Beauty Fashion Lifestyle

Friday, 11 April 2014

Mini Haul | H&M, Forever 21 and Boots


Hi guys. Today I thought that I would share with you a couple of bits that I have acquired over the past two or three days. With spring well and truly underway, I have been attempting to update my wardrobe a little and for me, this means one thing and one thing only - florals! When it comes to clothing, I love patterns and I always seem to be drawn to anything flowery. This may mean that my style is very predictable, however, I know that they suit me as well as make me feel pretty and feminine. In addition to this, I also picked up one of my favourite skincare items in Boots too. So, let's get started on this mini haul!



H&M Floral Playsuit - £12.99
First up is this gorgeous playsuit from H&M. I am a huge fan of playsuits in general as I think that they suit my petite frame really well and I love that they make you feel a little more secure than dresses (I hate the mishap of wearing a dress on a windy day!) However, what drew me in to this particular one aside from the floral pattern is the back. The cross over straps add a really detail and unique touch to the design. For now, I am going to wear tights with this but if the weather in the UK ever heats up during summer, it will look stunning paired with some simple black sandals too.


Forever 21 Floral Fuse Crop Top - £5.50
Next is this really cute crop top from Forever 21. I absolutely love wearing crop tops and this monochrome one is right up my alley. I love the silhouette that a crop top creates when paired with something high waisted on the bottom half; I think this top will look great with my Topshop Joni Jeans. Not only this but Forever 21 crop tops are such great value, at a mere £5.50 how could anybody resist?!


Forever 21 Tropical Floral Bodycon Dress - £12.00
Carrying on with the floral theme, this tropical bodycon dress was my next purchase. Initially I thought that this was a little too vibrant and loud for me but after trying it on, I am in love with this dress. It fits like a glove and the tropical print is very striking. I think that this will look really nice with a bright pink lip for a night out, however, I think I could probably find a way to tone this dress down to be worn in the daytime too. Although there are a few differences between the two, Topshop have got a very similar dress in stock at the moment (see here) but at a fraction of the price, this dress is definitely the way to go!



Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean 3 in 1 Cleanser - £8.00
Last but not least is one of my favourite skincare products. The Peaches and Clean cleanser is so great at breaking down and removing my make-up, no matter how much I am wearing. I use this product both in the morning and the evening as it is just so refreshing and it makes my skin super soft. It's peach and menthol scent really makes your skin tingle as you are massaging it in, which makes it a great pick-me-up (especially in the morning time.) Ever since I started using this cleanser a few months ago, in conjunction with a few other products that I use daily, the condition of my skin has improved drastically. What makes this purchase even better is that I actually got it for £5.33, as there is a one third off offer on at Boots at the moment. So if you wanted to try this product out, I would grab it whilst the offer is still on!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about the fashion and beauty items that I have purchased this week. Which is your favourite item from the haul? What have you hauled recently? Please feel free to let me know by leaving a comment below. Thank you!

Monday, 7 April 2014

My Lip Crayon Collection | Revlon, L'Oréal and Rimmel


Hi guys. Over the past year or two, lip crayons have majorly taken off in the beauty world. Ever since the release of Clinique's Chubby Sticks, almost every brand on the market have created their own dupes of the ever so popular product. Lip crayons are incredibly handy and useful as they give a wash of colour to the lips whilst moisturising them at the same time. These products seem to be handbag heroes too; I always have at least one thrown into the bottom of my bag in case of emergency. They are incredibly easy to apply, especially if you are out and about, as you do not necessarily need a mirror or excellent precision to apply them.

My lip crayon collection has grown steadily within this time and I thought that I would share some of my favourites with all of you today. I will be focusing on three high street brands that I think have nailed this popular trend perfectly; Revlon, L'Oréal and Rimmel. So, let's get started!

Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Whimsical - £7.99
First up is one of the new Revlon Lacquer Balms released back in January of this year. 'Whimsical' is a lovely berry pink, purple-y shade that has lots of little specks of glitter running through it. I would say that this product is not that highly pigmented, it gives a nice wash of colour but it can be built up if desired. I think this should would suit every skin tone and it looks lovely on a night out!

Rimmel Color Rush Balm in The Redder The Better - £5.99
This stunning true red shade from Rimmel is definitely one of my favourites. I love the effect that a red lip gives and this product is no exception. Aside from the colour, this crayon is also incredibly moisturising and long wearing but when it does fade, it does so evenly. Plus, its cocoa and vanilla-like scent is a delicious bonus too!

L'Oréal Glam Shine Balmy Gloss in Sin For Peach - £6.99
Although the name is a little misleading, this crayon is the most gorgeous colour for every day wear. I would describe it as a pinky nude colour that is 'your lips but better.' Out of all of the aforementioned crayons, this one is by far the most moisturising too. It glides on very well and is so smooth that at times, I forget that I am even wearing a lip product at all! Being the newest addition to my collection, I definitely want to try another colour as soon as possible.


Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Standout - £7.99
'Standout,' one of the new matte balms from Revlon's ColorBurst collection, is a dark cherry red shade. At first, I had my concerns about buying a matte lip product as they can be very drying and show up any flaky patches that you may have. However, this product surprised me - It glides on so nicely. It is very long-wearing too, as on a night out I only have to top it up once. The colour is absolutely stunning and is great if you want to make a statement!

Rimmel Color Rush Balm in Rumor Has It - £5.99
'Rumor Has It' is a beautiful bright pink shade that looks especially amazing during spring and summer. This crayon is highly pigmented, yet the colour is definitely buildable. One layer leaves a lovely subtle pink colour on the lips. However, a couple more coats really brings this vibrant colour to life. As with my other Color Rush Balm mentioned above, I just cannot get enough of its cocoa/vanilla scent too!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush - £7.99
Last but not least is the first lip crayon that I ever bought. 'Crush' is a stunning deep berry colour that suits all skin tones. Out of all of my crayons, this one certainly lasts the longest on the lips due to it being more of a stain than a balm or gloss. I love pairing this product with a cat eye and lashings of mascara for a vampy evening look. As with all Revlon crayons, 'Crush' also has a minty scent to it that makes your lips tingle upon application, which I really like.

(Shades from left to right: Whimsical, The Redder The Better, Sin For Peach, Standout, Rumor Has It, Crush)

So, that's it for my lip crayon collection. I would definitely recommend any of these products to all of you, they are seriously amazing. I am the biggest lip crayon fan as they are so quick & easy to use and I am sure that my collection will continue to grow in the near future! What is your opinion on lip crayons? Have you used any of these products before? Which ones are your favourites? Please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Thank you! :)

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Maybelline's Dream Satin Liquid Foundation Review



Hi guys. I think it takes a lot of time and experimentation to find a foundation that suits you perfectly. There is so much to consider when finding your perfect base; finish, coverage, colour and so on. So, when you finally find the right one for you, your foundation becomes your ultimate staple. This foundation for me is Maybelline's Dream Satin Liquid Foundation (£7.99.) 

Ever since I discovered and started using this product a few years ago, I have fallen in love with it's formula! Maybelline claim that this foundation has the lightness of a mousse but in a liquid form, which automatically intrigued me, as I cannot stand products that feel really thick and cake-y on the skin. Due to the fact that the foundation is air-whipped, it glides on to the skin seamlessly and as its name suggests, it leaves you with a gorgeous satin finish. Although this is a medium coverage foundation, it is extremely buildable and if you use a tad more product for a night out, you can build it up to a fuller coverage and your skin looks flawless with absolutely no imperfections in sight!



As the formulation gives a satin finish, this means that it also gives your skin a subtle luminous glow too. This is not something that I would have automatically gone for due to my oily/combination skin, as most people with this skin type tend to opt for more matte products. However, when buffed in to my skin using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush (which is part of their Core Collection,) this formula has great staying power! I also set my foundation with Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder (£3.99) to ensure that it is locked into place. Of course, I still do have trouble with oiliness on my T-zone as the day goes on but that is easily fixed by using blotting sheets or re-powdering. 



The colour I use is Ivory (010,) the second lightest out of the eight shades available, and this matches my skin perfectly. Although in the swatch above the foundation looks very yellow-toned compared to my pink-toned hand, I can assure you that it is my perfect match! However, as we go into the summer months and I hopefully catch a tan (the UK weather is pretty unpredictable,) I will probably buy the next shade down, Cameo, instead. Each bottle lasts me around three or four months and for just £7.99 a time, I do not see myself changing foundations any time soon!

Overall, this product is great for those who need a medium coverage that is buildable which has a natural, yet slightly luminous finish. It is definitely one of my absolute staples make-up wise and I do not see enough reviews or hype about this product in the blogging world. Have you ever used this foundation before? What do you think of it Please let me know in the comments below. Thank you!