Chanel Lipstick Review

Rouge Coco in #40 Charme

Rouge Coco Shine in #56 Chance

From Left to Right: Rouge Coco Shine in Chance, Rouge Coco in Charme

 Hi there!

I thought it was time for another lipstick review, which are my favourite posts to write! Above are the two Chanel lipsticks that I own. I decided to go for two really gorgeous everyday colours for both as they are pretty pricey, which meant that I wanted to make sure I could wear them any occasion. The packaging of both lipsticks is the classic Chanel Black and Gold, which looks classy and sophisticated. 

Rouge Coco "Hydrating Creme Lip Colour" in #40 Charme 

This lipstick has a lovely creamy texture on application. It provides comfort all day round, and while I would say it is not very glossy, it is still very hydrating, and does not show any dry skin on your lips. It also has very subtle flecks of glitter which adds a lovely shine. 

Rouge Coco Shine "Hydrating Sheer Lipshine" in #56 Chance

Unlike the Rouge Coco, the formula of this lipstick is very sheer. It feels a lot more like a gloss, which does come with the inevitable downfall that it does not last as long. However, the colour is absolutely gorgeous and it feels very intensely moisturising, quite like a balm. It is extremely soft on the lips, and looks very natural.

Which do you prefer?

Catriona

x x x

Christmas Pressie Haul 2012

Our Advent Candle

Canon SX50 HS

Lush Solid Shampoo Bars and Conditioner from my Brother

Cath Kidston Satchel

Rapid White Tooth Whitening Strips - can't wait to try these out.

From Left to Right: "Candy" By Prada, 212 VIP for her, 212 VIP Body Lotion

Pandora Charm - A really cute Frog from my Sister

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

Here are some of the presents I received from my amazing family. I have been truly spoilt this year, the biggest present undeniably being the Canon SX50 HS Camera, I couldn't believe it! I've never had a proper camera before so these last few days I've spent time playing around with the features. What I am looking forward to most is getting some amazing shots in Australia, I'll be able to capture every moment.

Christmas day was a very relaxing day, mostly eating, dozing and eating more! I mainly spent the day playing around with my gifts, having received books about Australia and the backpack which I will be using for the year I am there. Boxing day was spent with my Boyfriend's family, which was mainly the same...eating a whole lot of Christmas food, and napping of course, can't forget the napping. 

How did everyone else spend Christmas?

Catriona

x x x 

NOTD: Christmas Nails

Left to Right: No7 Stay Perfect Nail Varnish in Rose Truffle, Topshop Nail Varnish in Razzmatazz

Merry Christmas everyone!

It's that time of year again, I can't believe how fast it has come around. It only feels like yesterday that I was celebrating last Christmas! Tonight I was taking a look through my nail varnishes in search of some seasonal colours, and as soon as I laid my eyes upon these two I knew it had to be them. Red is a very festive colour which you can never go wrong with, and with the glitter even more so! I'm also a huge fan of both No7 and Topshop nail varnishes. The pigmentation from the No7 is gorgeous, meaning that I only had to use one coat. And the amount of glitter that comes from Topshop nail varnishes is incredible, similarly having to only use one coat on top of the red!

I hope that everyone has a very merry Christmas!

Catriona

x x x

Mini Barry M Haul

I realised the other day that I haven't bought any Barry M products since I was a teenager, which is strange as Barry M has some really good stuff. I thought I'd test out a few things from the range once again, and I was very happy to see that right now when you spend £6 on Barry M products at Superdrug you receive a free Nail Varnish as well.

Barry M Nail Varnish in Xmas

I used a white base underneath the Nail Varnish to make it look even more seasonal and to enhance the glitter. Although I like it, the glitter was difficult to get out, which meant that I had to blot it on to get a good amount. 

Barry M Eyeshadow in E3 Tan £4.49

I fell instantly in love with this eyeshadow! It is absolutely gorgeous, and an amazing day and night shade. I haven't stopped wearing it since buying it. It's very pigmented with a gorgeous shimmer, and looks great by itself on the lid. I'm very impressed with it. I went for a bit of a safe shade at first to make sure I liked the formula, but now I know how creamy and long lasting it is, I am definitely going to purchase different shades!

Barry M Lip Paint in Pillar Box Red 121

I've always been a bit dubious about the Barry M lip paint collection. I'm not sure why, but I had it in my head that they were a little drying. However, after actually trying it, my opinion has completely changed. It's so creamy and moisturising, leaving my lips smooth and comfortable for the rest of the day. It's also very pigmented and vibrant, as evident from the picture. This shade is a very very bright red with slightly orangey undertones, I love it.

I'd love to hear any other recommendations from the Barry M line!

Catriona

x x x

A Foggy December Day

Just a quick post as today has been a bit of a none day. It was so foggy and wet, that all I wanted to do was stay snuggled up under my duvet. However, I decided to take Ralph out for a walk and get some fresh air about me, and boy was it absolutely freezing! My mittens didn't seem to do anything to keep my fingers warm. Unlike my hat which kept my ears nice and toasty.

These pictures don't even do justice to how foggy it really was! 

 

In a way though, I secretly like days like this. It gave me an excuse to settle down with a Hot Chocolate, a Strawberry Cupcake and a good book. At the moment I'm reading The Hobbit, which I've been meaning to read for so long before the film comes out. I need to hurry up!

What does everyone else enjoy doing on a day like this?

Catriona

x x x

How to: Get the Salon Look with BaByliss Big Hair Spinning Brush

I've had this brush for over a year now, but lately I've been seeing it in videos and thought I should really try it out again! I'd got into the routine of blowdrying my hair, so had completely forgotten about it!

The brush comes with a built in hairdryer, which has two heat settings and a cool air button. When the hairdryer is turned on, all you have to do is press either the left or right button which makes the brush spin in either a right or left direction. It uses the same technique as a hairdresser would with a large round brush and a hairdryer at a salon, creating your own blowout. It also comes with a protective cover, to keep the bristles soft.

To use:

The best results come from when it is used on around 80% dried hair. All you need to do is section your hair, and grabbing a piece of any size (this brush can take a large amount of hair at once) simply brush through, with the brush rotating in the same direction as your brush, creating tension. Once you have brushed through a couple of times, allow it to spin all the way to the top, hold for a few seconds, and tap a couple of times on the button for the opposite direction to release the hair. Then continue through the rest of your hair!

It's very easy, and instantly smooths, creating glossy locks with a bounce, completely eliminating frizz! As you can see in the picture, it curled my hair inwards at the ends, although I could have had more curl had I used it for longer on each piece of hair. It also provides great lift and volume the higher you keep the brush when holding it to your head!

I just checked online and saw that at the moment they're selling these from www.boots.com for £33.99 online only! A really good price for a quality salon look!

Hope everyone's well!

Catriona

x x x

First Impression: Maybelline Super Stay 10 Hour Tint Gloss

I have been waiting for this range to come over from America for a while, so as soon as I saw it in my local Boots store, I picked one up! I decided to go for the shade "Forever Fuchsia" as I didn't want to spend money on a colour that I already have. 

//Maybelline Super Stay 10 Hour Tint Gloss in "Forever Fuchsia": RRP £6.99//

On first Application:

The heart shaped applicator helps the product to glide on. It felt quite wet and gives a slight cooling feeling. I used two applications so as to make sure that I had covered my lips well. I thought that the colour was gorgeous, very pigmented and bold. This was the result after the first application. After I went on with my day.

A few hours later:

Later on, after eating and drinking as normal, I wasn't too sure about it. The glossy effect had completely gone, and it had turned a bit dry, which is a big no-no for me as I really do not like drying products. Also, the product had faded in the corners of my mouth. 

However, I then decided to put on some ordinary lip balm, blending it onto my lips with my finger, and afterwards it turned into a really nice tint! The colour had died down and it had stained my lips with a lovely deep pink colour. It also helped blend out the fading parts at the corners of my mouth. 

My overall thoughts on this product are that it is quite good for a long wearing lip product, keeping in mind that it is a tint. After it had dried, it was quite difficult to work with, however on using the lip balm I was a lot more impressed by it. While it is long wearing, it does not last 10 hours, lasting on my lips around 4 hours (with balm application). Also, don't expect the fantastic colour that you receive at the start throughout this time as it does fade. 

Although I do like the effect, I don't think I'll buy any other shades from the range as I wasn't impressed with how much it faded. Saying that, in comparison to other long wearing lip products, I liked the fact that it didn't go clumpy like so many others do. 

Has anyone else tried this range or any other long wearing lip products? Which were your favourite?

Catriona

x x x 

3 New Kittens!

This is completely unrelated to Beauty, however, I thought that it was time to introduce you all to some new additions to my family; three adorable Kittens!  While we have a lovely Cocker Spaniel Dog called Ralph, who we love to pieces, my family have always had Cats. So one day a few weeks ago, my family told my Sister and I that they were taking us for a surprise, and low and behold we turned up at a rescue centre! Needless to say, we were very excited!

The all Black kitten is Donald, the Tortie underneath everyone is Amy, and the Black and White Kitten is Sheldon.

We actually only went for one kitten to add to the family, however, when we saw Sheldon, Amy and Donald, all of which are Brothers and Sisters, we just couldn't tear them apart! Because they were rescued, they were hand reared, meaning that they are very affectionate. They have settled into our home very fast and have made best friends with our two other Cats and Ralph! 

Hope everyone had a lovely, relaxing weekend!

Catriona
x x x

The Liebster Award!

I am so excited to write this post! I have been nominated  by the lovely Ciara =) thank you very much Ciara! She has asked some great questions so I am really looking forward to answering them. 

" For those who don't know, the rules are as follows:

~Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.~They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them.~They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.~They must then choose 3 special bloggers to tag & award with the Liebster award.~These lucky bloggers must be told in a comment on their blog  "

11 things about myself:

1. In July I graduated with a degree in Philosophy.
2. I am half Scottish, half Yorkshire.
3. I have 5 cats and 1 dog. 
4. When at home, I burst into song all the time.
5. I am going to work and travel in Australia for a year come February. 
6. I absolutely love chocolate biscuits. Far too much!
7. When I first went to University, I took a year's course in Italian Language and Culture, and loved it!
8. I have been to Reading festival, Leeds festival and Glastonbury, and loved every minute of all of them! 
9. I love animals. 
10. I am constantly watching YouTube vlogs, both beauty and lifestyle. They're so relaxing to watch!
11. One day I would love to go back to my Northern roots and move back up to Yorkshire.

My answers to Ciara's questions:

1. What made you want to start a blog? 
A huge influence in what made me want to start writing a blog was reading other people's blogs and watching other's YouTube videos. I am in love with all things beauty, if you ask any of my friends they will tell you I talk about beauty products all the time. I was also keen to keep writing, so it seemed perfect, to write about something I love. 

2. Who is your style crush?
This might seem strange, but I would actually have to say that, at the moment, I am crushing on Kristen Stewart's sense of style. I love the rocker kind of style, and alternative look. 

3. If you could travel to one country, which would it be and why?
Definitely America. I have been before, but it is such a huge country that I only managed to see a small part. I would love to explore every part!

4. Heels or flats? 
Anyone who knows me knows the answer to this...flats!! I am so terrible with heels, I am so jealous of girls who can power through the pain because I really do think they look so good! But I personally would just rather be comfortable, so I can bust some great moves on the dance floor!

5. All time favourite beauty product? 

Ahh this is so difficult! But if I had to pick one, it has to be Estee Lauder's Double Wear. I have been in love with it for 6 years now, and whenever I stray away from it, I always come running back!

6. Favourite season? 

Summer Summer Summer! I love waking up to bright sunshine, and the days are so much longer in the Summer. 

7. Favourite song at the moment? 

Right now, I can't stop listening to "Everybody Talks" By Neon Trees. It makes me want to get up and dance! I love songs that do that.

8. Name someone who inspires you. 

This is going to sound really strange, but ever since seeing her as Gabby in Desperate housewives, I have always really loved Eva Longoria. She played a really sassy woman, and I thought she was hilarious. That character, at least, inspired me to be more confident. 

9. Where is your favourite place to shop?

Although I am a HUGE Topshop fan (who isn't?!), my favourite place to shop is probably New Look. I think this is probably because it's a lot cheaper, so I can buy more (hooray!),  and you can find some real gems in there.

10. What's your favourite make-up brand? 

MAC!!! As you will soon see in my blog, MAC lipsticks are especially my favourite! I  think it's a great brand. It isn't too expensive for being high end, and really delivers in quality. 

11. Favourite TV show and why? 

Desperate Housewives! I wish it was still on, I can't believe it's come to an end. But I will still watch it over and over. I love the characters and the story lines are always changing.

I nominate these lovely bloggers:

Maria

Tiffany

Lee-Ann

My Questions:

1. What is your favourite day out?
2. Where would you like to live, if you could live anywhere?
3. Favourite book?
4. Favourite film and why?
5. Favourite meal?
6. What influenced you to start a blog?
7. Favourite makeup product?
8. What would you like for Christmas this year?
9. Who is your style icon?
10. Skirts or trousers?
11. Favourite Band/Singer?

Catriona

x x x

bareMinerals Get Started Kit Review and Tutorial

This last summer I had an "I don't want to feel like I'm wearing makeup" phase, so I went out and bought the bareMinerals Get Started Kit. I  had heard that it feels weightless and  actually has some healing ingredients (rosemary), which made me very interested to try it. I was colour matched, and told I am a Light shade, and it matches my skin perfectly.

Inside the Get Started Kit in "Light":

Original SPF 15 Foundation in Fairly Light: N10

Original SPF 15 Foundation in Light W15

Original Mineral Veil

Warmth all-over Face Colour

Full Flawless Face Brush

Flawless Application Face Brush

Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush

Prime Time Foundation Primer

Get Started DVD

Top: Full Flawless Face Brush.
Middle: Flawless Application Face Brush.
Bottom: Maximum Coverage concealer Brush.

Top Left to Right: Mineral Veil, Warmth.
Bottom Left to Right: Fairly Light Foundation, Light Foundation.
Right: Prime Time Primer

From Left to Right: Mineral Veil, Warmth.

From Left to Right: Fairly Light Foundation, Light Foundation.

Application:

1) Firstly, I smooth Prime Time onto my face.

2) Then I apply the foundation using the swirl-tap-buff rule. I tap some of the powder into the lid of the pot, swirl the Full Flawless face Brush in the product till it's all gone and tap off any excess. Then I buff it onto my face; the more you buff the better coverage you will get. Using the Full Flawless Face Brush also ensures a full coverage.

3) Then I use the Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush and go over any blemishes with the Foundation.

4) Taking a small amount of Warmth, I again use the swirl-tap-buff method and contour my cheekbones, under my chin and down my nose with the Flawless Application Face Brush. 

5) Lastly, I again swirl-tap-buff with Mineral Veil, and buff it all over my face, again using the Flawless Application Face Brush.

Wearing: Prime Time, Light Founation, Warmth and Mineral Veil. Then just some blush, liner and lipstick.

BareMinerals helps to heal the skin without using any unnecessary harsh chemicals. Also, the fact that it is a powder allows the feeling that you are not wearing any makeup, and it certainly looks very natural. It provides a very healthy looking glow, and is also super easy to take off at the end of the day.  In the picture above I am wearing the shade "Light", but as it is coming to Winter I'm sure I'll move onto using "Fairly Light" soon enough. 

Admittedly I don't use the foundation on an everyday basis, but that is simply because I prefer a medium to full coverage, whereas  I would personally say the bareMinerals Foundation provides a light to medium coverage. More than this, I just find that I don't have the time to do the swirl, tap, buffing everyday! 

I do however, use Prime Time and Mineral Veil most days. Prime Time keeps your makeup in place the whole day and Mineral Veil sets your makeup, leaving a lovely translucent glow.  I actually have many friends that use this whole kit everyday and love it, I think the only reason I don't use it all the time is the matter of coverage from the foundation. However, if you have relatively good skin, then this is a wonderful purchase!

If you are thinking about trying out bareMinerals for the first time, I would definitely recommend buying this Starter Kit first. It provides you with all the products you need to test out the range, including a DVD with information on how to use the products. This kit retails at £49.99 from www.debenhams.co.uk, which yes, is a little steep, but I think that it is worth it for the quality and quantity of product you are receiving. 

Has anyone else tried the bareMinerals range? Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Catriona

x x x

E.L.F. Studio Blush Collection

E.L.F. Studio Blush
http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/

From Left to Right: Candid Coral, Berry Merry, Pink Passion.

Swatches from Left to Right: Pink Passion, Berry Merry, Candid Coral.

Here we have my E.L.F. Studio Blush collection. A while back I decided that I really needed to start using different colour blushes as I was using the same one everyday, and as I use E.L.F. a lot, I knew that the quality of the product would be good, even though the price is cheap (these retail at £3.75 each).

When I first started using them I was surprised at how powdery they were, especially with Berry Merry. I learnt that I needed to be careful with how much I put on my brush, in fact I tend to only need to swipe it once and that's enough.  In the same way, these blushes are VERY pigmented, not so much Candid Coral (as is evident in the swatches), but Pink Passion and Berry Merry can very easily become too much, so a small amount goes a long way. 

I would describe Berry Merry as a dark Plum, with a hint of glitter. Pink Passion is a very bright Pink, which I tend to tone down by using only a small amount which allows a lovely blushing colour. Candid Coral is a VERY subtle Coral, which provides a lovely natural effect. 

My favourite shade is undoubtedly Berry Merry, but I think that that's down to the time of year. It's getting colder and I'm really getting into my plums and darker shades. But I do like Pink Passion when I'm wearing a pink lip. I can't say I've used Candid Coral that much as I don't find that it really shows up on my cheeks that well, I think it may be more of a Summer shade as, I'm not sure about anyone else, I always want to feel like I'm wearing no make up in the Summer. 

Has anyone else tried out E.L.F. blushes? Which is everyone's favourite shade?

Hope everyone is having a lovely day!

Catriona

x x x

Queen Helene "Mint Julep Masque" Review

Recently, I have been taking increasingly better care of my skin, and in doing so, I decided to add a weekly face mask to my routine. After trying out the 99p mask sachets, I enjoyed them so much it seemed time to invest in a bigger bottle, and reading such great reviews from so many online Beauty Gurus, Queen Helene's Mint Julep masque sounded a perfect first choice! .

Accordingly, this mask "helps dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores", and I was excited to put this to the test. Now after a few uses, I can admit I love it.

Application: To apply this mask, I squirt a generous amount onto my fingers and smooth it onto my face and neck. After this I look a bit like Shrek, my face is completely green! I keep the mask on for approximately 20 minutes, at which time the mask has hardened and turned from dark Green to pale Green. This change in colour indicates that the mask has dried, so I tend to keep it on till all the patches have turned from Green to White. Then, taking a flannel, I simply wash away the mask, which is very easy to remove. After, I tone and moisturise as normal!

From the first use, I immediately noticed the lovely mint smell. I also noticed that the mint caused a tingling sensation for the first couple of minutes, which soon subsides. Don't worry, it's nothing severe, it feels like it is really getting deep into your pores, drawing out any impurities. Very refreshing!

As for the consistency of the mask, it is very creamy and very thick, as you can see in the picture. I can spread it onto my face with ease, a little going a long way. Not forgetting a  huge bonus: it doesn't cover my bathroom in mess like some previous masks I tried have done.

Overall, I find that this mask deeply cleanses and visibly smoothes out my skin, without leaving my face dry in the slightest, but very soft to touch. It soaks up any oil I may have on my face, considerably reducing redness from spots and rinsing out large pores that I battle with around my nose. The day after using this mask my skin looks fresher with a nice glow, and my make up applies easier.

The only thing that I would say is, if you happen to have dry skin, this product may be a tad aggressive, so do not overuse. Perhaps only use every other week, whereas those with oily skin, as mine can be, should ideally use it once a week.  Otherwise, I strongly recommend this product if you are like me, and trying out face masks for the first time but cannot afford to go to salons! It is not only cheap, but really sticks to its word. Wonderful product and a new staple in my skin care routine! 

I'd love to hear any other face mask recommendations, and I hope everyone is well!

Catriona

x x x

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick Review

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in #7 Lingerie Pink

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in #9 Pink Caress

Left: Lingerie Pink. Right: Pink Caress.

Above: Lingerie Pink.

Above: Pink Caress.

On purchasing my first ever YSL lipstick in #9: Pink Caress, I was hooked. Not only is the packaging absolutely beautiful, but the formula of the lipstick is gorgeous. It glides onto your lips with a satin-like texture, which feels light, but VERY rich in colour. The colour pay off with these lipsticks is amazing, one swipe is enough for the day! It also leaves your lips with a gloss, meaning that there's no need to use anything on top. 

However, what I found the most impressive about the YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks, is how long wearing they are, staying on my lips for hours! When I was given the #7: Lingerie Pink shade as a present from my sister, I wore it to work the same day and it lasted all day without fading at all. 

With these two colours, I would describe the Lingerie Pink as a very pale/nude pink, which is great for a dark smokey eye or day wear. Whereas Pink Caress seems better for a neutral eye or evening wear. 
Both are gorgeous!

If you'd like to check out the other shades, or would just like some more information, take a look at the YSL website: http://www.yslbeauty.co.uk/make-up/lips/lip-stick/rouge-volupte.aspx

Which do you prefer?

Catriona
x x x