MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers

Lip Lacquers are a thing right now, whether you like them or not.  I got to see the new MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers at a recent event and became quite obsessed with them. 

The formula glides onto your lips, is really quick to dry and it leaves behind a lovely matte finish. However, once it does dry, it does not budge. So having been told this is like telling a child not to touch wet paint... you have to try it out, so I did. 

One swatch of each colour up my arm and yes they do dry quickly, infact each swatch dried before I had started the next and once all 5 shades had been completely swatched, they didn't budge at all. I washed up, cleaned the bathroom, wiped my arm with a face wipe, used Micellar water and still no colour transfer. Eventually, I removed all trace of each shade with makeup removing gel from L'Occitane and a few cotton wool pads.

As you can see from the swatch above, the five shades are incredible shades from left to right you can see Firecracker, Hustle, Splash, Posie and Flair, so there is everything you you need from a bright vibrant red, two differing neutral shades, a berry shade and for the daring among you, the blue which is just a beautiful shade.

So yes they are really long lasting, smudge proof and the colour pigmentation pay off is just stunning. Did I mention they cost just £3 each .



*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Lush Snow Fairy Body Conditioner

As soon as Snow Fairy hits those Lush shelves, you know Christmas is coming and it is one Lush product I look forward to treating myself too. This year there has been a little addition to the Snow Fairy family with a Body Conditioner.

With a description as dreamy as this "Candy floss water sets the scene, evoking the excitement of enchanting fairgrounds and disappearing bites of sugary fluff. To enter this otherworldly carnival, you need only step into the shower," you would be hard pushed not to pick it up and try it, or if you are like me, you go over to the lovely Lush staff and ask for a demo with a full pot in your hand.

 

Like the shower gel, this body conditioner is thick, creamy and smells like heaven, if you are a Snow Fairy fan you will love it. Bright pink in colour, it is rich and buttery and is to be used as you shower like a shower gel.

Packed full of avocado butter, mango butter and a cherry infusion, this a slightly stronger scented Snow Fairy fragrance and one which lasts a lot longer too. Ingredients within Lush products are chosen for a reason. So with Avocado butter it is packed full of natural oils and is rich, nourishing, and softening and as it soothes and conditions the skin, it re-hydrates at the same time. Mango Butter softens the skin without leaving it feeling greasy and it has moisturising, lubricating and damage-repairing properties. Finally is the cherry infusion which not only adds a sweet layer to the scent but because of its stringent properties it makes a great natural skin toner and antioxidant.  So add all that together with some Cocoa butter and you won't be surprised to have super soft, smooth and moisturised skin.

This is the first time I have used a Lush body conditioner so I am always thankful for the instructions on the side of the pot. Basically, just before you get out of the shower or bath (shower for me) you smother on as much or as little as you feel you need and cover the areas/body parts that you feel are in need of a little more moisturising and softening, naturally you need to stand out of the way of the water as you do this otherwise it will just run off your skin. Then once you have finished, allow your water to rinse of the conditioner from the skin, pat yourself dry and then within the next half an hour your skin will just feel incredible. If you enjoy a weekly pampering session, this is a great product to use as your bath runs, again cover yourself in it where you need too and then lie back and let the cream do the work for you.

Unsurprisingly to those who know me, I absolutely adore this product. Not only does it smell amazing, but because it is a stronger scent than Snow Fairy, it lasts just so much longer and you can literally smell it all day long on your skin.  It also leaves your skin feeling so soft, smooth and incredible to the touch. It isn't greasy or cloying on the skin, it does what it says it will do and basically grab it now before it disappears from the shelves.

Priced at £13.95 for a 200ml tub, you can find Lush Snow Fairy Body Conditioner right HERE

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Customise your own Palette with Makeup Obsession!

Makeup Obsession is, I am hoping, a brand you have by now heard of and if not, you soon will. Last week I went to the launch party and learn all about the concept with Tam Beauty, the people who you might recognise with brands such as Makeup Revolution and Freedom Makeup, two brands who have shaken up the beauty industry by bringing affordability to the highstreet with amazing quality makeup and maybe an excellent dupe along the way.

Makeup Obsession is all about creating your own look and to do that, you create your own palette using shades from a plethora of those currently available to do just that. In doing so you not only have the option to choose which shade you want to create a look, but you have he ability to create a palette which is unique to you, your personality and your style. But it isn't just about eyeshadows, there are also highlighters, blushers, contouring and strobing options thrown into the mix alongside the mattes, shimmers, pearlesque and bold colours.

If this isn't enough, they are so affordable, it is a challenge to not own every single option that there is available right now! The eyeshadows cost just £2 each, while the blushers, highlighters and contour shades cost £3. Then there is the cost of the palettes and again there is an amazing choice there as well. So for just £4 you can have a palettes which has six slots or you can pay £8 for a 12-slot palette and again there is a choice of black, white, silver, gold and rose gold! Personally I want one of each and will be very shortly making my own highlighter palette!

I was lucky enough to choose which palette I would like and which shades I would love to make up my own palette and as you might expect the possibilities are endless and each and every shade is just stunning, even if it is one you might never wear.  However, I am so predictable with my eyeshadow shades I went for the neutral shades and then added a few more into the mix, picked up a blusher, a base colour, some contour shades and a highlighter.  My palette which you can see above, I think, looks very me.

What has really impressed me is the how each shade is so incredibly pigmented, for me Makeup Revolution has set such a high standard when it comes to products so I was really expecting something a little bit special from Makeup Obsession and that is exactly what I got, it is just amazing. Not only is each shade, whether it is eyeshadow, blush, contour or highlighter pigmented, they are just incredible shades which absolutely do match the names they have given.

From Right to Left is Eyeshadow in shade London, Blush in Golden Girl, Eyeshadow in Espresso and Highlight in Peach

From Right to Left we have Eyeshadow in Lucky Charm, Eyeshadow in Precious Metal, Eyeshadow in White out and Contour Powder in Fair.

From right to left is Eyeshadow in Ibiza, Eyeshadow Luxe, Eyeshadow Mink and Contour Powder in Light

If you hadn't guessed already, then I absolutely love everything about this concept. Not only is it lots of fun with lots of choice, making your own palette gives you the chance to leanr a bit about yourself and gives you the opportunity to experiment outside the norm and your comfort zone, the tempting bright shades daring you to try them and all without having spending lots of money for something you don't like. It is fun, it is easy and it is exciting all rolled into one. I really loved the experience which is why I was excited to hear that if you’re near to a Boots Emporium, you can get your palette engraved. Which could make great stocking fillers and gifts this year.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Yardley English Dahlia Collection

The English Dahlia collection from Yardley is the latest range to launch and it is just so pretty. I was lucky enough to attend an event which gave an introduction to the brand and the new fragrance.  Most people will have heard of Yardley and have in their mind soaps and talcum powder, which is how I recognised the brand originally, now with a makeover, stunning looking packaging it is much more than that.

The English Dahlia is now in season and so is very fitting for Autumn. The British brand also wanted to highlight this absolutely beautiful British flower, one that we don't hear and see enough of. 

The scent opens up with top notes of neroli and apple flower which are fruity and light. The heart notes of Dahlia, Rose and Peony add a hint of a floral tone which when combined with the neroli make a stunning scent and finally after a good ten minutes of settling down the base note of base notes of patchouli, cedar and musk which give the fragrance an earthy tone.  Overall you get a nice mixture of floral and musk which isn't sweet and nor is it earthy, it sits somewhere in the middle and lasts for hours on the skin.

The range consists of an Eau de Toilette, Body Spray and a handcrea, and is purse friendly with the hand cream costing just £2.66, the Body spray is £2.49 and with the fragrance being on offer in Boots, so you can get 125ml for just £9.99 or 50ml for £6.66 this would make a really nice gift set.

Yardley is available at Boots and Superdrug. 

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise