Tag: Review

HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT PROM DRESS*

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date May 15, 2018
3 Comments on HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT PROM DRESS*

Hey Guys,

Today I’m going to be talking about something a little different! I recently discovered an amazing website called Prom Dress Finder* which bascially helps you find the prom dress of your dreams in seconds! When I was searching high and low for a prom dress, I was so overwhelmed by the pages and pages of options on different websites. It felt like there was too much to look at and too many websites to visit. With Prom Dress Finder, it’s so much faster and easier to plan your perfect prom night.

*Paid AD

Since creating my blog, I’ve come to understand the importance of a simple layout and easy navigation when it comes to using websites. It’s pretty much the first thing that I look for. Nobody wants to spend ages trying to find exactly what they want and with Prom Dress Finder it’s super easy to find your way around. They have dresses from lots of different brands including Miss Selfridge, Asos and Missguided. You can filter the results in terms of colour and price too which is really helpful for finding exactly what you want. It makes me want to go and do prom again, now that I know how easy and stress-free it can be!

They have cateorgies to help you find exactly what you need and not only do they have dresses, but they also have shoes, accessories, hair styling tips and transport ideas. It’s got it all! I love that they have articles with lots of advice in as sometimes it can be really overwhelming to manage it all on your own! I’m someone that leaves lots of things until last minute and this can be so stressful when it comes to planning events like Prom! It’s so useful to have everything in one place so it makes organising things much easier.

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These are just a few of my favourites from their website – there are lots more! They have every style too and they also stock maternity, plus-sized, tall and petite dresses too so you’re bound to find something that suits YOU. As a girl with big boobs and a tiny body, it can be really hard to find any clothing that addresses this issue! It’s nice to see that they’ve attempted to cater for everyone. Prom is about feeling fabulous and I’m sure that by using this website, you’ll be well on your way!

This post is in collaboration with Prom Dress Finder. Anything marked with an “*” are sponsored links, which means I earn commission through every click, however all opinions are my own! I would love to know where you guys bought your prom dresses from and what you think of this fabulous website! I think it’s such a great idea and it really does take away all of the stress and it lets you enjoy picking your perfect dress! I’ve never seen a website that offers all of these features, so I think it deserves some recognition and also I hope it helps some of you if you’re going to Prom this year. If you do use this website, do let me know how you get on as I’d love to hear from you! Also, for any of you with exams, I wish you the best of luck!

N xxxx

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Tags BEAUTY, blogger, Dress, FASHION, Photography, Photos, Prom, Review, Student, Website

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

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

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

Hey Guys,

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

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

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

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

N xxxx

CHECK OUT THE FAST BASE FOUNDATION STICK HERE*

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

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

BEAUTY

URBAN DECAY NAKED FLUSHED – NOONER REVIEW

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

Hey Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

N xxxx

BUY THE NOONER PALETTE HERE*

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

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

BEAUTY

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

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

Hey Everyone,

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

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

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

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

N xxxx

BUY THE CONCEAL AND DEFINE CONCEALER HERE*

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

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

BEAUTY

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

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

Hey Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get the Bronze & Shimmer duo here

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

N xxxx

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

LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG FEBRUARY 2018: REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date March 20, 2018
3 Comments on PAPERGANG FEBRUARY 2018: REVIEW

Hey guys,

Ohh Deer, a company I have SO much love for, was founded in order to allow illustrators and artists to showcase their work and find people that would be interested in buying their designs. The company sells the most amazing quirky and arty products – I simply can’t get enough. I love the fact that Ohh Deer offers artists the opportunity to get noticed and therefore get something back for all their hard work that otherwise we might not have seen. Some of their clients include Paperchase, ASOS, John Lewis and Oliver Bonas (my all-time favourite shop) and some of their collections have been specifically designed for the Tate Galleries and the Science Museum!

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

Ohh Deer decided to create a monthly subscription service for stationery addicts, such as myself called, Papergang! Each month you will receive a box filled with brilliant papery goodies and desk accessories. Some examples are notebooks, greeting cards, wrapping paper and art prints. It costs £10.95 and then a £2.95 for shipping which in my opinion, after receiving their boxes, is a great deal. Every box has a different design and theme by a different artist and for every 4 boxes, 1 tree is planted in partnership with the fantastic charity, Tree aid. To find out more about their connection with this charity here.

I am a huge stationary addict and this subscription box is probably my favourite out of the many I am a part of. I always look forward to opening my box every month and using all my new bits and pieces! Most of the products you receive are exclusive the Papergang subscribers for a while before they get sold in Ohh Deer’s shop.

This month’s box is all about bullet journalling. If you’re unsure what I mean by this, it’s basically a journal that you can create completely on your own. The idea is that you decide what the pages contain, the layout, the colour scheme, everything is up to you. I started bullet journalling a few years ago and I really enjoy it. If you want a post about my journals do let me know as I will happily do monthly spread posts if you’re interested. This month’s box was designed by Ohh Deer and although it is based on a concept that I love, I absolutely hate the colour. I usually love my Papergang boxes but this one hurts my eyes a bit! I’m all about neon colours in my pencil case and occasionally the odd item of clothing but when I realised neon pink was the theme, I felt a little disappointed. However, when you sign up for a subscription service, you can’t expect every month to be perfect for you – this could be somebody’s dream box!

Now, I do have to say that Papergang work at an odd pace. When you receive one month’s box, you’ll receive a calendar (in advance) for a different month, which can throw you off a bit. I think they do this in order to make sure if your box arrives late, you get a calendar you can still definitely use regardless of when you receive it. However, it’s nice to always have one ready to put on my desk when it’s needed! I like to prop these on a little stand on my desk to add a cute pop of colour to the corner of my room. I like that this calendar has the key/important dates of April as I tend to forget these!

A5 BULLET JOURNAL – RRP £6.95

I actually quite like this even though it’s very pink. I tend to use dotted journals anyway as I find them easier to work with and to keep everything neat and spaced out so I was more than happy to add this to my collection. I will definitely be using it! Unfortunately, I can’t find this exact journal on their website but they do have some other lovely designs so be sure to check them out!

BUY IT HERE

NEON RULER – RRP £2.95

Right I have to say that I just don’t really use rulers. I already have one and I barely use it apart from underlining the occasionally word in my bullet journal or creating margins so I don’t really need another one however it’s cute and I guess I can find a purpose for it. I would have preferred a highlighter or a pen – something I need lots of as I get through them so quickly.

BUY IT HERE

NEON ZIP BAG – RRP £3.95

Again, it’s neon pink so hmmmm but I’m always needing places to store all my scrapbook materials in and all of my bullet journalling supplies so I don’t really mind this one – I know I’ll find a use for it. I also like that it’s pretty big too so I can fit loads in it.

NEON PACK OF 3 PENCILS – RRP £2.95

I wasn’t sure how I would use these at first as they’re pretty crazy colours but actually they double up as highlighters. I will definitely be using these as highlighters as they’re so much thinner than the ones that I use currently so they take up far less room in my pencil case!

BUY IT HERE

1 X STICKERS – RRP £3.95

I am an avid sticker collector. I use them in all of my notebooks, journals and scrapbooks to make the pages more colourful and fun! I was obviously thrilled to discover these stickers as I know I will use them all. I particularly like that there’s little weather symbols and the “To Do” stickers as I reckon I’ll use those in my bullet journal.

BUY IT HERE

GREETING CARD – RRP £2.50

I really love receiving cards in my monthly boxes from Papergang as I like having lots of cards in stock ready to give to people at short notice or for birthdays and events etc. I also happen to know the perfect person to give this card to so I’m excited to get this off into the post! The cards in my Papergang boxes have always been really nice quality and everyone always asks “ooh where did you get this card?!”

So, in conclusion, the box is still of fantastic quality and value for money however I just don’t like neon pink so it just wasn’t for me this month. Even if I haven’t enjoyed some items, it’s still full of lovely bits and pieces and I could even re-gift them if necessary! I still recommend this subscription to all my fellow stationery lovers out there. You’re guaranteed to get nice items regardless of your preferences and I think that says enough about how the company work. I also really like the fact that Ohh Deer are constantly promoting the work of other artists and I think it’s a fantastic platform for those wanting to get noticed! This box values at £23.25 and considering I paid £13.90 (monthly subscription fee and postage) That’s pretty good value.

If you would like to subscribe, my invite is here!

If you want to know any more about Ohh Deer, click here!

N xxxx

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Tags Art, Design, Lifestyle, Neon, Ohhdeer, PAPERGANG, Photography, Pink, Review, Stationery

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX MARCH 2018: BE PRESENT NOT PERFECT – REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

BLAQ – Peel Off Mask – RRP £14

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

BUY THE MASK HERE

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

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

BUY THE MASCARA HERE

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

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

BUY THE DUO HERE

Sebamed – Clear Face Antibacterial Cleansing Foam – RRP £7.99

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

BUY THE CLEANSING FOAM HERE

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

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

BUY THIS BRUSH HERE

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

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

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

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

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

BEAUTY

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

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

Hey you,

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

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

2 x BLENDER SPONGES – £2

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

EYELASH CURLER £1.50

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

2 x TWEEZERS – £1.50

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

MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK & LIP LINER – THRILL SEEKER £3

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

MATTE EYE SHADOW PALETTE – £4

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

METALLIC EYE CREAM – ENCHANTED – £2

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

BODY SHIMMER DUST – £4

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

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

N xxxx

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

BEAUTY

MAKEUP REVOLUTION STROBE HIGHLIGHTER – REVIEW, SWATCHES & PHOTOS

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

Hey you,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

N xxxx

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

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

BEAUTY

URBAN DECAY NAKED ILLUMINATED POWDERS: REVIEW, SWATCHES AND PHOTOS

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

Hey you,

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

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

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

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

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

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

BUY IT HERE!

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

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

BUY IT HERE

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

N xxxx

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

LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG JANUARY 2018: REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date February 16, 2018
No Comments on PAPERGANG JANUARY 2018: REVIEW

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

This month’s artist Jacqueline Colley, brings us adorable doodles of Cadillacs, dinosaurs, cactuses and more in her Palm Springs range. Her use of bright and feminine colours are perhaps influenced by her background in women’s fashion. Jacqueline travelled to Palm Springs in 2016 and was inspired by the architecture and the cacti varieties – you can tell just from glancing at her prints!

Follow Jacqueline –

Insta – @Jacquelinecolley

Website – Jacquelinecolley.co.uk

Every month Papergang provides us with a little monthly calendar card. I absolutely love these as I stick them in a frame and they’re the perfect size for my desk! This month’s calendar features more illustrations from Jacqueline Colley, but with a succulent theme which I LOVE.

1 x A4 Deskpad – £7.95

I absolutely love desk organisers, I find them so helpful! I’m so much more productive when my tasks and notes are all laid out in front of me on something pretty and patterned compared to when I scribble them down on a post-it that is nowhere to be found a day later. These deskpads help me prioritise what tasks I need to complete and when I need to do them – a much needed service to my student self! I also love the doodles section as I am constantly doodling on notebooks and in margins so now I have o excuse to vandalise anything but this little section every week!

1 x Washi Tape – £2.50

I have quite the collection of wash tapes (check out my January Favourites post to see a few!) so I was super happy to find one of these in this month’s box! Jacqueline’s doodles are featured on this tape, including a flamingo pool float, a dinosaur and a variety of cacti! I use washing tape to make my notes stand out, to decorate scrapbook pages and to make my bullet journal pretty!

1 x Pack of Stickers – £3.95

I’ve always loved stickers, as a little girl I used to put them on EVERYTHING. My walls, my drawers and even my bed frame! Now, I’m quite picky with them. However, these are ADORABLE. I absolutely love the warm toned illustrations on these and they make my bullet journal look so pretty and colourful. I’ve found myself using these more than I thought I would too! I’ve received sticker sheets in a few of my Papergang boxes and I’m yet to be disappointed!

1 x Pencil – £5.95

Back at home, we’ve always had those wind-up style pencils and I’ve always thought they looked a bit ugly and mechanical. I mean, they do the job but they don’t look pretty on my desk (haha yes, it’s the small things in life for me, I’m wild aren’t I?). I also tend to write with a finaliser or a black biro, however when I need to sketch, I need to use something that can be erased asap (my skills are next to none when it comes to drawing). I was delighted to find this pretty little pencil in this month’s box (might have something to do with the whole pink and rose gold design…). I also love the phrase engraved on it too! This idea of quirky messages on the sides of pens and pencils seems to be trending and I’m loving it! Last month’s box also had a set of three pens with little messages on too – check out my review here!

1 x Enamel Pin – £5.95

I’ve been meaning to stick some pins on my denim jacket for quite some time now and this made me actually do it. I was so excited when I saw this pin inside my January box, I literally went and stuck it on straight away! I think pins add a sense of identity and quirkiness to your clothes, especially if you want to make something look slightly different and more your own.

There wasn’t a single item in this month’s box that I was unsure about, I love everything. I also adore Jacqueline Colley’s illustrations and I’m more than happy to have them on my desk now! This box values at £21.30 and considering I paid £13.90 (monthly subscription fee and postage) That’s pretty awesome value!

If you would like to subscribe, my invite is here!

If you want to know any more about Ohh Deer, click here!

N xxxx

Tags Art, blog, Design, England, Inspiration, January, Lifestyle, Ohhdeer, PAPERGANG, Photography, Review, Stationery, Subscription

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX FEBRUARY 2018: BEAUTY THROUGH THE DECADES – REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luseta Beauty – Coconut Milk Hair Mask – RRP £26

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

Balance Me – Wonder Eye Cream – RRP £20

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

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

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

LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS PAPERGANG

PAPERGANG DECEMBER 2017: JADE WALSH REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date January 15, 2018
No Comments on PAPERGANG DECEMBER 2017: JADE WALSH REVIEW

WHAT IS PAPERGANG?

This month’s box, created by Jade Walsh, combines two trends; tropical leaves and primary colours. I am LOVING tropical leaves designs at the moment. There’s something relaxing about them and they look good in any room. The main reason that this trend has come about, is due to he famous banana leaf wallpaper by Don Loper, for the Beverly Hills Hotel. Primary colours return every Spring, which makes for a refreshing start to a new year after the darkness of December! I’ve always loved bright and colourful stationery so I was thrilled to discover that this would be a main theme in this month’s Papergang box!

Every month Papergang provides us with a little monthly calendar card. I absolutely love these as I stick them in a frame and they’re the perfect size for my desk every month! The patterns are also so cute too.

1 x 2 Pack A5 Notebooks – £5.95

I love a notebook and I get through at least one a month – especially now that I’m blogging more regularly as I need to plan posts in advance (I try to anyway). The designs on these are so cool – they remind me of painting in school with all of the really bright coloured poster paints. One is plain paged (left) and one has gridded paper – maths book style (right).

3 x Pack of Pens – £7.95

I have an ever-growing collection of biros however I can never seem to find any – can someone tell me where all the biros get to? They’re like hair bands they just seem disappear… I was really excited about these as I am currently lacking black ink pens – somehow a pink highlighter just wouldn’t do for writing revision notes. These pens all look so pretty too which as I’m more likely to take care of them (hopefully they’ll stick around for longer too)

1 x A6 Notepad – £3.95

This might be my favourite item from this month’s box. I constantly need lists and things like this make it so much easier and they also encourage me to be far more organised. The pad consists of 60 pages which allows for a fair bit of list making! It’s a great sized pad for travelling with as it fits perfectly in my bag!

1 x Greeting Card – £2.50

The design is the same as one of the notebooks – a colourful tropical print. I love receiving cards in my Papergang boxes as it means I always have a stock of cards to choose from when needed, I rarely have a last minute panic anymore as these boxes ensure that I’m always prepared!

As usual, this box really impressed me. These products are all really lovely and are of high quality too so I feel like I got my money’s worth for sure. I also love the theme of this month as I definitely need some more colour in my life right now. Let me know what you guys think of these products and whether or not you would enjoy using them!

If you want to grab this month’s box click here.

If you would like to subscribe, my invite is here!

If you want to know any more about Ohh Deer as a company, click here!

N xxxx

Tags 2018, Art, Bullet Journal, Design, England, Inspiration, January, Lifestyle, Ohhdeer, PAPERGANG, Product Review, Review, Shopping, Stationery

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX JANUARY 2018: OHH DEER – REVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marcelle – Waterproof Eyeliner in Charcoal : RRP £10.99

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

Thermaliv – Night Cream : £21

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

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

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

Afterspa – Amazing Makeup Remover : RRP £5.50

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

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

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

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

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

BEAUTY

LUSH: “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” BOX REVIEW

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

Hey you!

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

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

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

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

SHOOT FOR THE STARS BATH BOMB – 200g

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

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

CHRISTMAS EVE BUBBLE BAR – 100g

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

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

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

N xxxx

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