NOTD: LIME GREEN HOLO!

When I first saw the Milani 3D holographic polish in a Duane Reade I have to admit I was slightly disappointed. It just wasn't holographic enough so I only bought the one in "High-Tech".

GUTTED!

I didn't try the polish till I got back to the UK and I have since been kicking myself over not getting each and every shade available. They are amazing.

Check out the swatches below:

The boy on the other hand doesn't share my love for this beautiful lime green sparkle. In fact, he has dubbed it "cheap Christmas paper". Charming!

What do you guys think?Yay or Nay?

RAPIDLASH - LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!

Quick post tonight to let you know that I have got my mitts on the lash enhancing serum "Rapidlash". I bought this in a Duane Reade in NYC but it will be available to buy from Boots next month.

As you might know I have tried a few eyelash serums already (Talika & Enormous Lash original formula), but it's been a while since I tried another and the lashes are showing it!

So for reference...here are my before photos:

Right lash
Left lash:
As you can see they are not thick whatsoever...not many of them and of average length.
When I used Enromous Lash I grew super long lashes...it was amazing!
Talika made them thicker and fuller so I am hoping Rapidlash will do both...

I'll report back as soon as I see some results which should be in about 8 weeks.

I'll be applying this serum to the book. Every night to the base of my upper lashes :)

Watch this space!

EOS LIP BALMS...I LOVE THEM!

Hi everyone,

Well I am back from New York and whilst I didn't really get much time to see the city, I did have a dip in Sephora and a good snoop around a Duane Reade which was just round the corner from my hotel...yay!

One of the items I bought in the drugstore was the EOS lip balms.
Oh my golly gosh I LOVE these.
The cute packaging of these lip balms is definitely unique...a little round sphere of goodness making application easy and simple.
I sometimes find with gimmicky packaging the product itself sucks but I am super impressed with the fact that these lip balms tick all the boxes for me. Not greasy, moisturising, good taste and long lasting.

They are available in 3 flavours; Summer Fruits, Honeysuckle Honeydew and Sweet Mint.
My favourite is Summer Fruits as whilst it took me a while to actually like the scent, the flavour itself is yummy :)
I also got Honeysuckle Honeydew which is a very delicate scent and taste. A tad too delicate for me!
Mint flavoured lip balms don't appeal to me but I bought it for my work colleague who really loves it :)

My only gripe with these balms is that they have no SPF in them...BUT i did check out their website and they have a new lemon flavoured one out with SPF...just wish they all had it in. It's like carmex...hate the cherry flavoured spf...give me choice please!

If you're outside of the US these lip balms are available from Urban Outfitters or ebay and I would definitely recommend them!

Have you tried them? Which ones your favourite?

REVIEW: TOPSHOP MAKE UP

Sorry for the delay in getting these swatches up! Been so busy last few weeks what with being in NYC and then playing catch up and battling jetlag!

Here is a quick round up of the Topshop make up I recently bought...
"The Big Easy" nail polish.
Absolutely LOVE this blue. It's such a pretty and unique shade. I'm not a huge fan of blue polish but this oen really appealed to me:

"Big Smoke" nail polish.
This one looks better in the bottle than on the nails...in fact...it really doesn't do it for me...there are far better beigy taupes available me thinks:
Cream blush in "Nutmeg".
The blushes are definitely a bargain find at £6 each. I opted for a blush out of my comfort zone, often favouring pinks and peaches as oppose to this neutral soft pink. Nutmeg pleasantly surprised me giving me a lovely natural flush:

"Brighton Rock" lipstick.
The lipsticks...could be priced a bit cheaper me thinks! At £8 each I wsn't going to get one but then this lovely matte pink caught my attention and it really is a wonderful shade for the Summer.
I also bought the lip stain in "Bitten Berry" but I've accidentally deleted the swatch! Will have to review that another time but it definitely is one of my favourite purchases from the range.

Overall I am happy with my purchases from Topshop make up and I was particularly impressed to see that it was made in Italy.
However, the prices of a few products, namely the lipstick put me off buying more.

What are your impressions of the Topshop make up? I'd love to know!


*update* click here to view swatches of the cream eyeshadows

AM STILL ALIVE!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that blog posts will resume as normal starting from tomorrow.

Got back from NYC on Thursday evening & suffering the worst jetlag ever EVER.

I've got lots of products to review so watch this space!


- Posted from my iPhone

BEAUTY BLOG LINK LOVE

Retrodiva checks out the fun stuff at The Makeup Show, slideshow-form.

Mz. More from The Glamorous Gleam is taking you To The Beach with a sneak peek at the latest collection from MAC.

Who knew that baby shampoo could be dangerous? Betty Girl Makeup tells you how it could be hazardous to your skin!

Sarah from I Heart Cosmetics is ready and prepared for some sun with her too favourite facial sunscreens.

Curious as to which products Louise from MakeupLoveer is using right now? Find out here!

Swatch-o-rama! The Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks are finally landing on UK shores... Lipglossiping has them sussed and swatched!

Beautywoome.com unearths the the best dry shampoos on the market.

Jen at beautyjunkielondon gets a sneak preview of the new Autumn/Winter range from Boots No7.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed checks out drugstore concealers.

The Pink Sith is smitten with BECCA Lip & Cheek Creme in Tuberose.

Phyrra tells you all about her Holy Grail eyeshadow product, Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy.

Sophie shows off and reviews the Sleek Kajals, with swatches.

Madame B Fatale interviews the Boss of Gloss winner, Cathy Mason.

Louise has a chat with celebrity hairdresser Andrew Collinge and reveals photos of her 80's hair shame.

The Pink Sith is smitten with BECCA Lip and Cheek Creme in Tuberose!

***

Flying of on your holidays? Enter Lipgloss86's giveaway to win some Lee Stafford haircare.

Ever wanted to check out Annabelle Cosmetics? theNotice is hosting a giveaway of their new Mineral line, and you get an extra entry just for being... not Canadian?!


- Posted from my iPhone

NYC DRUGSTORE HAUL!

Erugh! Wrote a long blog post & flipping well lost it eh!

Anyway! I LOVE American drugstores! So much choice it's insane.

Very happy to track down the Milani holigraphic nail polishes as well as the Eos lip balms which my work colleague absolutely adores!

I also can't believe how cheap false eyelashes are over here! So many good quality lashes for $3!

I'll write proper reviews asap but for now here's what i bought:


- Posted from my iPhone

NYC MAKE UP HAUL!

Hi everyone!

As you might know I am over in NYC on business but of course managed to sneak in a little Sephora trip :)

Didn't buy as much as I planned which is mostly down to the £ being so rubbish, but here is what I have bought so far:


I'll write reviews asap but can I just say that the Tarte eyeliner is looking very promising so far. Intensely black. Will report back tomorrow on it's "waterproof" claims...until then!

- Posted from my iPhone

AM OFF!

Hi everyone,
Weekend has been MANIC! Sorry no make up related post today...am literally just about to take off so expect my next post from NYC!




- Posted from my iPhone

BUSY BUSY!

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lack of post this week. Work has been super busy & spent Saturday lugging a load of paper around town trying to find a shop to bind them all.

NOT how I wanted to spend a sunny Saturday!

Anyway! I'll try get a post up tomorrow before I leave...volcanic ash hopefully not ruining any plans!

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend :)




- Posted from my iPhone

TOPSHOP MAKE UP HAUL!

Ok so literally bought this haul all but 2 hours ago. Currently on underground going home but thought I would write a quik overview on the collection.

Bought my haul in Selfridges where the concession is small but the staff are lovely!

I was pleasantly surprised by the eye & lip crayons which applied smooth & were highly pigmented. Refrained from buying any though. The hot pink lip crayon was gorgeous but had too much blue undertones for my skin.

What I did buy was the "bitten berry" tint which tastes of perfume/floral penny sweets, a cream blush in "nutmeg" which is a safe natural blush shade (although was sorely tempted to get the peaches & pinks!), nail polishes in "The big easy" THE blue polish i have been lusting over & "Nice N Neutral" a beigey taupe.

Last but not least a lipstick in "Brighton Rock" which I LOVE! It's a lovely matte fun pink that I think would be lovely for summer!

In total my haul cost me £30 which I thought a good price considering I was very happy with the formulas I got.

EXPECT A DETAILED REVIEW ASAP!

- Posted from my iPhone

NEW YORK WISHLIST...RECOMMENDATIONS WANTED!

*photo above by me*

If you follow me on Twitter you will know that I am heading to NYC this month as part of my job...exciting!

My ticket got confirmed today and whilst I doubt I will get more than an hour of free time (meetings & exhibitions to attend aplenty!) I will hopefully get to visit a Sephora and a few drugstores at some point during my 3 days there (fingers crossed!).

So...whilst free time is going to be super rare, I thought I would conduct a small wishlist of things I would like to get...

1) Clarisonic Mia
I've read good and bad reviews on this. Am willing to give it a go as I've got congested skin on my chin and hope that this will help clear my skin up a bit...

2) Brow Kit
I really want to invest in a brow kit after seeing my work colleague rave about groomed eyebrows. Might get the Benefit one but if anyone can recommend a goody please let me know!

3) Tarte EmphasEYE Waterproof Clay Shadow / Liner
I love my Mac blacktrack but it has a tendency to leave black smudges in the bottom corners of my eyes, despite only lining the top...
I'm very curious about this product and hope it's a winner...having said that might get the MUFE waterproof one...which is better anyone?

4) Tarte MultiplEYE Clinically-Proven Lash Enhancing Waterproof Mascara
526% volume increase? Dubious indeed. Am game!

5) Rapidlash
because I can't be arsed waiting on a Boots waiting list...yawn!

6) Nars
Anything. It's SO much cheaper than UK prices!

7) NAIL POLISH!
I LOVE buying polish in the States...more variety than over here by far.

8)Laura Mercier secret camouflage concealer
Again, cheaper in US than UK. Never tried it...hope it lives up to expectations!

Hmmm...am sure there is a hell of a lot more that I could easily add to this list..but for now these are the main things I am after. Also want to check out MUFE for my usual (smokey lash stock up)
Really need to rattle my brain and make a complete list and get organised...

Are there any Stateside product you would recommend I try? Any NYC beauty stores I should try and visit?

PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

NOTD: MAC PRET A PAPIER ORIGINALITY NAIL LAQUER

This was the only thing I bought from the Pret A Papier collection and it was the one item I was determined to get :)

I don't usually buy metallic polish these days, but "Originality" was something that very much appealed.

It's an incredible shade. A lovely bright rich coppery gold. So pretty!

I think this would be a great shade for the Summer and the holidays that beckon.

Below is a daylight shot:


Below is a shot under lights (really comes to life!):

What do you think of it? :)

OOoo and before I forget! There might be another NOTD this week if I can track and hunt down the polishes that change colour with top coat! WATCH THIS SPACE!

BEAUTY BLOG LINK LOVE

New to perfume? Don't fret; theNotice has an easy three-part guide on how to get started!

Glitter Geek goes bananas (B-A-N-A-N-A-S!) over a stunning eyeliner that even stays put on your waterline.

So many primers, so little time! Vanity's Edge is going to battle it out and she needs your help!

Looking for a great summer foundation? Clarins' latest offering is put to the test by Lipglossiping.

Phyrra from Fresco Phyrra shares some of her favorite Blacklight Reactive products.

Is make up really that complicated? Help Hell Candy's boyfriend unravel the mysteries of make up and read his guest post!

Jellyminx creates another pictorial creating a pretty pinky-purple look with drugstore products.

Christelle from Beauty Crazed shares the secrets of her shiny hair!

Sophie shows you her Five Skin Essentials!

GlossQueen tries her first mineral lipstick. Mosey on over to see if she liked it.

MAC Senior Artis Nicole Thompson tells us her must haves for Rosemount Australia Fashion Week at Madame B Fatale.

Hypothesis? Glass flecks make everything better. Jeweled Thumb experiments with different topcoats and proves just that!

Cawfee Tawk on Prime Beauty welcomes you with this week's topic -- Blast from the Past Beauty Products. Discuss!

Joeybunny swoons over her Holy Grail fragrance on the PinkSith.

Art Class is in session as Krasey Beauty takes you on a tour of MAC's newest Greasepaint Sticks.

Louise takes a look at the new Armani Nudes Contrast Palette and re-discovers her hatred of pastels!

***

Tsahi over at The Makeup Artist is ecstatic about having 50+ followers; check out her giveaway and enter here!

Beautywoome has extended the competition for a full set of Ellis Faas makeup until May 14th!

Audrey has 2 giveaways going at once! Check out her Facebook Fan Appreciation and May's Reader of the Month giveaways.


- Posted from my iPhone

NOTD: REVLON'S LILAC PASTELLE

If you've been reading my Nail of the Days for the last few weeks you will know that I have had a burst of colour on them!
So when I was sent Revlon's new Lilac Pastelle nail polish I pretty much stripped off the colour in turn to embrace this new found DELICATE shade :)

It's lovely! Reminds me of all the pink blossoms that are finally popping up...very much a Spring shade and I've had quite a few compliments too.

I think I applied about 4 coats to get a true opaque coat with the finish being a cream which is my favourite kind of polish!

I can't really comment on how long it lasts as I truly believe my base and top coat of choice helps all my nail polishes last longer than normal (I use Nail Eat as a base and Seche Vite as my top coat).

I've had a few people ask me if the brush is thin or thick and it's quite a slender one so not OPI wide but I found application to go on evenly :)

Overall I do love this cute girly shade. It's nice to be wearing a polish that actually goes with any colour cloths again!

*Pardon the swatch below...couldn't photograph it well...more like the photo above!*

TOPSHOP MAKE UP LAUNCHED TODAY!

(image = screen grab from topshop.com)

Quick post tonight to let you know that the TopShop make up collection went on sale today!

Whilst not overly taken by the packaging there are a few products I have my beady eye on:

Eye Crayons (look like NYX...wonder if they are as smooth)
Lips in Dare Devil, Brighton Rock, and Rio Rio
Cheek Tint
Blush in flush, pinch, neon rose
Nails in the big easy (!), carry on camping, gone fishing and big smoke

Obviously am not going to buy all of the items and will head to the Oxford St branch as soon as I shake this flipping cough off.
Am a strong believer in seeing products in the flesh!

Which products get your attention?

Visit the TopShop website to view the entire collection, click here.

THE MOST INCREDIBLE BATH OILS FOR THE MOST LUXURIOUS BATH

Good evening everyone!

Apologies again for the lack of blog posts of late. Have been very poorly the last few days having been off work and spent all of my bank holiday in bed...so much for a weekend trip away and any form of flat hunting!

Anyway...I was recently sent some amazing products from Aromatherapy Associates to try with one of them being the "Miniature Bath Oil Collection".

The collection consists of 9 little vials of goodness with each one made up of essential oils for relaxing, de-stressing, muscle relieving,reviving...for everything! See below for full list:

Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil: essential oils of vetivert, camomile and sandalwood help to restore peace and tranquillity and promote a restful nights sleep.

Light Relax Bath & Shower Oil: a blend of lavender, ylang ylang and petitgrain help to unwind and ease a tired body.

De-Stress Mind Bath & Shower Oil: combines essential oils of wild camomile, petitgrain, frankincense and rosemary to help clear the head and ease stress.

De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil: the perfect way to soak away aching muscles and joints, this blend incorporates lavender, ginger, black pepper and rosemary.

Revive Evening Bath & Shower Oil: an energising blend of geranium, patchouli and ylang ylang to help enhance feelings of self-esteem and pep up the senses.

Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil: a detoxifying, balancing blend, perfect after a little over-indulging, after a long flight or when generally feeling sluggish.

Support Equilibrium Bath & Shower Oil: helps to lift the spirits, this floral blend of geranium, rose, frankincense and bergamot is perfect during times of emotional stress.

Support Lavender & Peppermint Bath & Shower Oil: this cooling blend helps clear the head, soothe the body and is recommended for use after a long hot day in the sun.

Support Breathe Bath & Shower Oil: essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, pine and tea tree help to
clear a stuffy head and sharpen the mind.

Now when I usually receive something this precious, I am prone to stashing them away, opening and sniffing them but saving them for a very special occasion but I've been so flipping ill and achy that I've pretty much gone through half of this collection with one used every day so far.

I've been adding them just before I step into the bath to ensure I get all the essential oil benefits but I must say I am very curious to try the tummy rub trick for the shower too.

They are by far the most luxurious bath oils I have ever used. Complete and utter bliss that makes having a wretched virus just about tolerable!

The scent of all the oils is completely natural, and fragrances both yourself and the bathroom with that delicious spa aroma.

Out of the ones I have tried so far I am particularly fond of the support relax, revive and support Lavender and Peppermint. All so divine.

I would completely and utterly recommend that you check these out and if you ever struggle to find that perfect gift reach for these!

They are incredible! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them :)

Visit the website for more info. Click here
Aromatheraphy Associates is also available from SpaceNK so go have a sniff!

BLOGGING TO RESUME AS NORMAL!

Hi everyone apologies for the lack of posts the last few days. I've caught a nasty coughing virus which has had me off work for 2 days & house bound for another 3.

HATE being sick & coughing so much my ribs hurt *sniff*

I'll be posting a new blog post tomorrow where I will be reviewing these amazing bath oils that have been my saving grace these last few days!

In the meantime am off to down another dose of meds...yuck!


- Posted from my iPhone