30 November 2013

Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm Review

Nuxe is a brand that I have a whole lot of love for. I'm currently using their miceller water, toner, moisturiser, hand cream and of course this little pot of wonder.
I picked the Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm with a recent Space NK order when I decided that I deserved some post operation treats. What with the op being on my throat I thought a lip balm was a sensible choice and I've been looking for an excuse to buy it for a while :P
I'll start by saying that at £9.50 this lovely little lip balm doesn't come cheap, hence my hesitation in purchasing, however, it has really been my saving grace this week. Instant relief on application!
As I expected, after my operation my lips were horribly dry and chapped and with constantly needing to force myself to sip on water to stay hydrated I really needed something long lasting, ultra-nourishing and non-sticky.
The gorgeous blend of honey, shea butter, soya glycerine and sweet almond oil give a soft, melt on the lips texture that isn't greasy and has an uplifting grapefruit scent. I've never been a huge fan of citrus scents and would personally have preferred a softer smell but it isn't over powering and fade away fairly quickly.
I've been slapping this on in a nice thick layer and letting it slowly sink in whilst I've been housebound but a small amount goes a long and you can very easily get away with using next to none per application. I also love that the formula is shine free meaning it is easy to wear without looking like you've smothered yourself with grease.
To sum it up, I think that this is an incredibly high quality lip balm that is a good investment for the winter, especially if, like me, you suffer a lot with dry, chapped lips. The light but deeply nourishing formula is perfect for protecting from the winter wind and cold without getting hair stuck all over it and because it sinks in quickly is also suitable to apply lipstick over the top for a wash of colour. Definitely worth the mini splurge I'd say or something to pop on the Christmas list.

Annie xx

28 November 2013

TIGI Bed Head Blonde Bombshell Giveaway!

So it's been a little while. I had a tonsillectomy on Monday morning so for the last few days I've had zero energy and lots of pain but earlier on I managed to gather a bit of energy to take some photos for posts for the next week or so which means I can blog to distract myself :)

I've loved the Bed Head range from TIGI for a long time. I like that the products are reasonably priced, good sized and the tongue in cheek style makes me smile.
The Blonde Bombshell* kit is the perfect one stop gift for both natural blondes and those who colour their hair. Containing three full sized products; the Dumb Blonde Colour Combat Shampoo, Dumb Blonde Colour Combat Conditioner and the Dumb Blonde Colour Combat Leave-in Conditioner it is a good all rounder.
Colour combat technology helps to not only lock in the true colour and keep it vibrant but it also deep conditions and works to actively strengthen the hair.

Now, if you're a regular reader of my blog then you'll notice that I am a brunette telling you all about a gift set designed specifically for blonde hair. That is because I was lucky enough to have been sent this kit to pass on to you guys and I'll be honest, I'm actually kind of jealous. I love TIGI Bed Head products and have used the Colour Goddess collection which is designed for brunettes and trust me, the lucky winner is in for a treat.

So how can you win? Simple. All you have to do is fill in the Raflecopter form below and when the competition closes on 8th December I will select a winner at random and post out the prize. I'm afraid the giveaway is for UK entrants only and I will be checking entries to make sure there's no cheating!

Good Luck!

Annie xx
a Rafflecopter giveaway

19 November 2013

Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation Review

Max Factor is one of those brands that I think can constantly be relied upon for products that are both affordable and good quality. A brand you can rely on. So I was excited to give their newest foundation offer a little try, especially after swatching on my hand in Boots and feeling how beautifully soft it was left feeling!
The Whipped Creme Foundation is a new formula to the brand and is designed to give a lovely natural looking finish whilst also giving medium coverage. This is possible because of the light, texture which keeps caking to a minimum and is less drying on the skin than your usual liquid foundation.
When it comes to application I was amazed by just how little product is needed. It applies like a dream with both fingers or a foundation brush and is easy to buff into the skin leaving a very natural looking finish whilst evening out skin tone and covering most blemishes.
One thing that I have found though is that with this foundation I do also need to use more concealer than with some of my other foundations (I'm not in the photo above which means spots around my chin are visible) because this foundation doesn't seem to like sitting on top of bigger blemishes for some reason. It also took a few applications to get used to the super light, whipped texture but that wasn't a problem, more just a new experience :)

Over all I really rate this foundation and think its on that will get a lot of use on better skin days to perk up the appearance and balance redness and I think its a lovely formula that would really suit slightly dry skin as it doesn't cake or sit heavily.
You can pick up a tu for yourself for £9.99 *here* or from any Boots store.
Annie xx

15 November 2013

NOTD: Seventeen Rock Hard Couture- Bijoux Baby

Just a quick one today because the depression is in full swing at the moment so motivation is pretty low :(
I've been obsessed with the Rock Hard Couture polishes that Seventeen released recently. The colours are gorgeous, the coverage fantastic and the wear pretty long lasting too making them an all round good choice in my eyes, especially at just £3.99 a bottle!
The shade that I love the most is the pretty baby pink Bijoux Baby which I am wearing here. I love the fairy like colouring and the subtle green toned shimmer that runs through the polish giving it an ethereal sort of feel. for full opacity bottle finish you need just two coats and that's quick and easy because it applies evenly and dries in around 60 seconds. The only thing that may put some people off is that these polishe do have a textured finish which I personally like but would need several coats of clear polish to smooth off for peopl who like their nail completely smooth to touch.
You can pick them up either in Boots stores or online *here* ready to wear for Christmas party season! Or they will also make great stocking filler gifts. Either way, I think everyone needs at least one in their nail polish collection :)
Annie xx

7 November 2013

Boots No7 Match Made Concealer Review

Concealer is a product that I haven't ever been a big lover of. I've never found one that has a good balance of colour match and coverage that doesn't look cakey for feel like I've coated myself in a thick layer of war paint so this is a product that I've become pretty damn excited about.
A few weeks ago I was invited to a blogging event at the Bath Boots store and part of the evening was a makeover from the No7 ladies which is where my love affair began.
Match Made is a new concealer to the No7 collection and is designed to be a good all round product, able to be used all over the face to conceal blemishes, even out redness and mask dark circles. All of that as well as also being the exact same colour as the newest range of foundations given the same namesake.
A pretty big ask, I was a little sceptical to begin with however I just cannot fault this product.
I haaaate this photo with a passion but it does show the fabness of this little concealer stick. As you can probably guess, I'm bare faced on the left hand side and on the right side I've applied the Match Made concealer (mine is shade Calico). Whilst it doesn't leave me looking flawless, it does reduce shine, even out the skin tone and give a lovely smooth base for me to apply foundation.
Ive been wearing this every day for around a month now and have found it amazing. I do find that it can become a tiny bit clingy on the drier skin around my nose piercing if I apply too much but that's my only slight niggle and in all honesty, that's more my fault for not taking the stud out to exfoliate meaning the skin gets a little duller.
You can pick up the Match Made concealer for £7.50 at No7 counters or online *here*
Annie xx

4 November 2013

Aromatherapy Associates Little Bell Gift

Christmas is now well and truly approaching. Unbelievably the Christmas adverts have already begun popping up on telly and stock is being piled into shops. This years selection of gifts really is pretty comprehensive, covering all sizes and budgets possible. I was sent the adorable Little Bell* gift from Aromatherapy Associates London to take a look at.
The cute little bell shaped box contains a single 7.5ml bottle of their Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil and is designed to give an indulgent taster of the brand, just enough to leave you feeling like a queen and wanting to try more. The brand pride themselves on using only the highest quality essential oils to create their blends and are used in some of the most exclusive hotels and spas across the UK.
The prestige and the high quality of the product is definitely reflected in the size of this stocking filler I feel. The 7.5ml bottle of grapefruit, rosemary and juniper infused oil is recommended to spread between "Up to three unique bath or shower experiences" by either pouring one third of the bottle into your freshly run bath or smoothing all over your body before a shower. Whilst this does make for an amazing experience (seriously, it is incredibly uplifting on the senses and leaves skin silky soft as well) I feel that for a gift costing £10 it could have done with being just that tiny bit bigger, even if just 10ml instead of 7.5ml so that you can grab that one last shower. I also think it would make the bottle itself feel more satisfying as it is only the size of my thumb.
However, as a little taster of the brand and a little stocking filler gift I think the Little Bell does work well to get you interested and wanting to try more, and it really is very sweet, I just think, personally, I would be tempted to spend a little more and invest in a full sized bottle of Molton Brown Eucalyptus Bath and Shower gel which smells very similar and has a similar sensory effect. You can pick up the Little Bell gift from Selfridges stores, Liberty or online *here*

Annie x

3 November 2013

October Favourites

I love reading about what people have been enjoying using each month so thought I'd start writing my own favourites posts. If this is something you'd like me to keep writing every month then let me know :)

1. A newish love of mine, the Nuxe Eau Demaquillante Micellaire is a cleansing water that is lovely and soft on the skin yet melt makeup away on contact with the skin. The beautiful soft scent is nice and relaxing and the cleanser removes everything effortlessly. I've found myself reaching for this every day, morning and night.
2. A palette that I keep coming and going with, the MUA Undress Me palette I bought a few months ago to see how good a dupe it is for the Urban Decay Naked palette. This month I've found myself reaching for it quite a few times, especially for the more golden tones which I've loved wearing with bright red lips for a warm, autumn look.
3. Everyone knows I love the Ginvera BB cream and as the weather is getting colder I've found that where my skin is getting drier this has been perfect for giving good coverage as well as keeping my skin health and hydrated. Definitely one of my favourite beauty products of all time.
4. A newish product to my kit, the No7 Match Made concealer has been a real staple product for me since purchasing. I use it every day without fail to balance out excess redness, hide dark circles and provide a nice even base for my foundation. I have a full review of this coming up later this week complete with before and after shot (eek!) so keep an eye out.
5. I had wanted Watts Up for so long I can't remember so when I got made a supervisor I bought it as a little present to myself and oh goodness I love it. Another product I reach for daily! The soft golden glow looks beautiful in the autumn sunshine when worn along the cheek bones and on the brow bone. Looking forward to getting lots of use from it in the summer too :)

Those are my most reached for beauty bits this month. What have you found yourself enjoying most during October?

Annie xx