February Favourites

Guess who is back?  It is I! 

This February I took a break from the blogging world to concentrate on me.  I don't want to force blog posts if I'm not in the mood or they'll be rubbish.  After a rest, I am now back.

The first post in March of course would be my February favourites...

Botanics Microdermabrasion Polish Radiant Youth hands down is my favourite skin care product... ever!  I wish we'd met long before now.  It is amazing at giving you silky baby soft skin and getting rid of the grime hidden in your pores.  Review here if you fancy a look.

Botanics BB Cream Radiant Youth is the best BB cream I have ever tried so far!  Light and gives amazing coverage at the same time!  Perfect for those days where we don't want to cake on our foundation.  What more do we need ladies and gents?!?

Soap and Glory Hand Food has been my saviour for my hands.  My hands have been suffering because of the gym and I had little calluses form from using too many heavy dumbbells!  This stuff has been working wonders on them.  Plus it smells so good, you could eat it... but don't try to please :-p

L'Oréal Shine Caresse Glosses in Romy, Eve and Princess have not really left my lips all of February.  The stains last for hours and are very glossy looking without being too sticky.  The three shades I have are very wearable.  They need the occasional touch up but are simply lovely.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush is overtaking the buffing and stippling brush as the ultimate foundation brush. Flawless application is achieved every time I use this and I love it!  Certainly worth the investment.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette has been my go to palette of shadows for February - as well as my NARS Isolde eyeshadow duo... yes I still love it.  I was and still am a big fan of the original naked Palette and I seriously don't know what took me so long to buy this!

ELF Warm Bronzer was something I initially didn't like and was planning to sell.  But after hearing some good things about it I changed my mind.  A little bit of this goes a long way.  The right amount of shimmer and golden glow is in this bargain product.

Benefit Hervana Blush was another product which I wasn't head over heels in love with initially   But it has been a grower and I like this little box.  A subtle pink which looks very English rose and delicate on the cheeks. Love love love.

Seventeen Doll'd Up Three Way Eyeliner is definitely going to be high street/drug store hit... A dupe for the Clarins version and about £15 cheaper. If you watch the video below you can see swatches on my hand and you'll understand why I'm loving this.

Seventeen Doll'd Up Curl Mascara is great mascara for keeping a curl and you do look all dolled eyed wearing this.  This is the first Seventeen mascara I have ever tried and I'm liking it lots.

Essie Chinchilly is the perfect neutral beige grey shade. Great for every day wear.  If you're a lover of Nails Inc Porchester Square I think you'd love this beaut!

Rimmel 5 in 1 Top and Base Coat is a cheap product which hits a lot of excuse the pun nails on the head in one sweep.  A base coat, treatment and top coat in one bottle.  This is the perfect item for those of you wanting one product does all.

So that's everything.  I have also uploaded a YouTube version if you want to have a peek!

What have you been loving lately?

Angela xox

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Excess

You'll hopefully know by now that my favourite mascara is the One by One.  But if you saw my recent post there is rumours that Maybelline are calling it a day.  So with that news I've been on the hunt for my new best friend.

New on the market is the L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Excess.  A slightly tweaked version of the original but this has the added 'excess'.  I have never tried the original so I was completely in the dark at what to expect with this.

The packaging certainly looks glam and eye catching with its red and gold look.  The wand is huge and looks like a caterpillar.  I feel just a bit scared about trying to use it.

L'Oreal promise faned-out millionised lashes and volume.  The bristles grab and coat each lash from root to tip precisely and professionally.  Bold claims. 

The new brush is anti clumping and there is a 'wiper' inside the tube that removes any 'excess' clumps.  So when you pull the wand from the tube the clumps are removed.  Rather cool!

Curler lashes with three coats applied

I had this for a few weeks and I've been using this for a while and to be honest I'm not a fan.  I feel as though my lashes get clumped together (evidence in bottom right picture) and I think they don't look volumised at all.  There is no lengthening affect and that wand was awkward to handle.

I had curled my lashes before application but after applying the mascara they have just flopped flat again.  It doesn't hold a curl which is unfortunate.  On top of the disappointment of everything else this also flakes giving me a panda eye.  I don't even want to go there!

At £10.99 I was expecting amazing results but I am disappointed and won't be purchasing again. Sorry L'Oreal.

What mascara are you using right now??

Angela xox

L'Oréal Colour Riche Quad ~ Nude Lingerie

Usually when you pick up a eye shadow set there is one shade that doesn't tickle your fancy.  Well not with the L'Oréal Colour Riche Quad in Nude Lingerie.  This is any girls dream quad especially if you're a fan of neutrals.  You will get your taupe's and brown's fix here... I promise!

Packaging and inside looking at the shadows

What I have found really cute is the layout of the shadows inside.  Instead of the standard square or circle design L'Oreal have opted for abstract design.  But in fact the layout of the shadows inside is a key to help you know where to apply the shadows... it's kind of shaped like an eye lid...see!?  L'Oreal have even been kind enough to give us a picture to show where the colours go!  Thank you L'Oreal.

Where the shadows go, the applicator and L'Oreal's helpful guide

Packed with four beautiful shadows; a highlight, two base shades and a crease/liner colour this is a perfect on the go palette.  The palette comes with a applicator but mine looks like it was chewed by a dog.

Swatches; the finger swatches are the opposite order the the hand swatches

The shadows themselves are frosty/shimmer and are pigmented nicely, they really catch the light and reflex wonderfully.  Very buildable, so they can worn sheer or layered for a more intense look.

This new collection has seven different palettes (including Nude Lingerie).  You can see them here.  They retail for the around £7.

Angela xox

Haul time!

Now you all know I like a good old haul.  I'm always doing it but sometimes I just don't tell you... LOL!  However today I thought I'd share what I got recently in Boots.  I'll do reviews on all of them no doubt!

Some of the items I got are new on the market but I know the Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stains have been lurking around for a while.  So what did I pick up....?

Rimmel's Scandal Eyes Waterproof Eye Pencil in Black.  I have taupe, nude, bronze and purple (you can see swatches here)... but I really wanted the black also.  And I finally found one.. yay!

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow in Pink Gold.  I adore my other Tattoo eyeshadows, so when I saw they were launching this colour I knew I have to run out and pick this up.  See my swatches of the other tattoo shadows here.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous.  Kind of a lets just try you out purchase.  I swatched it on my hand in store and it looked lovely, so I thought what the heck.

L'Oreal Eyeshadow Quad in Nude Lingerie.  I didn't need this but it caught my eye and the colours looked beautiful when I swatched them.  Another what the heck moment and I'm glad I did.

Reviews and pictures to come!

Angela xox

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse... the pinks!

Way back in April I treated myself to one of the new (at the time) L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks in Dating Coral.  Since April, Dating Coral has not left my handbag - it has become a permanent fixture in there.  As I love Dating Coral so much I thought I'd pick a few more to bring home to keep it company.

Cheeky Magenta and Lovely Rose

I love pinks and these two are very wearable.  Cheeky Magenta is much more a brighter hot pink compared to its softer rosy pink friend Lovely Rose.  Due to their sheerness you never get a bold lip but more a soft delicate look which I think is more appealing than the plastered on lipstick look. I think they are very wearable and you can apply them almost like a balm without a mirror.  It's easy peasy!

L-R lip swatches : Lovely Rose and Cheeky Magenta

L-R hand swatches : Cheeky Magenta and Lovely Rose (natural and flash lighting)

These two lipsticks like Dating Coral catch the light beautifully and look very natural.  There are so many good things I could say about them, I think they are excellent and really worth the money.

The Rouge Caresses are pretty much a duplicate of the Revlon Lipbutters in my opinion.  They look the same on the lips and have a similar price tag, but I always feel more drawn to these.  Especially the packaging, I just think it looks more posh and mature compared to the cheap looking Lipbutters.  But never the less I still love them too but just love the Caresses more!

Have you tried any of the Rouge Caresses yet?  What's your favourite?

Angela xox

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse . . . yes please!

There was so much hype concerning the Revlon Lip Butters it's nice to see another lipstick is starting to take over.  I blame Fleur De Force for this purchase as she had purchased one of the new Rouge Caresse L'Oreal lipsticks and was showing it in a recent post or video.  The rest is history as Fleur is a god so what she says goes. . .to me anyways.

I love the sleek clear packaging which I have to say I prefer this over the Revlon Lip Butters.  I think this looks more mature.  Revlon looks cheap next to this beaut.

I opted for the coral of the collection named funnily enough - Dating Coral.  In my pictures it comes cross very red but do not fear however as it is an illusion.  These all look bright in store but when swatching and on the lips they are balm like.  So light weight and fresh a very similar consistency to the Lip Butters.  Not the same but all most.

On the lips it's a joy to apply you can do it without a mirror even.  It glades on and applies a beautiful hue to the lips that has a slight luminosity to it so you can wear it without a gloss.  This is perfect on it's own.  When swatching in store, there was not any that made me think no thank you.  They were all pretty, I had a hard choice picking just one!

What it looks like in natural lighting.

My over all impression of these is . . . I like them - a lot!  There is 10 in the collection and I wish I had done the 3 for 2 offer in Boots at the time.  I'd love to buy more of them.  They cost £7.99 each and completely worth the pennies. 

Have you seen these?  What do you think?

Angela xox