Current Favourites - Beauty, Books and Underwear!

Teenage memories and hilarious books!

I have always been a reader, especially when I was younger and had more time on my hands! I liked to read basically anything but particularly girly trash! Me and my friend Kathryn loved the Louise Rennison novels and when I saw she had a new series out, it was a serious blast from the past! Rennison writes the funniest stories that are laugh out loud hilarious and so easy for teenagers to relate to! With brilliant chapter titles like 'My Inner Snogger' and 'He's Got The Right Amount of Lip', Rennison really does deserve the title of Queen of Comedy. The Taming of the Tights is one of three books about the character Tallulah Casey. It is available to buy on Amazon and for Kindle here - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Taming-Tights-Misadventures-Tallulah-Casey/dp/000732393X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393533464&sr=8-1&keywords=the+taming+of+the+tights

 

Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser

I have raved about this before but I never repurchased because I had so many body lotions and butters to get through from Christmas! In a recent Boots 3 for 2 I decided to grab this again and have fallen back in love instantly! It's just so handy and you can moisturise your whole body in seconds!

 

Random Subscription Services ...... Panties By Post!

Before blogging I didn't know much about subscription services but that has since changed! I love subscription services and have tried many beauty ones as well as a few healthy snack services. A little researching online lead me to discover monthly underwear! I love underwear almost as much as makeup and was delighted to try Panty By Post*. Panty By Post are an American company but ship to the UK. I was asked my size as well as what styles I like to wear. My lovely thong underwear was shipped out in secure packaging, wrapped in lovely girly tissue paper. I also received a pop band style hair tie in my package. The underwear I received is really cute and high quality feeling. To subscribe or find out more, visit pantybypost.com

 

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

I bought this foundation a while ago and was instantly hooked. I used it daily for weeks but then tossed it aside when I bought other products. Recently I took it out again and enjoyed it but found it a little too dark for my skin. I bought a new shade and have fallen straight back in love! This foundation is everything I want in a foundation! It's high coverage and really long lasting. And best of all, it's £5.99!

 

Healgel Eye*

When I first tried Healgel Face I literally could not stop raving about it! I have nearly finished my bottle now and I'm gutted! I couldn't wait to try Healgel Eye and I wasn't disappointed! I honestly think there must be secret and magical ingredients in these products! How many products do you try that actually work?! Just as Healgel Face did, Healgel Eye has transformed skin! Used twice daily I feel like this product really plumps my under eye area, has taken away that sunken look. It feels really smooth on the skin and smells lovely! Combined with the face serum this gives me flawless skin and is a fantastic base for makeup. Another bonus is the fantastic packaging. The base pushes the product out meaning you don't have to cut it open and scrape out the remains! The only negative I could say for these products is they are a little on the pricey side. However I can sincerely say they are worth it so save up and treat yourself!

www.healgel.co.uk

 

 

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Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil - Review

In a recent haul post I showed my purchases from the new Urban Decay counter in my city. I have been really pleased with all the products I bought but this pencil has absolutely stolen the show! I chose this concealer in CIA, the lightest shade. This is far too pale for my skintone but I chose this to use for highlighting, especially under the eye.

As with all Urban Decay products, this comes in gorgeous outer packaging, a gold box. Inside, the pencil is a lovely purple and the packaging is compact and sturdy. At first I was slightly put off by the idea of a concealer pencil. I thought the product might be hard and cause dragging on the skin. In reality I couldn't be more wrong. The texture of this concealer is so soft and the product melts onto the skin.

I use this concealer under my eyes, on my brow bone and on my forehead. If I am not tanned then I also use this to cover small red areas. The concealer is lovely and creamy. It's covers well but doesn't appear cakey or too thick. I particularly love this under the eyes as it's really brightening.

I have been really enjoying this pencil and using it daily since purchase.As with any product, I have discovered ways to use it that make it more effective. Firstly, this product can slightly crease under the eye if applied on top of other products. I find that if I don't take my foundation up too close then I don't get any creasing from the concealer.

This product is nearly perfect but I do have one small complaint. The pencil needs sharpened and I do this using a Boots jumbo sharpener as I wasn't willing to shell out for the Urban Decay one. It sharpens well but a fair amount of product comes away which is a real waste.

This pencil is £12 which personally I think is a great price and I will definitely repurchase in the future.

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Revlon Cream Blush in Charmed - Review

After purchasing the Real Techniques Stippling Brush last month I realised that I didn't have many cream blushes and would like to try some more. I purchased this Revlon Cream Blush in Charmed to use with my new brush.

The packaging of the blush is really nice. The box is a bit like Mac blushes in my opinion but gloss rather than matte. Inside, the blush is in a plastic tub with a black lid. The colour of the product can only be seen by turning the pot upside down.

Charmed is a reddy pink colour and looks very deep on the swatch. This blends beautifully with the stippling brush and evens out to a very subtle, natural colour. I have always used powder blushes but I'm not sure why as applying a cream blush is so easy and much more natural looking.
The product stays on my cheeks for the whole day and when I remove it at night I see minor fading. It blends well with my other makeup and doesn't crease or become cakey. Together with the Stippling Brush, this is a new favourite of mine for everyday makeup!
At £7.99 this is fairly pricey for a drugstore blush but I will definitely be getting a lot of use out of this and would buy more in the future.

Have you tired these Revlon blushes?

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Glasgow Haul Bargains

I always moan about the useless shopping in my city and how rarely I go to big cities. Recently I posted a Glasgow haul and now I'm back with another after a flying one day trip to visit my little sister.

I wasn't supposed to be shopping and so visited only two shops and tried to be a good girl! Becca had told me about a discount shop she had picked up some bargains in and I knew I had to take a look!

Firstly the brilliant bargain shop. As with all bargain shops, you have to sort through the rubbish to find the goodies, but when you do it's great! Recently I reviewed some Smooch cosmetics and I really liked the quality and the packaging. I was surprised to see them in a bargain shop but quickly picked a few things up! Firstly I got a mono Sleek Blush for £1.99. I can't remember the RRP of this but I'm sure it's much closer to a tenner! The packaging doesn't name a shade but it's a lovely dusky pink. Next I picked up a Sleek Lipstick in Popping Pink for £1.99 and the Smooch Mascara for £2.99. Both of these products are usually much more expensive so these are great prices. I grabbed two Maybelline products from a great selection of cut priced products. Firstly a Popsticks lipbalm in 020 Tropical Pink and a Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe. These were a fantastic £1.99 and £2.99 respectively. Lastly I thought I'd try the W7 Africa bronzer which was a reasonable £2.99.

Next I headed to Superdrug because I was out of tan and it isn't sold in my local store. Cocoa Brown is my ultimate favourite tan and at the bargain price of £7.99 I really can't fault it. I felt like I couldn't leave Superdrug with just one item so grabbed an MUA Blush in Candyfloss. I love these blushes and they are fantastic for only £1! Lastly I somehow ended up talking myself into picking up GOSH Long Lasting Eyebrow Pen for £6.49. I have never heard anything about this but look forward to trying it!

 

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Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in Gilded - Review

If you read my recent haul you will have seen this product before. I picked this up when Urban Decay launched in my city recently and have been using it daily ever since.

At £20 this is not a cheap bronzer and not something I would usually buy. When I purchased this it had been tested on my face and I fell in love and grabbed it. The product comes in lovely outer packaging, a gold box with blue flowery pattern inside. Inside the box, the product casing is also gold. The casing is sturdy, solid feeling and closes very securely. The outer plastic is gold and the transparent panel had a gold pattern and blue writing. Personally I'm actually not a big fan of the casing and feel it looks somewhat cheap compared to the lovely box.

The cake of the product itself is absolutely gorgeous. It has swirls of other shades through it and lovely flecks of shimmer. This is a baked bronzer and so the cake is very compact. The product can be used wet or dry meaning it is more versatile and could be used as an eyeshadow also.
Although a big fan of the fake tan, I am a very pale skinned girl. This bronzer is the absolute perfect shade for my pasty skintone! The swatch above shows the product fairly packed on. This subtle finish means I don't have to be too worried about being heavy handed when I apply the bronzer. I sweep this over my cheeks and apply more pressure for my contouring. I also use a big brush to sweep this along my jawline. The colour is beautiful and the product stays in place all day.
I love this product but at £20 I don't think I would repurchase as I'm sure I could find something to do this job for less. That being said, this product is going to take me a long time to get through and I'm going to enjoy using it!
Have you tried any cheek products from Urban Decay?
I am now using Instgram. Please follow me thepowderednose :)

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Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation - Review

Recently my local Debenhams store got an Urban Decay stand, the first one in my city. I visited on opening day, promising myself to buy nothing, and ended up leaving with £59 of goodies! Rather surprisingly to myself, I ended up buying this foundation.

Usually when I visit a beauty counter I know what I want and so don't get the staff to try the products on my face. However I haven't visited an Urban Decay counter before and so decided to have my makeup done and my colours matched. I was matched at shade 2.0, a rather light shade with cool undertones. I was surprised at how light the product looked on my skin but she was totally right as it's a great match and looks very natural.

This foundation is £27 and so it's no surprise that the packaging is good quality. This is a liquid foundation and the bottle has a ball bearing inside. The bottle has a pump which is definitely handy and I much prefer this to the open bottle style of Estée Lauder Double Wear.

After purchasing this I began to feel a bit guilty and worried that I had been talked into it by the sales person rather than actually wanting to buy this. Usually I buy high coverage foundations and, as the name suggests, this isn't claiming to be high coverage at all. The foundation is a thin consistency and I find it fairly runny when applying. I try to dispense small amounts onto my fingertips then dab it straight onto my skin to stop it from getting messy. I find that I need a fair amount of this, probably between 2 and 3 full pumps to cover my whole face. To blend this I have used both my Real Techniques Buffing Brush and my Real Techniques Complexion Sponge and both leave a lovely finish.
Although not a high coverage foundation, I find that I only need a touch of concealer with this and I'm good to go. The product looks lovely on the skin and feels light. I'm really impressed with how long this lasts. Thefoundation doesn't go patchy or cakey and is still intact when I wash my face some 14 hours later.
I am really impressed with this product and so glad that I bought it! I woild much rather spend the money on this rather than Double Wear and will likely repurchase this in the future.
To see this product one my skin - http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/york-fashion-week-aw14-makeup-looks-153600918.html

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Look Beauty Mattify Me Pressed Powder - Review

When I first heard about Look Beauty I was interested but with it not being available in my city, I never got around to trying anything. On a recent trip to Glasgow with my boyfriend I picked up a few bits and pieces, including this pressed powder.

I paid £4 for this powder which was advertised as a half price offer. From what I can see, this half price offer has been going on for a long time and I doubt anyone has ever paid £8 for this, I personally never would.

Firstly the packaging. This is in a box which is a nice touch and makes it feel high quality. The casing of the powder is very sturdy and verging on bulky. It has it's own mirror which is a nice touch and very handy.

The powder itself is only available in one colour as it is translucent. I have no problems with the shade and find it doesn't alter the colour of my makeup at all. I am usually pretty heavy handed with powder and use a lot of it. When I used that liberal application with this product however, I found it too much. The powder looked cakey and chalky on my face which is never a good look. Persevering with the product though I chose to use a bigger, looser brush to allow me to apply with a lighter hand. This worked a lot better and left a light layer rather than packing on the product.

Once I had worked out how the product worked for me, I have really been enjoying it. The powder keeps my skin matte and lasts all day. I would definitely buy this again buy only at £4 as I simply wouldn't pay much more than that for a setting powder.

Have you tried anything from Look Beauty?

Please check out my article on makeup looks from NYFW Fall 2014 http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/york-fashion-week-aw14-makeup-looks-153600918.html

 

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U Little Beauty Luxurious Natural Self Tan - Review

U Little Beauty Natural Self Tan £13.50*

Description This all-in-one cream which moisturises and nourishes the body naturally while delivering a beautiful and luxurious tan, is specially formulated to ensure a rich and beautiful streak-free tan. Enriched with rose flower oil, this tan does not have an offensive odour and contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients. Made from 100% Certified Organic and Natural ingredients, this self-tan is more like a luxe moisturiser making sure your skin will look as good as it feels. Plus, no fake tan smell!
I am a big fan of fake tan and usually an avid tanner but recently I have found myself embracing my naturally pale skin a bit more! Around Christmas and New Year I was constantly tanned and so I allowed my skin to have a tan free January for a bit of a detox! Now I'm back on the tan and have dug out this natural tanner from my collection.
At £13.50 this is a very affordable tanner and something I could afford to use often and not just for special occasions. The packaging is nothing startling to look at but displays all the relevant information and dispenses the product in a neat and non messy way! This natural tan is vegan, cruelty free and free from SLS and parabens.
As soon as you dispense this product onto your fingers you realise this is unlike other tanners. Firstly this product isn't tinted and doesn't have a guide colour. The tan is white and feels like any body lotion or face cream on the skin. You rub this into your skin as you would a moisturiser and then wash your hands to avoid tan hands!
The product feels very nourishing on the skin and smells lovely! I really don't know how to describe the scent other than to say that it isn't at all a tan smell!
Normally I use a fairly dark tan and, dare I say it, like my tan to look fake! This product does not deliver that look. I applied the product, went to sleep and then showered it off the next morning. I barely noticed the colour change on my skin other than a little uneven orange mark across my knee. I reapplied the next day and my skin was left with a warmer feel and a bit of a glow. I woild liken this to a gradual tanner rather than a fake tan.
This tan really does act like a moisturiser and the areas I used it on were left hydrated and soft. The colour became even and pretty but was very natural looking and not particularly dark.
If you are super pale, a tan virgin or just like a little glow then I definitely recommend this product. The application is easy, the product smells lovely and the tan leaves you with soft skin. However for me this isn't really dark enough and not something I will be reaching for very often.
This can be purchased from http://www.mahinaturals.com/u-little-beauty/u-little-beauty-luxurious-self-tan
*PR Sample

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Beauty Haul - Debenhams and Boots

I like shopping but I'm not really one to splurge. I'm a good saver and usually feel guilty if I spend too much on unnecessary items! I have mentioned before that I live in a small city and the makeup counters available are limited. Recently it was announced that Urban Decay was going to launch in my local Debenhams and I just had to go to the launch and abuse my credit card!

Naked Skin Liquid Foundation £27 I hadn't intended to buy anything, least of all a foundation but I got talked into having this tried on my skin and fell in love. The shade is perfect for my skin, where normally I go for a slightly darker shade. The foundation looks really natural on and I can't wait to get using it.
Baked Bronzer - Gilded £20 This bronzer was also tested on my skin and I love how subtle it is. Being a baked bronzer this can be used wet or dry so I'm looking forward to experimenting with it.
24/7 Concealer £12 When this was tried on my skin I was instantly in love. This is the perfect concealer for under eye and is a light shade for brightening.

What's worse for your bank balance than going into Boots? Going in with another beauty blogger! I went for a coffee with Becca from Perfectly Polished Paws and afterwards we went for a wander round Boots. Now I have to say that Becca was naughtier than me, but I did still end up with a few bits in my basket!

Revlon Cream Blush in Charmed Enchantment £7.99 I have been after a new cream blush since I bought my Real Teachniques stippling brush and spotted this one from Revlon. I haven't tried many Revlon products but this is a lovely shade and I just had to pick it up.
Collection Work the Colour Eyeshadow Pencil in Vanilla Sky £3.19 I have another of these pencils in a light pink colour and I really like it. I was using it daily until it wore down and, rather stupidly, I didn't realise you can sharpen them! They sharpen really well and now that I know this, I decided to buy another!
Rimmel Scandaleyes Nude Liner £2.99 I have been meaning to pick this up for a while but either forget or find it out of stock. I'm glad to have it now and look forward to using it to brighten my eyes.
Seventeen Superlash Mascara and Liner £4.99 Becca recommended this to me so I decided to pick it up. The mascara will normally be £6.99 but is on introductory offer and comes with the liner for free! Definitely a bargain and I can't wait to try it.

Radox Muscle Therapy Bath Soak £1 I needed some more bubble bath and saw these on half price. I have had a sore back recently so decided to try this muscle therapy blend for a change.
Boots Essentials Eye Make-up Remover Gel £1.50 This is a repurchase and one I will keep on buying! It does the job, it's gentle on my eyes and it's cheap!

I'm moving house next month and will be tight for bedroom space in my new house. To accommodate my growing makeup collection, I recently purchased the IKEA Alex 9 drawer for my new place! So excited about getting it up!
Have you spent too much money recently?!

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