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Monday 25 March 2013

Recent Purchases # 5

                 I'm sorry to bombard you with all my mini 'hauls' but this girl been doing some shopping and I like to share with you what I got. I like to see what other people have bought because I'm just really nosey when it comes to beauty products. Again, I'm sorry about the quality of these pictures! In particular photo 2 - the camera on my phone just doesn't focus up close anymore since I dropped it once (my bad).


Bioderma Hydrabio H20 Micelle Solution - Sensitive Dehydrated Skin
I don't know if this is fairly new or what, but I haven't ever seen this range before. I usually just use the original H20 makeup remover but this appeals to me because my skin is definitely dehydrated.

Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Mask 
Again this is from the range for dehydrated skin, so I'm hoping this will be good for me although the skin on my chin has been breaking out really badly recently so I don't know what that is all about. I've been on the hunt for a new face mask since the one I was using (Korres Wild Rose Face Mask) ran out.

Make Up For Ever Moisturising Soft Shine Lipstick in N36
I have never tried anything from Make Up For Ever before - it's never really appealed to me or caught my eye in Sephora but I've heard Chelsea from Chelsea Wears talking about their products so I wanted to have a look at them. This particular lipstick looked too beautiful to say no to! I think I will get a lot of wear out of this in the Spring/Summer aka SOON, if the weather gets better. My mom had 20% off too so I say 'why not?!' (Because you have too many lipsticks Annie).

Have any of you tried any of these? Or have any recommendations for my acne chin?!

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Balm Balm - Detox All Over Balm (100% Organic) Review

I've had this product for months and months and I don't think I have ever mentioned this before, despite the fact that I use it on a pretty regular basis. This is the Detox All Over Balm from Balm Balm, which I got on Feel Unique for £6.99. You can get this in loads of different types, for example there's an 'Indulge' balm and a 'Relax' balm - they are all probably very similar/identical but with different types of scents depending on your mood. As I have only ever tried the 'Detox' one, I will be talking about that one. AGAIN, please excuse the quality of the photos - I can't be bothered to use my camera at the moment, it's just so much easier to use my iPhone but I probably should start using my camera more...


  • It is 100% organic, 100% natural and it is not tested on animals.
  • You can use this on your lips, knees, feet, elbows, hair, or absolutely anywhere you like.
  • This particular one is described by Feel Unique as being 'uplifting and refreshing'
  • It contains: Ginger, Lemongrass, Lemon & Juniper essential oils to stimulate & cleanse. 

Packaging & Price
You get 30ml of product and you only need the tiniest amount when using it on your lips or on any dry patches of skin. I have had this for at least 9 months or so and I've probably only used about a quarter - which is amazing considering I'll use it at the very least 3-4 times a week. So for £6.99, you've really got yourself a bargain with this.

Product
I have never used this on my hair, but I have used it on my body, lips and on my face and I love it for all those purposes. It's a great lip balm, it's great for under my eyes when they are feeling a bit dry and it's just generally great for any kind of moisturisation. I like to take this on flights with me or when I'm travelling for reasons stated below, and because it's great to pop a bit on (even on top of my makeup) when I get a bit dehydrated. It's conditioning without being greasy, despite the fact that it is packed with essential oils.

Smell
This is one of the best things about this. It smells so fresh, herby and lovely; I do usually care about the smell of products but this is almost what makes this product so great. If I ever feel a bit ill or I have a headache, I put this on any pressure points and under/around my nose because this really stops me from feeling sick. It's a really refreshing, crisp yet natural scent that immediately helps my mood whenever I'm feeling under the weather.

Overall
This is a really great multi-use product that I would recommend to anyone and everyone (well, unless you have extremely sensitive skin - then you might want to look into it more). You definitely don't need this but it's a really handy little thing to have around, I leave mine next to my bed, The price point is very reasonable, the product is amazing - I want MORE.

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Saturday 23 March 2013

Recent Purchases # 4

As you may know, I'm in Paris at the moment (seeing the family etc) and everyone loves a good french pharmacy so I've done a little bit of shopping. Not a lot - I've kind of been looking around at the best deals in different places because my mom stops me from impulse buying. Anyway, these are a few things that I've picked up.


Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm
This is my favourite lip balm of all time, it's really thick and moisturising which is great for really dry lips like mine. It stays on for hours and when I put it on before bed it's still on when I wake up. Yes, I did buy five but they are a little bit cheaper in France than they are in the UK so it makes sense.

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Serum
Again, this buy was influenced by Estée from EssieButton because I think she has a similar skin type to me and she has raved about this product many times. I don't currently use a serum very often so I thought it was something that was missing from my skincare routine. This is supposed to be really good for putting on before moisturising, if you have dry skin. 

*SAMPLES*
Because I bought the SOS Serum, I also got given a free, pink makeup bag and a load of Caudalie samples to try out. Included were: 
Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream SPF 15
Vinosource Moisture Recovery Cream x 2
Vinexpert Night Infusion Cream
Vinosouce Moisturizing Matifying Fluid
Vinosource SOS Serum
Premier Cru The Cream x 2

Melvita Camomile Floral Water
There are different versions of this for different skin types, obviously I got the one for dry skin. I'm trying to replace my Caudalie Beauty Elixir because that has a load of alcohol in it which I think is probably not great for my skin. You can use this as a toner, but I just pat it into my skin after I've done my makeup.

YSL False Lash Effect Mascara
This is one of my favourite mascaras along with Armani Eyes To Kill - I won't need to open this for a little while because I have other mascaras I need to use up first. Actually one of the ones I need to use up is a YSL False Lash Effect that I've had for a few months now, which shows that it's an old favourite of mine that I always go back to. 

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Thursday 21 March 2013

Recent Purchases # 3

I flew home to Paris yesterday and I made a few beauty purchases at the airport (duty-free and all) because my boyfriend (kindly) dropped me off a little early.


Clarins Ever Matte Shine Control Mineral Powder Compact in 01 Transparent Fair
 I have wanted to try this since EssieButton raved about it a while back. I just finished my Rimmel Stay Matte powder and I have never been a huge fan so I thought I would try something different. This has a really buttery smooth texture - it kind of reminds me of how the Burberry Eyeshadows feel. There is another light shade in Transparent Opal but that one was more pink toned and this one is a lot more yellow, which I find more flattering. 

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
Mascara tends to smudge on my bottom lashes so I thought I would try this and see if it would last a little better. I have put a picture of the brush at the bottom of this post so you can see how tiny the wand is!

Boots Botanics Cleansing All Bright Toner
I left my toner at home and this is a good, simple toner that I have tried before. I find I get a lot more blemishes if I don't use a toner so it's a must have in my world.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51 Light Vanilla
This is the new formula and I have never actually tried the old one so I have nothing to compare it to unfortunately. However, I do absolutely love the Healthy Mix Serum and this shade looks like it will work well for me.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in 51 Light Vanilla
Again, I have heard great things about this concealer and Bourjois was on 3 for 2 so you know... (I also got my sister the above foundation because I'm a sweetheart).

L'Oréal Telescopic Mascara
I have never tried this - I tend to go for volumising mascaras but I thought it would be nice to have the option of a lengthening mascara. I also want to know if it is worth the hype!

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara
One of my favourite mascaras of all time, it gives great volume and length without clumping. I did a post on this here if you want to know more about it.


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Wednesday 20 March 2013

I'm Off Home!

Today I flew home to Paris for Spring break. Unfortunately I am in my final semester of uni EVER so this means I will be writing my dissertation and the likes over the next month. I will be going down to the south of France for about two weeks as well which means I will be popping over to Spain for a bit of a shopping break so it's not all bad! I'm hoping I'll be able to concentrate and get some hard work done while I'm home and hopefully stop munching on so many packets of Wotsits and bars of chocolate.
I will try and keep on top of blogging but my posts definitely tend to go a bit downhill while I'm at home because I don't have all my beauty products with me and that kind of thing but I could do a haul or two! I'm sure a lot of you will be doing uni work or A level work over Spring break too so good luck to you and lets hope for the best :)

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Empties # 5

I told you there would be another 'Empties' post soon! I'm doing well, right?
Here are some products I actually really like...in fact there isn't one product here that I wouldn't consider repurchasing (minus maybe the Rimmel Stay Matte powder). I love finishing products, there is something really satisfying about it because I hate the fact that I'm a massive hoarder. I'll be talking about the products starting from the top left and going clockwise.


Caudalie Beauty Elixir
I spoke about this in my last 'Empties' post so if you want to know what I think of this then click here.
Mark: 8/10

Korres Wild Rose Instant Brightening Mask
I absolutely love this face mask for when my skin is looking a little bit dull and I need a quick pick-me-up. It smells lovely and floral and I just think it does a really good job and brightening up my kind of dry/dull complexion. I don't think I will be buying this again just yet, only because I think my skin looks more dull in the Winter rather than the warmer months.
Mark: 9/10

Pro:voke Touch of Silver - Silver Revitalising Dry Shampoo
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I love the 'Touch of Silver' range because my hair is incredibly prone to brassy/orange tones. I have had so many hair disasters resulting in my hair turning bright orange and I find this range to be amazing at keeping those unwanted tones at bay. I'm not massively into dry shampoo, my hair is quite dry and doesn't tend to get very greasy at all so I usually use dry shampoo when I want a bit of volume or very rarely whenI haven't had time to wash my hair for days. I have no complaints about this, I will be repurchasing it in the near future. I love the silvery effect of this dry shampoo - it's really subtle and natural.
Mark: 9/10

L'Occitane Date Bouquet Hand Cream
This came free in some magazine or another and I cannot tell you how amazing this smells - I'm not even a fan of dates. I think this was limited edition so I don't know if you can get your hands on this but if you can, I would highly recommend you doing so. I really want the almond hand cream now...
Mark: 9/10

The Body Shop Baked Bronzer in 02 Warm Glow
If you are really pale like me, this bronzer is amazing for a really subtle, natural glow and this would be an amazing highlighter on darker skin. In the pan it looks very similar to MAC Soft & Gentle but it is a little bit darker and the shimmer is much finer. It has golden, pink and champagne tones in it and just gives a really beautiful glow to the skin. I actually got given one of these as a present too so I don't have to repurchase a new one just yet. It also works nicely as an eyeshadow.
Mark: 9/10

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in 001 Transparent
People rave about this but I don't quite get the big deal. I don't get particularly shiny skin and I don't like a powdered look, so I just used this to set my makeup and it worked fine for that. However, it is a little bit chalky and I would prefer something with a more satin/velvety finish. But I guess it does the job and it's not pricey!
Mark: 6/10

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm (Stick Form)
This is not as good as the Reve de Miel lip balm in the tub but it's nice. I don't think the stick version is much better than any other stick lip balms I've tried in the past but it smells nice and I don't have any complains about it.
Mark: 7/10

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
I LOVE THIS MASCARA. I really like both drugstore and high street mascaras so I'm not really snobby about that kind of thing. This is an amazing mascara in terms of giving really great volume without being clumpy and I have actually noticed that when I don't use this my lashes tend to fall out more. So I actually think this has helped thicken my lashes! (Obviously I have another one of these in my drawer, ready to be opened....)
Mark: 10/10

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Tuesday 19 March 2013

Shoe Love: Superga 2790 White Flatform Plimsolls


I saw these on ASOS yesterday and I had them by this morning. That's what you call a real impulse buy I guess. Luckily my mother was kind enough to buy them for me and I opted for next day delivery so that I could have them before I leave England for France tomorrow. I had seen these in black before and kind of thought nothing of them but when I saw that they existed in white I immediately fell for them. I find the black ones are kind of everywhere and white is much nicer for Spring. The white ones also have a really pale lilac stitching which I think is a nice detail.


I have heard that these run quite large, however ASOS actually sent me the wrong size (I ordered a 38.5 and got a 39 - I'm usually a size 5 or 38 but for some reason ordered half a size up?) so I can't really comment on that. These fit fine with socks on (I plan to wear them with cute blue or pink socks in the Spring/Summer), although they do slip off a bit but that really doesn't bother me. I think the reason why they slip off a little is because they are a little wider than normal shoes so just bear that in mind. They're so adorable that I just don't even care.

They retail at £45 on ASOS.com

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Empties # 4

Another 'Empties' post from me. I have actually finished quite a few other products so 'Empties # 5' will also be up shortly. I kind of hope my mom reads this because she seems to think I only buy things and don't finish any (hi mother!)
Without further ado here are some products I have finished since my last 'Empties' post at the end of February. (I will be talking about the products in a clockwise order, strating from the top left).


L'Oréal Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal Sparkling Shampoo
The Nutri-Gloss range used to be my favourite when I was a teen and I do find it makes my hair silky smooth, really soft and easier to manage. However, I could see the sparkle in the shampoo but I don't think it really translates onto the hair. I think maybe you would have to use the full range for the sparkle effect to actually work but apart from that it is a nice shampoo.
Mark: 7/10

Vichy Dercos Technique Energising Shampoo
This is a shampoo for people suffering from hair loss- I find my hair falls out quite a lot so I thought I would try an anti-hair loss shampoo but I don't know if this actually made any kind of difference. This one was given to me and straight afterwards I moved on to Alpecin so I don't actually know if this helped solve my problem at all. I do know that this doesn't make your hair as squeaky clean as Alpecin does though, which is something I really don't enjoy about Alpecin because it just feels really stripping.
Mark: 5/10

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
A few months ago this was my Holy Grail cleanser, I absolutely loved it. But now I am starting to think that that was only because I had never used a hot cloth cleanser before. It is a nice product, but because my skin is so dry, I prefer to use balm/oil cleansers now because I just find them a lot less stripping. If you have oily/combination skin I think this would be nice for you though because it did leave my skin feeling really clean and soft.
Mark: 6/10

Bioderma Créaline H2O
My favourite makeup remover of all time! I like to take all my makeup off with this before cleansing and finishing off my skincare regime. I also use this in the morning when I wake up, to take off any treatments I left on overnight and to remove any gunk on my face (does anyone else get sleepies in their eyes?!) I think I will always have a bottle of this around, because I have really sensitive eyes and this has helped in terms of keeping my eyes juicy...(?)
Mark: 10/10

Nectar of Nature Softening Shower Gel - White Lily Petals
I don't know if you can get this outside of countries that have Carrefour. I never have much to say about shower gels but this brand of shower gels (and other products) is really affordable and they all smell amazing.
Mark: 9/10

TRESemmé Split Remedy Conditioner
I don't know why I haven't repurchased this because I finished this quite a long time ago...I don't think anything can actually fix split ends but this definitely improved the appearance of my split ends and prevented them from getting worse at a quick rate. I was actually really impressed by this even though I was really sceptical.
Mark: 9/10

Soap & Glory - The Breakfast Scrub
THE PERFECT SCRUB. It smells of freakin' maple syrup - but you WILL want to eat it.
Mark: 10/10

Soap & Glory - Thick & Fast
This is an okay mascara. I did find it dried out really quickly which has put me off ever thinking of repurchasing it.
Mark: 6/10

Caudalie Beauty Elixir
I use this to set my makeup, my skin can look a little dull so I like to spritz this on top of my makeup, especially if I have powdered my skin. This is quite expensive and it does contain alcohol so I am in two minds about whether I should continue using it or not. I still have half a bottle left and I do love the way it smells and the way it makes my skin look but I'm not sure if it is actually doing my skin any good.
Mark: 8/10

Dove Colour Radiance Express Treatment Conditioner
It is always hard to tell with these little samples but this did make my hair feel incredibly soft so I might have to look into this...
Mark: 8/10

Too Faced Glamour To Go Palette
I used to absolutely LOVE this palette and I still would but this is really old and the eyeshadows have actually started to get really lumpy...which is really gross so I have to say goodbye, it was fun while it lasted. (Lets not even talk about the lip glosses in this palette, they died a long time ago!) The colours are really wearable and versatile though so I will miss using this palette.
Mark: 9/10


The Body Shop - Honey & Oat Scrub Mask
This is a great product for anyone with dry skin as it is really hydrating and thick. It contains little oat pieces which help to exfoliate your skin in a really gentle way and this mask also smells amazing which is a plus. I highly recommend this.
Mark: 10/10


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Tuesday 12 March 2013

It's Muh Birthday

Oh my god.

I'm 22. I want to be sick.

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Wednesday 6 March 2013

Natural Skincare

I know you're not supposed to, but I switch up my skincare routine quite a lot. I never really find skincare products that I totally fall in love with and couldn't live without. There are a few products that I really like and have repurchased, but in general nothing sticks around for too long. Once I am done with a product, I tend to want to try something new which to me suggests I wasn't that impressed by the product in the first place.

When I went to Grasmere (a really cute town in Cumbria in the north of England) a couple of months ago, I came across this cute little shop called Mother Earth that sells natural & organic skin and body care products. We walked past it a couple times and on the last day I caved and got a couple things. At the time there was an offer where you got a free toner with any cleanser - which was a really good deal considering the cleansers and toners are roughly £20 each. One thing to bear in mind is you need to keep these in a cool place (just like Lush products) because they don't contain any artificial ingredients.

My skin has been acting up quite a bit recently and I think I know why (I won't go into it) but whenever I use these two products I notice a huge difference. 


The first product is the Avocado Organic Cleansing Oil with Rose & Frankincense (for mature skin) - I don't have mature skin but it is dry and I find this really helps lock moisture into my skin. I put a bit into the palm of my hands and then massage it into my skin after I've removed my makeup with Bioderma. I then remove it all with a cotton pad.
Ingredients: Prunus dulcis (sweet almond oil), Symphytum spp (organic comfrey oil), Persea americana (avocado oil), with lavandula angustifolia (lavender), Rosa damascena (rose absolute) & Boswellia carteri (frankincense) essential oils.
The second is the Organic Skin Toner (Rose Water) for mature skin. This is really refreshing and I find it actually helps tighten my pores and sort out any blemishes I have but without being too drying.
Ingredients: Rosa damascena (rose water), Alchemila vulgaria (ladies mantle), Symphytum officinale (comfrey root) with Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), Rosa damascene (rose absolute) & Boswelia carteri (francincense) essential oils. 
I really like the packaging, they come in glass bottles - although this isn't too great for travelling, which is why I don't use them every time I cleanse my face. I tend to use them together about 3-4 times a week, because the oil cleanser is quite rich. I do think these are really effective products and they have made me believe in natural skincare a bit more and realise I don't need loads of alcohol or chemicals on my face, when makeup already contains enough of those nasties. I highly recommend these particular products (if you can get a hold of them - they do have an online store) or trying out anything similar if you come across any natural/organic skincare stores. They even smell really nice!

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Monday 4 March 2013

February Favourites


Burberry Eyeshadow in Gold Trench
These are quite difficult to get a hold of, especially if you don't live in London but I desperately want some more shades! This is the nicest eyeshadow for all over the lid or in the crease, it blends so nicely and the colour is really beautiful.

La Roche-Posay Hydreane Riche
This is an amazing moisturiser if you have really dry skin because it is thick and soothing, I did a post on it here.

Honestly, when I use this religiously my eyelashes never fall out so I think it works some kind of magic? It's also just a really nice mascara if you like a lot of volume and if you like a bristle brush.

Tom Ford Lipstick in Pink Dusk
Just a beautiful pinky nude colour which goes with every makeup look and the formula is really creamy and sumptuous. The packaging is so luxurious too, so you'll find yourself using it during the day when you don't even need to.

Revlon ColorStay
I do also like the new Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, but this one is great if you have blemished skin because the coverage is pretty high. I love the fact that a lot of the Revlon foundations are more yellow toned than a lot of other drugstore foundations. (I use the one for normal/dry skin)

NARS Blush in Luster
This is my favourite blush of all time and now that I've hit pan I'm really trying to appreciate it every time I use it. I could not LIVE (so dramatic) without this. It's just the most gorgeous, golden, shimmery apricot blush which makes any complexion look really healthy. Click here for a post I did on this ages ago.

Tweezerman BrowMousse
I was using the Natural Collection clear mascara on my brows for the longest time but now that I have tried this, I would never go back to it. It never really held my brows in place, which kind of defies the point of having a clear brow gel in the first place? This one really keeps the hold.

What are your favourites at the moment?

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Sunday 3 March 2013

FOTD 2/3/13


The weather was really nice in Newcastle (yesterday - not anymore unfortunately) so me and my boyfriend decided to go the beach for a change of scenery. Don't get me wrong, we weren't lying on the beach in skimpy swimwear - this ain't no California.
Anyway, my skin has been pretty shocking at the moment. It's really dry on my forehead, my nose and my cheeks but my chin has developed acne, which is nice. So I needed to use a shit load (excuse me) of concealer on my face and I decided to practically paint on my eyes and lips to detract from my revolting skin. (The flash on my camera makes my skin look a lot better than it is!)
I used the YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation (BD40), Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (oops I didn't include my concealer in the photo), Stila Kitten Eyeshadow, Burberry Eyeshadow in Gold Trench, Sleek Face Form in Light, Mac Fluidline Brow Gelcreme in Dirty Blonde, Tweezerman Brow Mousse, Accessorize Flutter Curl Mascara (I do NOT recommend this) and Rimmel Apocalips in Galaxy. I also lined my top lashline with a really old dark brown eyeshadow, but it's about three years old so I really didn't want to show you!

And that is all!


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Saturday 2 March 2013

What's In My Make-Up Bag?

I never do 'What's In My...' posts but I thought I would switch things up a bit because I love being nosey about what products will carry around with them (or just have in general!)



My boyfriend got me this Gucci make-up bag and I understand it won't be to everyone's taste but I love the fact that it's really good quality and I will probably have it for a really long time. It's quite classic and I love that about it.

What I tend to carry around with me are: the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Soap & Glory Hand Maid, Soap & Glory Hand Food, a lip product and two different concealers.
The main thing I need to have out with me is concealer because it's just a product I could not live without, if I get blotchy during the day or if I have bad skin I would freak if I'd left my concealer at home. (Superficial, me?) I use the Rimmel one for any blemishes and the Collection concealer for any cute eye bags.
If I'm wearing eyeliner that day I would take out an eyeliner with me too.
I use the Caudalie Beauty Elixir to spritz on my face when my skin starts to look a little dull (I have dry skin you see).
I love lip products but because I have really dry lips and I tend to snack a lot (oops), it never really lasts on me so I always carry one with me to reapply during the day.
I don't like putting hand cream on during the day if I've been touching things so I carry a hand sanitizer with me as well.


What do you always have on you?

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