YSL Lipstick 9 - Nude in Private!

So Tuesday 29th July was National Lipstick Day and the first email I saw when checking my inbox was one from Debenhams proudly stating that to celebrate there is £5 of every lipstick you buy - well it would have been rude not too right?

I was meeting the lovely Kimberely from Kimberleysbeautyblog outside Debenhams anyway and we decided to have a quick browse -  after plenty of swatches I decided I could no longer resist the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks and it was a choice of two, number 8 or number 9.  I settled for number 9 which is called 'Nude in Private'.  

The first thing there is to say about YSL lipticks is the packaging, not usually an interesting conversation to have, but wow, stunning from the outer gold box to the actual lipstick case. The outer case on this lipstick is gold coloured and there in the tiniest of intricate details are the YSL letters, behind it is a solid purpley pink colour, which for me makes the whole thing look stunning, I could sit here and look at it for hours.

As soon a tried this product I loved it. The texture of the lipstick is incredibly smooth, almost like a lip butter and really hydrating. When applied it glides onto the lips and has a definite shine to it. However this lipstick is also packed with fruit extracts and it is one of the first things I picked up on when I was testing it, it smells like raspberries to me and I really like it. Not only does it have fruit extract but it is also rich in vitamins and antioxidants which are said to leave your lips visibly softer and smoother with up to eight hours of hydration and it contains the beauty bloggers favourite ingredient Hyaluronic acid - quite impressive hey?!

This lipstick and others within the range retail for £25 each, though with my £5 discount it cost £20 which is just £5 more than I would pay for a MAC Lipstick and this one is much better design, quality and lasts much longer on the lips and I mean a lot longer.

If you don't own one of these lipsticks, I urge you to go and get one, I am so glad I did and I will definitely be purchasing more!

Do you own a YSL Lipstick?  Do you have a favourite?

How to: choose the right hair colour to suit your skin colour

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It’s a really difficult thing to choose a colour based on your skin tone – you may want to go blonde but are afraid that the paleness of your skin will cause you to become washed out. Annoying as it is, your skin colour will definitely determine how any hair colour will look on you, BUT there are ways around it. Keep reading to find out what bests suits you.

Fair skin - You’ve probably always thought to yourself that if you dyed your hair blonde it would look silly because you’d look washed out, blah blah blah. It’s not true! Many girls with fair skin can pull off blonde – as long as it’s got the right, warm blonde highlights throughout as well. While platinum blonde may make you look a bit sickly, the right shade for you won’t! You should be looking at really warm, neutral colours – like warm, soft, light browns and caramels. Be sure to avoid your more, dark, harsh browns and blacks as the contrasting hair and skin colours will not be flattering on you. You can also check out some auburns, or unnaturally bright reds. With the right highlights and lowlights strewn throughout, you’ll realise that blonde truly do have more fun!

Olive, tanned skin - The ideal colour for olive skin is light to medium brown, with warm blonde highlights. Opting for colours like this will look stunning especially if you want to highlight your blue or green eyes. These kind of colours will also work well to blend with your skin tone and diminish any skin imperfections. You don’t have to stick to darker colours though; tanned skin also looks great with blonde hair, as long as it has multidimensional tones to it. Avoid going for one bold colour – unless said colour absolutely suits you, the different tones will definitely help to bring out the warmth in your skin tone.

Dark skin - Dark skin can be tricky if you get easily bored of black or chocolate brown hair colours. While those are the best colours for you, there’s always the option of being brave and going for a light, bright hue. However, this usually only works if your very confident in how perfect your skin is – a light colour with a dark skin tone often brings out imperfections that most girls would rather hide. If this is the case, it would definitely be a smart idea to go for a really warm and rich chocolate brown, or a dark black. Perhaps throw a few high and lowlights through it and see if that is wild enough for you. Remember, just because you can’t change the colour much, doesn’t mean you can’t change the look of it! Keep it interesting, have fun with your hair!

There you have it - the best colours to suit your skin tone. If you’re brave enough to try something new, remember that nothing is permanent and you can always change it back. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that too much peroxide or hair colourant can leave your hair in a less-then-perfect, thinning state. If this happens to you, a place like Transitions Hair has all the answers. 

Have fun with your new look!

**This is a sponsored post

Fragrance Shop Discovery Club - Summer Edition 2014

I am a huge perfume fan, love it and I am one of thoe people who loves perfume samples.  What better way to decide whether or not you like the scent of something? We do it with make-up, so why not perfume? Back in April 2013 I brought to my blog a new subcription box from The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club which you can see HERE and again in June which is HERE and then September which is HERE, then the final box of 2013 HERE if you didn’t see it.  Already in 2014 I have had the spring edition which you can find HERE.

For those of you not in the know this is the description of the box, which is a subscription:

"If you love fragrance, then you'll love our Discovery Club.

Our exciting new club allows you to explore the very latest fragrance launches from the comfort of your own home. For just £5 per quarter, each edition comes with fragrance samples for you to try, details on each of the fragrances included, as well as discount vouchers so you can make some big savings on all the scents featured."

This quarter I have the Summer Edition 2014 which includes both male and female scents and this is what is in the box:

So I have seven different samples this month and I am quite excited by some of them.

Prada Candy Florale - Evolved from the concept of an imaginary flower created especially for Candy. Candy's fantasy flower must be unique, embodying her many facets: the fragrance’s light airiness puts the sparkle in her, tender powdery notes echo her grace. A whisper of warmth & honey reflects sensuality.

I have seen this perfume everywhere but have never found a bottle with any in it to try it out.  So having now been able to try it, with a name like 'Florale' it comes as no surprise that it is lightly floral yet sweet and a scent I actually really like.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau -  The Million freshness is an episode of luxurious delirium and an over-the-top celebration, provoking an exhilarating euphoria. Lady Million, immersed in a state of freedom & ecstasy follows her instincts; flirtatious, eccentric and more mischievous than ever.

If ever there was a scent talked about so much, it is this one.  I was really not expecting to like it at all, I am not really a fan of the female Paco Rabanne perfumes, they usually have an odd scent to them and I dislike the male version intensely but I quite like this. It wouldn't be a perfume of choice because the woody notes are too strong for my liking once it has settled on the skin.

Agent Provocateur Fatale - Enticing and seductive it has a irresistible signature personality, that embodies the Femme Fatale. A blend of Pink Pepper, Mango & Blackcurrant. A heart of Gardenia, Orris Absolute & Patchouli. On a sultry base of Musk, Vanilla Orchid, Chocolate Gourmand & Labdanum.

Having already had a sample of this in my You Beauty box and as a scent I liked it, quite floral and fruity at the same time and it tends to last quite a long time on my skin.

Givenchy Dahlia Divin - Like an Haute Couture gown this golden fragrance envelopes with its divine golden hues for a lasting enchanting memory. Dahlia Divin makes its perfumery debut with notes of golden fruit; Mirabelle Plum. Entwined with the aroma of a bouquet of white flowers, highlighted by Jasmine like a ray of pure light.

I am a huge fan of Givenchy perfumes having fallen in love with Irresistible not too long ago.  Dahlia Divine is a scent which I neither like not hate, it is quite floral smelling and takes quite a while to settle down, but I love the scent of Jasmine and once the scent has settled down, it is quite lovely.

Ghost Eclipse - Invigorating, dynamic and fresh, Eclipse, the brand new fragrance from GHOST, will awaken the senses and evoke a feeling of femininity. Eclipse, resonant with sunlight, but is now joined with the darkness of the Deep Night fragrance. Capturing the warm energy of the sun, and the sultriness of night.

This scent I really don't like much at all, the woody notes again are too strong for me and take over the floral scent which is actually really nice from the first spritz.

Then we have two male fragrances which is also nice to get, particularly when you live with BeautykingUk who is obsessed with aftershave.

Lacoste L!ve - A fresh yet deep fragrance blending edgy style and authenticity. Energetic,creative and cool. The ingredients are expertly blended, but also stand out individually.The zesty notes of this fragrance reflect the unique nature of LACOSTE L!VE: energetic and bright.

He says - "Incredibly subtle with a slight hint of zest, though you wouldn't know it was lime".  

Givenchy Gentlemen Only Intense - Gentlemen Only Intense offers a sensual, powerful and subtle version of Gentlemen Only. Complementing its predecessor, this new fragrance reaches new heights, where the seductive power of a rich, almost hypnotic scent naturally asserts itself.

He says (after smelling the wrong arm!!) "It is quite light and fresh with a slight zing, you can tell it is going to be spicy as soon as you apply to the skin, once settled it creates a really nice fragrance" 

Once again, I am really pleased with this box and I love the fact I have new samples to test and try out without having to go into a shop and cover myself in perfumes to see if they smell okay on my skin, yes I am that lazy.  

Within the accompanying magazine which tells you about all of the fragrances is also an offer of £5 off each fragrance if you purchase them online.

If you think this is something you would like to sign up to, you can find the link HERE along with further information.

So what do you think to my box? Are you a subscriber? 

Are any of these perfumes/aftershaves ones you own?

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Collection Cosmetics Lip Butters

I am a huge fan of lip crayons, I daren't even count how many I have, but I love them, they make a nice change to lipstick and are often easier to carry around in your bag. I was recently sent some of the Collection Cosmetics Lip Butter Pencils to try.

These Lip Butter Pencils come in four different shades which are:

01 Popping Pink,
02 Cappuccino,
03 Vintage Rose
04 Perfect Plum.

I have three of the shades which you can see below in Popping Pink, Vintage Rose and Perfect Plum.  The pencils themselves are quite thick in design, making them easy to hold. They are slightly fatter than the Clinique Chubby sticks and do feature a wind up bottom, so that as soon as your lip butter begins to disppear, one quick twist and more colour appears.

For me, all of these shades are stunning to look at.  They have a really creamy and very pigmented texture not to mention incredibly soft on application.  They have a wear time of between 2-4 hours at most, which for the bargain price of £2.99 each is pretty fantastic, I have some high end lip crayons which cost almost 5 times that price and they last nowhere near as long.  

L-R Vintage Rose, Popping Pink and Perfect Plum

My favourite shade of the three, or the one I wear the most is Vintage Rose which I would describe as being a coral pink and it looks great in the evening and in the daytime.

These Lip Butters were released on July 2nd and can be found at both Boots and Superdrug

Have you tried any of these Lip Butters? 

 Do you have a favourite brand of Lip Butter?

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