No7 has B-B-Beautiful Skin

As I had high hopes for the summer weather, I decided to dabble in a couple of BB creams as these are perfect for hot summery days when minimal make up and minimal effort is needed.  

No7 have brought out a Beautiful Skin range, which I am slowly working my way through, and one product that I was interested in was the BB cream.  One of the things I love and can rely on No7 for is how they cater for all skins types: Blue for very dry skin, Pink for dry skin, White for normal or all skin types and Green for oily skin.  Everything else that I own by No7 is mostly pink with some white packaged products in there too as I have combination to dry skin.  Because I wanted to get a BB cream for hotter days, and this is when my forehead and, weirdly enough, eyelids can get a little oily I went for the green version in Fair.

The texture of this BB crema is lovely. it's light, smooth and luckily enough for me is bang on my skin shade so blend into my skin perfectly.  Generally BB creams give a light coverage, and this product is no exception, it definitely doesn't covers my freckles. The coverage is good enough to blur any red patches and even out skin discolouration. Many people see them as repackaged tinted moisturisers, which I don't completely agree with as No7 BB cream provides a better coverage as well as other benefits, such as SPF 15 and 5* UVA protection. This is one of my favourite BB Creams that I have tried, it is so weightless which gives me more confidence than a foundation that I can feel sitting on my skin.

I do really like product, perfect for that no makeup, makeup base and, as I originally wanted, for warmer days when nobody wants a heavy foundation or even in September for a natural finish.

Topshop Lipstick - Innocent

Topshop has a lovely range of makeup and have received some glowing reviews. I was always a bit sinnical as I know that the blogging world can get a bit caught up with the hype of certain products. However, I recently felt that my lipstick collection was missing a vital member of the team. So I took a dive in to Topshop's makeup stand. (Not literally, obviously)

Topshop lipsticks are really creamy, they also look amazing with a dab of gloss over the top too. There isn't a massive range of shades but there is variety of colours, if that makes sense. I decided I wanted a nude so I was swatching away and originally Pillow Talk caught my eye, then I saw Innocent and changed my mind.  I am really glad I did, I love the pinky tone of Innocent, such a lovely everyday colour. 

I never have a lipstick that I wear everyday, but I do find myself reaching for this one more than others. They last quite long on the lips too which is always a plus when you find a lovely lipstick shade. At £8 I am impressed with the quality, I know this is going to be a bit controversial, but I don't actually like the packaging. It reminds me of children's crayons, not something I like my lipstick to look like. 

GlossyBox - September

Another month has rolled around, and with the beginning of the school/college/uni year, September can bring many changes. This month's Glossybox was themed around 'Rising Stars'and was presented in a green patterned box, rather than the simplistic pink box that most of us associate with the company. This month's box was designed by Maggie Lei, an up and coming London based illustrator.

The first thing I noticed is how all the products are of sample size, the first box that I have received that does not included a full sized product.

Lady Gaga Fame Fragrance

I'm sure I've said this before but perfume samples are not luxury products Glossybox tut tut, they are easily accesable from a range of shops. However, I did want to try this perfume so not a bad choice. I do enjoy this fragrance, it's quite a harsh scent so I would say to use this as an evening perfume.

Rodial - Glamoxy Snake Serum and 5 Minute Facial

My samples came in sashes in an evelope as opposed to a little bottle which gives me the impression that these can too be picked up at counters. On the packet there are claims of being a 'revolutionary product' as well as 'ground-breaking' both working in 2 and minutes respectively. Impressive claims, so I'm going to save these for a special ossaction where I can put them to the test as I received two sashes of each product.

Balence Me - Wonder Eye Cream

As my first Balence Me product I was quite excited because I have heard such good things about this brand. I already have an eye cream routine, you can check that out here!!, but I am looking forward to trying this out and seeing whether it will elbow out my current favourites.

Vichy - Idealia Day Care Cream

After seeing that there was already skincare treatments, I was hoping for a bit more varity than more skincare. (sorry for those skincare lovers out there)  However, I did go back to this product and open it up to have a look. I haven't properly tried it out yet but this cream smells AMAZING, along with the lovely texture I really hope this works as I think this could be the best product of the box.

Maghrabian - Hair Oil

Glossybox can read me like a book sometimes, I have been urmmm and aarring about buying a hair oil for ages. I know that they can have good results but I always worried that my hair would just become greasy and not have the deseried effect. So, I am looking forward to trying this bad boy out, the sample is only ickle and I have a lot of hair. I'll probably do a post on this so keep checking.

Overall I think there are some good brands in here but I would have preferred at least one makeup rather such a skincare heavy box, but I do think there are some good finds in here.
If you wish to subscribe visit the GlossyBox site here

Alessandro Pro White Original Nail Polish

I received this product in my August GlossyBox and I was quite excited. A brightening nail varnish to remove appearance of yellow stains and make nails look clean and healthy. I don't smoke so I won't say I have particularly yellow nails, but I feel like they can look a bit, mehh. 

I applied one coat of varnish to every nail and it dried quite quickly so I applied another thin coat.  I did notice that the whites of my nails seemed brighter and, like an ordinary clear nail polish, my nails were shiny. I continued to reapply it for about 10 days, and to me my nails do look health as they are now nice and long. I think this is just from having any sort of varnish not necessary due to this particular product.

There is a surprise that I was completely unaware of before applying this to my nails, and that is that it goes illuminous. In normal day to day life, popping to the shops, in work or just at home (if you don't have UV lights in your bedroom) you would be blissfully unaware like me.  However, when you walk into a club with your friends and your nails light up, there is a moment of 'oh dear what have I done'. I did see the funny side so decided to show all my fiends, because I'm just too cool. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on me to take a good enough picture to show you guys.  

I couldn't find a UK site that stocked this product and the official website didn't help either, but I did find it here at $13 so about £8. I am glad that I received this in my GlossyBox but I definitely wouldn't purchase it if I happened to lose it. My nails did look slightly whiter and brighter, but I find that if I'm going to use this product I might as well paint my nails an actual colour or do a French manicure anyway, so I don't think I'll be using this much... Maybe just for nights out ;)

Have you ever had any nail/makeup malfunctions?

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation

Since discovering makeup I have always wanted the perfect base. I enjoy a duey look for during the day, but if I'm going out at night I prefer a matte base and add any shimmer within my blush or eyeshadow. Everybody looks for different things in a foundation, for me, matte finish, medium coverage without being cakey, and the longevity to last all night is what I'm looking for.

If you've seen a review on this foundation before, there may be something different. Rimmel recently changed the packaging from a plastic tube to a more sophisticated glass bottle, with a pump may I add.  This is more hygienic, makes less of a mess and you use less as well.

 The first thing that I noticed about this foundation, and it's main selling point is the longevity. 25 hours may be a tad excessive to have your makeup on for, but I get their point that it lasts all day even without a primer.
One downside to drugstore foundation is that it can be hard to find the correct shade for your skin, but until this particular product I had actually never experienced that problem as my drugstore foundations match me better than my MAC or Estee Lauder foundations. This one, however, is too light for me 100 Ivory which is a little disappointing.
I use this foundation in the evening or if I know there is going to be flash photography as there is no SPF so there will be no flashback in pictures. Not having any sun protection in my foundation isn't something that particularly bothers me as I apply sun cream separately if needed.
I like the coverage of this foundation, I would say it is medium coverage and very easy to build up. I use a Coastal Scent flat kabuki brush and I find, combined with Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation I can achieve an almost airbrush finish. Though the one I currently own is slightly light for me, I am considering buying a shade darker to mix together to create my shade. Definitely one of my favourite matte foundations at only £6.99 from Boots.

John Freda Frizz Ease Hair Serum

Whether you have short hair, long hair, dark hair, multicoloured hair, everybody loves healthy, shiny hair.  First I tried the original version (seen on the left) which I liked very much.  It left my hair sleek and soft, so I decided to try the thermal protection version. This new yellow bottle not only has the benefits of the original, but also serves as a heat protection too. So if you travel about and don't have enough room for lots of different products, you can take this with you and know that your hair is sorted.

The original has a thicker almost sticky consistency which didn't really bother me, but I do prefer the thermal version which is runner so I find it easier to spread through my hair evenly. They are part of the Frizz Ease range so they do tame frizz as well as leaving the hair smooth.
Overall I love this serum, and I won't be changing it any time soon.
Both normally retail for £6.29 each but Boots at the moment have 3 for 2 offer on hair products.

Lips Like Sugar

If you saw my recent haul post, you may have caught a sneaky peak at this little beauty.  There are some posts already floating around in blogworld about this product but I though I would share my thoughts on Lush's Sweet Lips, Lip Scrub.

Firstly, the smell! I chose the Sweet Lips version which smells like chocolate, it is amazing, I could smell this all day as it is strong but not sickly.  All of these lip scrubs do have a strong scent so anyone that does not like strong smelling products on their lips, will definitely not like these.
The reason I wanted a lip scrub as opposed to a moisturising lip balm is that I had very flaky, cracked lips, so I needed to remove the dead skins cells before moisturising the live cells underneath. And this product works so well I now have smooth lovely lips. 
After applying the scrub and rubbing it into my lips, I naughtily lick off the excess.  I know you shouldn't lick your lips as it dries them out but I don't find that happens and also it tastes so good too.
Lip scrubs are sugar based mixed with some oils and flavour extracts so if the £5.25 for 25g seems a little steep then I'm sure a home-made version would work too.

Have you tried any lip scrubs recently? 

Small mixed haul | primark | mac | lush | superdrug

I know the first thing you're going to say: Shopping and Stash?  I bought a couple of things last month so I'm not cheating. However I may have picked up some naughtys since that post.

Oriental makeup bag £4

This is the largest of the three sizes and for the price I think this is a fabulous bag, definitely large enough to keep a holidays worth of makeup supplies. You can't really see but it is a quilted material on the outside, lovely little touch.

Black Bow Flat Shoes £6

I always manage to find a pair of flat shoes in primark, whether it's little dolly shoes, sandels or slippers, if they have my size, it's going in the basket. I think these little black pumps are very sophisticated and cute.

Black Heels £6

These snake skin feel, black heels are my very first pair of heels from primark. I have always doubted the quality in Primark but as they were HALF PRICE, well who am I to say no?  I think there must be a big shoes sale going on there because most heels had been reduced down to £6. There were so many more styles I could have chosen, so fingers crossed, if they are comfortable then I am going to make a mad dash back there and stock up on my shoes collection. These are the perfect simple black heels that every girl should have.

Navy Handbag £4

I actually thought this was black in the shop, my bad, but I actually quite like it now it's been in my room for a while.  It is just the right size to put all my girly rubbish in there for a night out and not worry about leaving a clutch laying about the place as I normally do.  The strap isn't the best quality but for £4 I can't complain. Being the bag flusey that I am, I probably should look more often in primark for cheap bags as I get bored so easily with the same style.

Pyjamas £5

Lastly from Primark are these pyjamas, a bit of a boring item for some people (sorry). But I actually love Primark pyjamas. There is always such a wide range from frilly little short/vest sets to thick, almost woollen dressing gowns and trousers.  Normally it's the detail that Primark miss out with their products, but I love how the vest isn't just a standard plain white top, the pattern of the shorts are actually embedded down the buttons. That's so sad that I've even mentioned that. 

Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub £5.25

Lush now, yes that lip scrub that has been doing the rounds. I have a review coming up on this, I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and only now am I making a dent in the product. Also, it smells like chocolate, yay!

Rose Jam Bubbleroon £3.50

Oh come on, how can I go into Lush and not pick up a bath bomb? I'm only human.  Lush call these bubble bars as opposed to bath bombs, I 'm not sure why, but contains Lemon, geranium Oil, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter, I can think of worst things to share a bath with :)

Rimmel Lasting Lipstick in Pink Blush

 Almost a Barbie pink, but so much more. I normally avoid this sort of colour like the plague as don't think it suits my skin tone, however, I'm trying this one out and so far I love it. Rimmel can't go wrong with their lipsticks at the moment. Might be popping back to Superdrug to pick up some more shades.

MAC Mineralised Skinfinish in Star Wonder £19.35

I will be the first to admit that I am not the first person at MAC counter when a new range comes out. Nor am I one to say that the only way to have a good quality product is to go high end.  I can, however, appreciate a beautiful, creative, good quality product and MAC Mineralised Finished in Star Wonder is just that. I did my research and after tossing between Lightyear and Star Wonder I decided to go with the one I would get the most use out of.  As some of you might know, my blog was written to show that drugstore/high street products can be as good as high end, but I will freely admit that I really love this product and I am especially glad that I got this shade. Full review is needed I think.

MAC Fix+ £12.15 

The price of Fix+ has been slowly creping up recently so I thought I'd get this before it gets any higher.  I did actually want the smaller bottle as it would be easier to travel with, but it doesn't matter, I just hope I love it as much as other bloggers.

Thank you for reading, I know this was quite a wordy haul. 
What have you been buying recently? 

How Much Is Your Face Worth? | TAG

I've seen a few people do this tag, but I first saw it on Louise's blog.  This post is where you total up the cost of all the products used to create a Face of The Day, I'm going to do my current everyday makeup using the products from my Shopping My Stash post.

17 Photo Flawless Primer  £4.99

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation  £6.99
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer  £4.19

 Maybelline Dream Matte Powder  £7.19

Natural Collection Bronzer  £1.99

NYX Cream Blush  £5.50
HD Brow Palette  £19.96

No7 Eyeliner  £6.50
Maybelline Falsies Mascara  £7.99
L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick  £7.99

This comes to a total of £92.10.  Obviously this is not including brushes, tools or skincare so could have been much worse.  As this is my basic every day pop to the shops routine I am actually shocked and definitely do not want to even think about a night out look when I mix in more high end products.

How much is your face worth?