Essie Autumn Favourite

The weather is changing and the nights are getting cold and dark, which means a change in makeup, skincare and nail polish is upon us! 

The first change I've made to my routine is a beautiful essie polish called 'eternal optimist'. 

It is the perfect autumn to winter colour, cool and neutral with a slight pink tone. It applies beautifully (as always with Essie) and is long wearing. A lovely colour for work especially, and looks very good with a statement nail to jazz things up a bit.

Have you made any changes to your skincare, makeup or nail polish?! Let me know in the comments your winter favourites!

See you next time, Rosie! X

FACE AND PRODUCTS OF THE DAY (FAPOTD)

So today I decided I'd do something a little different, and here it is! Today I'm doing a face and product of the day- basically I'm going to show you the look I went for today, and the products I used to make it happen... So here's my face! 

The products I used are as followed:

The foundation is Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shade 52 Vanilla. I teamed that with Rimmel's Stay Matte powder in the shade 01 Transparent, and a No7 Natural Blush in the shade 20 Honey (my favourite blush of all time). On top of these products I used my Sleek Face and Contour Kit in the shade Light, to highlight the cheeks, nose and Cupid's bow.

I used Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Éclat in shade one as both and under-eye brighter and concealer, then applying a MAC eyebrow crayon through the brows in the colour Lingering.

I then applied Natural Collection Liquid Eyeliner in black on the lids to create a very small winged liner effect, making sure to stay close to the lash line to make my eyelashes look fuller. This, coupled with Maybelline The Falsies mascara on both top and bottom lashes to finish the eyes.

I then added a little bit of Vaseline to my lips and used my GHD hair straighteners to finish off the look completely!

And there we have it! I hope you enjoyed this post and the look I created, feel free to leave comments, and let me know if you use any of these products... Or if you don't like any of them!

See you next time, Rosie!

RIMMEL SALON PRO - SOUL SESSION

So I'm sure you all know about my love for nail polish, and my collection just keeps growing and growing week on week! But recently, my new favourite is 'Soul Session' - no 237 - by Rimmel in the Kate Moss range.

         

It is such a beautiful neutral nude pink colour, that is very subtle but classy. I love the packaging, the lid of the bottle, the name, the formula is amazing and the brush is so easy to paint your nails without any mistakes! Basically I love everything about this nail varnish. It's great for work, for casual occasions or for formal occasions as in my opinion it screams class! 

On the back, it claims to last ten days as it is a gel based product, and although I wouldn't say quite ten days, it is very long wearing and doesn't chip off - which is a surprise for me because nothing seems to ever stay on my nails! I haven't used a base coat or top coat and it has already lasted a good 5 days with no chips!

I absolutely love this nail polish and am trying to hold myself back from not extending my collection! Thanks for reading guys, leave me a comment I love to hear your opinions and recommendations. 

See you next time, Rosie!

UNA BRENNAN AND AVON SKINCARE

I had heard an awful lot of positives around Una Brennan's skincare range in the blogging world, and when I went into Boots the other day it was luckily on offer so I decided to finally give it a try! 

I haven't had a proper cleanser in my skincare routine for a very long time, as I never seem to find any I love enough to keep repurchasing time after time. On it's own the Una Brennan Cleanser is a good product - it's lightweight, almost fragrance free and the packaging is easy on the eye and very minimalistic which always instantly attracts me. It makes the skin feel softer and plumper, and also removes any last bits of left behind make up. Although I've only been using it for the last few weeks, I have been using it every single night and morning - which is the thing I love most about it!

       

After bathing with my Una Brennan cleanser I used my other regular exfoliator and combined the two together in my routine. After cleansing, I used the Avon Deep Pore Cleansing Rub - which is more of a mask type product. I would not recommend this product for people with sensitive skin, as it is a very deep and hard exfoliant which could prove an irritation to some people's skin. I absolutely love this product, to say its Avon's own range it always performs and always leaves my skin feeling super smooth. The packaging isn't great but the product does the trick and I love it!

Using these two products one after the other ensures my complexion is fresh and plump every single day! I love this combination. If you have any products you use as a combination then please let me know in the comments - or maybe just leave me a nice little message!

Thanks for reading guys, see you next time, Rosie. X

LA ROCHE POSAY FREEBIES

Look what came in the post for me this morning! A lady called Sarah from La Roche-Posay had a sample of the Hydraphase Intense Masque sent to me, with a little note inside!

The Hydraphase Intense Masque is basically a soothing hydrating mask for sensitive skin. Sarah recommended this product to me as it has won an ELLE award, and she said the product had been a big hit in the office - so my hopes are high!

It claims to give results of intensely hydrated skin, combined with a soothing element. It also claims to increase skins suppleness and softness. Retailing at £15, it is also claiming to be the first La Roche Posay to hydrate sensitive dehydrated skin.

Sarah was extremely helpful and friendly, and was eager to get product samples sent to me, which was extremely lovely and kind of her.

I will try and review this product over the next month, along with another La Roche-Posay product I purchased, so you definitely have some exiting things to look forward to over the next few weeks!

ESTÉE LAUDER BLUSH REVIEW

One thing that I am absolutely loving at the moment is this beautiful Estée Lauder blush in the colour Hot Sienna.

There really isn't much to say, other than this is one of my all time favourite make-up items, and I absolutely adore it! It is so pigmented, and such an amazing colour. Yes they are pretty pricey for a blush, but the packaging is unreal! I just can not sing this items praises enough, it is definitely one to try if you haven't already.

The colour is amazing - a very deep pink with a tiny tint of coral. It is a very matte colour, so easy to work with and blend to make natural looking. It is a very sophisticated product, both in packaging and in the product. 

I can not believe how much and how fast I have fallen in love with this product, and I would absolutely love to extend my collection. If you haven't already tried the Estée Lauder blush I seriously recommend you go and try one out! (Even if you ask for it for Christmas, as I know they are extremely expensive and unaffordable for some!)

Thank you for reading my post, see you next time, Rosie! X

BURTS BEES HAND CREAM

Hi guys!

One thing I have always struggled with is extremely dry hands, in both the summer and winter months I find my hands to be chapped and often feel uncomfortable. I had literally tried everything - from Vaseline to soap and glory hand food - but nothing seemed to work until I met my new little friend from Burts Bees which I picked up on the shelves of boots.

I'd actually given up and come to terms with the fact that my hands would be like this forever, but since finding this product my hands are 100% improved. Because the pot is small and compact, it is easy to carry around and I tend to throw it in my handbag and take it just about everywhere I go.

Any time my hands begin to get dry I use a pea size amount of the Burts Bees Hand Cream and they are instantly rehydrated! It is literally amazing in my opinion and I have spent so long looking for a product that works for me, it is very affordable at well under the £10 mark, and the packaging has an old fashioned yet modern feel. The jar is glass, making the product feel extremely luxurious, and I literally cannot sing its praises enough! It also contains almond milk which smells absolutely to die for. Because it is a beeswax hand cream and not just the usual cream rubbish I have used in the past it seems to really do the trick.

This is the second jar I have purchased, and I can safely say my hands are like a different pair! I am dying to get my newly hydrated hands on a few more of the Burts Bees range - if you have any recommendations then please let me know... I might even have to include this product in my give away!

Thanks for reading, see you next time. Rosie!

POTENTIAL GIVE-AWAY

Hey guys,

 

Just a quick post. I am thinking about doing a small give-away for a lucky follower of my blog. Please let me know if you would be interested in joining in the give-away. I would ask you to write down your favourite memory of your summer, or best thing that happened during the summer break. As this is my first give-away I would only send to UK readers. You must be following my blog, and obviously leave me a comment about your favourite thing that happened this summer.

 

This is in no way a definite give-away - I just wanted to know how many of you would be interested in joining one! Leave me a comment and let me know.

 

Thanks, and see you next time, Rosie!

MAC STROBE CREAM REVIEW

Hello Everyone!

 

Today I wanted to share with you a personal favourite of mine which I have been absolutely adoring through out the summer months. When receiving the MAC Strobe Cream tester for free in a MAC order a while ago, it got tossed into the bottom of my make-up bag never to be seen again. I didn't have a clue what it did, and thought it would make my complexion shiny and fake.

 

 

 

But after conducting my research I soon found out that the MAC Strobe Cream has a very important purpose. It can be either used as a primer before the foundation, to leave a beautiful glow on the cheekbones... or you can actually mix the product into your foundation to achieve the same effect. It gives the complexion a lot of colour, and leaves a gorgeous dewy look - which I have been loving to rock this summer! I currently only have a tester, however I am dying to get my hands on the full sized tube. Despite using the tester once every couple of days it has lasted a significant amount of time - as not a lot of product needs to be used to create this look.

 

When you first apply the Strobe Cream it comes out in an iridescent white paste, which then blends in leaving a beautiful but subtle undertone of shimmer which looks absolutely gorgeous when your face hits the light in all the right places.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

The product looks amazing under all foundations, but especially things like my No7 Beautifully Matte Mousse, as it leaves a beautiful shimmer and breaks up the matte look! The full size bottle - which can be found and purchased here - is quite pricey at £23.50 per bottle, however I believe that it could last forever as the 6ml tester has lasted me a month at least!

 

I really recommend this product for people who are wanting to rock the more dewy finish - it is a great moisturiser/primer/base for foundations, and I hope you will love this product as much as I do!

 

Let me know if there is any other MAC products you think I am missing out on and need to give a go! I would love to extend my MAC collection, as I am very rarely disappointed by the brand. Feel free to leave comments etc, and I will be back very shortly!

 

Thanks for reading, and see you next time, Rosie. x

SLEEK BLUSH BY THREE

I had heard lots of good things about the Sleek Blush palette's so a few months ago decided to get my hands on one! I wanted to try out a colour I wouldn't usually go for, so I decided to pick out the 'Sugar' blush by three palette. This way I got to try out a range of blush for such a great price! (£8.99)They are readily available to buy online, and I do think the website ship anywhere. The single blushes are cheaper, but less than £10 for three amazing blushes certainly tickled my fancy!

 

The colour I have completely fallen in love with is Turbinado, the blush on the far right of the photo. It is a gorgeous bright orange blush - which at first glance looks garish, scary and far too bright... however a light dusting of this shade on my cheeks combined with some bronzer for a classic yet casual glow complements my skin tone very nicely. I have to admit, at first I strayed away from it as it was bright orange and would never suit me, but trust me it really is gorgeous. The Sleek blushes are incredibly pigmented and so easy to work with - you only need a little on your brush so they seem to last forever. They have gorgeous, high end like packaging, with a large mirror inside every palette - singles included! They are compact, easy to throw in your make-up bag/handbag, and they have an amazing staying power... and an even more amazing price!

 

I would definitely recommend the Sleek blush range to every beauty lover out there - you certainly cannot go wrong with them. Let me know if there are any Sleek blushes that you love, as I am looking to extend my collection in the near future.

 

See you next time, Rosie!



BATH TIME ROUTINE

Today has been none-stop driving from A to B, running little errands and helping mum out around the house, and finally now I have some time to myself. I am currently sat in the bathtub surrounded by bubbles getting ready for a pamper session (so not my normal post!) and I thought you might like to have a sneaky peek at some of the products I use and repurchase time after time.

  

From left to right -

1. Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner

2. Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo

3. Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash

4. Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub

5. Soap and Glory Face Soap Clarity

6. Quick Fix Facials Dry and Thirsty Skin Mask

I would just like to point out that I have used and repurchased the following products for the past six months at least, and I am absolutely loving all of them! 

The Aussie Shampoo and Conditioner duo has really helped the state of my hair - from split ends and a straw like feel, to a shiny, rejuvenated barnett! They are currently on 3 for £13 at Boots, go grab them while you can.

The Soap and Glory range is a personal favourite of mine, but the outstanding line has to be the Sugar Crush collection which I absolutely adore! It smells absolutely gorgeous, containing ingredients such as lime juice, brown sugar and almond oil. The body wash leaves you feeling fresh and the scrub is great for all over the body, getting rid of dry skin and scales! I also love the face soap as it leaves my complexion fresh and smooth. 

Last is the Quick Fix Facials, which I have already done a review of on my blog somewhere (feel free to go and find it as I can't leave a link on my phone!), and although the review isn't great, the product is still a great one to put on while having a nice relaxing afternoon in the tub.

I hope you like my post, and if you want a more detailed review on any of the products give me a shout in the comments! Also, let me know what your 'go to' bath time routine is, as I would love to steal some ideas and mix it up a little!

Thanks for reading!

1. See you next time, Rosie. X

MODELS OWN GLITTERS!

As all my friends and family know, I am a complete sucker for nail varnish. My favourite brand is obviously Essie, however when I'm feeling in need of a little jazz up of the nails I instantly reach for this wonderful trio from another amazing brand - Models Own.

I am a true 'Sprinklerino' (I love you sprinkleofglitter!!!) in the YouTube sense and also the glitter polishes, and I have to say these are by far the most outstanding glitter polishes I have ever used. Usually when using a glitter polish I have been disappointed as normally the result is a few specks of glitter on your nail with not much else going on - however the Models Own range gives a full glitter coverage with no nail left for the eye to see! (See below)

Now that photo certainly doesn't show the neatest nail polish - but it does give you an idea of how translucent the polishes are, to the point you don't even have to wear a colour underneath to fill in the parts lacking glitter... Because there are no none-glitter bits!

I cannot rave about this set of polishes enough, they're great for all occasions - winter, summer, nights out, special occasions, or those times when you just need to jazz things up a little.

The packaging is fresh, eye catching and current/modern, and I love the product names - I will do from left to right in the first picture:

1. Pink Glitter only - Pink Fizz

2. Purple and Blue glitter combined - Disco Mix

3. Pink undertone with mix of different glitters - Northern Lights (from the winter wonderland collection)

I would love to buy more of these, but I just have so much nail polish I'm running out of places to store it - especially with my new found Essie love!

I highly recommend you go and try out the Models Own range, especially the glitter polishes (winter wonderland polishes are the best, however there are limited colours and are usually sold out). I also love buying these polishes because if you buy three in one transaction you get a discount, and the same applies if you purchase five. The products used to only be available online, however I have seen them now stocked in a few Boots stores (general drugstore in England for all you American readers!). 

Let me know in the comments if you have used these before, maybe even recommend some colours I don't have that I may love! I really hope you enjoy reading this post, and I look forward to the next time!

See you next time, Rosie!

QUICK FIX FACIALS

In my August/September wishlist I spoke about wanting to try out the new range of Quick Fix Facials, and finally managed to get my hands on some from Boots!

As I said previously, my love for face masks was completely none existent, as I find them very hard to work with, and they are a quick fix for smooth skin for a few measly hours! 

I was kind of hoping that the Quick Fix Facials range would change my mind. I purchased the Mega Moisture Gel Mask for dry and thirsty skin. I like the packaging, and the price (At under £5 it's very affordable)! Also, there is up to 10x facials per bottle which is a definitely plus, as the product will last a significant amount of time!

The first thing I noticed when using the product was that it was easy to apply, and the packaging was colourful, eye catching and straight to the point - telling you every ingredient and what it does on the back. However, this gel face mask has certainly not changed my view on these types of products... There was no change to the skin and I felt no benefits to using it - basically just a wasted £5!

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the product and it was lovely to lay in the bath with it applied to my face for ten minutes and relax... But sadly I would not consider buying it again. This may be due to the fact I do not like face masks, so instantly write them off, but I'm glad I tried it and it will definitely stay in my cupboard for the days when I feel a little pampering is in order!

See you next time, Rosie!

BOTANICS - THE POWER OF PLANTS

The 'Botanics Hydrating Night Cream All Bright' claims to brighten and hydrate overnight. This Boots range is only £4.99, and I can safely say I have truly fallen in love with it. 

I always have and probably always will struggle with dry skin around the nose and chin, but I had never really found a product that I liked enough to re-apply and re-purchase time after time. However, after seeing what the Botanics range had to offer I decided to pick up the night cream for only £3.37 as it was on offer at the time (obviously night has been said to be the best time to use moisturisers etc). The moisturiser doesn't leave your face sticky or shiny, and smells very fresh and relaxing... so you're not putting something horrible on the skin that will keep you up all night!

 

It also does the job perfectly, and I actually prefer it over any high end moisturisers or treatments I have tried in the past. My night time skincare regime consists of this night cream, the 'Garnier Caffeine Eye Roll-On' and the 'Nip and Fab Glycolic Fix Serum' which I have reviewed on my blog here!. The three products seem to have mixed well together, working wonders on my dry face. My pores have become less visible, and I seem to be getting a lot less spot break outs.

 

As the Botanics Night Cream is a product that I love and enjoy applying, it makes me want to take off my makeup every night, just to apply this moisturiser. I would definitely recommend the 'Botanics - The Power Of Plants' to anyone, as it is cheap, easy to pick up (in all Boots stores), and they have a vast range of products. My next purchase will definitely have to be the Day Cream!

 

See you next time, Rosie!

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER WISHLIST

There are millions of products out there that I am itching to get my hands on and try out, so I thought that seen as I now have my own little slice of the internet to share my opinions on, I would create a wishlist every one to two months of products I would like to try and review before the months end.

August to September's wishlist looks a little something like this:

1. The Botanics All Brightening Day Cream which can be found and purchased here.

I really want to try out this day moisturiser as I already have the overnight cream and am absolutely in love! (There will be a review on my blog within the next week of the night cream). My face is a combination skin - normal with dry patches mainly around the chin and mouth area - so I love to try out moisturisers, and so far the night cream has been working wonders... maybe the two combined will solve all of my complexion woes!

 

 

2. Garnier 5 Second Blur Primer which can be found and purchased here.

 

I am still not completely a lover of primers, and they are definitely something I can live without - I find that sometimes they make my face too oily and this often results in makeup just sliding down my face more and more as the day continues. I really want to try out the Garnier 5 Second Blur Primer, because if it really does work in 5 seconds it will be great for rushed mornings!

 

 

3. Bioderma Sensibio H20 - Micelle Solution which can be found and purchased here.

I have heard so much about this product, it is definitely something I want and NEED to try - and fast! Half of the time I find it a real chore taking off my make-up on an evening, and I think that the Bioderma H20 Solution would definitely help me stick to my skincare routine as it is a fast, easy clear water-like makeup remover. This product is still flying around the beauty blogs and youtubers after many months, and I would be completely silly not to give it a go!

 

 

4. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion which can be found and purchased here. 

 

Until recently i'd found eyeshadow to be a bit of a chore - it never went right for me! Then I forced myself to buy the correct tools, and finally i'm starting to finally fall in love with eyeshadow and can't wait to try the Primer Potion! I'm currently loving the Naked 2 Palette, and think that the Primer Potion will be a great addition to my collection.

 

 

5. Quick Fix Facials Mega Moisture Gel Mask (for dry and thirsty skin) which can be found and purchased here.

Whenever I think of a face mask I think of a bright green, horrible smelling , sticky, goopy paste that makes your face feel horrid! However, I wanted to try something that might just restore my faith in face masks... Obviously I want try try the mask for dry and thirsty skin, as like I said I get quite a few dry patches around the chin area. I really want to try this product, so hopefully my perception of face masks will change and I can have a staple mask in my skin care routine.

So there is my August to September wish list. My aim is to try and review all of the products mentioned below, and let you guys know how I get on with them. Hopefully I will love them all and my opinion on primers and face masks can be changed! Let me know what's on your wish list, and maybe what your favourite products of August are in the comments below.

See you next time, Rosie!

MAC STUDIO SCULPT FOUNDATION

So here it comes, and you're probably all going to hate my opinion on this one... but I am really not a fan of the Mac Studio Sculpt foundation at all. I so badly wanted to love it, as so many of you rely on it for everyday use, and I really hoped it could become a staple product in my make up bag (and for £25.00 a tube so did my bank account!) you can find the product here.

This is the Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation with SPF 15 in the shade NC15.

 

 

As the foundation is gel based I found it extremely hard to work with, often making me look far too shiny and it left my complexion looking fake - however did an extremely good job of accentuating all my bad bits! I have a feeling that nearing the end of the bottle may become a problem as I feel the packaging is badly shaped, and for £25 I personally want something I can easily use every last drop of. I also do not feel as though the coverage is buildable, you can either go for full coverage or full coverage x2. I think part of the reason I am not a massive fan of this foundation is due to the fact that it seems to take forever to blend into the face with it being a gel based product, and often I just don't have the time on a morning to sit and faff around! I want something easy, quick and liquid based that spreads fast and moisturises my skin at the same time. I felt as though this foundation was drying out the skin and constantly found myself applying moisturisers the second I took off the product.

 

I am so sorry to say that I am not a fan of the Mac Studio Sculpt, the coverage is too full, the packaging and price tag are not appealing, and the way it leaves my skin feeling just makes it a complete no no. However, this is the first foundation that I have ever found that has such a vast range of lighter colours, and I did actually pick up the perfect match for me which is usually a very hard task (as I'm so pale!). The foundation also has an SPF 15, which is always a good thing to have in a product. I really hoped that I would learn to love this product, as until now Mac had never let me down. I am disappointed but it will definitely not stop me trying out some more of their foundations. Hopefully i'll find the perfect one!

 

I hope you enjoyed reading my post - maybe you could leave me a comment telling me which Mac foundations you recommend I try out! Also, if you have a completely different opinion on the Studio Sculpt foundation definitetly feel free to let me know.

 

See you next time, Rosie

ESSIE FAVOURITES

I have to admit, I have only recently given the Essie nail polish range a try (as usually I would reach straight for the Models Own brand) however I have been loving what Essie has to offer! Although I only currently have four polishes in my Essie collection I continuously find myself reaching for them above any other brand. The first two colours I purchased were Peach Daiquiri and Bahama Mama, and I then extended my collection with Sunday Funday and Meet Me At Sunset.

From left to right - Peach Daquiri, Bahama Mama, Meet Me At Sunset, Sunday Funday.

My favourite one out of my small but sweet collection has to be Sunday Funday - I have never come across a nail polish that is such a beautiful mixed coral pink shade (and it even has a tiny bit of shimmer in some lights!). The polishes are all very wearable and easy to apply as they all come with a larger brush, and you can easily get away with one coat if you're in a rush. They are very affordable at only £7.99 and can be bought at most Boots stores and definitely online. I also love the packaging and strangely I love that the names are so unique and imaginative! They dry quicker than most of my other polishes and am finding them to be my current go to when I want to add a little colour to my day!

If you haven't tried Essie polishes I definitely recommend that you give them a go! If you already have, let me know what your favourite polish is, and maybe if you've found some disadvantages of the brand then please feel free to comment. I personally love the Essie brand (even though I am rather late on the bandwagon!) and am very excited to expand my collection further.

See you next time, Rosie

NIP + FAB GLYCOLIC FIX SERUM REVIEW

So after weeks of contemplating starting my own beauty blog, the time has finally arrived... and this lucky product is first under scrutiny.

 

This is the Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Serum

 



 

On first impression, the product looks, sounds and seems pretty complicated, but I can assure you it does exactly what it says on the tin. The Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Serum claims to 'minimise pores and brighten skin' overnight, improving the skins texture and smoothing the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. I bought this product from Boots for £9.95 - however it was on sale and the RRP of this product is usually £14.99.

 

I have to say, I have heard nothing but praise on the whole Nip+Fab range. I think that the packaging is informative, inviting and eye-catching, with the box making many bold statements. On the box it asks you to use it for two weeks to give the product chance to show visible results. I immediately came to the conclusion that I love the product, and I am extremely impressed with the brand as a whole. I can confirm that the serum does what it says on the tin. It is lightweight on the face and doesn't leave a sticky residue (which is perfect, because it's an overnight product so you don't want to stick to your pillow or be afraid to lay down!). It also leaves skin looking smooth, pores minimised and a glowing complexion... not to mention the amazing scent. I personally think it smells fresh and hydrating but not too overpowering.

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed this product, and although I probably wouldn't have picked it up if it was priced up at £14.99 I would now be more than willing to pay that price to replace it. It is a fabulous product and I am so excited to try out more of the Nip+Fab range.

 

Let me know if you have tried this product - what are your thoughts? Do you agree with my opinion? Also please let me know about any products from the Nip+Fab range you have tried and loved, as I really would like to try them.

 

See you next time, Rosie!