New Years Resolutions

I very rarely make new years resolutions, or at least, I try not to make outlandish ones that I know I won't keep - for example no chocolate until Easter or something equally as unlikely.

For 2013, I want to make some resolutions that I can keep, and by writing it in here, I at least have it well documented!

1. Be a better blogger - I started off so well with this blog, but slowly my posts have become fewer and fewer. Part of this is due to lack of time, and partly because I've had nothing new to share because I can't afford anything until the following month etc. Next year I am going to make a conscious effort to put more time into this, and also to participate more in the #bbloggers chats as I do enjoy them, but haven't participated as much as I'd like to this year.
2. Save more money - My boyfriend and I are hoping to go travelling in 2013 so I want to save money for that to make our plans reality and I would just like to start saving more money, as I'm sure I'll thank myself for it in the long run.
3. Stop grazing - After having reached my goal weight back in April, I have fallen off the wagon a little bit, and part of the problem is grazing at work. It has been quieter in the second half of the year, which means I notice hunger more and then eat more than I should. Equally we do get lots of treats which don't help, and when I'm not busy I have very poor self control....especially when they are put on the empty desk next to me. This one should be easier to do at the beginning of the year because work will start to pick up again and I will have less time to think about my stomach.

Three new years resolutions are doable I think, and I hope to stick to them. I would put 'exercise more' on my list, but I do go to the gym already (although I'm going through a bit of a slump at the moment) and I really don't think I'll manage to go anymore than I already do. 

Have you made any new years resolutions? What are they?

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Yes! Nurse Protect Your Lovely Hands Intensive Moisturising Hand Formula

I first came across this Yes! Nurse product after subscribing to Glossybox back in April. My first Glossybox was April which was the Eco Box. I received a full size sample of this hand cream and at the time was in much need for a hand cream and this fit the bill.

No matter how often I put hand cream on, and treat my hands well, they do end up very dry to the point that I have a patch of eczema on one of my fingers now. 

Yes! Nurse was created by nurses for nurses, the thinking behind it being that nurses have to clean their hands so regularly throughout the day that their hands may become thoroughly dried out and occasionally cracked, to the extent that most hand creams have little or no effect on their condition. This can severely affect their work.

This cream has been designed so that you won't have to use it once an hour (for example) but twice a day - at the beginning and the end of your shift.

Yes! Nurse contains ingredients to heal, sooth and hydrate hands all in one go, the contents include manuka honey, pomegranate seed oil and willow bark extract.

Scent isn't a massive factor for me when it comes to handcreams but I would say that this has a very unobtrusive scent, it actually reminds me a little of Sudocream, or what I remember Sudocream to smell like at least.

This is my second bottle of this particular hand cream which in my opinion says wonders about it. I really do like using this, not only does it moisturise my hands and help ressurect them but it also sinks in ridiculously quickly - meaning I can carry on with what I'm doing at without having to wait for it to sink in.

While I know I am not a nurse, I really do love this hand cream as it is so nourishing. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you are someone who is having trouble with dry hands - it is horrible, particularly in colder weather.

The price may sound a little expensive for 50ml, but I assure you that it is most definitely worth it, and I find this does a better job than hand creams that retail for twice the pricec. 

Yes! Nurse can either be purchased through their website in a monthly or bi-monthly subscription, or it can also be bought online here for £5.49

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Mallzee - A new way to shop

Clothing can be a very personal thing, with everyone having their own style and preferences - buying it as a present can be a nightmare (for a boyfriend/partner in particular). With Christmas coming up, I do feel a little bit bad for the men in our lives especially if you're anything like me - I have had no idea what to ask for this Christmas, my boyfriend has really had to draw blood from a stone to get ideas from me.

Shopping online has multiple advantages, especially at this time of year. Shops can be horribly busy especially if you only have time to go at the weekend. Often you can also obtain better deals online as well.

The one drawback to online shopping, especially clothes shopping is the lacking social side of things. We all enjoy going out and trying things on with our friends, don't we? Especially when it comes to getting somebody else's opinion on that jumper you've had your eye on for the last couple of weeks. Sending a link to your friend via email or Facebook message doesn't quite have the same effect, although you will equally get similar feedback from your friends.

Introducing Mallzee* which claims to be the new social way for shopping. It is a very interesting concept. This is what they say about themselves:

"Mallzee is all about creating a new experience for shopping online. Users create their own personalized shopping mall (Mallzee) by picking their favourite brands and stores. Our fancy software then finds products matching your personal style and showcases them in your Mallzee! To add a new social aspect users can then invite their friends to ‘visit’ their Mallzee through the use of Facebook chat. Friends can then discuss product choices and star items they think their friends will love and purchase from the mall themselves with great discounts negotiated by us. If you're still unable to decided on a purchase you can also create polls to ask your friends opinions before you buy. An added bonus to inviting friends to your mallzee is that as the ‘owner’ you earn money every time anyone buys from your Mallzee! (That's right you get paid when you or your friends shop!) 

Currently we have over 200 brands signed up to Mallzee (Urban Outfitters, New Look, Feel Unique and St. Tropez to name a few). We're really keen to get the word out about Mallzee and get future users excited about the concept before we launch later this year. With this in mind people can register now for a launch invite at Mallzee.com and if they spread the word on Facebook or Twitter we will also enter them into a prize for £100/$155 of shopping vouchers and some other goodies"

What has really sold it to me is some of the brands that have already signed up to Mallzee, FeelUnique in particular, this is a website that I regularly shop from, and although I have a wishlist on the website, I have never really shared it with friends.

I have asked about launch dates and currently it is beta to a select few, but from the sounds of it January is the month to keep an eye out for this to go live for everyone who has signed up to the website. If you haven't already you can sign up, here to be one of the first to have access.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

* Sponsored post

December Wishlist

This month I haven't found myself lusting over anything in a 'I must have this now' way, but there are a few products that I would really like, and they aren't all beauty related.

01. Rekordelig Limited Edition Winter Cider - My boyfriend and I tried this whilst at Winter Wonderland and it was really nice, but I'll be damned if I can find it in a supermarket in my town. I even drove the otherside of town to see if the massive Sainsbury's sold it. That's a negative. So I'm still on the hunt for it.

02. O.P.I Germany Collection - I've been wanting some of the colours from this collection for a while, and I should probably get a move on before they vanish off the face of this earth!

03. Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - I've heard many many good things about this cleansing balm, so naturally I would like to see what all the fuss is about. I actually watched EH on QVC last week and I have actually bought my Mum the 4 piece starter kit for Christmas (ssshh!) which includes the balm. I'm curious to see her take on it, and if she doesn't like it....I'll be happy to take it off her hands.

04. Rio Sonicleanse - This is another product I never would have known about if it wasn't for reading blogs - I've heard so many positive things about these sonic cleansers that I would really like to invest in one to see if my skin benefits from it (part of me is still a little sceptical). I should be getting Amazon vouchers for Christmas which I will probably use towards buying this. 

05. Diptyque candle in "Feu de Bois" - I made my first ever trip into Space NK last Monday, and I was suitably impressed. I was very drawn to the Diptyque candle section after having heard so many bloggers talk about them. This scent really stood out to me, and I would definitely like to buy it, but I'm just not so sure I can justify the price tag. 

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Soap & Glory The Best of All Bundle

Please excuse the photos, given the size I didn't have much choice but to do it on the floor!

After my post last Thursday about the Soap and Glory Christmas offer a boots, I thought I'd show you exactly what you receive - rather than just the product photo. 

This offer ends tomorrow. It is now out of stock online, but I would definitely recommend checking your local store - you never know you might get lucky! As part of my job last year I regularly worked in Boots and therefore used to have to go into the stock rooms. You would not believe quite how many of these gift sets they have in anticipation of this offer. There were palettes upon palettes of these sets stacked up, and I would assume it would be the same if not more this year!

In addition to the 9 products you see above, this set also includes lots of coupons for Soap and Glory at Boots for 2013 - some really good offers. 

Reviews of these products are to come!

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

HD Brows Eye and Brow Palette

I received the HD Eye and Brow Palette in 'Foxy' from July's Glossybox, which was my last Glossybox. I have recently reviewed Urban Decay's brow box but I was quite excited to see this brow box. 

On first glance from the outside, it looks like a compact, and looks quite classy. Inside there are 4 shades, which can be used on eyes and on the brow too.

I haven't used this on my eyes, but I reckon it would be good to make a smoky eye effect - something I'm still trying to master after plenty of practice. When using this to define my eyebrows of a morning, I use a combination of the bottom two browns. 

It also comes with a double ended miniature brush for application - one end regular and one end angled for extra precision. 

I am impressed with this little palette, especially because it has a large mirror in the lid which allows you to see what you are doing. This would fit nicely in my bag, without fear of it opening up and getting ruined as it comes with a little clasp. 

Application wise I am fairly happy with this box, occasionally I find that this can apply a little patchy on the 'inner part' of my brow which can be a little frustrating especially if I'm in a rush. It doesn't happen often mind. 

If I hadn't received this in Glossybox, I'm not too sure if I would buy this off my own back. This is simply because I don't know too much about HD Brows, and it isn't that easy to find it to buy online - to find the below link, I had to click on other products to get to their online store.

The HD Brows Eye and Brow palette retails for £19.96 and is available in three shades which be bought online here

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

I've made it no secret on here that my skin has seen better days since the cold weather has set in and so I have made a few key purchases to try and nourish it back to health. 

I have had my eye on the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask for a while, but during the summer months, I didn't really feel any need for it. I bought this a couple of weeks ago after it became clear that my boyfriend wouldn't be buying me this for Christmas. When I say it became clear, I mean he told me. 

My skin has been flaky and had dry patches on and off since October which has been incredibly frustrating, and on occasion got me a little down about it, especially when make up highlights the fact rather than hiding all your sins.

After using this for a few weeks now, I am suitably impressed. My biggest fear with 'intense moisture' products is that it will break me out in spots as my skin used to be prone to them, although I've mostly gotten it under control. Fortunately I haven't had to worry using this product. It contains hyaluronic acid, which is in many popular products at the moment.

I've been using this mask twice a week and I am seeing an improvement. I am still occasionally getting dry flaky patches but that's when I know I need to use the mask again and by the morning my skin looks normal again.

If you are suffering from dry dehydrated skin, I would definitely recommend this. It retails for £20.00 and can be found online or at Origins counters.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Soap and Glory Bargain at Boots

Have you ever had your eye on that amazing £60 Soap & Glory gift set in Boots but been put off by the price tag?

Each year, for a week in December Boots does an amazing promotion whereby this amazing gift set is heavily discounted. This year's gift set is called "The Best of All" and is currently on sale for £60, but from tomorrow it will be on sale for £27. 

The promotion runs from Friday 14th December until Thursday 20th December (or while stocks last, I assume) but if I were you I'd try and get it ASAP. The offer will be available instore and online. 

What does The Best of All contain?

• Clean on Me Shower Gel - RRP £5.50 
• Smoothie Star Body Lotion - RRP £10 
• Peaches & Clean Cleansing Milk - RRP £7 
• The Righteous Butter - RRP £10.50 
• Sugar Crush Body Scrub - RRP £8 
• Hand Food – RRP £5 
• Heel Genius - RRP £5.50 
• Thick & Fast Mascara - RRP £10 
• Sexy Mother Pucker Lipgloss in Punchbowl - RRP £9

I was fortunate to get last years promotional set and I still have some of it, as everything lasts so long. Even if you aren't interested in this for yourself, it would make a brilliant Christmas present.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

NOTD Essie Thigh High

After making my first ever Essie purchase last month, I decided to make another purchase when I was in London on Monday. This time I bought 'Thigh High' which is a gorgeous metallicy scarlet red.

This colour is very festive and perfect for Christmas!

I am yet again thoroughly impressed with Essie. My only problem is trying to decide which colours to buy - I'm awful when it comes to so much choice.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream

Made with organic angelica from the Drome region of France, the fresh and silky smooth Angelica Hydration Cream efficiently moisturises and revitalises the skin.
L'OCCITANE's patented angelica complex reinforces natural skin hydration by stimulating aquaporines, improves skin elasticity and protects from free radicals. 

(Courtesy of L'Occitane)

I received this back in June in my first Jolie Box, back when I was a subscriber. One thing I really liked about Jolie Box was that a lot of the products I received seemed to be skincare orientated rather than cosmetic or perfume.

When the weather started turning colder, my skin changed with it, gone is the over oilyness and in it's place dry skin has taken over. In order to remedy this, I thought I'd have a dig through my previous beauty box samples and see whether anything could be of use, and this is where I stumbled on this product which I don't think I'd ever paid much attention to when I received it.

When applying this for the first time, I was slightly put off by the scent which in my mind is slightly olivey (but I could be completely wrong) but I stuck with it. It goes on so beautifully, it doesn't feel greasy in the slightest and it sunk in so quickly rather than just sitting on my skin. All in all I was very impressed with this sample which I almost exclusively applied at night as it felt too rich for day time, my skin did feel pretty damn smooth and soft in the mornings and I don't think dry patches was a concern during my use of this. I did have a bit of a breakout but I don't know whether it was at all related to this or not. 

This is a very rich facial cream, and I definitely would recommend it, especially if you already have one of these samples in your possession. I'm not sure I would pay for the full size container as it is quite expensive, but L'Occitane is an amazing brand and really I can't fault this product (apart from the price).

L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream is £29.00/50ml and can be found here

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

NOTD Essie Bahama Mama

I've only recently managed to get my hands on a couple of Essie nail polishes, as neither Boots nor Superdrug in my town sell them and when I was recently in London I hunted high and low for somewhere that sold them to no avail. 

I've heard so many positive things about Essie and therefore have been wanting to try them out for the last few months. I've found in the past that nail polish brands that are ranted about how long they last etc tend to only last a couple of days for me before chipping, so I tend to take feedback like that with a pinch of salt. After watching one of Meg's videos over on Lip So Facto, she mentioned that Essie nail polishes don't last long on her nails - I know the feeling so I assumed I would have the same problem.

I absolutely adore this colour, most blog photos I've seen has given me the impression that this is quite a dark colour, so I will warn you I have adjusted the contrast of my photos so that they have a good representation of the colour. It is brighter than I expected, but still a gorgeous colour. It needs two coats to look even, but this is also an incredibly fast drying nail polish. I didn't need to use any 'fast drying' top coat on top. 

Going back to chipping, the photo below is wearing Bahama Mama and Miss Fancy Pants for five days without base or top coat.

This was taken on my phone, but you can still see how minimal the chipping is. All in all I have to whole heartedly jump onto the Essie bandwagon and shout it from the rooftops. 

Have you tried Essie nail polishes? What is your favourite colour?

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Urban Decay Brow Box in Brown Sugar

It is only in the last couple of years that I have really taken to filling my eyebrows in. I dabbled with when I was about 17 but decided it accentuated my eyebrows in a bad way (and it wasn't really a style back then). Since then, I started to use an eyebrow pencil to fill them in but after trying out powder products for eyebrows after borrowing my friends Browzings compact, I knew this was for me. I didn't like the price of the Browzings compact, so looked out for an alternative. 

This is where Urban Decay come in, I discovered their brow box online and went on a hunt for my nearest UD counter. I went to Lakeside and tried both department stores, without success. I didn't want to order online because I didn't know whether I needed to go for the lighter box or the darker one. I put my quest off for a little bit until I went on holiday with my Mum last September to New York. It was there that I found an Urban Decay counter in Macy's and decided I was best off with the darker box, named Brown Sugar.

The following morning, my eyebrow pencil was long forgotten and I was excited to be trying something new out. Since I bought it, I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've not used it. Okay, that's an exaggeration because I don't wear it when I swim...or if I'm having a lazy day. But the amount of times I've gone out without using it is quite small. I just love it! 

I have alternated between using just the dark powder, and just the light powder and now I've settled for a mix of the two. I have had this for over a year now and it shows no sign of coming to the bottom of the pan on either colours or wax, although admittedly you can see the bottom of the pan through the wax in the photo below.

This lasts all day, and as you can see comes with an application brush and mini tweezers which help tidy up unruly brows when needed. I would highly recommend buying this especially if you're looking for an alternative to Benefit Browzings (a price difference of £5.50). 

Urban Decay Brow Box retails for £17.00 and can be found at Urban Decay counters nationwide and online.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Primark Embellish 3D Nails

I very rarely experiment with nail art, mostly because I'm too lazy now. I used to be quite into it when I was a student and had a bit more time on my hands. 

On my recent trip to London I went to the Primark at Marble Arch to look for a couple of bits. In the check out I found this little kit which produces the same effect as a certain fish egg manicure at a fraction of the price. 

At £2.50, I couldn't really pass it up! When I got home from London, one of the first things I did after unpacking was try this out!

I have seen the Nail Constellation collection from MUA, and though some of them are pretty, none of the colour combinations really took my fancy and at £3.00 for the beads alone this is far better value. 

Application is pretty simple, but you will need a bit of time to let it set completely, especially as you need to do two coats of nail polish. 

This is how my first go turned out, and I must say I was quite impressed. I applied the little beads over a  box lid (although it does come with a plastic tray, which was full of static) and then to avoid waste you tip them back into the container using the little funnel supplied.

I haven't really read many reviews on this type of manicure, so I had no idea what to expect with chipping etc. The night I applied it I ended up making peanut butter cookies which may have contributed to it wearing away quicker than normal, but I don't think it made too much of a difference.  

I've taken a photo of my nails after a few days, as you can see most of the beads have come off, but at a distance you can't really tell. This is a really cool manicure, and if you see it in Primark, I would definitely recommend giving it a go. 

For the price of £2.50, don't expect too much, but if you're doing it for a night out or special event, then you can't go wrong!

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Origins Super Spot Remover



I first purchased the Origins Super Spot Remover in July/August I think during an attack of incredibly bad skin. I read a review of it on Sophia's blog and thought it was worth giving it a shot as nothing else had been working up until that point. 

I'll be honest, because of the bad condition of my skin, I put a lot of hope on this tiny little bottle to be the miracle product for spots. Naturally, it didn't live up to my unrealistic expectations. That isn't to say that this product doesn't work, because it does but I believe my skin problems were due to hormones rather than anything else which is why it took so long to go down. Looking back on when I have used it in other instances it has certainly helped. I have prescribed Benzoyl Peroxide gel from the doctors (luckily I don't have to use it quite as much anymore) but one of the drawbacks of this treatment is that it can't be used during the day as it can bleach the skin.

Because of the skin-bleaching properties of benzoyl peroxide, this is where this product comes into it's own. If I have any spots or soon to be spots I pop some of this on them before my makeup which can really help.

It goes without saying that this product alone won't cure you of your skin problems, a good skincare routine is essential. I always used to think my skin care routine was pretty good...until I started blogging. Now I feel like I don't do enough, and that's not just for my face, but for exfoliating and moisturising the rest of my body as well, but let's save that for another blog post.

I was very surprised how little the bottle is for this product, given that it isn't particularly cheap (in my opinion at least). I will say, however, that it has lasted me for a good few months now, and there's still a bit left to tide me over. Would I buy this product again? Yes, I probably would, but I will be keeping an eye out for a cheaper alternative in the mean time.

Origins Super Spot Remover retails for £13.00 and can be found online or at an Origins counter in department stores.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

November Wish List

01. Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

02. Pandora National Icons Brandenburg Gate Charm 

03. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream 

04. Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser 

05. Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Treatment Mask 

There's still a fair few items on my past wishlists that I'm lusting over, but this month my skin is in hell. My skin doesn't normally react too badly to the change of temperature, but this year my god it's shocking. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but it's not good. 

For the last month and a half I'd say, I've had a really dry flaky patch of skin in between my ring finger and middle finger on my right hand. I took to wearing so much hand cream that I could barely hold a glass, after seeing no change, I moved on to E45 cream, which while nice hasn't made that much of a difference. On a recent trip to the doctors, I told my GP who recommended some hydro-cortisone cream which I promptly went to the pharmacy and bought. If I'm honest I haven't seen an improvement. 

Since the start of the dry patch on my hand, I've developed dry flaky skin under my eyes (which means no concealer, boo hiss) which I thought would pass, but now I have an angry red dry patch under my eye which looks like the aftermath of a black eye. 

All in all, I think my skin is just in a bit of a sorry state right now, and is in much need of some TLC and moisture. 

I've heard lots about Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish hot cloth cleanser, and after reading on Emma's blog (milkteef.com) that Superdrug has one for £5.99, I think it's high time I give this type of cleanser a go!

And then there's the Pandora charm. I let out a little excited noise when I saw Pandora was launching this charm. It was a little short lived though when I've found it's near enough impossible to get hold of it in the UK. All their "National Icon" charms are available, bar this one. It's available in the US though - because that's logical isn't it, being sold on a whole different continent. So I'm currently on a mission to somehow get my hands on this. I've even had a colleague go to their local store to see if it can be ordered in. I must have this charm!!

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo Review

When Maybelline released their range of 24hr Colour Tattoos, I read review upon review of them. So needless to say they were pretty popular. 

I've always preferred powder eyeshadows, and the thought of wearing something that was more of a cream didn't appeal to me in the slightest. One review (I can't remember which blog) however, made me consider giving this product a go.

I spotted this on offer in Boots one day, so after careful deliberation I chose this shade, On and On Bronze, over Permanent Taupe. When it came to giving it a go, I was quite surprised because I didn't expect it to feel so...dry so to speak. I really expected it to be a lot wetter than it was, and to take a while to fully set on my eyelids (which is what puts me off any liquid based eyeshadows). Fortunately this wasn't the case.

This product is slightly creamy when you stick your finger in it (assuming you apply it with your fingers rather than a brush) and when you apply it to your eyelids, it evens out to a powdery finish. Similar to how creme blushes go on application. Because of this, I would definitely consider buying a couple more of this product to use, and I definitely would like to add Permanent Taupe to my collection at some point.

I haven't worn this quite as much as I would like, simply because I don't like wearing too much on my eyelids when I'm at work, I tend to go for neutral/pale colours rather than something that will stand out.  The other reason being, that I personally think this colour would suit someone with brown eyes more.

All in all, I can see why these little pots have been popular, and I would recommend them to anybody who is an eyeshadow wearer who is a cream eyeshadow sceptic like myself! If this felt heavy on my eyelids, I most definitely wouldn't give it the time of day. I tend to wear Urban Decay's Primer Potion under this to avoid creasing, which works. I can't testify to creasing without the PP though I'm afraid.

The Colour Tattoo range retails at £4.99 and can be bought at your local Maybelline counter or online. I believe there are 8 shades available.

Have you tried any shades from this range? What are your thoughts?

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Dark Winter Lips

With the weather getting colder, the seasons colours are also changing. Gone are the vibrant colours of summer, and in are darker berry colours verging on vampy. One popular colour at the moment is a burgundy/plum red colour on the lips. 

18 months ago I was in a make up outlet store near me and purchased a Benefit lipstick in the colour "No Complications", which although a bit dark for summer, I thought I'd have a use for it in the future - and here it is! I've dusted it off and started wearing it again!

Although Benefit's No Complications lipstick may not look that dark in the photo, it's plenty dark enough for me in person. I don't think this shade is still available from Benefit, but given that it is this seasons lip colour (or there about) you will definitely find a suitable alternative at most make up counters I would imagine.

One popular lip colour is 107 as part of the Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick collection. I don't own it yet, but I am sorely tempted to buy it next time I'm near a Rimmel counter. What lip colours are you wearing at the moment?

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Topshop Creme Blush in Flush Review

I spotted a friend sporting a rather lovely looking blusher the other month in some photos so I promptly asked her what she was wearing and to my surprise it was a Topshop Crème Blush. I am a complete and utter novice to crème blushes so I thought it was high time I gave it a go. 

The first time I used it, I was a little nervous, and not entirely happy with the result. I’ve perfected my powder blusher application, so to now be applying it with my fingers seems completely alien to me. I’ve slowly got there with application and making it look more symmetrical on my cheeks. It’ll take a while before I’m fully confident with it. 

There’s not a lot I can say about this blush really. I’ve worn it a few times, and my favourite thing about it is that when it fades, it doesn’t go patchy. It fades evenly, so I’m not looking in the mirror at the end of the day with blotchy cheeks. This won’t last all day, but I wouldn’t expect it to especially considering how much I probably touch my face without realising it. 

I would definitely try more Crème Blushes in the future, overall, I’m not too sure this is the best colour for my skin tone, as I do get little red blotches on the tops of my cheeks occasionally, and having a bright pink blusher tends to accentuate it more. 

One thing I have to remember with this type of blusher is that 9/10 it is going to look extremely vibrant in the pan, but once applied sparingly it can look quite lovely. Obviously it can be built up for a stronger colour, but given how pale I am at the moment I’m better off going for more of a flushed look than anything and this can achieve it – it’s in the name!

Left: Blended (poorly) Right: Swatched

I will definitely try some more from the Topshop range, I’ve been recommended Head over Heels by the same friend and it is apparently by far the best colour from their range. I also have my eye on the MAC Crème Blushes, they look pretty nice too.

Topshop Creme Blushes are £6 and can be bought online or instore.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Please excuse the slightly grubbyness of the packaging. I originally took photos a while ago, but decided they were rubbish so retook them this evening.

MUA All in One Blemish Balm

I recently purchased MUA's All in One Blemish Balm from Superdrug, it was too good to pass up with a £3 promotional price (normally retails at £4), as well as hearing so much positive feedback about the brand. 

The only other BB Cream I have tried is the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector, which I bought last year now and am close to running out.

I don't like using foundation on my skin every day, partially because sitting in an office in the middle of the countryside doesn't exactly require a full face of makeup and because I just can't be bothered with the application of foundation each day. 

Trying to choose my perfect shade for the MUA BB Cream proved to be a little difficult due to the fact that only two testers were present (light and dark). I knew light was too light and would make me look so pale I would belong in the Adams family, but I wasn't sure if medium might be a touch too dark, so I opted for the shade in between, Light Rosé. Admittedly this is still a little pale.

Consistency wise there is a massive difference between MUA and Garnier. While Garnier feels creamier, and a little goes quite far, I felt it was quite the opposite with MUA. I don't even know how to describe it apart from, it was so thick a little definitely did not go a long way. I would start to rub it in, and within seconds it had dried almost. The positive of it was that it doesn't feel like it's sitting on top of your skin whereas if I apply too much of the Garnier BB it can feel like that. (It's probably worth noting that I use my hands to apply BB Creams) 

Coverage seems to be pretty good, and looking on MUA's website it is described as a BB Foundation, which confuses me a little, as BB's are almost a middle ground between foundations and tinted moisturisers. 

The major negative for me with this product is that because the consistency is quite drying/powdery (I still don't know how to describe it) it shows up every single patch of dry skin on my face - no matter how small or slight. It is such a shame, because I don't feel like I'm wearing anything which is always a bonus, but I don't want a product that highlights my imperfections when it's supposed to even out skin tone and blemishes. 

Given the fact that it is described on the website as a foundation, I would hazard a guess that that is why the consistency feels so incredibly different, polar opposite almost, to the Garnier one. 

Many can argue - what did you expect from a product that sells for £4, but following on the rave reviews of other products I thought this may be a keeper. I'll probably keep hold of this for emergencies but I won't be reaching for it in any other circumstance unfortunately. 

I would say that perhaps this formula is better for summer, or for oilier skin types. My skin is getting quite dry from the temperature change so perhaps it's just a case of trying this at the wrong time of year. Either way, I am a little disappointed. Though considering I only paid £3 for it, I don't feel like I've been ripped off or that it's overpriced.

MUA's All in One Beauty Balm (Foundation) is currently on promotion for £3 but retails normally for £4 and can be bought online or in Superdrug. 

Has anybody else tried this? What were your thoughts - positive/negative?

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

InStyle November Magazine Free Gift

I posted back in June about a couple of magazine free gifts that were very popular. This month sees some more exceptional free gifts with magazines. Now, I haven't gone out and bought every single one of them, but I have bought two of the InStyle magazine as they are giving away miniature Benefit cheek and lip stains this month. 

I've picked up Sunbeam and Cha Cha Tint. Just a word of warning - Sunbeam is literally like liquid gold. So hard to get hold of. Or for me at least it was. 

I've wanted to try Sunbeam for some time now, and coming in a miniature for £2.50 isn't something you can say no to. I rarely use highlighter so this is probably of more use to me than spending £25+/- buying a full size one. I initially bought Cha Cha Tint because I couldn't get Sunbeam, and I didn't want to leave empty handed. It is incredibly bright when first applied to your skin, but once worked in it is quite nice.

Sorry for the quality of the last two photos, but trying to get my camera to focus on my hand was rather difficult.

InStyle Magazine is £3.80 but Tescos are currently selling it on promotion for £2.50. The other tint available is Benetint.

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Kiko Nail Polishes

This is a rather belated post. After my holiday in Berlin I posted some photos of a Kiko Nail Polish that I purchased while I was out there. I mentioned that I had infact bought 4 in total, but I never got around to posting photos of the other 3. This post is essentially to show you the other colours I bought.

L-R 343, 235, 344, 385

 

Kate x

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest