Hey Sweeties,
So today I thought I would launch a new series of posts whereby I take the opportunity to show you my makeup collection in a bit more detail. Of course my collection is almost constantly being added to on a monthly basis but anything new will feature in haul posts and reviewed separately afterwards later. But for the most part, I can quite easily take you through some of my collection starting with: Foundations.
Hey Sweeties,
As promised, this week I am giving you guys not one but two beauty reviews! On Tuesday it was Bobbi Brown’s Tuxedo Black nail polish (read that review here) and today I am letting you know my thoughts on the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in shade 09 Happy Nude Year.
I am going to cut to the chase here and open by saying this product is most definitely a new favourite of mine, absolutely no question.
I was sceptical at first purchasing it and if I am honest I don’t feel the need to be one of these bloggers that tries and reviews everything as let’s be frank, if a product is good, unless the formula completely disagrees with certain skin types etc. we’re more than likely all going to agree & our reviews are unlikely to differ greatly from one another. Saying that, not everyone watches or reads everyone’s videos or blogs therefore readers and viewers will have their own individual preferences over whose opinions they take on board. For me, I very much value the opinions of Lily Pebbles, Anna (from Vivianna Does Makeup) and Fleur De Force; if I am on the fence about something, their opinion will invariably push me over or pull me back away from it. In the case of the above Bourjois product, this was very much Anna’s influence.
The packaging is simple but chic and sturdy and I like that you can see the product inside. The lid screws on/off to reveal the doe foot applicator and enough product for a first application. I definitely prefer this type of applicator as it allows for a much better, smoother and more accurate distribution of the product.
As you can see from the swatch, the formula applies wonderfully thick and creamy but dries leaving a matte finish to your lips. It doesn’t last like a good lipstick does, but it does leave behind a soft pinky nude stain once it has fully absorbed and this suits me fine. It means I can relax and not have to worry about touching it up or whether following a meal it looks a patchy mess. This product just works and I am so pleased I purchased it.
Until tomorrow x
Hey Sweeties,
You’ll be delighted to hear that this is the final product for me to post a review about from my haul at The Cosmetics Company –I appreciate sometimes things can feel repetitive- it’s also the second and final product I bought from the Bobbi Brown stand. The other product from that range I bought was the French Pink Blusher set which I adore; you can read that review here.
So, let’s get down to business.
Bobbi Brown Nail Polish £7.75 RRP £11
Let’s begin with the packaging. This is what first drew my attention to the nail polishes as the bottle is a beautiful but thickly cut cube shape which is lovely to the touch. Branding on the bottle is also kept clean and simple allowing the product to do the selling. The lid is the right size to handle application well as I hate lids that are too big or small making the task that already requires a certain level of accuracy and patience, fiddly. So for me this so far ticks all the boxes. The colour –Tuxedo Black– is wonderfully thick and jet in shade that I found impossible not to apply a layer of one of Barry M’s glitter polishes over the top of to add that bit of festive glitz, perfect you’ll agree for this time of year. I think to be honest I would be unlikely to ever wear it on its own so a bit of sparkle makes all the difference.
Product application is quick and easy and the brush allows for thick strokes so for the most part just one layer is needed. However, my care and attention did slip slightly so some nails did require two layers and application wasn’t always neat around the edges… but hey, we’re not all perfect!
As for durability, I think it lasts really well without chipping. Because it is jet black though nail growth is noticed more easily against other polish colours but I should think this can only be expected. Although black is actually a very easy colour to wear, I think on nails you don’t actually want the colour to be on all week, it’s more of a fun weekend look but this is of course my opinion alone.
Overall, Bobbi Brown’s Tuxedo Black is a quality polish and not too expensive (even at full price) and I would definitely be keen to purchase more from the brand in the future.
Until tomorrow x
Hey Sweeties,
I thought I would share with you today a few recent beauty purchases.
*FYI I have now put a ban on buying anything until after Christmas but there were a couple of things I just couldn’t resist…and also needed…
Anyway.
Firstly I ventured into Superdrug. This isn’t really my go to place for cosmetics anymore but from time to time they will have a deal on that’s worth investigating but more so lately, I have been stalking the place to see if I can get my hands on the October/November issue of Superdrug’s Dare magazine with Zoella on the cover. I failed at this. Slough didn’t have it and the staff in Windsor had never heard of it… Wow. Anyway, I picked up a replacement Rimmel Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze as although I said to myself I can wait to repurchase it… I basically can’t as although I have other bronzers in my collection; this is my favourite and the one I use every day. So a new one was a must! I also picked up another Collection Match Perfection Concealer in no. 3 warm medium (which I forgot to add in the photo, silly me).
For something new I finally have succumbed to the Maybelline Babylips range and plumped for the lip balm in Peach Kiss. On a future date I will also eventually try their primer –anyone else tried this or anything else from Babylips?
Secondly (on a different day) I went to my old haunt, Boots. Man that place is as good as any Santa’s Grotto in my view as it is filled to the brim with temptation and pretty things… minus the dodgy looking geezer in a red suit asking us to sit on his lap!
Two things that went straight into my basket were replacement products I had run out of, the first being Burt’s Bees Lip Balm with pomegranate oil. Since purchasing this last year I have loved it from the word go and I apply it first thing in the morning when I wake up and sometimes last thing at night if my lips feel particularly dry. I have also been enjoying the Burt’s Bees cream cleanser lately, you can read that review here.
Now, my regular readers will be well informed that this year I have tried a few different foundations to prolong the repurchasing of L’Oreal’s True Match foundation and until the weekend I was doing fantastically…Until I saw on my Boots app an offer for £2 off the product so of course I jumped at it. Some of you may frown at my lack of self-control but despite loving this foundation, having now explored the market more this year it’s now not the only one I love so I think I am now perfectly in my right to bring this back into the mix. I bought this product in the shade C2 Vanilla Rose.
For another new purchase, I then bought the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet 09 Happy Nude Year. I was resisting these for as long as I could but then I watched one of Vivianna Does Makeup videos and she had both reviewed and was wearing this one (I think) and that made up my mind for me really, I had to try it for myself! A full review of this product will be posted up here soon.
These next two products are also new and come from TK MAXX of all places which -if you can find a couple of good, well stocked stores- are well worth a rummage around in as there really are some bargain finds to be had. On this particular day I came across Rituals Natural Eyebrow Pencil in shade Brunette, and their Matt Finish Foundation in shade 1. I pondered about these two products for ages to be honest but I am still really keen to be giving new things a go so after a while of picking up and putting down again, I did eventually take them both to the checkout. Again, once I have given these a good test I will also post a review up on here.
I would love to say that is everything and it is… except that yesterday I treated myself to the Glamour Party Beauty Edit box from Latest In Beauty.com so stay tuned on here to see what’s inside once it arrives!
So I will just reiterate -more for myself than anything else- that I am now on a spending ban until after Christmas!
Until tomorrow x
Hey Sweeties,
If you’re like me where you’re relatively new to the beauty world and crave information and knowledge to get yourself up to speed and kept up to date with the latest trends in all things beauty then this post is for you! I love reading blogs as they are great for product reviews and general beauty chatter -like you would do with your best friends- but from time to time, you need advice from the professionals, those that really know their shit and this comes in three ways 1. in store consultation 2. books 3. magazines.
In my time, I have had 2 consultations (well technically 3 but I’ll explain). The first was with MAC in 2010, Mum and I had one in Bath when I lived there for Uni and I got a look done I could recreate for the summer ball. I have also had another consultation with Benefit at the Harvey Nichols store in Bristol, again while at Uni which I basically got pulled into the chair to try out the They’re Real mascara. I went back for a second time a couple of weeks later and the same make-up artist did me a smokey eye look which was amazing. But, being honest with you guys, I wasn’t at that time in a position to really enjoy and spend my money on makeup and beauty products. It’s only since entering the professional chapter of my life where I now really invest my time and money into the beauty industry, before this it just wasn’t practical and I am glad to be honest. I have always worn makeup, black eyeliner being my staple throughout my teenage years but I am pleased I wasn’t obsessed with having a full face of makeup during that time; I had too many other things keeping my attention.
I started picking up bits and pieces of makeup when I lived in London when doing my Dental Nurse training. I started to realise I would benefit from a foundation, a bit of bronzer etc. and I turned to one of my best friends, Char for help here. Not where I would ask her outright, but I would sneak a look at what she was wearing and how she was applying various products when getting ready for a night out and would then venture to Boots and make similar purchases. The rest I have picked up as I went along from anywhere I could. Now, I am so thankful for YouTube!!
So, I find myself at 27 and feel as though I am playing catch up. Not with products but with knowledge which is where books and magazines come into play. With magazines, I have read these for as long as I can remember but never paid too much attention to the beauty section; one of the reasons probably is because they always showcase products that are just too expensive but I enjoy seeing the looks that can be created. I appreciate that in my posts I make myself sound like such a scroungy bitch but price really is an important factor for me. I’ll happily spend £30-40 in Boots within a single transaction but I want a full basket of stuff to show for that. I love my make-up but I don’t need a £30 foundation to achieve my everyday look and I don’t go anywhere nice enough on a regular basis to warrant a high end collection. One or two items for special occasion wearing is fine enough for me…for now.
Along with my loyal Elle, I have recently started buying Allure magazine which I can only get hold of when I go into London for work or a day trip. It’s an American publication (hence why it costs £4.80) but I really like it. Of course many of the products I can’t see or buy myself but it’s great for advice and articles from the industry. I have also recently made a point of picking up the free magazines from Boots, Superdrug and the like -if you’re in town and you want something to read over a cappuccino then these are well worth getting as they are packed full of advice and tips! You really can’t go wrong.
For books, for me there are two key players here -the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual and the recently published Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes.
Bobbi Brown I picked up a few months ago when I was initially seeking some reading material and this one came up as one of the best and having now read it, I can see why. It’s simply a fantastically visual but concise bible for all things makeup and skincare. For me, I don’t feel I need to read pages and pages of text, I just want to know the basics from looking at examples and step by step instructions. A few months ago I got myself all confused as to when you apply concealer -is it before or after foundation, or does it not matter? I also struggled to find out the process for using cleanser, toner and moisturiser. Really bloody simple things but if you haven’t got a Mum in the know or a big sister or best friend that are into these things then where do you find out without hearing advice that doesn’t conflict with someone else?? The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is spot on if you’re like me and you want simple, easy to digest information, the brand is irrelevant.
At work my colleague -who doesn’t really wear makeup- loves Sali Hughes. For me, I haven’t ever found I particularly engage with her column in the Guardian… that was until I picked up Pretty Honest. Oh. My. Days! I have wanted to write this post for a while and just as I was about to, Pretty Honest got released so I figured I better get hold of it so that I can add it into the review. When it landed on my doorstep from Amazon, I was disappointed; it’s 330 pages of text. My nightmare. However, it is quite possibly one of the best things I have ever read. Sali Hughes is the Queen of beauty advice and her writing style is brilliant. The knowledge I have now absorbed is unbelievable and I have not even finished the book yet. Sali just tells it like it is -what to do, what not to do, what to spend your money on, what to not bother with and everything else. You want the beauty know how; it’s all in this book! Go and get it!
Until next time x