Glossybox vs. Boudoir Prive

http://www.glossybox.co.uk/ - £10 per month (+p&p) to receive 5 luxury product miniatures from high-end brands in each box.
Some of the brands involved: Batiste, Illamasqua, Lalique, Ciate, Murad, OPI, Xen-Tan, KMS, Weleda, Daniel Sandler, All for Eve.
Products in my box:
HD Brows (Eye&Brow Palette) - £19.95
L'Oréal Professionnel (Mythic Oil) - £14.95
Mary Greenwell (Plum Eau de Parfum) - £60 (for 50ml)
NUXE HuileProdigieuse - £37.50 (for 100ml)
StriVectin (SD Eye Concentrate) - £49 (30ml)

Check out my review of the August GlossyBox here. 

http://www.boudoirprive.co.uk/ - £10 per month (free p&p) to receive 5/6 deluxe size samples in each box.
Some of the brands involved: Agent Provocateur, Cargo, Jane Iredale, Bloom Teas, Mai Couture, Tropic, Etat Libre D'Orange, Colber MD.
Products in my box:
Zoya nail varnish - £3.80
Agent Provacateur perfume
Cargo eyeliner
Tropic scrub
Macadamia Oil
Colbert MD moisturiser

Both of the boxes were sent to me for review. This is not a sponsored video and all opinions are, as always, my own.

Have you tried either of these services? Which is your favourite? Let me know your thoughts my lovelies! xxx

Real Techniques Blush Brush

I'm sure many of you watch the amazing tutorials by Pixiwoo - the Chapman sisters are incredibly beautiful, talented and are a real inspiration to all us makeup lovers ;). I was really excited when I heard that Sam was bringing out her own line of brushes as I truly value her judgment and expertise. I have been trialing a few of the brushes from the Real Techniques line and have to say that I am extremely impressed with them!

First up for review is the Blush Brush.

The blush brush is made of synthetic taklon bristles, which are hand-cut for the perfect shape and 100% cruelty-free. The pink handle is sturdy, yet light and allows the brush to stand up on its own. The bristles are extremely soft and feel amazing, yet they are robust enough not to fan out and work perfectly to blend both powder and cream products. I love using this brush for blushers, highlighters and even contour powders or bronzers as the tapered tip makes shading accurate and smooth. What I love most about this brush though is the fact that it doesn't shed! I have found that many other brushes of a similar shape/ style (particularly the MAC duo fibre stippling brushes) shed horrendously, especially after washing, but this brush remains in tact and fluffy as ever.


These brushes are impeccably designed and competitively priced. I highly recommend you check them out if you are looking to invest in some great quality, professional brushes. The blush brush retails at £9.99 ($8.99) and can be purchased in the UK from Victoria Halth here or in the US from Ulta here.

Have you tried any Real Techniques brushes? What are your thoughts? xxx

Centenary Magdalene May Ball 2011

On Wednesday I attended the Magdalene May Ball in Cambridge to celebrate the end of an era as my smarty pants bf graduates to become Dr. bf.

 Starting at 6.30pm and ending just before 9am it was a night full of glamour, decadence, fun and endurance!

 

On arrival we were greeted by a champagne reception and oyster bar, which we took full advantage of!

I chose to wear a purple asymmetric Grecian inspired dress from Coast, which I paired with nude shoes and bag from Zara. To adhere to the white tie dress code I also added long black satin gloves (from ebay) and a black shawl from H&M. As the neckline of the dress has some pleated detailing I decided to forgo a necklace and instead add some sparkle with a diamond tennis bracelet, tear drop earrings from Mikey, a large black and silver ring and a hair clip from Swarovski.

For makeup that would last the full 15 hours I used:

Mix of Estee Lauder's Double Wear and Rimmel's Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation set with MAC mineralize skinfinish natural

NARS Laguna Bronzer

MAC well dressed blush

UDPP

MAC electra, knight divine, carbon and vapour eyeshadows

Collection 2000 glitter liner for the lower lashline and L'Oreal carbon gloss liquid liner in black

Ardell runway lashes

MAC creme cup lipstick

Clarins instant light lipgloss

 With limited dressing facilities I went back to basics and styled my hair using the Babyliss heated rollers. I back combed the top sections to add some volume and secured the back with a hair clip.

We had such a fantastic night sampling all the food, drink and entertainment on offer, which included copious cocktails and champagne, fish spa pedicures, The Mystery Jets, Truly Medley Deeply, various comedy acts, burlesque, salsa dancing, sushi platters, magicians and much more!

 The Mystery Jets

By the time morning came we were happily exhausted.. but we made it!

We survived the Magdalene May Ball... and are already looking forward to the next one in 2013! :) xxx

Anniversary Dinner

For the first time in a while I took a few hours out of my hectic schedule to get glammed up for my anniversary dinner with the bf. Nothing is more relaxing than a little pampering session!

 Face: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

NARS Laguna Bronzer

Guerlain highlighting powder

MAC Well Dressed blush

Since I had some time I decided to play with some of my long abandoned pigments. I used MAC's pinked mauve on the lid and a little cornflower on the outer corner. I then blended some neutral colours through the crease to add some depth and definition, namely MAC scene and grain, and added a little digit to the inner corners.

I finished off the look with L'Oreal's super liner carbon gloss and million lashes mascara. Since my lashes are somewhat sparse post extensions I also added some subtle false lashes from Japonesque.

This was my first time trying Japonesque and I have to say I'm impressed! The lashes look so natural on and are easy to apply as they are flexible and fit well to the eye contour. I also really liked the clear lash band as it makes them almost undetectable! You can find a great range of Japonesque lashes (RRP £8.00) here.

On the lips I used MAC's rose romance lipstick and trifle lipglass.

Despite 'forcing' the bf to get snap happy my all black outfit didn't quite lend itself to my living room's lighting. I wore a simple black mini dress with a low cut back with bow detail. To add a little interest I chose my favourite 'evening' coat. I purchased this from Topshop's limited edition boutique line years ago, but am hoping it will last forever as I very rarely wear it, saving it for very special occasions.

This photo really doesn't do this trench coat justice, I will have to try and get a photo in daylight. The bell sleeves, the full draped skirt, I adore it!

The statement bling in the above is from Swarovski.

Maxie didn't want to feel left out so he had some pampering too, although you can probably tell that he doesn't enjoy having his hair done... ahem I mean brushed, as much as I do ;). Yay it's almost the weekend! I hope you are all having a good week my lovelies! xxx

Maybelline The Eraser Foundation

Over the past few weeks I have been trialing the new Eraser foundation from 'Maybe it's Maybelline' ;). Despite the incredibly annoying advert featuring Jameela Jamil I was excited to see whether this foundation could live up to its promises, which include:

• The patented micro-corrector applicator micro-fills and smoothes imperfections on skin's surface, erasing the look of crow's feet, fine lines and dark circles.
• The super-concentrated formula with collagen acts to tighten and improve skin's elasticity.
• SPF 18 Sunscreen helps protect skin from sun damage.

The first thing I noticed about this foundation is its unique applicator - a built in dome sponge. The foundation feeds through to the sponge after a few (well, quite a few) twists of the bottle. Although I like the idea of this, as it removes the need for other sponges or brushes, what concerns me is the build up of bacteria, since you are not supposed to wash the sponge. Maybelline claims that The Eraser is protected with an anti-microbial system and to clean the applicator it is best to just wipe off excess foundation with a dry tissue and never wet the applicator. I'm not sure how this 'anti-bacterial' action works, so if anyone does then please do let me know in the comments.

The foundation is easy to apply with the applicator, but since the formula is quite thin and 'slippery' I found the best way was to blend it out with my fingers. I would say it has medium to low coverage, depending on how thinly you spread it, and while evening tone it doesn't hide blemishes. It feels quite lightweight and has a very natural finish, so it would be perfect for minimal makeup days. I can't comment too much on it's 'wrinkle erasing' but it does a good job of smoothing skin texture and concealing enlarged pores. As my skin gets quite oily throughout the day I did set it with powder, and as you can see in the photo below (after 12 hours of wear) it held up pretty well. Ultimately I think this foundation would be best suited to those with dry skin as it doesn't cling to any flakes and conceals any unevenness in texture.

Overall I'm really impressed with this foundation. It's quick to apply and blends into the skin very easily giving a smooth, even appearance. I would call this a great 'everyday' foundation as it's lightweight and has a very natural finish. For more information just click here.

Have you tried the Maybelline Eraser foundation? xxx

17 Mirror Shine On Lipstick

During a recent trip to Boots I spotted the 17 Mirror Shine On lipstick display and couldn't resist a quick swatch! I have noticed these lipsticks mentioned on a couple of blogs, but as 17 is a brand I'm not terribly familiar with my expectations were not all that high.

I was therefore surprised by just how wonderful the texture of these lipsticks was - glossy, creamy and sheer while still delivering a juicy burst of colour. I chose to go for the natural shade of Belle as I thought it would be perfect for work.

Belle is a beautiful, full rosy pink that really has that natural 'my lips but better' look and I absolutely adore it. Its a perfect lipstick for every day that works effortlessly with any eye look.

(Apologies for the washed out colours in this photo)

At just £4.59 it makes a great dupe for many high end lipsticks and is comparable in formulation to MAC slimshines and Chanel Rouge Coco Shines. They are available at Boots stores nationwide, and can be found here online. Definitely worth a look!

Have you tried the 17 Mirror Shine On lipsticks? Let me know your favourites as I will be picking up a few more shades to review soon! xxx

Perfect Valentine's Day Makeup

A little late to go up here, but this look is great for any event, not just Valentine's!

Products used in this video:
．Bourjois - So Rouge Ready To Wear Lipstick - # 32 Fashion Rouge http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/bo...

．Benefit - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner - # Recess http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/be...
．Benefit - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner - # Carte Blanche http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/be...
．Benefit - Thrrob Turned On Face Powder http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/be...
．Estee Lauder - Double Wear Light Stay In Place Makeup SPF10 - # 10 ( Intensity 1.0 ) http://uk.strawberrynet.com/makeup/es...

Hope you all had a perfect Valentine's day my lovelies! After roses being delivered to work and a three course meal being cooked I can't complain ;). xxx

Witch Anti-blemish Cosmetics

Recently I took part in the ultimate skincare challenge - a fun filled week of activities designed to test Witch's new anti-blemish cosmetic range. I am a long time fan of Witch products, having used their witch hazel oil control foaming face wash religiously throughout my teens, so I was excited to see what their new cosmetics had in store!

As someone who has oily skin will tell you - makeup and oils do not mix too well. I have always had oily/combination sensitive skin, and despite now peeking into my mid twenties (I'm 24.. gasp!) I still have the skin of a spotty teenager - unpredictable! Witch hazel is a fantastic ingredient that has always worked well for me as it is astringent (tightens the skin), hemostatic (reduces blood loss/ inflammation) and contains a range of antioxidants.

The cosmetic range aims to still deliver all the benefits of witch hazel skincare in makeup. I think this is a brilliant idea, especially as there is growing concern over the various ingredients used in cosmetics. If you put effort into your skincare routine, why not extend it into your beauty regime and make sure that all the products you use not only make your skin look good by covering imperfections, but also targeting the problems?

So to thoroughly test the new range we embarked on a week of challenges. On day one we met up for some drinks, nibbles and introductions to our fellow bloggers, the Witch team and of course the range.  We were also colour matched - no surprises there, tinted moisturiser in No.1 light for me! However, I was impressed to see that the translucent pressed powder worked well on all skin tones without casting a white veil.

On the second night the girlies had a shopping experience, to test how the makeup would stand up under bright lights and the pressure of Oxford street's Primark. As I was in Paris for work I wasn't able to witness the madness for myself ;).

On Wednesday night we embarked on the biggest challenge of all - a dance class at Pineapple studios! If our makeup could last an hour of (perfectly) synchronized Gilrs Aloud routines it wouldn't fail us on a night out.

I chose to wear the Skin Clearing Primer under my usual foundation and was happy to see that after more than a little perspiration it was holding up well as the curtain fell ;). Those wearing the tinted moisturiser were impressed how well it had lasted too.

On Thursday we had a jazz filled night at Ronnie Scott’s, in the heart of Soho. The lights were low, the music was loud, but we still managed to fill the room with our makeup chit-chatter.

Friday came all too quickly, and while I was attending my best friend's 25th the girlies were feasting on Byron burgers - I was more than a little jealous! Our pick of the top Witch products in this new line were the primer and the concealer (which is currently residing in my bag).

Of course it wouldn't be much of a challenge if my lovely readers were not able to take part and test the cosmetics for themselves, so in my next post I will be giving away 20 sets (!!!) of products from the new anti-blemish range!

To learn more about Witch's new cosmetic range you can visit their website here. Do have a look at the 'witch challenge' section to see more photos and information about our escapades!

Have you ever tried Witch products? What are your thoughts on anti-blemish makeup? xxx

OOTD - Tassels

While browsing through my wardrobe on Saturday night I stumbled upon one of my favourite little LBDs. This dress always reminds me of the scene where Carey goes on her first date with her Russian 'luva' (Mikhail Borishnokov).

Tassels, fringing, whatever you may call it, they make the perfect dancing partner!

For makeup, I stuck to a basic smokey eye using MAC bronze and espresso eyeshadows, with a natural lip gloss from Beaute.

Being short on time I left my hair natural, but added volume by blasting it with a hairdryer with my head upside down and tying it up in a bun while it cooled (leaving time for makeup). If you have naturally wavy hair this is a great trick to add some movement and bounce!

Do you have a secret love of tassels? xxx

Naked Gold Leaf

I have wanted to make a tutorial using the new Sleek Molten Metal eyeshadow duo for quite a while. The colours are beautiful and perfectly lend themselves to an effortless smokey eye!


Products used:
NARS Sheer Glow foundation
Bobbi Brown corrector
MAC MSF natural
Chanel Bronzer Universal
NARS Sin blush

UDPP
Urban Decay Naked Palette - naked, buck, smog
*Sleek Molten Metal metallic cream eyeshadow - Gold Leaf

MAC vanilla eyeshadow
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in bourbon
L'ancome Hypnose Mascara
YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in No. 1

Products marked with * were sent to me for review purposes.

 Have you tried the new Sleek metallic eyeshadow duo? Let me know what you think! xxx

Flawless in 5 minutes

Perhaps one of my most requested makeup looks - flawless makeup in 5 minutes. This little routine is perfect for me when I am rushing out of the house in the morning! It really helps you look naturally and effortlessly glowing and fresh, even when you are feeling far from it ;).




Products used:
Nars Sheer Glow foundation
Bobbi Brown corrector
MAC mineralize skin finish natural

NARS Laguna bronzer
E.L.F. Pink mineral blush
E.L.F. All Over Colour Stick in Persimmon
NARS Madrague eyeshadow duo as brow powder
MAC Painterly paint pot
L'ancome Hypnose mascara
Beaute Weightless Lip Creme in Trace

Work It Out: Instalment Vingt-Six

It has been far too long since I did a 'Work it Out' post. Having spent a little too much in the sales I think it is time to start tailoring a few more work outfits, and hitting the snooze button a little less!

Dress: Karen Millen. Watch: Dior.

I have had my eye on this dress for quite some time, but couldn't bear to pay the full price tag. Having scoured three separate stores I finally found one in my size! I adore Karen Millen dresses for their well tailored, form fitting styles, and this one is no exception. The giraffe-esque print adds some interest to a classic shape, while the pleating at the neckline keeps it modern.

For makeup I decided to do a slight twist on my usual look. I used Benefit's creaseless cream shadow in Birthday Suit all over the lid and under the lash line with Urban Decay's 24/7 liner in stash (a dark, moss green with gold undertones) smoked out with a little black shadow. 

I hope you enjoyed the resurrection of the work it out posts? Hopefully there will be plenty more to come in the future! Did you pick up any exciting pieces in the sales that you had been chasing for a while? xxx