My Holiday Make Up

I've been back from Barcelona for two weeks now, I had such a lovely time and am seriously missing the food. We ate like crazy people, you can find some of the photos from my trip on instagram (@nic704) if you fancy having a nosey.

This post isn't a full on 'whats in my travel make-up bag' because it would be far too long, and I've planned some full reviews for the other items I haven't included. There's a few new products included as well which I haven't used long enough to review individually.

MAC Fix+

Honestly, I don't think this helps extend the length of your make-up,  but it's refreshing, helps you to stop looking too powdery, and helps your make up look more natural. I  use it set my eye make-up, or when I need to foil any eyeshadows. 

NARS Luster

 I am absolutely loving this blusher, adds the perfect bit of colour to your cheeks, leaving a slightly sun kissed glow. Only problem I have with it, is that there is a lot of fall out, which upsets me as I feel like I'm blowing half my product away with each brush swipe. I have two other NARS blushers, and not had this problem, so either it's just Luster, or I've got a dodgy one.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million

I am obsessed with this scent, it's fresh, feminine, lasts ages, & makes me feel so summery. 

Korres Milk Bar Soap (for stressed skin).

 This little bar actually does a pretty good job of removing my foundation, it's completely paraben and chemical free and I feel good using it. As of the last two weeks, I haven't really used anything else to cleanse and my skin seems to be reacting really well to it, ie. it's clearing up.

Korres Lip Butter Quince

I don't know why it took me so long to pick up one of these up, love the way it feels on my lips, the colour pay off is pretty impressive too. Especially great on holiday, when you can't be bothered with lipstick, and just want something to slap on!

YSL Volupté Sheer Candy No10 Tangy Mandrine

I bought this just after Christmas, (not sure why I've not blogged about it yet). While it may just be an overpriced, non-moisturizing tinted balm (it's not drying though), the packaging is beautiful, the smell is amazing and I am in love with the orange stain is leaves behind. It goes on glossy, but that doesn't last too long, but the colour sticks around for ages, and on me that is impressive stuff. It's so light weight as well, it's like you're not wearing anything. It's the perfect thing to slap on while on holiday, or even on nights out when you can quickly apply it and forget about it. I don't think all the other colours from this range have a good colour pay off, so it's worth swatching or trying on in store.

L'oreal Telescopic Mascara (Waterproof)

This is hands down the best waterproof mascara I've found, it's also my every day mascara, and while I'm not 100% sold on the way it makes me lashes look, long but lacking body/thickness,  it hold a curl like crazy, and there is zero smudging, or flaking.

Garnier Caffiene Roll-On

While I don't really thinking anything will 100% take away my dark circles, this was on special just after I finished my exams, and I thought I might as well pick it up and try it out. I love how good the roller ball feels first thing in the morning, and I think it's worth it for just the cooling effect, especially seeing as I paid just over £5 for it.

MAC Cream Colour Base Hush

I have become a little obsessed with highlighters lately, and Hush is my most recent addition. This purchase was influenced by Kelly's (a blog of vain pleasures) post on her highlighter collection (which I am majorly envious of). So after my last exam I popped to MAC with a £5 on my Debenham's card and picked it up. I really love it, and am looking forward to getting a tan as think it will look even better when I have one. You can see a great swatch of it on Kelly's post here.

Chanel Tan de Soliel/ Bronze Universel

I didn't end up using this, but my love is still going strong for it over a year. I think it's because I don't use it too often, so when I do I really enjoy it. I sometimes use it as an over all base under my foundation, or use it lightly to contour when I've got a bit of a tan.


Phew, sorry that was a long one! In other news, I've started work today, as in full time, job for life. So scary knowing I'm not going back to Uni in September. But more importantly it's my birthday in two days and I'm sooo excited!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. And as usual if you wanna know any more detail on anything mentioned feel free to ask away.

Nic xxx

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I'm baaaack!

Hello! I am sorry for the silence, between essays/exams/ no internet I haven't had a chance! But I am officially finished Uni forever!! Yaaay. So, I will be back to blogging from now on, (minus the spontaneous trip to Barcelona my housemate and I just booked an hour ago! So, if anyone has any recommendations they would be much appreciated, we are staying in Sitges as we wanted a little beach break out of the city!)

My first post will be on some recently acquired Clarins bits, but I've had to split them up, as together it was just one long ass post that I'm sure no one would read, and they're amazing products so they deserve some special attention.

A little preview!

 

I'll get the first post up either this evening, or tomorrow.

Hope everyone's exam/essays/ etc have all gone well.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Nic xx

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Saturday Night Pampering: LUSH, Liz Earle, Garnier

Saturday night called for a little chill out session, I really fancied getting in a hot bath and just forgetting about Uni work and impending exams and watch a bit of the Sopranos, (just started the boxset- hooked already). I had a bath bomb from LUSH to use and it sounded like it would really help me relax and unwind.

So, I ran a bath and popped in my Avobath* bath bomb, and let the lemongrass scent fill the bathroom, it's a really fresh scent, and mixed the rosewood and bergamot, it's supposed to help 'banish negative thoughts' and help raise your spirits.  LUSH say to 'use this when your skin is thirsty and your mind is blocked'. Exactly what I needed. I  really loved the way the bath bomb changes the water a lovely shade of green, and when the lights are on you can see the water almost looks shimmery, so pretty! I am a massive avocado fan, and I know how good it is for your skin, so seeing avocado and olive oil both are contained in this bath bomb, I knew it would amazing to add some moisture back into the skin.

 My skin needed a bit of scrub, and I found Happy to Scrub sitting in the bathroom which I had bought in the summer, an absolute bargain at £1.50 from Asda, it's a pretty gentle scrub but was enough for what I needed, but I wouldn't recommend if you needed something a bit more hardcore/ to remove fake tan. It's vanilla and patchouli scented, and reminds me a lot of the original Soap and Glory scent.

 During my bath I treated myself to a few Guylian chocolate shells which came with my Easter while I tried to enjoy my bath... but I've got to be honest, my idea of a nice hot relaxing bath didn't exactly go as planned. I stepped into bath and turned on the hot tap to find luke warm water, so I had to do my scrubbing and 'relaxing' covered in goosebumps. Major fail.

While I was waiting for my bath to run, I used a body brush from the Boots Botanics to get my circulation going (ideally you're supposed to this first thing in the morning), I try to do this as often as I remember, always do it on dry skin, Liz Earle explain the benefits much better than I can on their website! After my bath, I then used the Liz Earle Energising Hip & Thigh Gel, which I would love to rave about and tell you it does miracles for toning, but in all honesty I don't use it regularly enough to comment. But I do think if you can get into a routine where you body brush, and then use vigorous massaging it may help with fluid retention and dimples. I've never particularly suffered with cellulite but I like to do what I can (when I remember) to prevent it happening.  I can definitely comment that the gel does feel tingly and refreshing, and there is a sort of tightening feeling- I really like it and it makes me feel it's doing something, whether that's physiological or not!

Once the gel had dried I applied Garnier Replenshing Mango Lotion, (the mango is aimed at dry skin, which I don't have, I just really just love mango!) It's really lightweight and sinks in really quickly, which I love. It does make claims about keeping your moisturised for 7 days, which are some pretty bold claims but I can't comment as my skin often goes weeks without moisturiser- no matter which one I use- with no problems! Combined with the moisturising effects of the Avobath, my skin really felt lovely!

Hope you all had a more exciting weekend than I did, although it seems to far away now. Bit of a delay getting this post up. Today I had fun, went and met Yu at Westfield and did a bit of shopping so there will be haul post tomorrow, as well as some bits I picked up from Feel Unique!

Do you have any products you rely on for helping you relax or unwind?

 

Nic xxx

(*) given to me for consideration purposes, but that in no way influences my opinion. as usual this review is 100% honest.

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A Little about FAME online & MAC By Request Collection

I briefly mentioned before that I have been welcomed on board the FAME team, (which is primarily an online based magazine that also does a quarterly print copy). It's a talent and lifestyle magazine for students and young people, with a focus on Fashion, Arts, Media and Entrepreneurship (FAME..geddit?). The thing I really love about FAME, is that it's completely voluntary; everyone gives up their time come together and produce content that they are passionate about. The team are mega supportive of all their volunteers, whether they are writers, editors or photographers, and really want to help us reach our dreams, and give us a chance to be involved in something special. I feel very lucky to be able to say I am the new beauty writer, and look forward to getting even more involved once I'm back home. (FAME is based in Hertfordshire, where I'm originally from.)

So why am I filling you in on this? Well, obviously I write beauty articles, and they are different to what I might feature on the blog but might still be of some interest for you. I've written one about some Kitchen Beauty (which is all about hair treatments you can find already in your kitchen). You can find that here.

My latest post is all about MAC's latest limited edition collection due to be released in October, which most of you probably know about, but for those of you who haven't I've written up a little article for FAME explaining how to get involved and become part of MAC history. In essence, it's up to us to vote for our favourite shades that have either been limited edition or discontinued- to be rereleased in the Autumn collection. Personally, I'm quite excited about it and to get a second change to get my mitts on some of MAC's most popular shades. Some of them I've heard of, and some of them I had to google for swatches, but there were definitely a few shades I would love to see released.

You can find out the full selection of items to vote for, and how to do so on my post here.

I voted for 3n in the lipstick category and it was a close called between Jete and Moth Brown for my eyeshadow choice, with Jete just taking the vote because it's the more unique shade out of the two, in my opinion. 

What have you voted for? Any personal favourites amongst the selection?

Nic xxx

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And the winner is....

Thank you all for your entries, and for those that wrote a little something extra, I will definitely take them on board and expect to see some of them in the near future.

The winner is Yu (Let's Make Yu Up)!! Which is extremely apt, as I'm not sure if I would even be blogging with her encouragement, so the universe has intervened on her behalf! I used random.org, as you can see from the screenshot below.

Thank you again for following, and taking the time to read. I would love to hear from you, so feel free to comment/ask questions/ requests whenever you feel like it.

You may also have noticed my blog has had a little overhaul, it's probably going to be a bit of work in progress, albeit very slow, which I will fiddle around with when I have time. But I am fairly happy with, and loveeee the colour- hopefully you all will agree. :)

Nic xxx

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Professional Beauty Excel & Haul

On Sunday I headed to Excel for the Professional Beauty Show. I've been a few times before as my moms company exhibits there, but usually I'm working; this time I just went to see the new stand and have a wander round. Yu also came along, and we had lovely, albeit, slightly stressful time trying to maneuver round the crowds. The show is obviously a professional one and it's based more towards salons and spas etc, but you can pick up some good deals on nail polish and fake tan, without having to buy in bulk! I took a few pictures (still trying to figure out my new camera!) to share or you can just scroll to the bottom to see what I bought! Enjoy.

OPI Heaven

Yu getting her eyebrows did by my aunt.

Young Blood.

Brushes galore at Crown.

Essie

My mom's stand! Calgel/Christian Eyebrow.

I had such a good day, time went far too quickly and there were stands I would have liked to have had a nosey at but didn't get the chance. One in particular was Young Blood, but they had a small stand and two girls were busy using the products from the little displays so we just left it. I've heard such good things, so it was a little disappointing I couldn't have a little play.

 Nail polishes were definitely the highlight, and myself and Yu went a little crazy. You can see her post on the day, as well as her purchases here. (I hope I didn't scare her off too much with my comment about silver dangling balls.)

L-R. OPI Pedal Faster Suzi! Mavala Fresh Melon. Essie Topless & Barefoot. Mavala Toulouse. OPI Coney Island Cotton Candy.

Crown C209 Chisel Pointed Fluff

I'm getting really excited for Spring now, and I don't actually own a lot of creamy, or pastel colours so I really found myself being drawn to the colours above, and it was hard to limit myself. Malava's new 'delicious' collection is amazing, and I easily could have bought every shade, but I went for Fresh Melon as it reminded me of Chanel's latest offering 'June'. Toulouse is a lovely bright pink salmon colour. I've had my eye on Coney Island for a while, and am looking forward to wearing it, it's a very creamy yellow peach that will look amazing with a tan (to be fair, all of them will!). Topless and Barefoot, I've wanted for months but where ever I looked it has been sold out, so I'm very happy to have my hands on it finally. And the last varnish, is from the new Holland collection by OPI, Pedal Faster Suzi! it's a gorgeous lavender pink with very small silver flecks in it, which make the nails look super shiney, rather than glittery. A lot of the range seemed to be more Autumn colours which we found a bit odd, but this one is very season appropriate and looks great on.

I highly recommend Crown eyebrushes, I bought 4 back in November and they have really impressed me. They hold their shape really well, don't shed and are super soft, I haven't look back since. I picked this one up for £3 so it was an absolute bargain, and I know it will last, as I already have the smaller version!

Pedal Faster Suzi!

Did anyone else go to Pro Beauty? Or picked up anything from the new OPI collection?

Nic xxx

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Christmas Presents

I know this is a bit late, but wanted to share some of my presents from Christmas, and I've really enjoyed being nosey reading other posts, so thought it was fair I contributed. I was very spoilt considering we don't really do big Christmas presents, I'm going to share a few things I would normally feature on my blog, i.e. beauty & fashion related etc!

Top Left:  Yankee Candles. White Christmas which is a very fresh scent, reminds me of freshly washed clothes. Not something I would pick myself, but I've been burning it for the last few hours and I actually real like it. Medium candle in Farmer's Market which is a a very festive spicy scent. They were both from my lovely mother, who shares my love for candles.

Top Right: From my brother and his girlfriend was the Lush Christmas gift box, Happy Christmas. I did a little squel of delight when I opened it. It contained, Christmas Eve bubble bar, Satsumo Santa, Golder Wonder bath ballistic, Snowcake soap, Lil' Lush pudding and Candy can soap. Cannot wait to use them!

Bottom Left: Is from my gorgeous housemate for secret santa, and it was the Merry & Bright gift box, obviously from Lush. And had the Northern Lights soap, which is so fresh and citrus-y as well as the Glogg showergel which smells like spicey cinnamon!

Bottom Right: Perfume galore! I asked for two of these, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle from my dad, and Paco Rabanne's Lady Million, which I have been lusting over for ages. My lovely brother bought it for me. And the boy did very very well, I think I mentioned to him once back in September how much I loved Armani Diamonds Black Carat and he remembered, bless him! He apparently had to traipse around the Bull Ring looking for one.

Left: Soap & Glory Higher Shower & Perfume Atomiser. Lovelovelove the scent of the S&G bits, come's with a moisturizer, shower lotion, body spray as well as a rather fetching showe cap and poof! The atomiser is such a lovely little gift, I've thought about getting one, but never did. If only I could figure out how to get it to work!

Right: French Connection Purse. I spotted this bargain while scouring TK Maxx with my mom for last  minute gifts, and she kindly bought it for me and wrapped it for Christmas. It was only £15 and I was in desperate need for it a purse. It's a gorgeous deep green/blue and has lots of space for coins, and is real leather. Exactly what I've been looking for!

I also asked for some muji acrylic drawers, but they got delayed in the post, and when they did arrive one of the draws was broken! D'oh. Hopefully in the near future I'll do a make up storage post to show them off!

Hope everyone was as happy as I was with what they got. Big thank you to my lovely family who, like always, spoil me and buy me lovely, thoughtful things.

Nic xxx

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A Few Make Up Resolutions

I really don't do resolutions, not for any particular reason, I just don't! But, I've got a few travelling plans for the summer, and unless I do some major saving I'm not going anywhere. So decided to enforce a few rules for myself, and also some to make sure I get the most out of my collection.

1.  No impulse buys. 

This is definitely my downfall, usually I have my eye on something but end up walking away with that PLUS something else. Hoping this will mean I will only buy products, I love, had my eye on for a while and have researched. No high end foundations without samples first!

2.  Stick to my budget!!!

3. Finish products before buying replacements.

This is mostly in regards to skin & body care, I want to properly use up products instead of giving up half way and trying the next thing. I also think I'm more likely to see results if I stick with it!

4. NO EYESHADOWS.

This is going to be ridiculously hard, but I have so many eyeshadows and so many are being ignored. I'm giving myself until July (my birthday) with a complete ban, and then I think maybe 6 shadows for the rest of the year.  An exception to this rule is if anything specular, undupe-able from my collection and limited edition comes along.

I'm hoping posting my resolutions will mean I have a stronger chance of sticking to them. If I fall short, I will report all and everyone can make me feel ridiculously guilty. I'm excited about the year ahead, and about finishing up some products and making sure I LOVE everything I own. After exams I'm going to have a big sort through of my stuff, and get rid of the stuff I'm meh about, or doesn't work for me.

Good luck for anyone else enforcing some make up rules for the year ahead!

Nic xxx

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