Primark PS Love Lip Products

I'll admit it, I can be a bit of a snob when it comes to makeup. I don't necessarily dislike drugstore products but when it comes down to it I always tend to opt for high end makeup brands. As you can imagine this has quite an impact on my bank balance so last time on my last trip to primark, I decided to have a little mooch around their beauty stands. I picked up two of the 3D Shine lipglosses and one liquid lipstick. The shades are all pretty similar (well done Ashlie) but at £2 a pop thats not really a problem. 

3D Shine Lipgloss

L to R | PS Love 3D Shine Lipglosses 43 & 35

I am so impressed with these lipglosses. They formula is very pigmented meaning they can be worn alone & they would also look fab layered over a lipstick. 43 is a beautiful coraly pink with a subtle silver shimmer. It gives a lovely light wash of colour over the lips and makes them look  glossy and plump. 35 is a bright fuschia pink that is packed with glitter. Once its applied the glitter isnt detectable,it just amps up the shine making the lips look super wet and glossy. 

Liquid Lipstick

PS Love Liquid Lipstick 08

I initially bought this thinking it would be a matte bubble gum pink, but the colour looks darker once its on the lips and is quite berry toned. As you can see from the swatch it still has a glossy finish which is more subtle than the lipglosses, but still helps to make the lips look plump. Once again the pigmentation is amazing and not what you would expect from a £2 product. 

I have to say i'm pretty impressed by these products. The packaging is well made and sturdy, I was worried that as they are so inexpensive, the packaging would be flimsy and leak easily but this isn't the case at all. I love the sleek tube, gold & black handle/lid and simple logo. They aren't the most long wearing of lip products, for me this isnt a problem but if your a no touch ups kinda gal this may not be the product for you. The only thing I'm not too keen on is the scent. The smell is very artificial and sweet which is a bit sickly but it wears away after a while. Both of these products have a brush applicator and the formula is quite thick and sticky, again this isn't something that bothers me, but some people might find them uncomfortable to wear. Im looking forward to trying more from from the PS Love line, What are your favourites?

Catch up soon.

With Love ... A x

♥

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze

Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturizer | £5.99

As a self proclaimed "avid fake tanner" you would think I'd enjoy a prolonged tanning sesh using a "proper" mouse or lotion but in actual fact, I loathe it! Keen to find something that would eliminate the lengthy tanning process I took myself off to boots and came across the Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturizer. 

I Apply the lotion after showering and exfoliating the same way I would with any other body lotion, but paying extra attention to areas where the "tan" can cling, like my knees and elbows. Once I have finished I wash my hands and using plastic gloves I apply a small amount to each hand, keeping my palms free of any product. I was rather skeptical at first as there is only one colour option, but even after one layer, my skin had more of a glow than usual. To develop a darker tone I find applying it every night for 2/3 nights results in a deep olive tan. 

The lotion its self feels thick & luxurious but sinks into the skin quickly so there is no need to faff around waiting for it to dry. Along with cocoa butter, the lotion is packed with vitamin E so the skin is left feeling super soft and hydrated. The smell is also a bonus, although there is still a hint of the usual fake tan odour, the tell tale cocoa butter-chocolaty-scent makes it slightly more bearable. I haven't noticed the colour transfering on any of my clothes but my white bed sheets do have a slight orange tinge the morning after I apply it. 

I can honestly say this body lotion is my new best friend and has quickly replaced all my other tanning products. 

Catch up soon.

With love ... A x
♥

Everyday Neutrals | MAC Cinderella Stroke Of Midnight palette

Face

• Primer - Seventeen Glow & Prime
• Foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear | 1N2 Ecru
• Concealer - MAC Pro Longwear | NC15
• Setting Powder - MAC Pro Shaping Powder | Emphasize
• Bronzer - MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural | Medium Deep
• Contour - Benefit Hoola
• Blush - MAC Mineralize Blush | Warm Soul
• Highlight - MAC Mineralize Skinfinish | Soft & Gentle
• Setting Spray - Urban Decay All Nighter

Eyes

• Primer - MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot | Painterly
• Lid - MAC | Phloof
• Transition - MAC | Quarry 
• Crease/Outer Corner - MAC | Satin Taupe & Stroke Of Midnight
• Inner Corner - MAC MSF | Soft & Gentle
• Brow Bone Highlight - MAC | Vapour
• Winged Liner - Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner | Black
• Water Line - Barry M Kohl Pencil | White
• Lashes - Eyelure Individual
• Mascara - Max Factor Master Piece Transform | Black
• Brows - MAC Fluidline | Dipdown

Lips

• Liner - Barry M Lip Liner | 115
• Lipstick - YSL Rouge Volupte | N1 Nude Beige

All of these products can be found on Boots.com or Maccosmetics.co.uk 

*Please note - MAC Cinderella Collection is now sold out online*

Catch up soon.

With love ... A x

♥

Spring Fashion Wishlist

Spring is upon us, I say that loosely seeing as its still wet and cold in the UK but it is the end of March, so to me its spring! I have started getting quite sick and tired of all the winter pieces in my wardrobe and with payday looming, I have been browsing through some websites seeing what I can snap up to give my wardrobe a much needed revamp. As you will see I am massively into plain white "basics" and stripes, it may be boring and repetitive to some but I love the simplicity it.

ASOS

 

                    £16

£22

 

£40

                   

 £30    

ZARA

   

£9.99

                         

£49.99

          

£39.99 

 

£49.99

RIVER ISLAND

£20

£25

£38

£24

TOPSHOP

£22

£36

Let me know in the comments what you are lusting after this spring.

Catch up soon.

With love ... A x

♥

GLOSSYBOX | March 2015

Its normally around this time of the month when I'm edging closer towards payday and I'm fighting the urge to shop, when a little pink box of goodness is plonked onto my doorstep and all is right with the world again. Nothing excites me more than the postman delivering my monthly Glossybox. Having said that, I have been feeling a tad disappointed with the past few boxes but this months one ticked all the boxes for me. The march box came with four full size products and two very generous sized samples.

The ncLA nail polish was the first thing to catch my eye when I opened my box. Its a beautiful pastel neon orange that will be perfect in the summer months. This is a full size product that retails for £13.

I'm always on the look out for a mascaras' to try so I'm really excited to have a little play about with this one from essence. Everything about it from its pretty packaging, to its cute-sie girly name is me all over! The Lash Princess Volume Mascara is another full size product and is a steal at £3.30.

The next full sized product is from a brand called NAOBAY. This Moisturizing Peeling milk claims to brighten the complexion by using particles from the acai tree to remove dead skin cells. A 100ml bottle retails for £13.71  

I love a good red lip and the vibrant colour of this Sleek MakeUP Pout Paint will look amazing with a tan in the summer. Apparently it can be used liberally for a bright glossy look, or can be used as a satin like stain when applied more thinly. This 8ml tube costs £4.99

Lastly is a sample size of the Youthful Vitality shampoo and conditioner by Dove. These two products work together to help repair brittle hair, replenish lost nutrients and leave hair stronger and looking twice as thick as before. Although these are only sample sizes, the tubes are the perfect size for traveling with and as they are so hydrating they will be ideal to use after a long day in the sun on holiday. The full size bottles are 250ml and cost £5.99 each.

I am so impressed with this months box and cannot wait to test each product out. Glossybox is a monthly subscription that costs £10 per month plus postage and can be purchased here.

Where you pleased with your box this month?

Catch up soon.

With love ... A x
♥

MAC Cinderella Collection | Mini Haul & First Impressions

The long awaited Cinderella collection by MAC launched online last Friday and as an avid Disney fan, I had to try my luck and see what i could get my hands on. As per usual with MAC limited edition launches, a lot of the good stuff sold out in a flash but I was lucky enough to grab a few goodies.

* Disclaimer - All of these products have now sold out online, they do however launch in stores on Friday 13th March. 

1. Eye shadow palette | Stroke of Midnight £38.50   2. Lustre Lipstick | Free As A Butterfly £17 3. Iridescent Powder | Coupe D'Chic £23  

Eye Shadow Palette | Stroke Of Midnight

L-R Vapour, Phloof, Omega, Quarry, Satin Taupe, Stroke of Midnight

This was the one item I really wanted from the collection so I am SO pleased that I managed to get my hands on one. The palette includes five shades that are already permanent to MACs' eye shadow collection and one new limited edition shade which is called stroke of midnight. The palette is a mix of velvet, matte and frost shades which I really like. I have heard mixed reviews about this so far, a lot of people have said that the shadows in these LE palettes are not as pigmented as when you buy them individual but I haven't found this to be the case myself.

Lipstick | Free As A Butterfly

I originally wanted the other lipstick from the collection but unfortunately it sold out quite quickly, so I just went ahead and added this one to my basket instead. Free As A Butterfly is a very pale nude with gold shimmer in and looks so beautiful over a brown lip liner. Its a lustre finish so it just adds a really subtle nude tint to the lips when it is worn alone. I think this will be the perfect nude to wear in the summer as the gold shimmer really compliments a tan.

Iridescent Powder | Coupe D'Chic

This is another product I have heard mixed reviews on, it looks so beautiful in the pan but it doesn't really transfer onto the skin very well. It does give a nice subtle highlight though so I am looking forward to playing about with it a bit more and see how it works best. 

What are your opinions on this collection?

Catch up soon

With love ... A 
♥

Whats In My Travel Make Up Bag | City Break Edition

Trying to narrow my favorite makeup down to fit in one bag, that wont take up the whole weight of my luggage allowance when I travel, is a task that I massively struggle with. Between not knowing exactly what the climate is going to be like & deciding what looks go with what outfit results in me over packing and not using half the products I take. I have recently returned from a spending a week in Rome & because I have been before (I went for four days in November) I felt that I had a good idea of what I needed to take with me and what to leave at home. Here's what made the cut.

Estee Lauder Double Wear| 1N2 Ecru

A full coverage foundation that stays in place ALL day, perfect to go from day to night after a long day of walking and taking in the sights (shopping).

Nars Radient Creamy Concealer | Chantilly

Ideal for covering dark circles after late nights

MAC Shaping Powder | Emphasize

Perfect to set concealer & give a subtle highlight under the eyes.

The Balm Cindy-Lou Manizer

A beautiful highlighting powder that can be applied lightly to give a subtle highlight or can be built up for a more dramatic look. I love packing this powder all over the eyelid and adding a tiny bit of bronzer in the crease for a neutral eye look.

NARS Laser Cut Eye, Cheek & Lip Palette

This is so ideal for travelling because its so compact. With three eye shadows, a matte cream, shimmery gold and a matte deep khaki green, it can be used to create a simple neutral look for the day time that can be vamped up a little bit in the evening by adding some of the shimmery shadow to the lid or deepening the outer corner of the eye with the khaki shade. It also has a gorgeous peachy pink blush in the shade Day Dream and Laguna bronzer which creates a really subtle contour and can be used to bronze up the skin.

MAC Eye Shadows | Swiss Chocolate & Embark

I wasnt planning on taking these with me at first because the NARS palette has a couple of eye shadows in already, but there was room for them to fit in around my setting powder so I squished them in! I like swiss chocolate to warm up an eye look and embark is perfect for a more natural brow day.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

It probably seems excessive to take two bronzers, but Hoola is a bit more intense than Laguna so it is ideal for an evening look. 

MAC Prolong Wear Paint Pot | Painterly

Keeps eyeshadows in place all day and prevents them from creasing.

MAC Fluid Line | Dip Down

I use this to fill in my eyebrows and its great for a day time winged liner as its not as harsh as a black liner.

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner | Black

Ideal for adding a bit of drama in the evenings.

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara & Benefit Roller Lash

I took two mascaras because i wasn't planning on wearing fake lashes and I find layering my mascaras helps me get the most out of my natural lashes. These two together are my current obsession they work together like a dream. I did end up picking up some really natural lashes from the airport though!

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker | Charm Offensive

This lipgloss is amazing for day & night. Its a natural pinky brown colour that really plumps the lips and lasts for a long time.

Kiko Smart Lip Pencil

Speaks for itself really, Im taking this to line my lips - duh.

MAC VIVA GLAM Miley Cyrus

I didnt know if I would even use this but I did want to take a bold lipstick just in case & as this is my newest one she came along for the ride.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray 

A must have for keeping makeup locked in place all day!

What are your makeup must haves when you go on holiday?

Catch up soon

With Love ... A

♥

Face Of The Night - Rome Edition

Face

Primer: Benefit The Porfessional 

Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear | N2 Ecru

Concealer: Nars Radient Creamy | Chantilly 

Setting Powder: MAC Shaping Powder | Emphasize

Bronzer: Nars | Laguna

Contour Powder: Benefit Hoola

Blush: Nars | Angelic

Highlight: The Balm Mary-Lou manizer

Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter

Eyes

Base: MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot | Painterly

Lid Shadow: The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

Transition Shadow: Nars | Laguna

Crease Shadow: MAC | Swiss Chocolate & Embark

Liner: Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner | Black

Mascara: Too Faced Better Than Sex | Black

Lashes: Revlon Beyond Natural | Intensifying 

Brows: MAC Fluid Line | Dip down

Lips

Liner: KIKO Smart Lip Pencil | Magenta

Lipstick: MAC | VIVA GLAM Miley Cyrus

Catch up soon.

With Love ... A x

♥