January Beauty Favourites

Friday, January 30, 2015
I can't believe we are already one month into 2015! Now it is time for my January beauty favourites! I haven't published a beauty favourites post for a while however you can check out my November/December favourites on Laura's blog which you can check out, here. I have a lot of favourites this month, from nail polish, brow serum and brushes to shampoo, foundation and cologne. 

Firstly, the makeup! I made a small order on Wilkinsons in December and three of the products I picked up are in my January favourites: the Maybelline Color Drama (Nude Perfection), Maybelline Color Tattoo (Creamy Beige) and the Essence Fixing Powder, the latter has been a favourite for months! 

Another makeup favourite is a re-discovery from 2011/2012, the Tweezerman Brow Mousse which I received in a kit as I am a Tweezerman ambassador; I am so glad I have it in my makeup collection again as it is the best brow gel out there! My final makeup favourite is a new purchase, the Burberry Fresh Glow Foundation (No.11 Porcelain) which has become one of my favourite foundations of all time; it is fantastic for normal/dry skin and leaves my skin looking plumped, radiant and glowing but not greasy.

My favourite makeup brushes this month have been the Crown Brushes SS019 which is an amazing powder brush and the second is the Crown Brushes SS021. Both of which are inexpensive and high quality as well as being cruelty free which is always a plus in my opinion.

I have only been using one nail polish all month and it has been the gorgeous RMK polish in the shade EX20 which is a beige grey shade and I LOVE it. It is very similar to Porchester Square from Nails Inc but it is matte. The longevity isn't great (I need to find a good matte top coat) but it's a lovely polish, not just because of the shade but the brush and the formula of the polish to apply as well. 

Now onto a kind of skincare favourite, the Librow eyebrow enhancing serum, yes, it does sound odd but I've been using it for a couple of months now and I am noticing a massive difference in terms of new hairs growing, sparse patches are being filled in and I don't need to use nearly as much brow powder - the full review will be live at the end of February. 

My penultimate favourite is a shampoo I won last year, the Kerastase Bain Satin 1 Shampoo - it's one of the best shampoos I have ever used. It makes so hair incredibly smooth, soft and manageable as well as less frizzy and so nourished. I cannot say enough good things about this shampoo; I will be buying a bottle when this one runs out. A similar shampoo is the Loreal Everriche and as Kerastate is owned by Loreal, we can assume that the products are going to be similar. 

Lastly, a fragrance favourite, this month it has to be the amazing The Library Of Fragrance Lavender Cologne which I was kindly sent a couple of months ago and I've been using it non-stop. I adore the scent of lavender so this fragrance was always going to be perfect for me! I've even been spraying it near my pillow at night to help me sleep as I find the scent of lavender to be so relaxing! I only have about 30% left, I will definitely be picking up another bottle or if you have any lavender fragrance recommendations please leave them in the comments below. 

What have been your favourite beauty products for January? Have you tried any of the products I've featured? 

Winter OOTD Ft. Newlook

Thursday, January 29, 2015
I have been wearing this outfit and ones similar to it so often recently as it is quite chilly in Manchester. Newlook as well as Primark, have a great range of winter clothing that will last! I love oversized coats (I need a black one!) with jeans, boots and a knitted snood, it is such a cosy outfit that is a staple for me in the colder months. 

Top: Primark
*Jeans: Newlook
Snood: Primark
Coat: Newlook (sale)
Boots: Newlook (old)

I have three pairs of Newlook jeans now, two of which I bought myself recently and I was kindly sent this pair which are the *Newlook Petite Dark Blue Acid Wash Skinny Jeans (£22.99, UK 10) which are stretchy, comfortable and I love the subtle acid wash finish. They are petite but as I'm tiny they are still a bit too long so I roll them up; however because I have to do this they do bunch up at the seams as you can see - this doesn't really happen with the other two pairs of Newlook jeans I have though. They go with a lot of casual outfits but they could also be dressed up with black heels, a white blouse and a statement necklace. 

These photos were taken a few days ago as our garden is now a winter wonderland!

What do you think of my outfit of the day? Have you tried any jeans from Newlook?

Natural World Macadamia Hair Treatment Oil

Wednesday, January 28, 2015
One of the latest products from Natural World is their Macadamia Oil range, this hair oil is already available on Amazon and eBay; however the shampoo, conditioner and the smaller hair oil will be available to buy later this month or early February. 

I have the *Natural World Macadamia Ultra Nourishing Hair Treatment Oil (£6.99, 100ml) which is suitable for dry, damaged hair, which definitely suits my hair type. This hair treatment oil is paraben free and it contains certified organic macadamia nut oil. The oil claims to moisturise and nourish, leaving the hair silky smooth, soft and shiny. 

Firstly, I love the packaging, it is simple and a good size to travel with; also the bottle is plastic which again makes it perfect for travel. The scent is just heavenly, to me it smells nutty and earthy although it definitely has a gorgeous, warm, comforting vanilla scent to it as well which I adore! 

The hair treatment oil applies smoothly and it is nice to apply due to the lovely scent. I have been applying it to the ends and midlenths of my hair. The first time I used it, I applied far too much and my hair looked very greasy although I was washing it out a couple of hours later anyway. I've mainly been using it in the morning and leaving it in my hair all day (while it is tied up in a bun), then washing it out in the evening. 

When as use it as described above, it leaves my hair so smooth, soft nourished and it reduces frizz. It also works well when applied to damp/wet hair to reduce frizz and smooth. Occasionally I have been using it on the ends of my dry hair as a finishing oil to smooth and tame flyaways and it works so well. As with all hair oils, you do have to be careful about the amount you use. 

Overall, this is yet another great hair oil and I have loved using it either as a finishing oil or as a treatment before shampooing. The scent is heavenly and the price is very reasonable as you only need a small amount and it is a good size bottle. Natural World make a range of hair oils such as their Coconut Water Weightless Hair Oil and the Brazilian Keratin Smoothing Therapy Hair Treatment Oil. 


Have you tried this hair oil or any products from Natural World? 

Favourite Bands Of 2014

Tuesday, January 27, 2015
A bit of a different post today, a late 2014 favourites post and this one is all about my favourite bands/artists of 2014. I have a couple of other 2014 favourites posts in draft but my blog schedule has been too busy to post them but I will be publishing my favourite youtubers of 2014 shortly. 

Firstly, Vampire Weekend! I've been loving their music since I discovered them last year (better late than never)! My favourite songs of theirs from 2014 are: Holiday, A-Punk, Diana Young, Horchata and Giving Up The Gun - the latter isn't  just because Jake Gyllenhaal is in their music video...A-Punk was the first song I listened to and I instantly fell in love! I not only love their unique songs but their music videos are pretty unusual too. 

Now before I go into this band, I have to say I did discover them while watching my guilty pleasure...Eurovision *hangs head in shame*. Eurovision is a kind of enthralling circus of euro-pop, strange costumes and optimism even though the UK always comes last. However on occasion an amazing band emerges such as SoftEngine, their music sounds so familiar I feel as though I've been listening to them for years. Something Better is definitely my favourite song! 

Lastly, my favourite band of last year: Catfish And The Bottlemen. I found out about them three/four months ago and I have literally been playing their album, The Balcony, constantly (no exaggeration). Fallout, Cocoon and Kathleen are my favourite songs. I usually don't buy full albums but after listening to two of their songs, I bought the full album from iTunes. Definitely check them out! 

A couple of honourable mentions have to go to: Fall Out Boy and Tenacious D. I would love to see these bands live! The O2 have a lot of events and shows coming up including: The Kaiser Chiefs (another one of my favourite bands), Paloma Faith and The Script tickets

What were your favourite bands/artists of 2014? 

*This is a sponsored post*

An Introduction to Tweezerman

Sunday, January 25, 2015
Bloggers and Youtubers can apply to become a Tweezerman Ambassador and I was accepted! Tweezerman is a brand that I haven't tried a lot from but the couple of products I have tried, I have loved such as my two pairs of mini Tweezerman tweezers as well as the Tweezerman Brow Mousse which I raved about on my blog back in 2012 (here). 

Tweezerman has won numerous awards over the years and I can definitely recommend their products. This post is all about the wonderful kit I received featuring Tweezerman nail and brow products. Honesty as always, I have loved their products before I started my blog - click here to read my disclaimer.

The wrap kit contains: Nail Buffer, Nail Files, Cuticle Pusher, Nail Scissors, Combo Nail Clipper Set, Spoolie, Brow Mousse, Grip & Snip Cuticle Nipper, Pro Curl Lash Curler, Tweezers, Point Tweezers and a Folding Lash Comb. I was so excited when this beauty landed on my doorstep!
Firstly, I need to rave about my favourite brow gel ever, the *Tweezerman Brow Mousse (£11) which I first started using in 2011 and the one tube lasted well into 2012. The brow gel holds my brows so well but it doesn't look odd or crunchy on my brows. 

I have also tried their tweezers before (I have a ladybug print pair and a lilac pair) but I haven't tried their full size tweezers until now. The tweezers are so durable, effective and they will last for years. After using my Tweezerman tweezers, I cannot use my other basic tweezers as they just aren't as effective!

I love nail buffers/4 way nail files as they are so handy, they have all the steps you need to keep on top of your nail care with one simple product. The *Tweezerman Buff and Shine is a fantastic product, it's better than the cheaper ones I have tried and so handy  to keep in my bag or my desk. The single files are also great, they come with protective cases which I think is a great idea. 

The *Tweezerman Grip & Snip Spiral Spring Cuticle Nipper (£30) is possibly one of the most futuristic and scary beauty tools I have ever seen! I haven't done anything to my cuticles but after trying this I am glad I did even though it slightly scares me using it; although my nails/cuticles have never looked so neat. This cuticle nipper has won one of the Instil Best Beauty Buys awards for 2015!

The *Tweezerman Combo Clipper Set (£13) is also fantastic, effective and they feel heavy and very durable; as do the *Tweezerman Brow Shaping Scissors. The last product I'm going to talk about is the *Tweezerman ProCurl Lash Curler (£20.95) which I actually prefer to my Shu Uemura Lash Curler as it feels easier to hold and it fits my almond eye shape better. 

Overall, I am so impressed with the items I have tried; I already loved the brow mousse and tweezers and I had no idea that they made such a large range of nail and brow products as well as pedicure and skincare tools. Tweezerman also have a range of mens products and a pretty amazing looking range of makeup brushes!


Have you tried any products from Tweezerman? If you haven't what products would you like to try?

Roots + Rituals Conditioner and Hair Oil

Saturday, January 24, 2015
The photo shows the products after two uses 
Roots and Rituals kindly sent me a couple of their products to try and I have been testing them for almost two weeks now. The brand focuses on natural, nourishing ingredients unlike most haircare brands on the market which fill their products with hundreds of ingredients. Roots and Rituals products are paraben, silicone and fragrance free but they do contain lovely coconut, olive and avocado oils which nourish, help to repair and encourage healthy hair growth. 

I have the *Roots & Rituals Intense Nourishing Conditioner (£7.49, 100ml, including postage and packaging). Firstly, I love the packaging and bottle design, it is so unique and it looks great in my bathroom. I also love the scent, since using Moroccan Oil products I cannot get enough of the scent of hair oils! The conditioner smells so nice; someone needs to make a perfume from this product and others like it. The conditioner applies nicely and it almost instantly detangles my midlength, thick hair which is pretty amazing as my hair can become very tangled and few conditioners can deal with it! The conditioner helps to tackle frizz and it makes my hair so much smoother and more manageable; the lovely scent stays in my hair for a while too. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Now onto the hair oil, I only started using hair oils and oil treatments late last year and I fell in love with most that I have tried; however this one is a bit different as you apply it to dry hair and then you wash it out rather than leaving it in. The *Roots & Rituals Deep Conditioning Hair Oil (£18, 100ml, full size) smells almost as divine as the conditioner but not quite. I like the design of the packaging/bottle although I wish it came with a dropper or pump dispenser. I apply the oil onto my dry hair and then wrap my hair in a warm towel for half an hour then rinsed it out. 

I find it does really smooth my hair and reduce frizz to a minimum which is fantastic. It also leaves my hair feeling silky, soft and nourished; however the first time I used it, I used too much oil and even after washing my hair felt quite greasy so a little goes a long way with this hair oil. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Overall, I am very impressed with both products, especially the conditioner - I cannot get enough of the conditioner! I love the packaging design, natural ingredients such as argan oil, rosemary oil and basil oil. 

Have you tried anything from Roots & Rituals

Crown Brushes Syntho Range

Wednesday, January 21, 2015
I am always surprised when my friends say they don't have any makeup brushes, even though they wear makeup often, although I have to remember that not everyone is a beauty blogger and as obsessed with makeup as the beauty community is! Makeup brushes are essential in my collection and makeup routine; I have tried brushes from Ecotools, Spectrum Brushes, Illamasqua, MAC, Real Techniques and cheaper, less well know brands but I haven't been as impressed with makeup brushes on first impressions as I have with these from Crown Brushes.

I was very kindly sent a range of brushes from the Crown Brushes Syntho range which features all synthetic brushes which as a vegetarian is an important point when I am buying and using brushes. I have six brushes to share my thoughts on; honesty as always, click here to check out my personal disclaimer. 

Firstly, the *Deluxe Powder Dome Brush (SS019, £15.99) which I have been using everyday since I received it for my translucent setting powders and mattifying powders. The brush is fantastic for powder as it doesn't cake on the product and it buffs on mineral foundation for seamless light coverage. 

The second face brush is the *Deluxe Flat Bronzer Brush (SS014, £16.99) which I first used for foundation as it looks like a flat top kabuki brush and it is great for foundation however the bristles seem to soak up some of the liquid foundation. I have also used it as it was intended, for bronzer, and it works well. At first I thought the brush would be too big for bronzer but it is a great size and it blends powder products effortlessly. 

Now onto the eyeshadow and liner brushes, I have been using the *Blending Fluffy Brush (SS021, £4.99) the most as it is a fantastic, multi-use brush. I've been using to apply as wash of shadow to the eyes, to blend or to apply my brow bone highlight. I also think it would be great for concealer. As the brush is flat it applies shadow well without fallout but it is also fluffy so it can blend the edges quickly and easily; for the price and quality it is a bargain.

Next up, the *Precision Crease Brush (SS020, £3.99) which I haven't been using a lot to apply shadows to the crease as I don't really create a lot of cut crease or smoky looks but I have been using it to apply my inner corner highlight and to blend shadows along the upper and lower lash lines. As it is tapered it can get into small areas but it is also soft and doesn't really drag the skin. 

Another makeup brush staple is the *Deluxe Oval Shadow Brush (SS011, £3.59) which again is a fantastic multi-use brush. It is great for applying shadow all over the lid, especially darker shades as it is flat and fairly dense so it really packs on the colour. Such a fantastic price for a useful little brush.

Last but not least, the *Deluxe Eyeliner Brush (SS008, £2.29) which I have only used with my Clinique Gel Liner so far but it applied the creamy liner so well. The bristles are so fine, I can get such a thin precise wing with this brush; it has definitely started my obsession again with gel liner. To see the results with the brush, check out my instagram: heathernixon4

Overall, I love these brushes, I've been using them constantly since I received them earlier this month. The price are so reasonable, in my opinion, especially considering the fantastic quality. My favourite brushes are definitely the SS021, SS008 and the SS019 brushes. I have only spot cleaned them but so far so good!

Have you tried any Crown Brushes or their makeup/accessories?

Valentines Day Gifts For All Budgets

Monday, January 19, 2015
L'Occitane Provencal Treats (£14.99, TG Hughes)  ♥︎  Gingerlily Beauty Box Silk Pillowcase (£39)  ♥︎  The Library Fragrances Apple Blossom Cologne (£15)  ♥︎  Sewlomax Pink Luscious Lips Pouch (£12.50)  ♥︎  Linea Twin Hearts Wine Glasses (£26.60)  ♥︎  Happily Ever After Plaque (£2.25, Sass & Belle)  ♥︎  Jasper Jewellery Swarovski Crystal Floral Silver Bangle (£20)  ♥︎  Morlands Sheepskin Bea Slippers (£39)  ♥︎  Boux Avenue Gift Card (£10 - £250)  ♥︎  Linea Slate Heart Cake Stand (£21)  ♥︎  Rose & Co Beauty Salve Collection (£10)  ♥︎  Country Candle Company Bitter Vanilla Candle (£6.50)

Also Boux Avenue have a gorgeous Valentines day range including lingerie, stockings, kimonos and accessories, click here, to check out the exclusive valentines day collection!

Jamie Oliver Dead Handsome Mug (£8.99)  ♥︎  Lomography Fisheye2 Camera (£69)  ♥︎  Bluebeards Revenge 'Privateer Collection' Gift Set (£109)   ♥︎  Debenhams Treacle Froome Leather Tablet Satchel (£87.20)   ♥︎  Yves Rocher Ambre Noir EDT (£16)  ♥︎  Bulldog Skincare Kit For Men (£11.25)  ♥︎  Morlands Sheepskin Mens Gloves (£49)  ♥︎  Personalised Whisky Glass (£19.99)  ♥︎  John Lewis Hat and Scarf Gift Set (£18)   ♥︎  Tabasco Spicy Chocolate (£3.99)  ♥︎ Dirty Food Book (£16.99)  ♥︎ Oris Mens Big Crown Original Pointer Date Watch (£360)

There are my valentines day gift picks for men and women with prices as low as £2.25 and as luxe as £250 so there is something for everyone. These gifts would also make fantastic birthday presents, in my opinion. 

What do you think of the items I have picked? Will you be buying valentines day gifts? 

My Little Energy Box (Jan 2015)

Saturday, January 17, 2015
My Little Box is the one beauty/lifestyle subscription box that I am subscribed too and the previous box I received was fantastic so I couldn't wait to see what this new years box had instore! The theme is new year, new you and energy. Here are the items in the box and my thoughts:

Firstly, the magazine and little print that come in the box every time are quite cute and useful - I will definitely be reading the magazine later today. There is also a 2015 calendar which is also cute but I don't really have anywhere to hang it. The final lifestyle item is a sports bag which says 'good energy is contagious' on it. It is a good sized bag, it has a inner pocket and it would be good for taking to the gym however I don't really know what I would use it for; I might use it for empties. I am a bit disappointed with the lifestyle items in this box, they are personally not very useful or exciting to me.

Now to the beauty, the first item is a gorgeous Nails Inc polish in the shade 'Tate' (10ml) which I don't have and I will be painting my nails with this shade very soon! Next up is an item from the My Little Box's own beauty range - the Energising Face & Body Mist which has a slight floral/chamomile scent, in my opinion and the spray is very fine so it will be fantastic as a facial spray. I will be re-using this bottle. Lastly, the Talika Paris Photo-Hydra Day (30ml) from a brand that I haven't heard of but it claims to be a deep facial moisturising cream so I can't wait to give it a go, hopefully it won't irritate my skin. 

Overall, I love the presentation and design of this box, as the previous one it is very pinterest worthy and I am very happy with the magazine and all three beauty products; I'm excited to try them out. However, I am quite disappointed with the lifestyle items as I won't really use them and in my opinion they are boring additions to the box - I definitely would have preferred other items! I am going to stay subscribed because I think the valentines box next month will be great. Overall rating:  ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

Are you subscribed to My Little Box? What do you think of the items in this months box?

Passion For Natural Aloe Vera Range

Friday, January 16, 2015
Passion For Natural is a body and skincare brand which uses the best ethical and environmentally friendly ingredients to provide effective and beneficial products. The range is focused around 100% organic Aloe Vera and its soothing, hydrating and repairing qualities. All products are made in the UK and are SLS and Paraben free.

I was kindly sent four products from the range including their body butter, lip butter, moisturising mist and aloe vera lotion. Firstly, I like the packaging, it is simple and sleek but handy and practical, especially for the moisturising mist and the body butter. 

Firstly, the *Passion For Natural Aloe Vera Moisturising Mist (£7.95, 200ml) which was one of the products that first intrigued me as I haven't seen anything like this before. I thought it would be a lotion in a spray bottle but its a runny, watery mist almost like a facial water spray but for the body. I love the spray mist, it is so fine and even when sprayed onto the skin and the aloe vera mist is surprisingly very hydrating but light and so refreshing. I have been using it in the morning as it hydrates but I can put my clothes on almost straight away. I would liken this product to the Vaseline spray and go lotions I have but this one contains more natural ingredients and it is so refreshing and light on the skin. I think this mist would be fantastic as an after gym/exercise hydrator or if you have very little time but you still want hydration and don't want to use a body butter or lotion. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Next up, another favourite product of mine, the *Passion For Natural Body Butter (£8.95, 250ml) which comes in a regular tub but unlike most body butters it doesn't have a screw top lid, it has a hinged/flap lid; I love the packaging of this product, it is so handy - all body butters need to be packaged like this! The scent of this body butter is the same as the other products, it smells very fresh, light and clean. The body butter feels almost like a combination of a body butter and a balm, it is nourishing and moisturising and it doesn't take ages to absorb. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

If you have been following my blog for a while you may know that I am a bit of a lip balm addict, I have well over 20 lip balms in my collection...the *Passion For Natural Aloe Lip Butter (£4.95) has definitely made its way into my daily routine very quickly. I have been keeping it at my desk and it is such as quick, easy and moisturising lap balm without being very glossy, heavy or sticky. It's great in my opinion although I wish it came in stick form rather than a tub and it isn't the most hydrating lip balm in my collection. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Lastly, the *Passion For Naturals Aloe Vera Lotion (£6.99, 200ml) which if I am honest, I haven't been using as much as the other products but it is a really nice, light weight but moisturising body lotion which I think will be perfect for those who do not like heavy body butters or those who don't really need/want to use rich body butters/lotions. Again, as with the aloe vera mist I think this would be fantastic as an after-exercise product. This product along with the aloe vera gel are available on the Boots website. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Overall, I am very pleasantly surprised by the packaging, quality and effectiveness of these products - they all work so well and the price point is great. None of the products are greasy, heavy or irritating in any way on my dry/sensitive skin. Passion For Natural should definitely bring out a hand cream! I would definitely recommend these product for men or women as I think the packaging and design is very unisex. 

If you need more information on your skin type, the best skincare routine for you and the skincare staples you need, check out this amazing article all about finding the best skincare routine

Have you tried any of these products? 

Design Your Own Makeup Bag With Sewlomax

Thursday, January 15, 2015
As some of you may know, I'm an ambassador for Sewlomax! I have a few reviews of their products on my blog, including the *Sewlomax Cream Lipstick Print Pouch (here) and the *Sewlomax Lipstick Pop (here), both of which I genuinely love and use often. When I was offered the opportunity to use the new Sewlomax service/app to design my own makeup bag, I jumped at the chance!

For the app/tab on the website to work you need to have Google Chrome, which I didn't as I always use safari so I had to download it. There are three bag style options available, I picked the *box shape. The bag prices are all the same - £30. You can then choose the bag colours, I chose all grey as one of my favourite makeup bags from Sewlomax is the grey lipstick print pouch which I love. 

You can then add on the images to the bag such as makeup, hearts, stars, perfume bottles and holiday themed items. Rotating, resizing and changing the colour of the images to quick and easy. I chose the makeup images as I am a beauty blogger and I wanted my bag to be beauty blogger themed. The collage above shows the design process and some of the other designs I came up with. You can lay one image over the other so it creates a shadow/3D effect which is what I did with mine. There is a good choice of thread colour as well as images although hopefully with time they will bring out more images and thread colours as well as fonts, if possible.
The design process was easy, simple to follow and fun too, I could have spent more time experimenting with different designs, colours and styles! Here is the final design, I love it! I love the red and white threads overlapping on the lipstick image and I think all of the images look fantastic. I would recommend not making the images too small as they might not look as good as larger images. 

The bag size is perfect as is the shape, it will fit a lot of makeup and toiletries in - I will definitely be taking this bag on holiday with me this year. The bag is made to a high standard, it is soft and padded and it is perfect for a beauty obsessed blogger like me! 

Overall, I think these personalised bags would make amazing presents as they can be made however you want, with numerous images, text and colours. I personally love the box shape bag as it is so spacious and I am very happy with the end result. As each bag is hand embroidered and personalised, the manufacturing time is longer than the other bags - approximately 2-3 weeks. 

Have you bought anything from Sewlomax? What do you think of this design your own makeup bag app/service?

New + Upcoming Beauty Launches #1

Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Images from Google
I have wanted to start this new series on my blog for a while but I always have so many blog posts to publish but this year I wanted to make my blog more informative and current. Therefore I am starting this series whereby I will show the new beauty products on the market or products/collections that are launching soon. 

1. Smashbox Step By Step Contour Trio (already released in the US, I'm not sure if/when they will be released in the uk)  |  2. Makeup Revolution Radiant Lights Palette (£8)  |  3. Guerlain SS15 Collection - Les Tendres  Palettes & Météorites Compact Powder |  4. Lancome French Innocence Spring Collection  |  5. Gosh Hydrating Primer (£13.99, releases Jan 21st)  |  6. Clarins Garden Escape Collection (available now)

There are so many releases coming up, it is so exciting and Make Up Forever is going to be sold in Debenhams stores and online within the next few weeks! Also the Too Faced Semi Sweet Chocolate Bar Palette will be released on the 1st Feb which I am going to buy as soon as I find it!

What new releases are you saving for? Which SS15 collections do you want?

Review: Glo + Ray Cosmetics

Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Glo + Ray is a makeup brand that I have seen quite a lot of in the past couple of months in the blogosphere. Created in 2012, the moto of the brand is 'Colour your Shine! which echoes the wishes of all women who long for lasting beauty and enabling them to display their unique self.'

I was allowed to pick a couple of items to try and I picked one face powder and a gorgeous lipstick. I have the *Glo + Ray Velvet Two Way Cake Powder Foundation (£19, N00) which is the lightest shade I believe and it is a great match for my pale skin. Firstly, the packaging, it looks so sleek and expensive but its also very handy and practical. Don't be put off by the name of this product, as it isn't caky or heavy in my opinion. The powder foundation looks and feels light on my dry/sensitive skin. It does mattify but without leaving the skin looking dull or flat. 

The first time I used the powder foundation, I didn't know what to expect as I haven't used very many powder foundations but I used it directly onto my skin (without primer and with only a small amount of moisturiser) and I was so surprised that it didn't really cling to dryness - it did on one spot but I am so impressed. It controls the small amount of oil on my t-zone but it doesn't look flat or dull. I use a fluffy powder brush to apply it, rather than the sponge included, and it gives me light coverage which is perfect for  me. The powder isn't very noticeable on the skin at all, unless you really pack it on and it wears well throughout the day. I don't know yet how well this product will look when my skin is very dry but so far so good. Don't be put off by the name of this product! Overall, I'm very pleasantly surprised and so impressed: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Next up is the *Glo + Ray La Amo Shimmer Lipstick (£12, Honey 647). Again as with the powder, the packaging is so sleek and luxe! The lipstick is a gorgeous fresh rose shade which is a perfect everyday shade; I'm not sure why it's named 'honey' as in my opinion there are no honey tones in this shade.  The shimmer isn't very noticeable which is great, it just gives the lipstick a slight radiance. The lipstick applies so smoothly, it is very creamy but it feels light and comfortable on the lips. The lipstick can cling to very dry areas although on the whole it's fantastic and wears well throughout the day - even through drinking. I am very impressed with the longevity of this lipstick! Rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I am so happy with both products; I'm very impressed with the quality, design and wear of both the powder foundation and lipstick. Also I've been using the powder on top of my foundations to set them and to add a little extra coverage. I definitely want to try more from Glo + Ray, here is my wish list:



Have you tried any makeup from Glo + Ray?

My Current Pamper Products Ft. Yves Rocher

Friday, January 09, 2015
During the colder months I feel as though pampering sessions are more luxurious and needed due to the horrible weather and central heating which can play havoc with my skin. At least once a week I like to have a complete, but quick and easy, pamper evening. One of my favourite brands of 2014 is Yves Rocher and I was kindly sent a pamper package of treats from Baobella to test out!

Baobella Boutique is an online beauty website stocking brands such as Nuxe, Rapid Lash, Real Techniques, Clarins, Peter Thomas Roth and other brands such as French and Asian brands which are not as assessable in the UK such as Shiseido, Etude House, Holika Holika, Dolly Wink and of course Yves Rocher. 

I will start with my favourite product from the set I was sent, the *Yves Rocher Organic Oats Silky Cream (£13.50, 200ml) which comes in an adorable kilner type tub. The scent of this body lotion is so relaxing, soothing and comforting although it is quite a floral, fresh scent as well. It applies so smoothly to the skin leaving my skin so incredibly soft, smooth and perfectly moisturised. I love to use this in the evenings especially after using a body scrub as it feels so nourishing and I'm convinced that the relaxing, comforting scent has been helping me sleep - which is no mean feat as I have so much trouble trying to sleep! I can even smell the product on my hands even after washing them numerous times; I would definitely recommend this product!

Next up in the pamper product line up is the *Yves Rocher Organic Lavender Anti-Fatigue Iced Gel (£5, 50ml) which smells like what I imagine lavender toothpaste to smell like - minty but floral! I've been using this on my feet which I have to admit do get neglected in my pamper routine. The gel feels so refreshing, cooling and soothing when applied and it absorbs very quickly so you can put your cosy bed socks on almost straight afterwards. 

My hands suffer the most at this time of the year, firstly as my skin type is quite dry and I have eczema but also because of my refusal to wear gloves - I hate gloves! So an intense hand cream is a daily essential for me as well as a pamper product. The *Yves Rocher Long Lasting Moisturising Hand Cream (£1.50, 30ml, available in numerous sizes) is a great little hand cream and I have tried a lot! As with all Yves Rocher products, it smells gorgeous, so floral, light and fresh without being heavy or something you would find in your grandmas handbag. It applies smoothly and quickly and it absorbs fairly quickly too which is one of the main things I look for in a hand cream. Also it doesn't irritate the eczema on my hand, however everyones skin is different. 

Last but not least to finish off the pampering is the *Yves Rocher Coconut Fizzy Bath Cube (£1.50, 15g) which I actually used in a homemade foot bath. It smells really nice although coconut isn't a favourite scent of mine. It is a nice little bath fizzed but I personally prefer Lush or Bomb Cosmetics bath fizzers/bombs but if you are not a fan of them then you should definitely check out the Yves Rocher bath cubes - there are quite a few scents to choose from. 

Overall, I am very happy with the products I received and my pamper routine is now vastly improved which my skin has definitely thanked me for. My favourite product has to be the organic oats silky cream which I will definitely have to purchase when this massive tub runs out! Also definitely check out Baobella, they stock quite a few brands that are quite hard to find in the UK; I definitely want to try some makeup from the Asian beauty brands stocked on their online boutique. 

Have you tried any products from Yves Rocher or Baobella? What are your pamper night essentials?

Collective Haul: December + January Sales #1

Thursday, January 08, 2015
I do like to treat myself and purchase some goodies every so often...ok, quite often but one time of the time when I do not feel at all guilty about spending money is during the boxing day and January sales as they do only happen once a year and the deals are usually pretty amazing. I have picked up quite a few things in the sales online from Asos, Matalan, Boots and The Works which will be shown in this post although there will be one/two more sale haul posts. 

Asos: Firstly, one of my favourite sale buys. I bought this gorgeous Petite Aran Red Jumper (was £28, now £12) in the Asos petite sale (I love the Asos petite range, it is fantastic!). I have the cream version too but I purchased when it was full price a month or two ago. The jumper is incredibly soft, thick and cosy, I LOVE it!

Boots: The Boots sale was a bit of a miss for me this year, some of the items I wanted were not on sale and even though I starting shopping the sale online before 9am on christmas eve I think it was, there were some items already sold out. I did manage to pick up the gorgeously packaged Ted Baker Beau Box which was £5 in the sale. I also picked up a Yankee Candle in Soft Blanket which was reduced to £4.20 and it smells cosy and clean. Champneys make great gifts and I pick up a nice duo for my dad which again was £5. Lastly, the cute Starbucks Hot Chocolate Trio for my sister, again £5. 

The Works: I love the sales at The Works, there are always amazing bargains and I did find some fantastic books/gifts. My ultimate sale buy was the Mock The Week Book which was reduced from £14.99 to....99p! Some of my friends and family are avid bakers so I bought a cupcake recipe book and icing nozzles set for one of them and it was around £2.99. Another amazing buy is the Gordon Ramsey Ultimate Cookery Course Book which is priced at £25 but I think I paid less than £5 for it! My last book buy is another one for my sisters birthday, it is a book all about cakes that you can make in mugs! I didn't expect it to be a hardcover book and I'm so impressed with it and again it was around £1.99 or £2.99. 

Matalan: When it comes to my go-to shops, Matalan isn't top of my list but their sales are always fantastic. Myself and my sister made a joint order and I bought a cute pair of polar bear socks and some cooking utensils all of which were only £1 each. But my exciting purchase (well, it's exciting if you are a granny like me and adore homeware) which is a copper/brass glass box container which was only £3 and it was originally £8. It looks so much more expensive than it is. I've been using it to store my current makeup favourites. 

I will have a small clothing haul come soon as well as another Boots order and a mini Wilkinsons order. Have you bought anything in the sales? If so what bargains did you pick up?

Lush Valentines Day 2015 + Bubble Bath Day

Thursday, January 08, 2015
Images from Google
Today is Bubble Bath Day...yes, it's a thing! Also today the Lush valentines day collection is apparently being released but I have also heard that it could be released online tomorrow. I love the Lush seasonal ranges, I actually didn't pick anything up in the Lush christmas sales so I may have to treat myself to some of these products!

The valentines day collection features: lip gloss, lip scrub, bubble bars, shower gel and bath bombs as well as gift sets. The whole range looks so adorable and sugary sweet. 

What do you think of this sneak peek of the Lush Valentines Day Collection? Will you be picking up anything?

Review: Elemis Quiet Mind Elixir + Balm

Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Months ago I asked on Twitter for sleep/relaxing product recomendations and Elemis gave me a couple of product recommendations and they very kindly sent me two products from the Elemis Quiet Mind range! I completely forgot about this post but I have been using these products on and off (sparing) for ages now, here are my thoughts!

*Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm - Soothing Pulse Point Gel (15ml, £17): This was the product I was most excited to try, I haven't used anything like this before; also I haven't used anything from Elemis until now. Firstly, the packaging for both products is just gorgeous, it looks so simple but luxe and expensive! The temple balm comes in a small 15ml bottle (full size) with a pump dispenser. It says 'temple balm' and 'pulse point gel' - it is a gel, not a balm. The scent is heavenly, it smells like musky lavender with hints of vanilla and oats/malt; it may not contain these ingredients but that is what it smells like to me! I think it does really help me relax and drift off quicker and easier. I apply a small pump of the gel onto my finger tips then apply a dot to my temples, ear lobes and neck then gentle massage in but mostly onto my neck. It doesn't leave any greasy residue. Overall, I am very impressed! ★★★★★, 5/5!

Secondly, the *Elemis Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir (300ml, £22 - I have the 100ml travel size): I have noticed a few sites selling two bottles of the full size for the price of one. The scent is just gorgeous, it smells very similar to the temple balm pulse point gel - a mix of lavender and malt, to me. I don't think I have used a bath elixir before so I didn't know whether it would lather up or not, it turns out that it doesn't really. There were a few bubbles but hardly any, however the scent was still quite strong and it was very relaxing - great for relieving muscle tension and stress. You only need a small amount each time and overall it is a lovely product to use. If I was being picky I would want the scent to be a bit stronger as the scent is so gorgeous. ★★★★★, 5/5!


Have you tried any products from this range? What are your top tips for relaxation?