New Skincare Product Launches!

I have to admit I've gone a bit over the top recently with my beauty purchases (upcoming post to feature a big haul!)...so all the lovely skincare ranges I'll be discussing in this post will be just to look at and lust over. 'sigh'

If you've tried any yourself, please let me know what you think, as they're all on my wish list!

Kiehl's new Oil-Free range 

(image:kiehls.co.uk)

The range includes a basic cleansing system: Cleanser (£17), Toner (£16.50), Lotion (£24) and Cream (£24).
Kiehl's does draw me in through their professional looking packaging and quality ingredients. The range is also free of parabens, fragrance and silicones, a big plus for sensitive skin.

The products all sound lovely and amazing for oily skin, however with the cheapest product being a little bit beyond my price range, I'll have to think about whether it's worth investing in.

Palmer's Daily Facial Range 

(image: palmersaustralia.com)

This is the most exciting one for me! I have to confess I'm such a fan of Palmers and their body care range, that I just can't wait to see the results their Daily Facial Range will produce.

The range includes: Daily Cleansing Gel, Exfoilater Scrub, Night Renewal Cream, Smoothing Eye Cream... and many more products.

I'd say this line is geared more towards dryer skins, it's "designed to revive and rejuvenate all skin types, even sensitive skin", as well as, "leaving skin smooth, soft and radiant".

Aveeno Positively Radiant

Aveeno is also great for sufferers of dry skin. The Positively Radiant range helps hydrate the skin as well as even out skin tone and texture.

The range includes: Daily Moisturiser (SPF 30), Cleanser, Daily Scrub, Daily Cleansing Pads, Makeup Removing Cleanser and more.

The inclusion of soy complex in it's ingredients apparently helps produce the claimed results, although I'm a little skeptical about this. But hey, if it works and does what it says, then I'm sure I would buy it. 

Let me know if you've tried any of these products. I'd love to hear your verdict! 

Blog Award! :D

I was so happy this morning when I saw that the lovely anna barry at Style Remaining Fashion Fading had awarded me a 'One Lovely Blog Award'!  My blog is pretty much brand new and I really want to thank everyone that has started reading it and is following :)

Right, now onto the important stuff!

The rules are:

1. Thank the person that gave you these awards and link back to them.

2. Write seven random facts about yourself.

3. Nominate 15 lovely bloggers.

So here goes...

1. I'm currently studying Archaeology at university.

2. I own a dog...very cute, but very disobedient! :p

3. Although I love beauty, fashion is not my specialty...I would love any tips on how to find the right style, if anyone has any! (guest blog feature perhaps?)

4. I love art and doing anything creative.

5. I'm pretty disorganised and messy, not good. But hey I'm a student...so it's expected right?

6. I have to admit I'm a very picky eater, and never good at trying new foods.

7. I would one day love to travel the world, explore different cultures and gain new experiences.

The next part is where I nominate 15 bloggers to also receive the reward. All the blogs on this list are ones that I genuinely read and love. They all have great style, content and well, just check them out for yourself I guess!

       Chocolate London Girl

 Love Terri

 My Modern Vintage

Beth Lundberg

 Les Beaux et Les Belles

 Fashionably Geeked

 Lucy Duckett

 Final Clothes-Out

 Hannah's Fashion Blog

Charmed Charlee

Her Imagination

Zaffiro Bleu

Lil Miss Buttercup
Cup of Tea
The Fashion Igloo

My, What A Pretty Pink Blush You Have!

As summer is here (well for the rest of the world, not so much England!) ...I thought I'd do a small post showcasing my favourite pink blushes that bring out that lovely rosey glow.

                                                                   Top row (L-R):

                                                E.L.F colour stick in 'Pink Lemonade'
                                                Stila convertible colour in 'Gerbera'
                                                E.L.F. radiance blush in 'Shy'

                                                                  Bottom row (L-R):

                                               Collection 2000 shimmer and shade blush in 'Pink Me Up!'
                                               Sleek blush in 'Pixie Pink'
                                               Maybelline Expertwear blush in 'Rose'

Collection 2000's blush with a lovely floral design

What's your favourite blush for the summer?

My Ultimate 2011 Summer Fragrance

When it comes to perfume, I have to admit I'm very picky! I love classic floral scents, but nothing too sweet. I love musky aromas, but I wouldn't want anything too overpowering.

Where would I find a perfume that I actually like then??
Well, I never thought I'd say this but Benefit's new line of perfumes (UK link) had me weak at the knees when I tried them! I love Benefit (US link), but the reason I was doubtful was simply because their expertise lies in makeup, and I wasn't sure if their product quality would transfer over to something different.

(image:google)

...But I'm glad to say I was wrong! Out of the lovely 7 perfumes in the range I fell in love with Something About Sofia. The fragrance is described as 'a dream of oriental blossoms, mango and vanilla lily blossoms'. I can't really describe it much better than that! It's just such a lovely and enticing, fresh summery fragrance.

As you open the box, the 'front door' falls down to reveal the perfume.

Inside the box: amazing!

The other perfumes in the range include Ring My Bella, Laugh With Me Lee, Hooked On Carmella, Garden of Good and Eva, My Place or Yours Gina and Lookin' to Rock Rita.
I tested all of these and I can say there's something to suit everyone's tastes, from fruity florals to woody tones, this range just has it all. 

(image: google)

However, there is a downside... Like all Benefit products, it was a tad overpriced! It retails for £30 in the UK and $36 in the US.
You pay for great quality, and as ever amazing and creative packaging, but £30 for 30ml? I'm a student on a budget, Benefit! ...But I guess I'll have to save up, because this is going to be used almost everyday, and I'll definitely be getting another one straight after.

P.S. If you're from the states, I spied this little beauty on their website! 

Have you tried out the new Benefit perfumes? Which is your favourite? If not, then what's your ultimate fragrance for the summer?

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Collection 2000 Mascara, Love At First Application!

To be honest I'm not much of a mascara girl. I'm lucky enough to have fairly long lashes, so I never really pay that much attention to the latest must have mascara. However, I looked in my makeup bag the other day and saw an - I don't even know how old - No. 7 mascara...time for a new one before I injure myself with this I thought!

So on a trip to good old Boots, I decided there's no point buying something overly expensive that just won't get used, I'll go for nice cheap brand instead. I haven't really tried too many of Collection 2000's products, but the packaging is appealing, as is the price. So I picked up a volumising one called Waterproof Volume Sensation XXL Mascara...and I'm glad I did!

It claims to 'give an instant high impact diva effect and 10 x your natural lash length'! As ever beauty companies give unrealistic descriptions that their product has trouble living up too, but what I will say for this mascara is that it almost does!

I wouldn't say my lashes were 10 times their normal length, but were certainly doubled. The wand is great, its soft, big and coats your lashes well without any clumpiness. It even seemed to separate them pretty well instead of grouping them all together!
The effect was instant and I can 100% say my lashes looked dramatic. The real tester was when I went downstairs and got a "oh wow, you look nice!" reaction...which is a first with mascara for me!
Next time I will go for the normal version instead of waterproof (which I actually picked up by mistake), as pulling on your lashes to get that off is just not necessary.

Overall Collection 2000, I am impressed and will definitely be re-purchasing!

I would love to know what mascaras you have used and recommend. Have you tried Collection 2000 products?

(images: google)

Nom Nom Nom...Lush Lip Scrub

Yes that's right, Lush have produced yet another 'nommy' product, that not only smells great but works amazingly too!

Some of you may find Lush products too overpowering, or just might not like the packaging, ingredients etc. It really is one of the those love/hate brands!
But I'm sure most of you like me love it and probably purchase far too many of their products. I will be doing a lush special post soon, explaining what I find so appealing about the brand and my absolute favourite products in their range!

With presentation like that, I'm not sure how us beauty addicts can resist!

 But back to the post at hand.... I have a long term problem of dry lips, which I've always struggled to find a solution too. Carmex, vaseline, burts bees, blistex... yes I've tried all those lovely lip balms, yet nothing seems to take away that flakey dryness that shows up so hideously with lipstick!

Solution? Well lush have recently introduced their lip scrubs in 3 different flavours, genuis!

Now I was a bit skeptical about these at first. I have sensitive skin and I thought this would cause irritation. But I needn't have worried, unless you full on attack your lips with a crazed scrubbing episode you'll be fine.
This sugar scrub gently buffs away dead skin and left my lips feeling oh so smooth. The smell is somewhat of a big bonus! Whilst Bubblegum and Sweet Lips are lovely, I personally prefer Mint Julips, which smells exactly like after eights...mmm. I actually couldn't stop smelling it!

 

The glass tub it comes in is small, but you only need a small amount to apply it, and I can see this will last a while! The only downside is that whilst the lovely oils leave your lips tingly and smooth... they also stripped a little bit of moisture from mine (but bare in mind I have very dry lips! ).
However, when I used a balm straight after I was amazed. The balm sank right into my lips like never before!

All in all, a great product Lush!

(images: google)

New Ventures, New Projects...

Hi, this is my first ever post, and something that I'm very excited to be starting :)

So, I little bit about myself...I'm a university student living in England, and an absolute addict when it comes to everything and anything beauty (...well almost :p).

So why not start writing about the little tips, tricks that I know, and the products I buy? ... is pretty much what came to mind one night. This is something I've thought of doing for a long time and am pleased I'm finally am.


Yup, this poor image attempt below is to demonstrate my enthusiasm for the many blogs to come, and the time spent with coffee in hand by my laptop. (Hey its the thought that counts right? :)
 

                       (image:google)

I'd love to hear if any of you are embarking on any new ventures or projects, or would like to give me any tips as a fellow blogger or reader.

I'm not a makeup artist or an insider in the beauty industry, however I love to discuss and explore new and different things. As well as beauty I'll probably dwell onto other random topics that might catch your interest.
I hope you enjoy reading whats to come, I'll try to do 1-2 posts a weeks if enough of you are interested in my heartfelt ramblings!
Please don't feel shy to comment on any articles and tell me what you think of the blog.