the makeup, tools and brushes to help you do it! There’s also a magazine inside, with a step-by-step guide showing you exactly what to do. I think these boxes will be so inspiring for any budding makeup artists or for anyone looking to boost their confidence in order to express themselves with makeup! It stands out from other beauty subscriptions and I think it will be really popular!

*Paid AD & Gifted Items

CHECK OUT MOPBOX HERE

Look at all these goodies! This box was created with a festival look in mind which is perfect for this summer – especially with all of this gorgeous weather that we’ve been having! This month, we were sent makeup, tools, a makeup bag AND glitter – I’m already thinking that this is a winner given that it only costs £24 and you get £62.94 worth of products!

I really love that the boxes include a little magazine with information about the products, a step-by-step guide and a sneak preview of next month’s theme! It makes you feel part of a community as well as giving you lots of tips and tricks. I think it shows how much thought and effort goes into this beauty subscription box compared to some other well known ones.

Lord & Berry – Scuba Pro Mascara – RRP £16.00

I am a huge fan of Lord & Berry products, so I was delighted to find this mascara inside my box! I feel like mascara is such a must for a festival – even though my lashes are extremely straight and boring, it makes a huge difference believe it or not! It’s such a quick and easy fix for tired eyes and at a festival I can imagine this would be a really popular product for on-the-go top-ups PLUS it’s waterproof so it’ll protect you from those unpredictable showers that the UK is known for!

So Susan – Liquid Powder Eyeshadow Palette – RRP £11.50

You know how much I love my eyeshadow so of course I was glad to find this beauty tucked into my box! This palette features eight gorgeous shadows, hot-poured and solidified to form a creamy firm powder. It’s also cruelty-free! I absolutely love warm/berry toned eye looks and this palette is perfect for creating those type of makeup looks! I think summer is the perfect time to experiment with colour and this palette allows me to do just that. I’ve never heard of So Susan before so it goes to show that MOPBOX want to showcase some less well-known brands which I think is a really nice idea.

Model Co – Rose Glow – RRP £14.95

This has got to be my favourite product in this month’s box! I love highlighters so much, I think they’re your perfect summer companion and they just make such a difference to my makeup looks. Not to be dramatic, but I can’t imagine my life without them – they’re an essential! I already own quite a few products by Model Co, so I know that they’re a great brand and that their makeup is always fantastic quality! I like that this highlighter is a collaboration with Hailey Baldwin too as she’s becoming increasingly popular as the months go by which shows that MOPBOX are keen to stay on trend. I tend to go for a dewy look most of the time so cream highlighters are my best friend, they’re super easy to apply and blend out and you’re totally in control of where it goes and how much you use! This highlighter in particular is pigmented and creamy and it’s got a rose-gold tint to it to give you the healthiest glow you ever did see!

The Glitter Army – Glitter Bag (6g) – RRP £4.50

This summer has made me a bit glitter-crazy which is so strange because this time last year I couldn’t stand it! I think it grows in popularity during the festival season, when our Instagram feeds are packed with creativity, colour and glitter. I wouldn’t have known what to do with it if I hadn’t seen the countless tutorials that have come out this year. I’m starting to love it more and more, it allows me to be creative and the possibilities are endless! This bag is packed with gorgeous silver glitter and as I’m sure most of you are well aware, a little bit goes a LONG way so it’ll last ages!

Curlers

I mentioned earlier that I have the most boring lashes ever. I’m lucky in that they’re quite long but I literally can’t get them to do anything and they’re determined to stay dead straight. That’s where curlers come in super handy! I was glad to see a pair in this box because they really do help me out when I’m trying to stop my lashes being so stubborn. I always find that after I’ve curled my lashes I look so much more awake which is a must if you’re pulling all-nighters at a festival!

MOPBOX – Small Blending Brush – RRP £8.99

In my opinion, you can never have too many makeup brushes and on those days where I can’t be bothered to wash them, I’m glad that I have an extensive (and growing) collection as there’s usually a clean one to use! Blending is so important when it comes to eyeshadow as without it you might look like you’ve been punched in the face which isn’t the best look for a festival. Blending allows you to create effortless and beautiful looks and that’s exactly what this brush is designed for! It’s always good to have a stash of blending brushes as they come in so handy!

Overall, I think that this box was amazing. The quality, size and type of products is fantastic for the price. I think it will be such a popular subscription and I think there’s definitely a gap in the market for something like this. I often feel like I don’t know what to do with all of the things I get sent by some other subscription services, whereas with MOPBOX, I’m told exactly what each product is for and I’m also given a stgep-by-step guide and a look to create so nothing can go to waste! I love that they stay on trend and I think this will appeal to so many different audiences. I also love that they included a makeup bag too and it’s little things like this that make you feel like a valued customer. I really recommend giving this a try if you’re anything like me and you love makeup! What do you think of these products? Do you have any suggestions for how they could improve or anything that you really love? Let me know in the comments! I’ve included all of my social media below so be sure to come and say hey!

CHECK OUT MOPBOX HERE

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, Cosmetics, Festivals, Glitter, Makeup, MOPBOX, Photography, Photos, Review, Subscription, Tutorial

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX JULY 2018: SAY YES TO ADVENTURE – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 13, 2018
4 Comments on BIRCHBOX JULY 2018: SAY YES TO ADVENTURE – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

I’m back! I’ve been very busy recently as I’m committed to jury service (last week and this week) so I haven’t been able to post as frequently as I’d like to. I hope you can bear with me as I’m doing my best to keep up with everything! I post regularly on my instagram (pretty much every day) so go ahead and give me a follow as I’m always active over there – @ninalouiselaw. Today, I’m unboxing and reviewing the July Birchbox! I love these posts because discovering new beauty products is my favourite thing to do and I know lots of you enjoy doing that too! Anyway, 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!

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!

CLICK HERE TO READ MY JUNE BIRCHBOX REVIEW!

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

This month’s box is absolutely beautiful! Instead of the usual drawer-like boxes that we receive, this one came with a lid which I love as I can use it as storage in my bedroom! I love the abstract watercolour design too, it’s so pretty and summery. It also happens to match the colours in my room too so I’m very happy about this!

This month is all about being bold and trying something new – which I am all for! I really enjoy stepping outside my beauty comfort zone and experimenting with new products. This month I’ve been pushing myself in all kinds of ways, whether that’s academically, with my blog, with my makeup or with my anxiety, so this box came at a great time! As usual, we were sent a variety of products including skincare and cosmetics.

Manna Kadar – Long-Wear Powder “Trifecta” – £15

I’ve mentioned before that I have received lots of Manna Kadar products and I love all of them! They have a lot of multi-tasking products that often come as a “2-in-1” or a “3-in-1” which I absolutely LOVE. It means you can carry less makeup and still have everything you need at the same time. This powder is a 3-in-1 brow, eye and cheek product (wow, as it can act as a bronzer, eyeshadow or brow filler. I was so surprised at how buttery and smooth it felt when I was swatching it – it was so easy to apply. I love that it adds a pop of colour wherever I need it which is perfect for the summery warm makeup looks I like to create at this time of year!

CHECK OUT THE POWDER HERE

Browcote – Waterproof Brow Gel – £6.99

I’ve been using a lot more brow products to get the look that I want and recently, I’ve been investing in brow gels and brow mascaras! I really like how they can make it look as if you have nothing in your brows and it’s also so much quicker to do if you’re in a hurry. This award-winning brow gel keeps your brows in place all day as well as being waterproof! One of my pet peeves is a brow gel that leaves your brows feeling cripsy and crunchy and you’ll be pleased to know that this one doesn’t do that! It doesn’t clump up any powder or pencil that I’ve used before it either.

CHECK OUT THE BROW GEL HERE

What’s in it for Me? – Shower Scrub – £7

I’m a shower girl when it comes to summer so I’m always looking for scrubs to keep my skin smooth and exfoliated! This scrub smells incredible! It features walnut shell, almond oil, orange and jasmine flower extracts – WOW. It’s such an uplifting and energising scent, it’s perfect for those early morning showers to wake you up. I love using this before I go in the sun, to scrub away any dead skin cells so that my tan can sit on fresh skin plus this will make it last longer!

CHECK OUT THE SHOWER SCRUB HERE

Merci Hand – Hand Cream in ‘Cherie Cherry’ – £4.90

This packaging is so dreamy! It reminds me of a lollipop or an old fashioned diner – not sure if anyone will know what I mean by that?! I absolutely love having a tube of hand cream in my bag at all times and I get through lots of them throughout the year. The first thing I noticed about this product was the amazing scent – it’s honestly divine. It’s the perfect fruity floral fragrance for summer! I also noticed how quickly it skins in, as I hate hand creams that leave a sticky residue behind and this one doesn’t! I really recommend getting one of those for on-the-go moisturising, plus it’s currently on sale and it’s going for £1.96!

CHECK OUT THE HAND CREAM HERE

Balance Me – Congested Skin Serum – £16

This is my favourite product in the July box! I love skincare but particularly things that keep my skin clear and blemish free! I’ve used some of Balance Me’s cleansers and face washes before and they are fantastic. This serum contains Chamomile, anti-bacterial may chang, calming lavender and eucalyptus which together, make the ultimate spot-fighting team. It smells like one of those really expensive and luxury spa treatments! It’s also non-drying which is great as that’s quite common when it comes to spot treating skincare. Another product that I really recommend!

CHECK OUT THE SERUM HERE

I was really pleased with this month’s box and I know that I’ll be using all of these products over the summer period. As usual, all of the products are fantastic quality as well as some being award-winning! I’ll definitely be keeping the beautiful little box to keep bits an pieces in! What do you think of this box? Would you be happy with it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments as usual, I love to hear from you! I’ve linked all my social media below so come and say hi!

N xxxx

CHECK OUT LAST MONTH’S BIRCHBOX REVIEW

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*RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop

Tags BEAUTY, BIRCHBOX, blog, Cosmetics, Lifestyle, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Subscription, Trends

MONTHLY FAVOURITES

JUNE 2018 FAVOURITES

Hey Guys,

Somehow June has been and gone and what a month it’s been! What have you all been up to? I finished my exams, I’ve moved back home for the summer and I’ve already been on a mini break to Manchester all in the space of a few weeks! I feel so refreshed and ready to produce some good content! I’ve been working so hard on my photography and I hope some of you have picked up on that – it’s mainly because the lighting is ten times better now that the sun is out and I have much more time on my hands. Anyway, here are the things that I have been loving over June!

This post contains affiliate links

Soph X Revolution – Extra Spice Palette

I’ve reviewed it already so I’ll keep this short – “obsessed” doesn’t cover how much I love this palette! It’s fantastic and the quality is unreal. Pretty much every shade is super pigmented and it’s so affordably priced – I’m extremely impressed with it, plus I love Soph as a creator and I’m more than happy to support her. Click below to read my review where I have lots of photos and swatches!

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW HERE

CHECK OUT THE PALETTE HERE

Zoella Beauty – Let’s Spritz – Body Mist

I’ve raved about this multiple times on my blog but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t my favourite fragrance ever! I wear it every single day and it smells incredible. I must have been through at least five bottles of this since the start of this year! It features Raspberry and Cassis, making it a gorgeous fresh and fruity spritz. 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!

CHECK OUT THE BODY MIST HERE

Natural Collection – Hydrating & Radiance Primer

I discovered this a while ago and I’m so glad I did! If you’ve read my June Birchbox review, you’ll know that I wasn’t a fan of how pricey Benefit’s POREfessional: Pearl Primer is, I’m all for treating yourself to great products however when it comes to every day use, it can become very expensive. That’s where this bad boy comes in, as it also focuses on illuminating the skin, which I find to be perfect for summer when I want my skin to be glowing.

CHECK OUT THE PRIMER HERE

Beautanics Beauty – Fill + Tame Brow Gel

I’ve always been a powder girl when it comes to filling in my brows but recently I’ve been loving and using this brow gel. It gives me a much more natural look and it’s just so easy to apply. I tend to do a few strokes in each brow and if there are any gaps, I’ll go over with a tiny bit of powder and I’m good to go. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to tame those brows, I really recommend giving this product a try! It’s also a really great colour for me too – I use the shade brunette.

CHECK OUT THE BROW GEL HERE

BlanX PRO – Glossy White – Toothpaste

I’ve been using this every day for a while now and I’ve noticed a HUGE difference! It’s rare that a toothpaste with whitening properties kicks in as quickly as this but honestly it’s amazing! I’d really recommend checking these guys out if you want to blind everyone when you flash your nashers!

CHECK OUT THE TOOTHPASTE HERE

Image Credit – Netflix

Netflix- The Staircase

Oh my goodness. This is one of the best things that I’ve ever watched. I can’t even explain how good it is. As a criminology student, I love anything that focuses on crime or murder as it’s something that I’m really interested in. This series gives a very very real insight into a very very real case and you’re there throughout the whole thing. You get to go to the hearings, you get to hear the verdict, you get to see the crime scene photos – it’s just so moving and gripping. I’m actually sad that I’ve finished it! I’m still in two minds about what actually happened that night.

What have you been loving this month? Let me know in the comments! I hope you’ve all been enjoying this lovely weather and any fellow students are loving freedom from university just as much as I am. I’ve put links to all of my social media below so come and say hi as I love to hear from you!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, Cosmetics, Favourites, June, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Products, Review, Skincare, Summer

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX JUNE 2018: 5TH BIRTHDAY – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date June 15, 2018
4 Comments on BIRCHBOX JUNE 2018: 5TH BIRTHDAY – REVIEW

This post contains affiliate links

Hey Everyone,

June is flying by and that means another Birchbox review is coming your way! I’m enjoying the freedom from exams now and I feel much more like myself again. I keep catching myself watching TV or lying on the sofa and suddenly panicking, thinking I should be doing revision instead! I get my results in a couple of weeks so I just want time to move a little faster so I can find out and put those horrible exams behind me. Does anyone else feel like the exams aren’t quite over until the results are in? Anyway, 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!

CLICK HERE TO READ MY MAY BIRCHBOX REVIEW!

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

You may have noticed, June’s box came in a tin. I’m so used to our cute little drawer-like boxes that this came as a bit of a surprise when I first saw it but I actually quite like it. I’ve already got it displayed on a shelf in my room because it’s just so cute! It reminds me of the biscuit tins I would find in my Grandma’s kitchen if you know what I mean?!

This box is all about Birchbox’s 5th birthday! I love the British tea party vibes, perfect for some summer evening shindig inspiration. As usual there’s a great variety of productsincluded in this box (there’s actually 6 this month). We have some makeup, haircare and even tea bags!

Ella Eden – Compact Eyeshadow “Julia” – £12.99

I am a sucker for a shimmer shadow so I was super excited to receive this! As usual, we were offered a choice between two products and in this case it was between the shades “Faith” or “Julia”. I usually wear something light and shimmery on my lid so I chose the shade “Julia” just because I can see myelf wearing this a lot! It’s so easy to apply and it’s extremely pigmented which means it hardly takes any effort at all. Not only is the colour-pay-off incredible but it’s also really long-lasting and stays put all day. I’ve been applying it with a wet brush and it’s just mindblowingly sparkly as a result. It’s also cruelty-free!

CHECK OUT THE EYESHADOW HERE

Benefit – POREfessional Pearl Primer – £27.50

Right so let’s get it out in the open, I’m not sure about this primer. It’s not that it doesn’t work or that it isn’t a good, product but the price is just far too much for me. I have found drugstore primers do just as well if not better so I just can’t justify spending that much. However, receiving it as a sample was a lovely treat! It’s pretty much the same as the original POREfessional primer, except it contains pink pigment to brighten the skin. I’m all for a dewy look so I’m totally down for this primer however the price is a real put off for me. If you’re looking for a dupe, check out the Natural Collection Hydrating and Radiance Primer (it costs £2.99 plus you get more product so you can’t go wrong really).

CHECK OUT THE POREFESSIONAL PEARL PRIMER HERE

Number 4 – Jour d’automme Smoothing Balm – £24.50

You know that episode of Friends where Monica’s hair goes absolutely nuts due to the heat? Well, that’s usually me in summer so this product was a winner in my eyes before I’d even tried it! This balm targets frizz by restoring softness and by protecting against humidity and heat damage. It’s like my dream hair mask! It works a treat during the warmer and muggy weather – speaking of muggy is anyone else finding Love Island really dull this year?! I’ve been watching the Australian one (traitor I know) and it’s actually really good! Anyway, I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a frizz free summer!

CHECK OUT THE SMOOTHING BALM HERE

Polaar – Velvety Sun Fluid Face & Body – £25

I think I’ve always used the highest factor of suncream possible on holiday because there ain’t no way this girl is gonna burn thank you very much (I also want to take care of my skin). Seeing as this sunscreen is pretty high at 30, I’m definitely willing to give it a shot – probably on the really hot days we have here in the UK (if we ever get any again). It offers high UVA and UVB protection, it fights sunburn and premature ageing as well as being super moisturising for the skin which is exactly what you want when you’re spending a day in the sun. It was definitely a good idea to include this in the June box as I’m sure lots of people are getting ready to go on holiday and will need some sunscreen in their travel bag!

CHECK OUT THE SUN FLUID HERE

Amika – Bombshell Blowout Spray – £14.99

I already absolutely love Amika and their products as they smell freaking AMAZING and the packaging is gorgeous to (plus they actually work of course). This spray works on damp and dry hair and BOOM you’ve got yourself some volume as well as heat protection, which I definitely need! It’s so lightweight and easy to apply that it’s super easy to add it into your usual routine. I won’t even attempt to describe how good this smells but all I can say is that it’s extremely good!

CHECK OUT THE SPRAY HERE

Whittard of Chelsea – Teabags

This month we were treated to these lovely goodies from Whittard of Chelsea! I am a tea drinker through and through and I probably spend hours every week just sitting and sipping so there are perfect for me! The three flavours included are; Earl Grey, Mango & Bergamot and Lemon & Ginger. I’m actually a lover of Earl Grey and I’ve been drinking it since I was little, I just find it helps me relax and it makes me feel all cosy and chilled out. I love fruity teas during summer too so I’m really looking forward to trying these!

CHECK OUT THE TEA HERE

I was really happy with this month’s box and I reckon I’ll be using all of these products within a couple of weeks. I would have liked to see some more skincare in this box but then again we can’t have everything every month so I’m not too fussed. However, I do love that they included another gift in this box and switched things up a little to celebrate! I’ll definitely be keeping the gorgeous little tin and I think I’ll fill it with my polaroids from summer. What do you think of this box? Would you be happy with it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments as usual, I love to hear from you! I’ve linked all my social media below so come and say hi!

N xxxx

CHECK OUT LAST MONTH’S BIRCHBOX REVIEW

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

*RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop

Tags 2018, BEAUTY, BIRCHBOX, blogger, Cosmetics, Hair, Holiday, June, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Summer, Tea

BEAUTY MAKEUP

SOPH X REVOLUTION: EXTRA SPICE PALETTE & LIPSTICKS – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date June 12, 2018
26 Comments on SOPH X REVOLUTION: EXTRA SPICE PALETTE & LIPSTICKS – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

Hey Everyone,

I’m super excited for this post as I’m reviewing the new Soph X Revolution palette and her new lipsticks! I ordered them as soon as they were released as I just knew they would all be amazing. I’m also a huge fan of Sophie and her channel so I was more than happy to support her with this! Some of you may have read my review of her first palette but if you haven’t you can read that here. Either way, I’m too excited to keep talking any longer so bring on the review!

*This post contains affiliate links

The packaging is pretty much a the opposite version of her first palete, this time with the case being rose gold and the palette itself being a matte nude/pink shade. It retails at £10 (wow) The lipsticks are also a new addition to this collaboration – I totally wasn’t expecting these! There are three in total, all creamy satin nudes and they retail at £4 each.

This packaging, as you probably know is just SO ME! I absolutely love anything rose gold, so I’m considering framing it to be honest. It’s so pretty and sleek looking that I can’t wait to put it on my dressing table so I can see it every day! I love that she’s been able to create a second palette and I would honestly keep buying them if she brought out another ten. Soph said she wanted to create something that could be the “extra spice” in someone’s makeup collection and I reckon she’s done just that. I can see myself using this palette every day and it just stands out from everything else I own.

So this palette features 18 shades and JUST LOOK AT THEM – I cannot get over how stunning these colours are and there’s such a great variety! Soph picked every shade and named them herself! I love that each shade means something different to her and that the whole palette is a reflection of her personality. There’s a mixture of 6 shimmers and 12 mattes in this palette so there’s plenty to choose from! Compared to her previous palette, it’s definitely a bit more bold and vibrant however it still has a very generously sized mirror! Can we also talk about that fact that she definitely took on board our feedback and added labels to each shade within the palette! I love that, as I’m forever losing those plastic sheets that come with the names on.

Every Day – A duo-chrome pale purple with a white/iridescent shift – Super pigmented and creamy
Running Late – A matte orange with a light brown undertone – My kind of transition shade
Infinity – A silver/metallic shimmer – WOW, this is so pigmented and buttery
Cheesecake – A matte chesnut brown with red undertones – A great shade for a smokey eye
Cookie Dough – A matte soft/light brown – Another good one for transitioning
Dreams – A warm copper shimmer – So creamy and smooth, extremely pigmented

Vitamin C – A bright matte yellow – The only shade I’m disappointed with, I just found this was too patchy and the colour pay off wasn’t great
Sweet n Sour – A warm matte orange – I can’t wait to use this for summery makeup looks
Twenty One – A cherry pink with red undertones – I’ve never used a more pigmented pink/red, this is incredible
Romance – A rich burgundy shimmer with a pink shift – I think I’m in love, this might well be my favourite shade in the palette
Enchanted – A matte purple with red wine-type undertones – This is such an interesting shade, it kind of reminds me of “Rowdy” in the Subculture palette!
Lakes – A matte olive/khaki green – Given that 90% of my wardrobe is khaki this is bound to come in handy

Brownies – A very deep brown with purple undertones – Again, this was a tad patchy but with a few layers it builds up
Chocolate Orange – A warm brown with red undertones – I love shades like this for every day simple looks
Mulled Wine – A matte Ribena Purple – This shade is so vibrant and bright, it’s such a great shade for anyone into bold looks (aka me most of the time)
LA Sun – A bright gold shimmer – Bloomin’ heck these shimmers are all just incredible, this one in particular is something else!
Aurora – An olive/khaki shimmer – It’s like shrek met a disco ball, I am loving this shade however it wasn’t as creamy as the other shimmers in the palette, it took a few swatches
Reputation – A matte charcoal black – I’m so glad she included a matte black shade again as I don’t own one and I always seem to end up needing it! It’s also great for really dramatic looks too!

Soph x Revolution Lipstick Review, Swatches & Photos

So, there’s three gorgeous nude shades in this collection. From top to bottom we have, Syrup, Fudge and Cake. Below, I’ve reviewed them all separately so keep scrolling!

Syrup – This is the kind of nude that most people could pull off. It’s a very simple brown nude, which typically I would run away from but I because of the creamy satin texture and finish, I’m absolutely loving it! I love that it’s so soft and silky on the lips too, as I hate anything drying and sometimes pale nudes can have “foundation lip” look to them which is a no from me but this bad boy is a 10/10 on that front.

Check out the shade Syrup here

Soph x Revolution Fudge Lipstick Review, Swatches & Photos

Fudge – This is a darker nude to Syrup and I was originally kind of terrified of this shade as it looked so so dark. However, upon trying it on it didn’t swatch that way whatsoever! It actually came up on me as a kind of dark orange nude which I really like! I’d suggest swatching it before buying it just to double check it’s what you think it is as it will probably look very different on different skintones! Either way I love it and I reckon I will be wearing this shade A LOT during Autumn.

Check out the shade Fudge here

Soph x Revolution Cake Lipstick Review, Swatches & Photos

Cake – This is by FAR my absolute favourite lipstick in the collection. It’s pretty much your basic pink nude. I can tell this will be an everyday product for me and I actually prefer it to a majority of my high-end lipsticks which is crazy considering I only paid £4 for it?! It’s kind of giving me Velvet Teddy vibes, anyone else?

Check out the shade Cake here

Overall, I am EXTREMELY impressed with this collection. Soph has given us another fantastic palette along with three beautiful nude lippies. Firstly, the palette is an absolute dream. There are some things that I would change however, like the pigmentation of Vitamin C and Aurora as I think they could both be even better. That being said, the other 16 shades are honestly very very good. The quality of the packaging is also amazing. The shimmers are so buttery and creamy and the mattes are super easy to blend out. I would easily pay £20 for this palette let alone the £10 that it actually retails at (wowza). The lipsticks are equally as fabulous too. I don’t know what they used to make them but I’ve never used anything that buttery or creamy before and there’s just no going back now! It’s safe to say that I am now a brown lippie convert. I would really recommend trying these out!

I really hope you enjoyed this review and found it helpful as I know lots of people are deciding what they want to order from this collection!

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, blogger, Cosmetics, eyeshadow, Lipstick, Makeup Revolution, palette, Photography, Photos, Review, Soph x, Sophdoesnails, Swatches

BEAUTY

ELIZABETH ARDEN – CREAM SHADOW “02 OVERBOARD” – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date June 8, 2018
14 Comments on ELIZABETH ARDEN – CREAM SHADOW “02 OVERBOARD” – REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Today’s review is slightly different but I thought it was worth a shot! Any fellow beauty nerds out there will know that this product was released four years ago, as part of the 2014 Summer Escape range! So how come I’m reviewing it now? Well anyone that knows me well, knows I absolutely love a visit to TK Maxx every now and again. They have an amazing selection of makeup and beauty products, often high-end outdated ranges. I’m always finding NARS, MAC, Too Faced and Bare Minerals bits and pieces! On one of my trips, I discovered this little gem and I simply had to buy it! I know lots of you are makeup lovers so I thought I would share my thoughts! You’re actually still able to get hold of this product via the American Elizabeth Arden website if you click here.

I was immediately drawn the the beautiful packaging! I love the nautical vibes – perfect for summer! It almost hurt to throw the box away – does anyone else hoard unnecessary amounts of packaging? I’ve never tried anything by Elizabeth Arden before so I guess this is a first impressions post as well as a review!

I really like that the pot continues to show off the gorgeous nautical print featuring a gold rope design across the navy lid. It’s also a screw cap so you don’t have to worry about the lid flying off at any point (always a bonus, nobody wants to open their makeup bag to find a jackson pollock remake). I love taking little pots like this on holiday with me because they barely take up any room and there’s still enough product inside to create some lovely looks.

Today I’m specifically looking at Overboard, a shimmery blue cream shadow. LOOK AT THAT! I fell in love with this shade – it literally looks like the ocean. I love wearing colourful eyeshadows during Summer so I knew I could be creative with this one in particular. I don’t actually own anything like this either so I’m excited to add it to my makeup collection!

I dont think I’ve ever come across anything so creamy and soft! It was a dream to apply and even easier to blend out! I layered it a couple of times for the purpose of the photo but it can be worn with just one layer for a subtle pop of blue. I was so surprised at how pigmented it was too, I was expecting it to be really sheer. The shadow also lasts really well too – I’ve worn it all day before and it hasn’t budged – even in this hot weather. I like to apply it on top of a shimmery silver shadow and then it pops even more. It’s also enriched with Aloe and Vitamin E to protect the eye area and soothe your skin.

CHECK OUT THE EYESHADOW HERE

Overall, I think this shadow is amazing. The quality, the lasting power, the packagaing – the whole lot is 10/10. I love love love it! I really recommend checking out your local TK Maxx because they have some little gems hidden amongst their makeup troughs, so get searching! Have you ever tried any Elizabeth Arden products? If so, what do you love or hate? What have you found in TK Maxx? I hope you enjoyed this post and I’ll be back soon with another!

I’ve linked all my social media below so come and say hi!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags BEAUTY, blogger, Cosmetics, Elizabeth Arden, eyeshadow, July, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Summer

MONTHLY FAVOURITES

MAY 2018 FAVOURITES

Hey Everyone,

Somehow we’re nearly halfway through the year and so a May Favourites post is due! I swear every month goes by quicker than the last? This month has been full of exams for me and I still have one more to do and then freedom is mine. I cannot wait for summer, I am so ready! I’ve been coming home inbetween every exam to make sure I’m looking after myself so I’ve definitely had time to think of some of my favourite bits and pieces this month and I’m excited to share them with you!

Dove – DermaSpa Summer Revived Body Lotion*

This was actually recommended to me by my mum. I’ve never ever been a fake tanning kinda gal, it just looks like a disaster waiting to happen, especially with me involved and so I’ve just stuck to some good old sunbathing whenever the UK treats us to some rays. However, mid-convo with my mum I noticed that she was looking rather bronzed and I asked what on earth she was using and this was the product that she recommended! It’s so simple to apply and it smells amazing PLUS it’s not actually a fake tan, it’s pretty much a buildable self-tanning moisturiser and it’s really subtle. It’s perfect for someone like me that is too scared to experiment with fake tan. You don’t have to worry about waking up looking like a streaky wotsit or scrubbing the next day, it’s so easy! I noticed a difference after two days of using it and I’m definitely going to have to get myself a bottle now!

CHECK OUT THE LOTION HERE*

Superdrug – Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser

I will be giving this a separate review as well as some of the other bits that I’ve been loving from this range however this month it’s just been so perfect for keeping my skin looking hydrated and fresh. With exam stress, that extra brightening boost is exactly what I need! I use this every morning and it really does make such a difference. Also, whilst the weather has been really muggy and humid it’s the best way to stay feeling fresh and clean. Speaking of muggy – is anyone else unbelievably excited for Love Island?! I cannot wait!

CHECK OUT THE CLEANSER HERE*

CaseApp – Iphone and MacBook cases*

I have a post about these gorgeous cases coming up very soon, however I just have to mention them in my favourites this month! It makes me so happy to see these beautiful prints every day and I can’t recommend them enough! They offer hundreds of pre-made designs as well as the opporunity to customise your own cases and skins. If you want 20% off go ahead and use my code: NINALOUISELAW20

CHECK OUT THEIR SITE HERE

*I was sent these in exchange for a review, however all opinions are my own and I wholeheartedly recommend these products anyway! I don’t earn anything from the code or review either.

Revolution – Strobe Lighting Palette*

I reviewed this earlier on in the month however so many of you commented and messaged saying that you also loved it, it just can’t not be in my May Favourites post! I absolutely love this palette and it’s been so perfect for giving me a summer glow. I can’t wait to take this on holiday with me as it’s compact and easy to travel with plus you get three shades in one palette!

READ MY REVIEW HERE

CHECK OUT THE PALETTE HERE*

Revolution – Fast Base Foundation Stick*

I honestly cannot rave enough about this product. It’s honestly my favourite foundation and believe me I’ve tried a fair few. This is just the perfect mixture of everything I look for in a foundation PLUS it costs £5 too which is just nuts. It’s just as good if not better than the higher end foundation sticks that I’ve tried and that’s really saying something given it’s a drugstore product. I reviewed this foundation a while ago so feel free to click the link below to see what I thought of it as well as swatches.

READ MY REVIEW HERE

CHECK OUT THE FOUNDATION STICK HERE*

Natural Collection – Liquid Eyeliner*

I seem to go through phases of using eyeliner and recently I’ve definitely started digging it again. I decided to try this product out earlier on this year and it’s just so good! I love how easy it is to apply and how affordable it is too! If you’re looking for something that just does the job and doesn’t break the bank, I would strongly recommend giving this one a try! Again, I’ve reviewed this eyeliner and some other products within this range too so click the link below to give it a read.

READ MY REVIEW HERE

CHECK OUT THE EYELINER HERE*

Image Source – Project Casting

I managed to watch this in two days whilst I was supposed to be revising and I have zero regrets about it. I honestly didn’t want there to be a second series after Season 1 as I believed it would be unecessary however the way this Season 2 played out and the issues that it raised and portrayed was just so moving and it started some much needed conversations across the globe. I like that this Season focused on lots of different characters and their personal stories as well as Hannah’s trial.

Image source – Netflix

I managed to watch this in less than two days too (I’m truly wasted on blogging, maybe I should be trying to watch things in record time instead?) and again, I have no regrets. This is the best series that I’ve watched all year. Every episode unlocks a new element to the story and the acting is just incredible (I’m a HUGE Dexter fan). The series was also filmed in the village where my family live so I was spending most of my time saying “Oh look it’s that road!” or “It’s the station!”. There’s just something so cool about seeing somewhere you recognise on TV. That happened in an episode of Black Mirror and I feel like it’s my claim to fame (even though High Wycombe isn’t exactly the Crown Jewels of the UK)

I hope you’ve all had a great month and that if you’ve had exams you’re just about coping! If you want any tips for last minute revision, I’ve written a post all about that so click the link below if you’re interested! As usual, leave a comment letting me know what you’ve been loving and feel free to follow me on my social media too, come and say hi!

READ MY REVISION TIPS POST HERE

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags 2018, Cosmetics, Iphone, Macbook, May, Monthly Favourites, Netflix, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX MAY 2018: PALM LEAVES & WARM BREEZE – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date May 18, 2018
4 Comments on BIRCHBOX MAY 2018: PALM LEAVES & WARM BREEZE – REVIEW

Hey Guys,

I’m so nearly finished with my exams and I can’t wait for freedom! I’m really looking forward to spending some more time on my blog and being able to throw away all my revision cards (there’s quite literally hundreds). Either way, I have Birchbox looking out for me with their wonderful boxes! 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!

Click here to read my April Birchbox review!

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

This month, Birchbox have brought the rainforest to our doorsteps with this gorgeous tropical print packaging. I am obsessed with all things banana leaf and tropical print so this was immeidtaley a favourite of mine. I actually wrote all about my favourite tropical interior bits HERE. This box is so pretty and I will definitely be using it to store things in!

The theme for this month appears to be concentrating on the (hopefully) warmer and sunnier days ahead. It’s been so nice to have a taste of summer over the last few days and I cannot wait to enjoy the weather properly once my exams are out of the picture. This month’s box has a good variety of products which I’m like as I enjoy trying loads of different products in my spare time and it’s boxes like this one, that allow me to do that! It was also great to recieve products from brands that I hadn’t heard of as I love discovering new things within the beauty community.

Doucce – Luscious Lip Stain in “Steaming Red” – RRP £21*

I’m actually a huge fan of Doucce and I’ve been using their products for a while now so I have high expectations when I saw that this lip stain was included this month. This lipstain actually went above and beyond what I was hoping for and it’s become my new go-to lip product. It’s so pigmented that you don’t have to touch it once it’s applies which is a big bonus for me as I hate doing that. It dries matte and it dries super quickly too so you dont have to worry about sitting and waiting for it to dry whatsoever, you’re good to go almost immediately. It almost applies like a liquid lipstick except the formula is much softer and hydrating. This products smells incredible too! I will definitely be buying this again once I run out.

CHECK OUT THE LIPSTAIN HERE

Greenfrog Botanic – Geranium and Peppermint Botanical Bodywash – RRP £8.95*

This smells like a breath of fresh air, it’s honestly incredible! It’s a totally organic, cruelty-free and vegan product too which I know will win lots of people over. There’s something nice about using really natural products when it comes to skincare and this definitely ticks that box! It contains aloe vera which is so soothing and moisturing for the skin and will be perfect after days spent in the sunshine. It’s also a great product for sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis.

CHECK OUT THE BODYWASH HERE

Native Unearthed – Activated Charcoal Natural Deodorant Balm – RRP £7.99*

I was totally intrigued by this from the minute I saw it. A deodorant balm?! It’s actually a nice alternative from using chemical-filled products to prevent body odour and it still managed to do everything you need it to. Filled with antibacterial coconut oil, soothing shea butter and sweat-absorbing arrowroot, this deodorant forms an invisible shield after you apply a pea-sized amount to your clean pits – simples (I can’t shake the image of the insurance meerkat now). It’s definitely not something I will be using everyday but when I need someting for on-the-go use, it’s super quick and easy to apply and will be perfect for my travel bag.

CHECK OUT THE DEODORANT BALM HERE

NUXE – Aquabella Micro-Exfoliating Purifying Gel – RRP £12*

I have been loving and using NUXE products for quite some time now and so I was really pleased to find this product in my May Birchbox. I mentioned in my April Favourites post that I’m using a skin treatment that dries it out so anything to help keep my skin feeling fresh is a must right now! This exfoliating gel definitely gets to work but it’s also super gentle and it leaves your skin feeling fabulous. I tend to use this every evening before bed as a cleanser and it’s been working a treat ever since I opened it!

CHECK OUT THE GEL HERE

Eyeko – Skinny Liquid Eyeliner – RRP £16*

I haven’t been wearing any liquid eyeliner for the past few weeks until I found this in my May Birchbox. I LOVE felt-tip style liners as I feel like they are much more precise than any other type and I can get a great wing whilst using them. This is so easy to use and I was able to get both eyes lined in minutes. It also lasts all day and that’s something I always look for when it comes to eye products. This is a fabulous product and I highly recommend giving it a try! It’s also a Teen Vogue winner so I can’t be the only one that rates it!

CHECK OUT THE EYELINER HERE

Overall I really enjoyed this month’s Birchbox and I was really impressed by the gorgeous packaging let alone the amazing variety of products that were included. The lip stain is probably my favourite product as I can see myself using this every day and it’s already a staple in my makeup bag! Let me know if any of you recevied this box and what your thoughts are on the products inside! Don’t forget to follow me on my social media which I’ve linked below – come and say hi!

N xxxx

CHECK OUT LAST MONTH’S BIRCHBOX REVIEW

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Click here to get your first Birchbox for £5 this May by using the code MAY5 (Offer runs from Tuesday, 22nd May to Thursday, 31st May)

*RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop

Tags BEAUTY, BIRCHBOX, blogger, Cosmetics, Design, May, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Subscription

BEAUTY

BEAUTY BOULEVARD – GLITTER LIPS*

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date May 11, 2018
4 Comments on BEAUTY BOULEVARD – GLITTER LIPS*

Hey Everyone,

I’m back with another review (despite practically swimming in revision cards) and I’m really excited for this one because it’s a bit different to my usual go-tos in the makeup world. I was sent these gorgeous products a few weeks ago and I’ve been testing them out ever since and I’m definitely ready to spill the beans.

*Gifted Items

Today I’m going to be talking about the Beauty Boulevard’s Glitter Lips range. Each lip kit retails at £12.50. I really love the packagaing of these! I like that the colour of each lip kit is shown on the outside, which makes life a lot easier. I also like that they look very sophisticated and luxurious with the glitter and the black mixed together! It’s also fab that they say the name of the product on each one so you know exactly which one is which when youre picking one out (or for the sake of getting a flatlay like me #bloggingproblems). Each kit comes with some Gloss Bonding Glue, a pot of glitter and an applicator brush. They claim to be waterproof, smudgeproof, easy to apply AND long-lasting (about 8 hours). Typically, I run at unbelievable speed from anything glittery, so I was really keen to see if these products could change that. If you want to hear my thoughts, keep reading!

First up we have this daring shade called “Purple Reign”. It’s pretty much just a vibrant and rich purple glitter with specks of pink and indigo within it. As soon as I saw it, I knew that it could be my new best friend at Halloween (I’m getting dark and glamorous witch vibes).

Right, so this one is a bit hit and miss. The colour payoff is fantatsic and the sparkle is incredible BUT it was a nightmare to apply. I really struggled to hide my natural lip colour beneath it and because it’s such a dark colour, any gaps really stood out. I would recommend using a purple liquid lipstick before, maybe even mixing it with the glue to make the coverage slightly more even. I think this is a good product however with the right base, it could be even better. Either way, I’ll definitely be using this for Halloween!

Here, we have “Midas Kiss”, a sparkly gold glitter that pretty much looks like champagne in a pot and it’s absolutely gorgeous! I’ve never considered using a gold lip product before but the more I looked at this, the more I wanted to try it.

This was the colour I was most nervous for but do you know what? I actually loved it! I think I’ll end up using this during summer when I’m being more creative with colour but also for festivals and concerts. I’ve never been one to jump on the glitter and festival combo but this product definitely has me considering it. It was easy to apply and it also looks really cool. There’s something interesting about using an unusual colour when it comes to lip products and I think I will have loads of fun playing around with it.

Finally, we have “Diamond in the Buff”. This is a beautiful pink shade with an iridescent shift to it as well. This was the shade I was immediately drawn to and that’s probably because it doesn’t look too far off the lipsticks that I already use (minus the glitter).

As you can see, the colour is much lighter than it appears in the pot – probably due to it being more spread out as opposed to packed together. It’s my favourite shade out of the three and I can see myself wearing this quite a lot which is saying something! I love that it could pass as a natural colour with a bit of sparkle to it so it’s not too dramatic or intense. Again, it was super easy to apply and any gaps that showed through didn’t make a difference. It ties in so beautifully with a sparkly eyemakeup look too (see above pic).

Overall, these are great products however it’s definitely worth keeping in mind what you would definitely wear and what you wouldn’t. “Purple Reign” was the shade I was most unsure about but I can definitely think of ways to make it more wearable. I’d say that it mostly comes down to figuring out how and when you’d wear them and whether or not they’re your thing. Although that being said, glitter isn’t for me whatsoever and I would still find occasions to wear these – particularly “Diamond in the Buff”. The quality, the application AND the durability of all of these products it very good and considering that’s what they guarantee, I think that’s a good deal. I’d definitely suggest giving yourself some extra time to apply these and time to remove them if it doesn’t go to plan before you head out somewhere. One thing I noticed was that they were a nightmare to remove quickly, so also keep that in mind when considering buying them – is that something you’re fussed about or do you not mind? I’d also suggest looking at all of the colours that ar available as there’s lots to choose from! Again, although these were sent to me, this review is completely my own and all thoughts and opinions are mine too!

CHECK OUT THE RANGE HERE

Let me know what you think of these or if you’ve tried anything similar? Don’t forget to follow me on my social media – I’ve put the links below!

N xxxx

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Tags BEAUTY, blogger, Cosmetics, Glitter, Lip kits, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review

BEAUTY

MAKEUP REVOLUTION: STROBE LIGHTING PALETTE REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date May 8, 2018
28 Comments on MAKEUP REVOLUTION: STROBE LIGHTING PALETTE REVIEW

Hey Everyone,

Of course, I’m back with another Makeup Revolution review! Superdrug* currently have an offer that involves spending £12 to get yourself one of these palettes and that wasn’t an issue given that I’m always looking for an excuse to buy more of their products. I’ll be reviewing some of the other bits that I bought soon, so keep your eyes peeled for those!

So, this palette usually retails at £8.00 (which I think is incredible value given that three highlighters are included) and it comes inside a beautiful rose gold lidded case and if you know me, you’ll know I’m a sucker for anything that looks like this! Also, any bloggers out there, how blooming difficult is it to get a photo of something (from above) that is reflective or mirror-like?! It took me a solid ten minutes to get a shot without my little potato head creeping in.

The palette contains three highlighting powders, all different shades (one for every occasion) and the pans are super generously sized! I love the ripple effect on the highlighters too as it definitely makes it look like a luxury product. Recently, I’ve started branching out from my usual caramel toned highlighters and I’ve been using some more pinky-toned ones as well as the good old iridescent kind so I knew I would use all three of these! As you can see, this palette contains all three and I’ve managed to use them all too.

First up is the bright white shade, which is absolutely stunning! I used to be so scared to use these shades because I thought they were too intense but this one is just so pearly and beautiful I can’t resist! It also has a pale-green shift to it which really does make my cheek bones pop. Secondly, there’s a gorgeous gold/cream highlighter which is right up my street. I tend to go for these champagne shades the most as they seem to compliment my skintone more than others do. This shade adds a subtle glow and gold shimmer to the cheeks without being too blinding. They’re also perfect for warm, summery makeup looks too, so I’ll definitely be using this one over the next few months! Finally we have a pinkhighlighter. It adds the prettiest glow to the cheeks without being too over the top and it definitely makes me look so much healthier and energised.

The white highlighter is definitely the most pigmented, whereas the other two are slightly more subtle and they blend out to be quite sheer. That being said, all of the highlighters are buildable so you can adjust them to whatever intensity that you’re going for.

In conclusion, this palette is definitely worth the money. It contains 3 strobe highlighters, in a rose gold case with a HUGE mirror – what more could you want? All three of the products are super easy to use, you simply have to sweep your brush over the pans and apply it to any areas that you want to highlight for a beautiful glow! There are definitely more pigmented highlighters out there but that’s not necessarily what I always want to use, so this palete is perfect for my everyday makeup looks. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that loves highlighters but doesn’t want to glow like a lightbulb on a daily basis! I hope you enjoyed this review, do let me know if you’ve tried this palette or if you have any recommendations for me to try out! Don’t forget to follow me on my socials which I’ve linked below, so come and say hi!

N xxxx

BUY THE 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, Cosmetics, Highlighters, Makeup, Makeup Revolution, Photography, Photos, Review

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

MONTHLY FAVOURITES

APRIL 2018 FAVOURITES

Hey Everyone,

I feel like I say this every month but where the frick has April gone? This year seems to be going by so fast! I have exams in two weeks so I would give anything for time to go by a little bit slower thank you very much. Either way, it’s time for my monthly favourites post and I have a few bits and pieces to share with you! It seems that most of these are beauty/skincare – probably because since I’ve been staying at home, I’ve been looking after myself a bit better!

L’Oréal – Pure Clay Blemish Rescue Mask*

This mask is AMAZING! I will be doing a separate review on it so I’ll keep this short but I couldn’t not include this in my favourites! It genuinely works AND it smells amazing – what more could you want? I’ve been using this every week and my skin is definitely benefiting from it. It’s been clearer and brighter and that’s exactly what I need right now. I noticed so many people were using these masks and I’m so glad I jumped on the bandwagon even if Dad says I look like a smurf when I have it on! I’ve linked the product via ASOS because any fellow students can get 10% off!

BUY THE MASK HERE

Anatomicals – Bye Bye Miss American Dry – Cherry Body Lotion

I am such a huge fan of Anatomicals and their products – the packaging is always amazing to! I love the bright and contrasting colours and the products always have the best names (I’m a pun lover). I have always loved anything cherry scented and this ticks all the boxes. It’s the nicest thing to put on after my bath and it leaves my skin feelings so soft and moisturised! They don’t seem to have it available on their website but I’ve found it on fragrance direct so I’ve put that link below!

BUY THE BODY LOTION HERE

Anatomicals – Boob Tube – grab your melons shower gel

Speaking of Anatomicals, I have another of their products to share with you! Not only does this smell incredible, it’s also designed to remind us to take 5 minutes to check out our boobs and make sure everything is okay (something I often forget to do) I was actually sent this in a Birchbox last year along with a little leaflet full of information from the charity CoppaFeel (an incredible breast cancer awareness charity). Whilst you’re pampering yourself and lathering up take a few minutes to “grab your melons” as they wonderfully put it and check everything out! I think it says a lot about Anatomicals too, in that they wanted to collaborate with a charity to create a brilliant product! I wish more brands did this.

BUY THE SHOWER GEL HERE

Coconut Lychee Candle

This candle is heavenly! I bought it last year because I spotted it in my local Homesense and I couldn’t leave it behind. The packaging sums my life up too (donuts – 40% of my diet along with a large amount of chicken nuggets) Unfortunately it isn’t branded however this is a scent I always go for when it comes to my bedroom hence why I picked it up anyway! If this is your kind of scent though, I’d recommend having a look because you never know what you will find! If I ever find out the name of this brand I will let you know asap x

Nip + Fab – Bee Sting Fix Lifting Mask*

So I’ve been using a treatment for my skin that tends to dry it out and as someone who is used to having quite oily skin this has been a bit of an issue for me. I use moisturisers but I just can’t find anything that really really works. I remembered that I had this bad boy in my box of face masks and I decided to try it again. The Bee Venom (don’t panic) controls the facial muscles and increases blood circulation which gently plumps your skin (basically a temporary and VERY subtle botox) and it contains AC Moisture Plex which maintains the skin’s natural level of moisture. This has helped SO MUCH and it’s made my skin so much less flaky and dry.

BUY THIS MASK HERE*

Zoella Beauty – Snowella Christmas Range

I have actually written a review of all of these bits and pieces so click here to read that! Either way, I have been OBSESSED with this range recently! I came back home for the Easter Holiday and it meant that I had access to a bath (don’t worry I’ve been showering at uni) and it meant I could finally use all of these lovely products. I’ve been really enjoying having pamper evenings (candles & oils – the full works) and these products have made my baths ten times better. I don’t know what I’m going to do when it runs out because eventually it won’t be available anymore! If you do want to get hold of any of these bits, the good news is you can and Feelunique stocks them (click the link below)

BUY THE SNOWELLA RANGE HERE

READ MY REVIEW HERE

Cath Kidston Meadow Posy Hand Cream

I was sent this in my April Birchbox which was in collaboration with the iconic British brand Cath Kidston! I was so happy to receiving this gorgeous little product, I immediately stashed it away in my handbag and I’ve been using it every singly day. My hands are SO much softer and they smell amazing! If you like fresh and floral scents and you haven’t tried this – you definitely should!

READ MY REVIEW HERE

BUY IT HERE

ModelCo Baked Highlighter – Moonshine

Again, Ive reviewed this HERE so I will keep it short! This highlighter is INCREDIBLE and I never want it to end. I particularly enjoy using baked products because I think they give my cheeks a lovely sheen and I look healthier. It’s the glow you’ve all been waiting for – baked highlighters are where it’s at people. I also love that this highlighter has a blend of some light and dark shades which saves me having to buy lots of separate ones. Unfortunately we got sent a pretty small sample and I may have to purchase the real thing however it’s a tad pricey. I have used some products from ModelCo before and I only have great things to say about them so that may justify paying a bit extra.

READ MY REVIEW HERE

BUY THE HIGHLIGHTER HERE

I know this month was pretty beauty focused but I hope you still enjoyed it! I’ve also been loving photography over the last few weeks and I’ve been working really hard at the photos on my blog so let me know if you think this is paying off (I hope it is anyway). Also let me know if there’s anything that you’ve been loving that you think I should try too as I love to hear your suggestions! Don’t forget to follow me on my social media to keep up with what I’m doing and my latest blog posts – come and say 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, BIRCHBOX, Cosmetics, Favourites, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Zoella, Zoella Beauty

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

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

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

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