Christmas Beauty Gifts

I mostly receive money for Christmas presents and then I go on to buy beauty products with said money. This year, however, I received quite a few beauty treats that I love already. Here are the beauty gifts I received this Christmas.

Nars Killer Heels Mini Lipstick Set

The Nars Killer Heels Mini Lipstick Set was my Christmas present from Jess, and as always, she got me a great present. The Killer Heels Set is part of the Steven Klein collection and contains five mini lipsticks; Little Darling, Mayflower, Joyous Red, Jungle Red and Fire Down Below. Little Darling is a bit pale and doesn't really show up on my lips but I love the rest of them. Mayflower is a pinky rose colour and there's a brown red shade and a orange red shade, as well as a darker red shade. I can't wait to get some proper use out of them.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Varnish in Charivari

Charivari is a rich deep purple shade. It applies so smoothly to the nails and looks so shiny and thick in texture. I've already received a few compliments on it and have only been wearing the shade for two days, someone even thought I had acrylic nails on. I have also noticed that it hasn't chipped as much as some of my other Chanel nail varnishes do.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Varnish in Orage

Orage is a deep indigo blue colour. It looks almost dark grey/black and has a very slight shimmer to it. It has a very similar texture and shiny look to Charivari. It's the perfect winter shade.

Charlotte Tilbury Eyeliner in Barbarella Brown

I'm usually one to stick to black eyeliner but for Christmas I got a Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'n' Kohl eyeliner in Barbarella Brown. I wasn't sure what to expect but once I tried it I loved it. The brown shade is still dark but just something different. It's great for everyday makeup that isn't too intense. Also, the Rock 'n' Kohl eyeliners are the best pencil eyeliners I've tried as they last for hours without smudging.

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Mascara

This is one of my favourite mascaras and I was so sad when mine dried out. I couldn't justify spending £22 on a mascara again, especially when I couldn't just pick one up in a store when I was in America and at university. I was so happy that I got this as a gift and I can't wait for my mascara to dry out so I can crack this one open.

Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Palette in The Sophisticate

I love Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow quads. The colours are unique, the concept of prime, enhance, smoke and pop is ingenious and the texture is so smooth and blendable. I already have the Dolce Vita palette and the Uptown Girl palette, which I get a lot of use out of. The Sophisticate is equally beautiful with 4 earthy matte shades that can be subtle or smokey depending on how they are applied.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Lipgloss in High Society

I've always wanted a Charlotte Tilbury lipgloss since her collection launched but I always found something I wanted more. My sister got me this lipgloss in High Society and I love it. It's the perfect rosy pink shade and I know I'll be applying this a lot over the next year. The packaging is also so beautiful with Charlotte's typical pretty gold finishes.

What beauty gifts did you receive for Christmas?

August Wishlist

It's been a long time since I've done a wishlist for the blog.. and I'm so happy to start again! Here are all the things I'm wishing for in August.

Estee Lauder Kendall Jenner Lipstick

I've had my eyes on this beauty for a while now. I love Kendall Jenner's style and her makeup looks, whether she's on the runway or just running errands. It's the perfect poppy red shade for summer and the matte texture is perfect for hot days. The gold and purple packaging of this lipstick is also gorgeous, made complete with Kendall's signature. The shade is limited edition and available exclusively on Estee Lauder's website and at Selfridges. Get your hands on it before it's gone. 

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Eyeshadow in Jean and Marie Antoinette

Ever since these cream eyeshadows were released I have been itching to buy them. I love all my Charlotte Tilbury makeup items and I hope these won't disappoint. However, due to a low beauty budget I've been putting it off and off. Now my birthday has passed I'm sure I'll get my hands on them soon. There are six shades in the collection but the light champagne shade Jean, named after Marilyn Monroe, and the bronze shade Marie Antoinette (the name speaks for itself) are the two I know I would get the most use out of. 

Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson The Colour of Youth

Charlotte Tilbury's recent Norman Parkinson collection is to die for. Out of all the products this is the one I want the most. It's a pink cream blusher that doubles as a lip product. The rose gold packaging is beautiful too with a picture of Norman Parkinson's wife Wenda on the front.  The innocent rosy hue looks perfect for summer. 

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Poppy

I'm definitely going through a lipstick phase at the minute because here is another orangey-red shade that I want this august. These newish Revlon lipsticks come in a wide range of colours from bright floral pinks to dark reds. They are creamy and lightweight and not as bold as a scary matte lipstick so I can justify wanting the poppy shade. 

Nars Eyeshadow Primer

This is my all time favourite eye primer and I have finally run out despite having it for ages (I can't even remember when I bought it). It instantly makes eyeshadow look better and bolder, and it makes it last throughout the day too. It's expensive but it is definitely worth it, especially as you don't need much and it lasts such a long time. 

Topshop Cheek Jelly in Beep

This unique product is a gel blush in a bright red colour. It's on sale at the minute at Topshop for only £2. It's supposed to give a subtle colour to the cheeks and can be used on the lips too. This product seems very similar to the Josie Maran coconut watercolor cheek gelee but for a fraction of the price. 

Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara 

I'm in a bit of a mascara rut at the moment. I think it's because i've been using the same mascaras for a while and now they don't seem to have the same effect on my lashes as they used to. I've heard good things about the Le Volume de Chanel and I feel like investing in a luxury mascara. 

Wildfox Miss You Moonlight Jumper

I love Wildfox clothes. From their slogans to their comfort, they are perfect for everyday casual style. I really want this Wildfox jumper. It's quite fitting for me at the moment as it says "Miss You New York", which I definitely do. I also love the dirty black colour that it comes in.

What's on your wishlist this month?

Raiding My Sister's Make-Up Bag

 Don’t you just love going through other people’s make-up bags? This weekend I made a little spontaneous trip to London to see my sister and found myself riffling through her make-up bag to see what goodies I could find, the following are things that I would love to buy myself in my shade and other products I would like to sneak into my bag and take back with me…

1. Bobbi Brown Blush in Peony

This is the one I got most excited about as I had no idea she had it, it is Bobbi Brown’s much raved about blusher in the colour Peony. It looks a very scary bright pink in the compact but once applied it leaves a gorgeous, natural, healthy pink, matte finish.

2. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in B20

I would love to be able to use this foundation but none of the Chanel shades ever seem to match my skintone, they are all far too yellow based for my pale-pinky skin.  My sister, Charlotte describes it as having a dewy finish with light to medium coverage, she says it's quick and easy to blend and leaves a nice natural finish. However, she does also point out that her shade isn't quite the perfect match and would benefit from having the shade B10 to mix in.

3. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer

This again is a very raved about product in the blogging world and I’m sure at some point in the near future I won’t be able to resist any longer and make the purchase. The unique product has two shades – one to match the skin’s depth of colour and the other to match the undertone. You can either mix the two shades together on the back of your hand to create your perfect shade or use the more pinky to counteract under eye dark circles and the more yellow-based one to hide any blemishes.  I think Charlotte uses her fingers to apply which is good as it warms the product up but I would then buff over with a fluffy brush to leave a super flawless finish

4. YSL Baby Doll Mascara

I actually recommended this to my sister after hearing Sophie’s great reviews about it and Charlotte loves it. It is quite a subtle, natural looking mascara perfect for everyday wear with a brush that easily coats every lash, making the more voluminous, longer and defined. Also – a mascara that actually smells nice, finally!

5. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact Highlighter in Pink Quartz

I am a big fan of these shimmer bricks even though I’ve never actually owned one myself, I’ve always just stolen a bit from my sister or Sophie! They are powder highlighters with 5 slightly different shades inside which when mixed together create a lovely natural looking pink highlighter – perfect for the top of cheek bones, on the brow bone and in the inner corner of the eye.

6. MAC Matte Lipstick in So Chaud

Now this is one statement lipstick! I’m surprised my sister has this as she is usually a very natural-looking-make up kind of girl. The best way to describe this colour is think of MAC’s famous Lady Danger Lipstick and add a bit more orange. MAC describe it as an intense reddish-orange, it also has the matte finish which I am really loving at the minute.

March Favourites

Is it me or do the months keep going by more quickly as the year goes on? I've loved so many things in March but I've selected some of my distinct favourites that I haven't written loads about before. Here are my favourite things from the month of March.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers and The Falsies Mascara

I love this combo of my new Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers and The Falsies Mascara. They work so well together and make my eyelashes look so much better than before. I can really see a difference, my lashes look instantly longer and fuller. Although the eyelash curlers are quite expensive (£20) I think they are worth it because they work so well and I guess it's not so bad when you use a drugstore mascara (that's my excuse anyway). 

Real Techniques Brushes

I've had these for a while now, but they still continue to be my go-to makeup brushes and I've been using a wide range of the collection through March. I have 6 brushes in total (Expert Face, Blush and the Core Collection face set) but my favourites are the Expert Face Brush, the Blush Brush, and the Small Tapered Brush. I use the Expert Face Brush to apply my Nars Sheer Matte Foundation. I think it blends the foundation really well and allows a good, even coverage. I use the Blush Brush for blusher (obviously), but specifically my Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush because it's so big it's great for sweeping colour across the cheeks. I love the Small Tapered Brush for applying highlighter to my cheek bones and to highlight underneath my eyebrows and it can be used for contouring with bronzer too (who doesn't love a good multi-tasking product). Also the brushes are so inexpensive compared to most brushes out there and I think they are just as good. 

Essie Nail Varnish in Over The Edge

I love Essie Nail varnish and I went to Boots recently during their frequent 3 for 2 offers and decided to get this with the other 2 products I had chosen. This is a gorgeous dark silver/grey colour with a very slight sparkle. It applies really easily and is a great metallic colour for any season. It also lasts a long time with minimal chips which is why I love Essie!

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Rose in Tension

I absolutely love this lipstick! I can't get enough of it. It has been my go-to day lipstick nearly every day for the month of March. It's a really nice berry colour that just adds that extra pop to everyday makeup. I love that it's a sheer colour too so can be built up but is also moisturising. The packaging is also so beautiful, with the same colour as the product on the outside. I really want to try the Volupte Shine in some different colours too! 

Juicy Couture Earrings

I purchased these earrings a few months ago in New York and completely forgot I had them. I decided to wear something different as I always tend to wear the same Marc Jacobs studs everyday. These earrings are so cute though, I love the little signature Juicy Couture crown on them. I've worn them almost everyday in March because they are so easy and simple but pretty at the same time. 

Sex and the City

I think this is a favourite for both me and Jess this month. After many recommendations from Jess and us watching the first movie together (and loving it!) I decided to give the actual TV series a go. I can't stop watching Sex and the City! I'm obsessed. After a few weeks of watching it I only have 4 episodes left and I'm devastated that it's nearly over. I love the whole New York aspect of the show, seeing them in real places and restaurants and of course the shoes too! Me and Jess have actually figured out who which character is in our friendship group (I'm a Carrie). If you have some spare time or are struggling to find something good to watch that's easy and fun then definitely give Sex and the City a go!

What were your favourite things last month? 

Haul #1: Beauty + Fashion

On Friday, Sophie and I had a bit of a post-exams treat shopping spree in our university city of Nottingham. I spent far too much money on stuff I probably don't need- but it was all in the name of fun! Sophie will also be doing a haul of what she bought, but she is just waiting on some online purchases to arrive first.

SpaceNK 

Nude Oil Based Cleanser

I have recently been looking for an oil-based cleanser to replace my Bioderma micellar water to use as a pre-cleanse to remove all my make-up in the evenings. Although I find the Bioderma to be amazing at taking off eye make-up, when I use it all over my face it does tend to leave it feeling a little dry. After reading some reviews and blog posts I decided to go for this Nude one, on first impressions I really like it but will do a full product review in about a month.


Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara

I got a sample of this mascara in a Birchbox a few months ago and loved it so bought the full sized version. I won't go on about it for too long as I go into more detail in my post a few weeks ago about my favourite Birchbox products (click here) but I think this is a great, more natural looking everyday mascara. 

MAC

Lipstick in 'Mehr'

This one was a bit of an impulse buy, I originally went into MAC for an eyeliner and some eyeshadows to build up my palette but I couldn't decide which colours to go for. I felt that an eyeliner wasn't enough to satisfy my MAC-craving so I went over to the lipstick counter. Surprisingly, I only own one other MAC lipstick which I bought when I was about 14 and never wear as it is a god-awful colour, what was I thinking? But when I saw this one, 'Mehr', I fell in love with the colour and had to get it. The colour is sort of a deep dusky pink with a very matte finish, nothing like I already have.


Eye Pencil in 'Coffee'

This is what I originally went into MAC for, the eyeliner in 'Coffee'. I wanted a brown eyeliner to wear when I want to go for a more natural look as black can often look a bit too harsh and dramatic. I used it today and the pencil feels nice and soft on application and create a deep warm brown colour. It looks nice on the waterline and well as smudged across the upper lash line.

John Lewis

YSL Flower Crush Palette - Rosy Blush 

Is this not the most beautiful bit of make-up you have ever seen? This was the biggest splurge on the shopping trip. I've wanted this spring limited edition blusher since it was launched, there was a lot of umming and aahing at the YSL counter as it is not the cheapest item of make up in the world (I'm not saying how much it was incase my mum reads this blog post) but after a bit of gentle persuasion from Sophie and the lady at YSL I decided to go for it and I am so glad I did. I've only used it once so far but the colour is a perfect shimmery peachy-pink and the texture is like a creamy-powder. 

Laura Mercier Ambre Vanillé Soufflé Body Crème

This was another cheeky little splurge, but I have wanted it for ages- its nice to have a little bit of luxury sometimes! This body cream smells amazing, I could smell it all day, in fact as I'm sat here typing I'm smelling it. It feels good on the skin and the smell lasts for ages on your skin; if I put it on in the morning, it will still be able to smell it when I go to bed.


Origins GinZing Eye Cream

This little baby has been a life saver recently, I actually bought this a few weeks ago but thought I would sneak it in here anyway. I bought this before my January exams as I was a bit sleep deprived, a little stressed and there may have even been a few tears, but this little eye cream brightened up any tell-tale dark circles and puffiness. I use it every morning after my face moisturiser and have really noticed a difference.

Topshop

Knitted Crystal Stud Jumper in Duck Egg

When we went on our shopping trip, I saw the jumper Sophie was wearing and absolutely loved it... so I bought it. Although I am not a complete copy cat, Sophie has the dark grey version and I picked up this lovely duck egg blue colour. I'm a bit obsessed with this colour at the minute and I love the embellishment around the neckline. The material is so soft, it's not itchy and super comfortable to wear. 

Get the Make-Up Look: Carey Mulligan in The Great Gatsby

 Last year I was so excited that Baz Luhrmann decided to recreate the on screen version of The Great Gatsby. I was even more excited when I found out that Leonardo Dicapirio and Carey Mulligan would be starring as Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan and that Jay Z was producing the Soundtrack for the film. The Great Gatsby is one of my favourite books and I think Baz did a great job at creating his version of the story. The film was visually stunning and one thing I especially loved were the outfits and makeup. Tiffany created all the jewellery including Daisy's gorgeous engagement ring and Jay's signature ring. Also Prada designed all of the costumes. Daisy has quite a subtle romantic makeup look that exudes femininity. I recently got the DVD for Christmas so when me and Jess re-watched the film recently I just had to do a blog post on her gorgeous makeup.

Complexion

First apply foundation to your skin as you normally would, perhaps if you use a lighter shade that would be better to recreate this look as Daisy's makeup is quite delicate. A matte foundation would probably be best too. I would use the Nars Sheer Matte Foundation. Next apply concealer where needed (under the eyes and to cover blemishes) as Carey has perfect skin in the film such as the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. The makeup look is quite matte so apply a setting powder all over the face like the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent. Carey doesn't have much colour to the cheeks but if you want some colour then use a light natural brush and subtly sweep over the apples of your cheeks to make it look as natural as possible.

Eyes

Fill in the eyebrows with a light brown eye shadow and an angled brush for a soft look. I would use MAC Charcoal Brown. Don't go over the top with the eyebrows just fill in where is needed to make them look strong and arched, but you don't want them to be the focus of the whole look. Next is Daisy's eyeshadow. Use a light neutral colour such as MAC Naked Lunch and sweep all over the lid using a basic shading eyeshadow brush. Then choose a light grey shade such as MAC Print and apply using a blending brush to the middle of the eyelid and out into the corners. Blend in with the lighter colour. Then use a blending brush to apply the grey colour to the crease. Blend all of this out again with a blending brush to give a soft look to the eyes. It is important to blend the colour and use light colours to recreate Carey's look. Daisy's eyes are slightly lined so draw out a thin line right along the lash line to give the eyes some definition. You can either use a matte black eyeshadow such as MAC Carbon or a liquid eyeliner such as the Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner. Next curl your lashes and apply a few coats of black mascara such as the Diorshow Mascara.

Lips

Daisy has a subtle and natural looking lip throughout the film. Use a rosy pink matte lipstick or lip pencil to achieve her look. You could even use a lip liner to define the lips and then colour in all of the lips and blend out with a lip brush. I would use the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien to achieve this look. You could also use a lipstick such as the Chanel Rouge Allure in Séduisante which the makeup artist for the film, Maurizio Silvi, used lightly on Carey's lips. 

Favourite Birchbox Products

I have been subscribed to Birchbox now for 4 months and I absolutely love it! It's a great way to try out new products and brands which you wouldn't necessarily use or know about - it's also great getting a little treat through the front door every month too! I have loved pretty much everything I've got from Birchbox so far so I am going to try and narrow it down to my favourite few...

Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara

I love to wear this mascara in the daytime as it looks so natural, much more so than my Le Volume De Chanel one which I reviewed a few weeks ago . It really separates the lashes and coats every single one without ever clumping. The small thin wand is not what I usually like with a mascara however, this one is an exception - it is especially good for bottom lashes too. It has the usual sleek Laura Mercier packaging and I will definitely be buying a full sized one when I get round to it. 

Philip Kingsley Hair Elasticizer

I only got this in this months box so have only tried it out once but on first impressions I really like it. It is a pre-shampoo treatment and I worked it into the ends of wet hair and left for 15 minutes before shampooing and conditioning as usual. I found it made my hair look and feel much nicer as well as leaving it tangle-free. I'm not sure if I will buy the full sized product as it is £28 which is a little on the pricey side, I'll see if I think its worth after using for about a month then decide. 

Korres Citrus Showergel

I keep hearing about the brand Korres so I was really excited when I got a (very large) sample of this shower gel last month. I have used it a couple of times but I have decided to save the rest for when I go on holiday as it is the perfect size and it has a really fresh, holiday scent. It lathers up into a really creamy texture and leaves my skin feeling very clean, refreshed and moisturised. I am definitely going to try some other Korres products- can anybody suggest any good stockists?

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Nude

I am a massive fan of Laura Mercier and have been using her Silk Crème foundation for a while now and I have had my eye on this tinted moisturiser for a while. It is a really lightweight tinted moisturiser and the coverage can be built up really easily. It is perfect if you are having 'a good face day' and you just want something to even out your skin tone and add a little radiance. It also has SPF20 which is another plus. I will certainly buying a full sized one in the summer.  

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter

I have never heard of this brand before but I really like this highlighter pencil/crayon. I use it on my bottom waterline of my eyes to brighten and make them look wider but it is really multi-functional; it can be used on the brow bone, cheek bone, in the eye inner corner - basically anywhere you might want to highlight. The pencil is really soft so it doesn't scratch and it stays put for a really long time. It has definitely become a staple in my make up bag. 

Are you subscribed to any beauty boxes, if so, what have been your favourite products?

p.s. thinking of subscribing to beauty boxes? Click here to see Sophie's review of Birchbox and Glossybox.

Blogmas Day 2: Product Review - Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara

A few months ago I bought a new mascara to try out- I have commitment issues with mascara, I can never stick to the same one for long and have been through many brands over the years including Benefit, Rimmel, Soap and Glory, Clarins, Clinique and many more. But this time it was time to try out Chanel’s Le Volume De Chanel mascara.

To begin with I adore the packaging on all Chanel products and this is no exception, its elegant, sleek and classic with the signature Chanel logo on the lid. 

The actual product is no disappointment either, the brush has what Chanel call ‘Snowflake’ bristles which have a combination of long and short bristles which really separate the lashes and make sure each lash gets a generous coating.

The formula is what Chanel describes as ‘innovative’ and ‘pumps lashes to their fullest’ and I probably would agree with this statement, I only need one coat of this mascara to get super long full lashes. Also, it never smudges throughout the day on me and is surprisingly easy to take off at the end of the day. 

The only negative thing I would say is I have to apply it really carefully to avoid clumping but apart from that it gets full marks.

This is definitely a luxury product at £24.00 a pop but if you are looking to treat yourself or a friend, or if you are a make-up snob like me, I would definitely recommend this mascara.