ESSIE ESSIE ESSIE ESSIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAH (to the tune of Kaiser Chief's Ruby, yes I have a lot of time on my hands tonight, don't judge).

I was an Essie virgin until about a month ago. And I know I keep banging on about this but I really do live in rural west Wales so there's not exactly a beauty mart or well-stocked Selfridges here for me to nip in to, my nearest Essie stand is 40 minutes away!

After seeing Essie mentioned almost religiously on my favourite beauty blogs such as Kate, Anna & Sarah, I knew it wouldn't be long before I bit the Essie bullet. I was visiting my boyfriend in Oxfordshire a few weekends ago and I saw an Essie stand in the Banbury boots, and before I knew it, there were 3 Essie polishes in my basket. They were on 3 for 2, so it would have been rude not to!

I suffer from the dreaded chipped nails, and I always struggle to find a polish brand that lasts well on my nails as a result of this. Nails Inc is basically shite on me, I don't even bother with brands like 17 & Natural Collection, and Barry M is a joke. I'd heard good things about Essie so I was eager to try. The first shades I picked up were Too Too Hot, Lovie Dovie & Jamaica Me Crazy.

It escalated from a small purchase of this;

to a purchase of this;

and now I've added these;

so the final collection is this;

(sorry for the poor picture quality, they are iPhone pictures with a bit of terrible instagramming!)

Its a love affair that I don't think will stop, and I can see myself adding shades everytime the opportunity arises! This product is also worth a mention as its really increased the wear-time on my nails and I've noticed that its helped my nails too, and its the Essie Nail Polish Base Coat - All In One Base which is £8.99.

I think I've rambled enough about essie now, and if you've been a user for years I'm sure this really was a dull post, so my apologies!

xoxo

FOTW #1

Firstly sorry for the awful iPhone picture, I've lost the cable for my DSLR and I've just ordered another one!

MAC F&B, Chanel Perfection Lumiere, Dior Amber Diamond, Estee Lauder DW concealer (sample), NARS the Multiple in Orgasm, Collection waterproof liquid eyeliner, Revlon eyelash glue, Dior Eye Show in 002 White Light Disco for the inner corners of my eyes, Tweezerman tweezers, Rimmel Volume Flash Mascara in extreme black, Benefit Posie Tint for my lips.

This week has been one of those annoying week's where you have run out of your go-to foundations and you have to use the products you have left in your "stash". I had loads of MAC F&B foundation left, which I hate to wear on its own, and some Chanel Perfection Lumiere which I just wasn't impressed with by itself. It is NOT long-lasting at all on my face, which is one of its key selling points so I was really disappointed. I've been mixing them together (beauty no-no apparently??) and surprisingly they seem to work well together and give a nice finish and better longevity. Bronzer wise I've been switching between my NARS Laguna (which is almost empty sob sob) and MAC MSFN in Give Me Sun, which is basically the "essex" shade according to the MUA in the store, and I LOVE it. Highlighter has been the standard Dior Amber Diamond which I've been using for a year now and still is going strong! I've been whacking on some Sarah & Nadine GA eyelashes on top as I always do (and yes two pairs, Sarah's for volume, Nadine for length). Espresso for my brows (although I find it is a bit too red-toned).

Next post will hopefully include new skincare bits and newer make up!

xoxo

UTan - Ibiza Extreme Dark Lotion

I have tried many, many fake tans. I loved St Tropez Dark Lotion but then I tried this.... just to be cliche its definitely my HG fake tan!
Lasts well, is a gorgeous colour and applies much better than the others! I bought mine from Debenhams and there are always so many in store, I don't know if my town just hasn't cottoned on to how good it is but I am not complaining! More for me!
It is a very dark colour when applied, and I had to exchange my first bottle because the squirty bit (technical term there) that pumps the product out was faulty, but after that my second bottle was brilliant!
100% recommend, such a lovely colour, brilliant longevity, and fades really well!

UTan comes in different colours and formulations, from lotions to mousses, from gradual tans to full-on dark tans (my choice!). It is currently on offer on the Debenhams website for just £21.37, down from the usual price of £28.50 so I'd get in there if you're interested whilst its cheap! Link!

xoxo

Neglected blog!!

I have definitely neglected this blog for too long, but I have been so busy recently, constantly working or travelling so I haven't had any time at all, but I've got more time now and I've got two weeks off for Christmas so I will definitely have more time now! 

I've had a bit of a spree this month (does anyone else have massive sprees before Christmas?? What is wrong with me!) so I actually have loads of products that I will be reviewing on here in the coming weeks! I have actually spent an excessive amount but I did need most of it as I was running out!

Clothes wise, recent purchases include;

• this Zara bag (I was in love the minute I saw it),

• this Topshop duffel coat, (which is a lot nicer on and is so cosy!)

• this Joules wax jacket,

• this topshop jumper (jumper and necklace in one, WIN)

• this River Island tweedy-type pink peplum top which I think will be perfect for my work christmas party which is coming up in two weeks! I'm so over dresses as I hate my legs at the moment so will feel much better squeezing them into jeans! ha! 

Cosmetics wise I've just been ridiculous and I've bought a Clarisonic Mia 2, Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation, Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, Hydraluron, Laura Mercier Radiance Primer and literally about 15 Essie polishes, no joke!

Now its actually 4 weeks to go I've cut the spending and surprisingly enough I've almost finished my christmas shopping! Just waiting for my annoying younger brother to decide what he wants! This is unheard of for me but I had a few sick days off work so I managed to get loads done then!

Anyway I just wanted to check in as I haven't completely forgotten, and I will be back posting frequently soon! 

xoxo

Recommendations...

I thought I would do a little post about the blogs I am currently loving, it's always nice to discover blogs and these are definitely some of my favourites!

One is a fashion-music blog, and it's by my good friend Robyn. (She's a babe).  She's one of those girls who is totally into music that I'd never EVER want to show her my spotify playlists (spice girls and taylor swift are recent listens!), she's actually a music journalist and she's basically super cool, and SO nice too! I met her through twitter and blogging and we actually met up in June and she was so nice (and FIT).

Robyn's blog is; http://therobyndiaries.blogspot.co.uk/

The other is one I discovered fairly recently, and its called "Product Doctor" by the lovely Nisha. She's so lovely, I've tweeted her a few times and she always replies which is so nice! She has a lovely mixture of make-up and fashion posts, and its such a good read I'm always surprised she doesn't have more followers!

 Nisha's is http://productdoctor.blogspot.co.uk/

Nisha showed us her make-up collect in one of her recent posts and I was drooling THE WHOLE TIME. Massive make-up envy, and I need those muji drawers in my life!!

The last one is City Girl Fashion Box, by the lovely Sarah!

http://citygirlsfashionbox.blogspot.co.uk/

Sarah is bloody hilarious and her tweets make me laugh so much! I love her blog because she blogs about topshop make up in an equally casual manner to her mulberry handbags and Marc Jabobs bits! A really good read, seriously witty but also serious knowledge, such as when the Topshop sale is about to start, which is obviously a serious topic!!!

(image credits go to Robyn, Sarah & Nisha respectively, I hope they don't mind me borrowing them!)

All highly recommended, give them a read! In other news, I am currently obsessed with this awful Korean rapper called "Psy" that one of my friends posted on my facebook timeline the other day, the song is an accquired taste I think its safe to say but the video is hilarious, check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0

YSL La Teint Touche Eclat Foundation

I had high hopes for this foundation after all the hype. YSL describe the foundation as; "The light of Touche Éclat foundation targets shadowy areas and highlights the contours of the face. With no opaque powders, its perfecting texture evens the complexion and helps conceal your imperfections, while enhancing your skin’s natural beauty."


The packaging was luxe, and as a fan of "dewy/highlighting" foundations I was really eager to see what this had to offer. I was matched at the YSL counter in John Lewis in Milton Keynes by a really nice guy, he was really eager to give me a sample which I always appreciate after the snotty too-much-make-up ladies of Debenhams and Boots!

[photo from YSL beauty website]

I was matched to the shade BD50, which was a good match for my (fake) tanned skin. I applied it firstly with my MAC 187 following moisturiser (no serum, I'm running out and can't afford a new one until payday!). I immediately LOVED the finish, my skin looked radiant, without meaning to brag! I was so pleased, and I was so impressed that I literally almost ordered it straight away from Feel Unique as I saw it was on sale.

However, I am so glad that I didn't. I got home after 8 hours at work and my face looked awful! It was so patchy, half of it had come off and it just looked terrible! I asked my sister what she thought (she sees all the different ones I try out, so she's a good person to judge!), and she gave a very negative verdict! I tried it again the next day with serum and primer this time, hoping for a good result, but it was just as bad! I reckon I got around 4-5 hours of it maximum with it looking decent, and after this it just started to slide off my face! Bearing in mind that this is Britain and it is now around 17 degrees, this was not ideal at all!

I was gutted, as I really wanted to love this foundation, but unfortunately after 7 days of trying with various methods, I'm still not a fan at all! A big thumbs down from me, sorry YSL!

(for reference, I have combination skin and I'm around a NC30 in MAC).

Autumn Wishlist

These are the things that I have wanted for a while, but as autumn is my favourite season (yep, take that bikini lovers) they have a distinctly autumnal-feel. 

1. Hunter Wellies - A traditional staple, I've been eyeing them up since I was about 16! I reckon that if I bought these I would actually bother to make the half-hour walk to work instead of the 5 minute drive, and I would actually walk my dog in the local museum / park... I'd HAVE to show them off, obviously! Currently torn between the matte or gloss versions, thoughts?

  

2. Clarisonic MIA - I'm a blogging sheep, which is already demonstrated by my MK 5055 watch and Topshop Allegras and Ambush boots. (Speaking of Ambush boots, anyone else annoyed that they've been re-released for this season and are £30 cheaper than last year!?) I've actually wanted to try the Clarisonic for over a year now and I'm totally smacking myself that I didn't buy it when I was in the US in April (stupid girl)

3. Louis Vuitton Speedy 35 - Its a classic, its an investment, 'nuff said. Some serious saving required for this one!

4. Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation - Seen this pop up on a few blogs and instagram feeds, and I cannot wait to try it, I'm still torn on what I think about Luminous Silk, but more on that on a later date.

5.  Basically anything Demi Lovato is wearing at the moment, I've got a massive girl crush. Her album is currently on repeat on my laptop (don't judge, its good alright?), and I'm totally obsessed. I definitely check her Coolspotters page at least twice a week. (loser alert). Also, she wears loads of Topshop, so attainable and stylish - win! A personal favourite is the blazer and shorts combo below that is from Topshop, but obviously its sold out now (twats).

6. Millicent Back Studded Boots - Topshop, £40. I love them, but no idea what I'd pair them with as I wear mostly black jeans / leggings and apparently you aren't supposed to wear black with navy, but I never follow that rule, soz fashion police.

Again I think that's enough rambling here from me, I was totally lying when I said they had an autumn-feel, my bad! In other news I've got a second, part-time job for the evenings at the moment to fund my clothes habit, and as one-half of a long-distance relationship with all my friends scattered all over the country its nice to have something to do on those free weekends when I'm not seeing my boyfriend! God what I loser I look, pass the kleenex and get the violins out!

xoxo

Recent Purchases - September

I haven't posted in so long, I've just been super busy with my boyfriend finishing at Sandhurst (miltary academy) and having loads of events (non-blogger related, i wish!) to go to, and these two months have basically flown by! I've been trying to be to really good and not spend much (there were days when my paycheque flew out of my account in the first week!), but I have a serious problem with spending. This month I actually have been very restrained, but saying that its only 10 days in so maybe not. #awkward

This is a mixture of clothes and beauty, although I have managed to sneak two samples from John Lewis which I will be reviewing in separate posts. (Cheers to the guy at the NARS counter at John Lewis in Cardiff who didn't write the shade on the bottle and gave me a patchy face).

Please excuse the image above, I have no idea how everyone does their super-cool posts where they bash everything together.... I think its photoshop, which I don't have and have no clue how to use! Still learning and actually remembering to blog!

1. Zara Office City bag £49.99
2. Estee Lauder Take it away make up remover £21
3. Topshop Ponte Blazer £40
4. Zara Parka £89.99
5. Matalan loafers £14
6. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation £34

I paid £40 in total for the foundation and delivery (vomit), I hate living so far away from everything! I felt a bit sick paying £90 for the Parka but after seeing my favourite bloggers ever Nikki and Marianna wear theirs I justified it, and it will last, right?? Then, on my first outing wearing it, my boyfriend piped up with "its a bit chavvy isn't it?!". Always helpful and constructive!

Anyway I think that's enough rambling for now but I just wanted to get back into it, sorry for such a ramble-y post!I hope everyone is having a good week so far, I can't believe its only Monday, the weekend flew by!

Estée Lauder Invisible Fluid Make up

Apologies for the scratched-off writing on the bottle, I put it in my make-up bag once and it came off straight away! Not very nice in photos I know, sorry once again!

I bought this foundation because, again, I wanted one without SPF, and one for when I am St-Tropez-Dark-Lotion'ed up to the max! I actually went to the EL counter and got matched for this one, I wanted one that was a shade darker than the foundation I had on at the time. I got home, however, poured a bit onto my hand, and was like OH BALLS THAT IS DARK! Everything always seems lighter in that harsh department store lighting! After my initial shock, I've found that if I mix it with my Illasmasqua Skin Base, as mentioned in my previous post, it actually makes a really nice colour! Not too dark, not too light, just right! And SPF free too so no ghost face! Love the colour in photos!

I tried this once on my face on its own, I'd just bought it and had a super early (3.30am) Megabus to London one morning so I put it on at 3am, so in my defence there was no daylight! I looked at it on the bus and it looked alright, but as soon as I got to London my friend was like "WHAT THE ****"!!!!! Looked at it in her house, and balls, it was FAR too dark! On the plus side, one of her guy friends thought I was turkish, which I enjoyed, but it literally makes me change race, so can't wear it on its own!

I would definitely recommend this to be mixed with Illasmasqua Skin Base, it has a lovely finish. It's not matte or dewy, but in the middle which I really like! I will buy this again to mix, and I also might try this in a shade lighter next time to wear alone, as I feel like I can't give it a fair test in the shade that I have!

Do you have any non-SPF foundation recommendations for me to try please?

XOXO

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

I couldn't wait to try this foundation after reading about it on Laura and Lily's blogs. I had high hopes, especially after reading about its "full coverage".

First reaction - I was disappointed! Nowhere near as thick or covering as I'd expected, and actually I find it works best if I mix it with my Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Make-Up. I bought the shade "10" from the Debenhams website after comparing to my usual NC30 on Temptalia, but in hindsight, I think this would be a good colour if I wanted a foundation for my non-tanned skin, but for (normal) tanned days, it is far too light.

I was really surprsied at the size of the bottle when it arrived, I expected it to be a lot bigger, even though it is the standard 30ml size. One of my issues with this product is that I find it an absolute nightmare to squeeze out of the bottle. I haven't read this issue on any other reviews though, so I think this may just be me being weird!

It is a good foundation, but personally I find I only like it if I mix it. The fact that it is SPF free was one of the aspects that attracted me to it initially as I am sick of "ghost face" in photos. My problem is that there is only one illasmasqua counter in the whole of Wales, and it is an hour and a half from me which is a bit of a pain. I think I will be repurchasing this foundation when it runs out, as I really enjoy the coverage and finish I get from it when mixed. I think I will also buy a different, darker shade for every day and see if that sways me at all or makes a difference, as I really want to love this foundation!

St Tropez Dark Lotion

EDIT; I had originally slated this, but now, after applying two coats, I eat my words!!!! Despite my previous hatred of the product, I applied a second coat and love the colour, its a much deeper brown.  I still maintain that its a nightmare to work in though which is a pain! But, it wore off really well, much better than Xen Tan, and I found that it lasted a lot longer! I think this may be my new favourite!

I loved the normal version of St Tropez, but I found that even after 2 coats it just wasn't dark enough for me! So I discovered Xen Tan dark lotion, fell in love, and moved on. But a tanning emergency prompted me to leg it to Boots Friday lunchtime to purchase, and I was ASTOUNDED by the price. It cost me £33!!!!!! £33, for a fake tan. In hindsight though, it lasts me 3 coats ish, so actually 3 coats of this is much cheaper than 3 spray tans! (hope you like my justification...!).

 I actually wanted to buy a smaller size, maybe the usual 120ml, because I was only testing it out, but this is actually the only size available.I do like the packaging, I find the black really sleek, although not a fan of the blue lid, but obviously being a moaner I had to find something I wasn't happy with!

So application... when I first put this onto my mitt it was DARK - I mean almost black! But as soon as I rubbed it into my skin it turned an awful green colour which actually worried me a bit! To quote my mum; "it looks like slurry!" (farming reference there as we live in wales!). Basically it is a really greeny / brown colour, sorry to gross you out but a bit like diarrhoea?! But I understand this is a guide colour to help! I found this lotion surprisingly hard to get into the skin, and really difficult to work with. It settles really quickly, so you have to work it in so fast! I really struggled even though I had exfoliated etc the night before.

So, the final result?

Despite being the colour of slurry when I went to bed, I woke up a lovely golden brown. Brilliant I thought, exactly the colour I want. Went into the shower, and guess what... The ENTIRE lot went down the drain! I had the water lukewarm too as I read somewhere that hot water breaks down the tan. I couldn't believe it!
I was left with a tiny bit on my skin, but no where near the colour I was expecting, I was so disappointed! I was basically my usual shade of natural pale, not the lovely brown colour I was expecting!

BUT, after two coats I was a lovely colour... actually the same colour as my friend from work who had just returned from a week in Greece! WIN!  So, in a nutshell, this gets a massive thumbs up from me! 100% recommend.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Again, I only purchased this after I was recommended it by The Saturdays' MUA on twitter. Guilty! But in my defence, I did try 2 sample-sized tubes before I shelled out and bought full size! I just tried to link the twitter conversation but I can't find it now as it was a while ago, annoying!). ANYWAY.

It is a massive tube, its 50ml, so think almost double a standard MAC foundation. Onto the product.
I LOVE the new packaging, I believe it used to be in a thin longer tube, but I much prefer it shorter and bigger, it makes me feel like I've got so much more product, stupid I know but it does! I think this was part of my problem with MAC Studio Sculpt... even though it was 30ml as usual it was long and thin which I just was NAT happy with.

I tend to keep this for when I'm having a particularly tired day, or to be honest, when I look "well rough". Everytime I've worn this I've had compliments on how my skin looks, and I just feel better knowing that I have it on (placebo effect?!). I can really see the difference when I wear it, and if I've had a really knackering week I will use it as a facemask for 15 minutes, which is an alternative use.

The label says to put this on IMMEDIATELY before applying make up... pretty specific as I'm bad and put my lashes on first, before I do foundation, because otherwise I have finger marks on my face where I've put my lashes on and leant on my cheeks! I know people say to use tweezers (bore off luv) but I prefer using my fingers!

In short, would I recommend this product? 100%! My make up looks more luminous and almost glowy, and I just feel better knowing that I don't look as rough as I did when I woke up! Honestly, my morning face is actually dog rough, sometimes I can't even look at myself!

This product retails at £28, and I can honestly say that I will definitely repurchase when I run out! I paid around £23 as I bought it on the plane home from NY, but for £5 difference I don't mind!

In other news, I am loving ASOIAF (sheep, I know)... I'm currently on book 3 and I am devouring it! Book 2 was doing my nut in, I'm a pretty fast reader but 900 pages was wearing me down, seeing the percentage hardly moving on my kindle was boring!!!
Hope you're all having a good week, its friday, THANK GOD, I'm off to Sandhurst to see the boyfriend (he's in his final stages of training to become an officer in the army) for the first time in 3 weeks, joys of a long distance relationship! Have a great weekend everyone!

Alice XOXO

MAC Face & Body Foundation

This is a foundation that I've been meaning to try for probably around a year. It kept cropping up... on TV (The Saturdays documentary last year was my initial sighting, and they are FIT so I was keen to try), various blogs and then the direct tweet I received from The Saturdays (again, sorry!) MUA Celena well and truly cemented it! I tried to buy it at an airport, good move, not, as obviously its over 100ml so they didn't sell it. Traipsed all the way to MAC in Oxford, they didn't sell it either for a reason I still don't understand, so finally I ordered it online! I really wanted to swatch it before I bought it, as its such a large amount of product (120ml!) that I didn't want to be left with a ridiculous colour that I wouldn't use. After much research, and aided with Temptalia foundation matrix, I settled on the shade C3. (I'm normally NC30).

Ridiculously enough, when I'm at my palest (casper!), C3 is actually a tad too dark, yet when I've used my beloved fake tan (xen-tan!), it is too light! So what I tend to do is just wear it for work and make sure my hair is particularly large that day so that no-one can see my tide marks! Beauty sin I know, but my face isn't this bad, its just a tiny bit too dark so I figured I could get away with it!

I have found this so difficult to get to grips with! I've tried so many techniques... I've tried the MAC 187, which is my usual brush of choice, and the Real Techniques stippling brush which actually, I was really disappointed in. I might do a review of that at some point actually, as I struggle to get on with it at all!

The best way that I've found to use it is; put loads onto my 187, brush that all over my face to get a good layer on, then stipple it in properly in circular motions with the RT Stippling brush. Sometimes I have to do this with 2 layers as I find that it just doesn't sit right on my skin otherwise!

What I love about this foundation is that it makes my skin look so dewy and luminous for around 2/3 hours afterwards.. but after this it goes SO patchy and feels like its melting off my face, even with a serum and moisturiser underneath! What I find odd with this foundation is that some days, I love it and I can totally see why its Mollie King's foundation of choice. Other days, I HATE it, like today, when my ever-honest friend agreed that it looked really dodgy after a day's wear during the heat of today and a long day at the offce!

So just to be annoying, I'm on the face with this one! If I'm literally popping to town for a few hours, or just hitting the cinema or something or on a short outing, this is the foundation of choice. But for a full day in the office / in the heat, I wouldn't use it at all. I got home this evening and honestly, you know when your make up looks so bad you are HORRIFIED, well I had that, it was patchy, awful and I reckon I had like 10% left on my face!

It retails for £25.50, which I think is actually a really good price as you do get basically 4 times the amount you would for a normal £20 30ml MAC foundation. But saying that, I do use a lot more of this than I would of SFF! I don't think I will be repurchasing though.

I have yet to try it on my body / legs as I know others have, it's not dark enough for me to use instead of fake tan in this particular shade for me personally!

Any other questions / comments please leave below as normal!

Alice XOXO

Chanel Rouge Allure - Le Rouge Satine - 85 Coquette

Wow mammoth title there...

The only thing I had ever bought from Chanel prior to my mini-haul at Heathrow was the Bronze Universale, which I'm still in love with after 6 months of use! I was so excited to purchase more, and couldn't wait to use them all.
Normally, before I buy a lipstick, I am very specific in what I look for. Bold, bright colours, good pigmentation and a long lasting time are high up there. I had very high hopes for this lipstick, especially after it was a hefty £20, which I consider to be quite a lot for a lipstick! It normally retails for £24.

I loved the packing, a gold lipstick with black shell. To get the lipstick out, you press the top in and it sort of pops out as shown below!  The colour itself, 85 Coquette, is a satin-y pink with shimmery undertones, and is called "Luminous Satin lip colour".

First impressions - even though I love the packaging, I am really disappointed. As a lipstick, it appears to be a lovely darkish pink colour, but as you can see, it is very different on the lips! It has nowhere near the same staying power as MAC, and compared to Lady Danger and Ruby Woo, it is terrible! I found that it had practically vanished after one drink, and the lasting power even without drinking was shocking. I am just glad I paid duty free price, which was still ridiculous at £20, than the usual RRP!

I really wanted to love this lipstick, I love the colour, its enough that it looks subtle compared to my usual garish colours of Lady Danger and Gulabi, but it is just such a let down!

Alice XOXO

Chanel Chanel Chanel

I went to New York & Washington D.C a few weeks ago with my boyfriend, and obviously on the way through Heathrow to meet him out there I couldn't resist having a peek at the Chanel counter, and with no-one to restrain me I went a bit mad...

Initially I only popped over to buy a replacement of the Bronze Universale, but after getting chatting to the lovely (male) sales assistant / MUA, I ended up having a makeover, which was brilliant seeing as my makeup had already been on my face for around 7 hours at this point and I had yet to step on the plane!

I was with him for like an hour, and he was so much fun! I'm not going to talk you through a list of what he put on my face, because I don't want to bore you to tears as it was a pretty extensive list! 

His version of what he thought the makeover he gave me was to make me look "more natural", my version was to make me less TOWIE, and more fresh faced! I ended up taking away Perfection Lumiere, Bronze Universale, a Rouge Allure lipstick, Le Crayon Levres lip pencil & a Stylo Yeux eyeliner. This totalled to around $171, which was an excessive amount to spend considering my trip hadn't technically started! I don't regret it though as some of the products I'm pleased I purchased at duty-free prices as I wasn't too impressed with them!

I will probably be reviewing these each in turn so apologies if my blog is a bit Chanel-orientated at the moment!

Alice XOXO

Kurt Geiger Make up bag

A random post, but I just wanted to share with you all as I love it so much! This baby was a steal, £19 down from £40 (very highly doubt i'd pay full price) and i just love love love it! Its sort of galaxy-print-esque, the colours all mould into one and its so swirly and i just love it! I needed a decent sized make-up bag, one that can fit all my long (e.g. MAC 187) brushes in as well as a lot of my daily make up, and this does the job so well!

sorry for the rubbish quality i'm still trying to learn to use my camera! (n00b)

My Top 11 of 2011

I loved reading Nicola's post about this, and as she tagged everyone else I thought I'd do my own version!

My products are;

L-R; 1. Rimmel Sun Shimmer Wash-off Fake Tan, 2. MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Soft and Gentle, 3. MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30, 4. NARS the Multiple in Orgasm, 5. Estee Lauder Idealist, 6. Bastiste Dry Shampoo in Diva, 7. MAC Brow Kit, 8. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Pop Life, 9. Urban Decay Eyeliner in Honey, 10. Tweezerman Tweezers, 11. MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

1. Rimmel Sun Shimmer Wash Off Fake Tan

I love this, its absolutely brilliant for when I can't be bothered to do a full fake-tan as I just whack it on all over with a tanning mitt and I'm good to go! I have this in the "medium shimmer" shade, and I love how glittery it is! The only thing I would say is don't wear this on a night out if its raining, massive error!

2. MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Soft and Gentle

Still cannot get enough of this even after around three and a half years! My review on this is here

3. MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30

I've tried and loved SO many foundations this year, such as Lancome Teint Idole Ultra, Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus to name a few, but I keep coming back to this foundation! Its not the usual dewy finish that I go for, but its such a good foundation in terms of coverage, longevity and finish that I just find myself consistently going back to it! Its true, the smell is not exactly nice and the bottle could be prettier, but its definitely a top product of 2011 for me.

4. NARS the Multiple in Orgasm

I only made my first NARS purchases this year (shocking I know!) and have literally never looked back. I love the multiple not for its many uses (I actually only use it on my cheekbones), but for its lovely shimmery finish and its packaging! Its easy to use, lasts a long time, and is generally just a favourite product of mine!

5. Estee Lauder Idealist

Again I've done an in-depth review of this which you can see below, but I really do love this product, and as you can see I'm fast running out of it and although I HATE forking out the £50+ for this product, I only have to do this every 6 months so for me, its worth it.

6. Bastiste Dry Shampoo in Diva

An obvious winner, we all know what it is and what it does, this is just my favourite "flavour"!

7. MAC Brow Kit

Again, I use this every day and I love that it is again buildable (definitely end up with a scousebrow sometimes though if I'm heavy handed!)

8. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Pop Life

When I bought this product from the website I wasn't sure how long it would last me, but I would say it doesn't last as long as a MAC lipstick does, but I love the colour SO much and the sheen it puts on my lips that it is a definite favourite.

 9. Urban Decay Eyeliner in Honey

I wear this on the inside corners of my eyes where my liquid liner ends, and I draw it out to around half way across my eye, and I always get compliments whilst wearing this! Again wear it daily and love love love it.

10. Tweezerman Tweezers

Nuff' said.

11. MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Another "cult" product, but I'm in love with the colour and it really does last all day if I wear Redd lip pencil underneath it! The only thing that annoys me about this is that I find it a bastard to put on, the Matte formulation on this seems to me to be partcicularly difficult to apply neatly to the lips as it is a really dry lipstick, but I've got around that now and have even been known to apply it, without a mirror, whilst driving! (full concentration on the road i promise!)

So there's my final 11, please link me to yours if you've done one, would love to read everyone else's! And as usual, any questions etc get in touch!

Alice xoxo

P.S Sorry for the shit photography and the place I took the photos, but I have DSLR camera and have no idea to use it so I'm trying to learn! Bear with me! 

MAC Mineralise Skin Finish - SOFT & GENTLE

This is a product I have been using for around 3 years now, and I think I am on my third or fourth pan? It is something that has a daily place in my makeup routine, and I will not be without it! 

MAC describe it as; "A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, brows, anywhere on the body: provides an ultra-deluxe polish to the skin."

I first became aware of it after seeing it on Sarah's blog, and I'm not sure if I'm just really behind but I don't really see it on many other blogs?

Anyway, to the point. I use it at the end of my routine as a highlighter, where I basically dust it over my cheekbones, nose and forehead. It's amazing as I find that it is really buildable, so if I just want a light coverage I'll lightly dust it over, but if I'm going for a night out or something I'll really pile it on! It retails at £20.50, which I think is a pretty normal price, and even with daily useage one of these will last me around 6 months or so? So I'd say its pretty good value!

It gives such a lovely finish, its more intense than Dior Amber Diamond, and it really is such a lovely product I can't recommend it highly enough!

Also, to other subjects, I haven't really written anything like this since I graduated Uni around 18 months ago, so I know my writing is pretty shocking but please bear with me as I get back into the swing of things!

Any questions, tweet me or comment below!

Alice xoxo

Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover

Ok, so this is a foundation I'd been DYING to try after seeing Lily, Kelly and Hannah posting about it. I loved the packaging, a tube was such a nice change after the nightmare of trying to get the last bits of Double Wear out of the bottom of the glass bottle! If anyone has ever tried this you will know what I mean! The foundation is marketed as "Camouflage foundation", and apparently it covers tattoos and scars. The lady at Debenhams also told me it was waterproof, something I have yet to try! 

The reviews I'd read about this before trying it were absolutely glowing, all raved about its staying power and its "doll-like" appearence. As a full-coverage kind of gal myself, I couldnt wait to try. I always find when you go and ask for samples ever-so-politely at counters, that its really hit and miss. One EL counter (Debenhams) just put a tiny bit of it on my hand and expected that to be enough (thanks love), whilst the ladies at Boots bent over backwards running around trying to find a little jar to put a sample in for me. What is up with that! So annoying! Anyway I digress. 

I was matched with the shade "Medium/Deep", and the only bad thing I'd say to start with is that there are only 6 shades of this available, which is not ideal if you've got basically a really weird face like me. 
Some people think that its not that thick, and that Double Wear is actually of a thicker consistency, wheras others find it like concrete. I (just to be annoying), am probably somewhere in the middle. It is definitely thick, and I found it a bugger to get off last night (three make up wipes!), but you cannot deny its holding power. 14 hours later, my face still looked the same as it had when I had just applied it in the morning.

 I'm not going to go as far as to say it made me look flawless (modest much?), but it was definitely a step in the right direction. The coverage is full and thick, and for someone who normally likes to build foundation, (probably around 2 light layers of Studio Fix Fluid), this only required a tiny amount to achieve the lovely, thick look I love best. On another note, whilst cleaning my MAC 187 tonight, it took me SO long to get the brush clean and product completely out! My sister pointed out that this is to be expected as it is an apparently "waterproof" foundation, but it really was a nightmare! And that was only after 2 light uses of it!

So, final thoughts?

Coverage and staying power - Excellent.
Colour range - Average.
Overall - I found that it really sunk into the lines around my lips (aging!), and accentuated them to a degree that I could not ignore, even though I really wanted to love it! I found that it sinks into any available lines, and for a relatively wrinkle-free 22 year old, I reckon it would look truly awful on anyone with many wrinkles, it just does not do a face justice in that department! But I cannot deny the coverage and staying power, so I really am torn on this one!
I've tried it a few times since, and I think that maybe a thicker primer might help with the lines issue, but for me, as much as I wanted to love it, the accentuating of the lines around my lips and sinking in issue is not a good look!

Alice xoxo

Estee Lauder Idealist - Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher

I haven't seen any other posts on this around the blogosphere, so not sure if I'm totally behind on the times or actually just using something relatively unknown? Either way, let me know! 


Estee Lauder Idealist is a product I've been using for around 6 months now, and I first discovered it after a MUA applied it primarily to my skin before using the foundation at the EL counter. I was really interested to see if it would make a different at all, so took a sample home with me.


On the website, EL describe the product as; "This fast-acting serum delivers our most dramatic skin resurfacing benefits - more efficiently than ever before", and claim that it "makes pores appear 1/3 smaller - instantly. Repairs the look of uneven skin texture, flakiness and roughness". The final claim (phew) is that the customer will "see more clarity and luminosity" and that it "gives skin an overall more even tone".

photo - EL website

To talk about the claims made, I reckon I agree with really only two of the claims, but that's only because I find that I use it in a different way to how it is described.  It does even-out my skin tone, and I feel like it creates a really nice, smooth base for the rest of my make up to sit on.

Personally, I use it as a sort-of primer. As a primer addict, I'm always on the lookout for a new one, and although that's not what I was looking for with this product, I think its what I found. Usually, I tend to use it before my primer and moisturiser, but on the days when I have run out of primer (disaster!!) and have nothing else to use, I find it works just as well. I actually don't mind skipping the primer step if I have this product to hand, as I really do think that it does even out the skin tone, and leaves a lovely finish on my face.

I've also found that it can make some matte foundations appear dewy, something that I didn't know was possible?

Price-wise, I've been using this product for around 6 months now, and although it is pricey at around £52 for 50ml, I'm only around 3/4 of the way through my bottle. I was lucky enough to get 75ml for the price of £52 as it was on offer at Debenhams at the time I purchased it. 

I can see you reading  FIFTY TWO POUNDS FOR THAT ARE YOU JOKING!!!!, but honestly, I use at least 3 pumps of it everyday and I've had it for around 6 months now and I really see the difference! My friends at work really comment on my skin on the days that I wear it, and I really think that it makes a difference to how my foundation (aka my mask) and the rest of my make up sits on my face.

Would 100% recommend this product, I honestly can't say enough about it! 

And to top it off, one of my friends who is a total cheap-makeup freak, who refuses to pay above £10 for anything make-up wise, actually splurged on the 30ml of this one, because she loved it so much! So there you go! 

In a nutshell, its silky, easy to apply, and really makes a difference to how it all sits on my face!

Trying to work out if I've missed anything about this, please message / tweet/ comment me if you have anymore questions :)

Alice xoxo