Pixi by Petra AW16 Collection

A few days ago I was invited to a sneak preview of the AW16 collection from Pixi by Petra. Most people will associate Pixi with the cult classic Glow Tonic which has taken the blogging world by storm, so to be privileged to see the collection at first hand, was an absolute dream.

The store, which can be found in Fouberts Place here in London is an Instagram dream, you might even have seen me Snap-chatting it during event itself, and every bloggers delight with white backgrounds, rose gold signage and brush holders.

The AW16 collection. which keeps the green and gold packaging, has eight different products to devour.  Starting with the Lash Nourish Makeup Remover Pads (£10) which are just so cute. Designed to sweep off that smoky eye and stubborn waterproof mascara, these pads use a gentle blend of botanical oils and aloe vera to deeply condition your lashes and nourish the delicate under eye area.  

Glow Tonic To-Go (£20). Now these pads are the perfect tonic for the lazy (me). Each pad is saturated with the perfect amount of Glow Tonic and they are portable, so they are great for taking away with you.  The formula for Pixi Glow Tonic is designed to provide an instant freshness to your skin whilst brightening, hydrating and gently exfoliating and if you are a fan of the bottled version, you will love these pads too.

The best of bright kit (£22) is a product I got all excited about a few months ago because it is just fabulous and again, the perfect travel companion or a brilliant introduction to the Pixi brand.  In this little kit you will find a mini Pixi Glow Tonic, a deeply purifying Glow Mud Cleanser and a a Glow Mud Mask to detoxify.

So that is the skincare sorted and I have to say, I would gladly take one of each, they are so beautifully presented and as a Glow Tonic junkie, the mud mask sounds like heaven as does the cleanser.

Pixi also have their own brand of makeup and again, the packaging mirrors that of the skincare and five new products to add to the already extensive list of products, they are well worthy of checking out.

Starting with a Multibalm (£12) which comes in five different shades - Watermelon Veil, Wild Rose, Baby Petal, Soft Strawberry and Sheer sculpt, they use a stay-on creme powder formula which is lightweight and glides effortlessly onto the skin to give a pop of colour.  Buildable and blendable they are infused with aloe vera, shea butter and rosehip oil to protect the skin.  They can be used on the lips and cheeks.

One product I was delighted to see is the Lower Lash Mascara (£11). The wand is just so amazingly cute and tiny and it has been designed to define and intensify those lower lashes.  Using a slim brush which has short bristles, your lashes are coated after one application and again and it even catches those little tiny eyelashes in the corner of your eyes.  The formula is water resistant and has added Vitamin E and hydrolyzed silk to help it stay on all day and is suitable for even the most sensitive of eyes.

Also within the collection are the following:

Lash Line Ink in Velvet Cocoa (£12) is a deep brown ink liner which glides on like a dream and it uses a water resistant, non feathering quick drying formula. What I like about this is how it doesn't budge once it is on, whether you rub your eyes or if it is raining.

Lip Lift Max (£14) comes in two shades - Sheer Rose and Honey Sheen. Designed to be volume-maximising lip treatments, they leave a glossy finish which when applies has a cooling sensation on the lips and a hint of colour. They are non-tacky/sticky and

Endless Silky Eye Pens (£12) in two beautiful shades which are Graphic Greige and Opal Overcoat. These waterproof, non-smudge, no-budge eyeliners glide on effortlessly and stay put all day without a need to re-touch or apply.

As you can see, Pixi products are just absolutely stunning to look at and use, there is something about the packaging and how effortlessly easy everything is to use and wear.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Sleek Power Plump Lipsticks

Sleek is one of my favourite Highstreet brands, you more than get value for money and these new Power Plump Lipsticks* (£5.49 each) which I have just received are ones to look out for. I love lip crayons and they do remind me of the NARS lip pencils in design.

These lipsticks come in 6 gorgeous shades so there is something for everyone, whether you like your lighter shades or something a little more bold, brighter and vibrant, whatever your shade, one of these will be for you. Now the formula took me by surprise because even though I know Sleek is a brilliant brand, I wasn't quite expecting these to be so pigmented, so that is a huge bonus. They literally glide and slide onto your lips effortlessly and once they are applied, there is a bit of a minty scent which I quite like. Now as these pencils are designed to plump those lips, there is a slight tingling sensation which lasts for around 5 minutes before fading. It isn't uncomfortable in the slightest and it does help those lips plump, though not to the extent you have a trout pout!

So the six shades are:

• Raving Rouge - This is a really lovely bright red shade and I like it a lot, for someone who doesn't feel comfortable wearing red, I like this.
• Berry Burst - This is my favourite shade of the bunch and it also happens to be the darkest of the shades it gives such great colour payoff too. 
• Power Pink - Now this really is quite a soft pink that is perfect for those like me who adore anything and everything pink, but cannot wear hot pink without looking washed out.
• Fully Fuchsia - I don't think any collection is complete without a red and a hot pink and here we have the hot pink. It is a stunning pink shade and every bit the Barbie-esque pink you want and need in your life.
• Colossal Coral - Now this is the one I expected to dislike the most as I can not pull off a coral lip, but it isn't as orange as I was expecting it to be and it is a shade I can wear comfortably. 
• Notorious Nude - Every needs a nude, and this is one of my favourites for one of those in a rush days where you don't have time to debate which shade you want and therefore you need something nice and simple, this is that nude.

From Left to right - Berry Burst, Raving Rouge, Colossal Coral, Fully Fuschia, Notorious Nude and Power Pink

I love that these lip crayons are versatile enough to either line the lips or chubby enough to cover the whole lip and they are perfect for keeping in your handbag, makeup bag and your stash for your hour of need.

Do you have a favourite shade from the 6?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Choosing Your Wedding Makeup Look

For brides-to-be the list of decisions they need to make is a long one. Where am I going to get married, when, what’s the theme going to be...?

You get the picture; the list of questions they have to answer is almost endless. Amongst the most important is – what type of dress am I going to wear and what is my look going to be?

If you and your groom have already chosen a theme for the wedding, the answer to this question is not that difficult. You know that your look is going to have to fit into, and work with, the chosen theme.

Wedding Look by beautyqueenuk

On the other hand, if you are still not sure about the look and style you are going to use, choosing your hairstyle and makeup for your wedding day is going to prove problematic. You will be faced with too much choice.

If you find yourself in this situation, the best approach is to search out a makeup artist in your area that specialises in weddings. Explain that you are struggling to decide on your look, and ask them what they can do to help you.

Book a makeup trial

Often they will offer you the chance to come in and see them for a makeup trial. During that appointment, they will assess your face shape, skin tone, condition, and current style. They will then talk to you about what you like, and do not like, in terms of style and fashion.

This is done to narrow down the options for you. Your MUA will then go through them one by one with you and discuss the merits of each look.

If you like a particular idea, they may offer to make you up in that way, so that you can see how you look. This approach is time consuming, but it is very effective because it allows you to experiment, which is the best way to determine what works for you, and what does not.

Naturally, you will normally be charged a fee for this type of appointment, which can take a couple of hours. How much, depends on the makeup artist and his or her business model, but, you should always ask in advance, about the cost.

Where to get additional guidance

Clearly, choosing your hair and makeup look for your wedding day is an important subject, and to be honest I have only touched the surface of it with this article. So, here are a couple of resources to help you further.

You can find out more about how to choose the look for your special day at Sarah Meredith. There is a huge gallery section on this website, which is a great source of inspiration. On this site, you can also learn more about what is involved in a bridal makeup trial, and how to prepare for one.

If you are looking for a simple to follow template to use when looking for your wedding day MUA, this site is great. Follow the link to be taken to a list of 20 questions you need to ask your makeup artist before hiring him or her.

Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster

Elizabeth Arden skincare is something I am new too, yes shocking I know and I am in the process of rectifying that as I work my way through some amazing skincare. The first item that I am introducing to you is the Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster which I absolutely adore and have been using every day for the past 6 weeks, it is so good, it has become part of my skincare routine without any thought process, I just immediately pick it up to use it after cleansing but before moisturising and before I add any other product to my skin.

Did you know that the condition of your skin's surface layer is directly linked to how healthy, radiant and youthful your skin looks? When the surface layer is damaged, your skin may not be able to retain moisture, lose its natural defenses to protect itself and, ultimately, loses the ability to renew itself. The aim of the booster is to help restore the healthy look of skin's surface layer, known as the stratum corneum, and to boost both the products you use and the skin’s natural functions or as the description goes:

"Achieve a radiant, healthy-looking complexion with the SUPERSTART Skin Renewal Booster from Elizabeth Arden. With a Probiotics Complex, the serum strengthens the skin's natural ability to repair and renew skin, restoring a brighter, youthful appearance".

The booster is also enriched with sea fennel and flaxseed extracts to maintain the skin's barrier, whilst glasswort extract locks in moisture and reduces water loss in the surface of skin. The versatile booster can be used as a refreshing serum or before moisturiser to increase the effectiveness of skincare products.

What I love about this booster is the texture, it is super light, easily absorbed not to mention intensely hydrating and is almost a gel-to-water like formula which I just adore and it smells incredible too.  Nestled inside the luxurious looking metallic tube, the back features a slide open and close button, so it is never going to leak in your bag or suitcase and one pump is enough to more than cover your entire face and neck.

Since using this booster my skin hasn't been anywhere near as dry as it has been in the past and it is much smoother and softer to the touch.  So if you feel your skin is in need of a boost, then at £45 for 30ml, it is money well spent!