New from SEVENTEEN

Seventeen make up has been a regular feature here on Beautyqueenuk of late, with an insight as to what you can find in store here and the Bobbi Brown dupe here they have really upped their game in recent months.

The latest editions to this amazing collection includes two All Out Pout palettes and two Easy On The Eye palettes which are simply incredible.

The All Out Pout palettes are available in two options - Woo Me and Fancy Free and both contain a collection of 6 rich satin, gloss and glitter shades plus a mini mirror, a get the look guide and a precision lip applicator and each one costs just £7.99.

The shades within the Woo Me Palette are perfect for the coming season - Peach Shimmer, Knock Out Red, Glossy Grape, Cool Claret, Candied Coral and Metallic Gold and they can all be worn individually or mixed together.

How amazing are these shades? They are so pigmented and easy to wear not to mention long lasting. I wear all of these shades.

The Fancy Free Palette again makes perfect for the coming season and the shades within this palette are not as bold but are equally stunning.  They are Glitter Gloss, Bubblegum Pink, Pastel Pink, Fiery Fuscha, Glistening Nude and Soft Mulberry.

Again, this palette has 6 wearable shades and again they are quite pigmented, I love the first glittery shade which is perfect for adding a bit of sparkle to all your lipsticks.

The Easy On the Eye Palettes are also available in two options - The Big Smoke and Birthday Suit and each one contains a collection of 8 matte, shimmer and pearl powders plus 3 metallic creams and an eye primer so that you an define, shade, contour and highlight.  Again there is a really handy mirror within the lid and a duel ended applicator plus a get the look guide.  Each palette costs just £7.99

Birthday Suit is absolutely stunning and contains shades which are perfect for the daytime but can easily be adapted for a night out - Gentle Pink, Warm ivory, Sun Kissed Peach, Radiant Gold, Cool Rose, Warm Mink, Toasted Almond, Baked Chestnut, Bronzed Buff, Burnt Copper and pink Flush.  The eye primer is the last right hand circle and it is quite a good primer, I have used it a few times with a range of eyeshadows.

This palette is my favourite of the two because of the delicate shades, which can be built up, the swatches show just one brush stroke.

The Big Smoke is again totally stunning and features some really lovely shades such as - Twilight Blue, Onyx Black, Cocoa Brown, Slate Grey, Smoky Marble, Cloudy Lilac, Wild Khaki, Warm Ivory, Cool Aluminium, Pink Flush, Illuminated Bronze and again the eye primer is the last circle on the bottom row.  Again all of the shades can be worn alone or can be used together to create the perfect smoky eye.

As you can see, this palette is perfect for creating the smoky eye with these shades and I tend to mix some of these shades with the those from the first palette to add a bit of depth to my eye makeup.

I am really loving Seventeen right now, there are just some amazing products to be found and at such reasonable prices too.

Dr Andrew Weil for Origins

As a big fan of Origins skincare, I was delighted to be able to try the Origins collaboration with Dr Andrew Weil. Dr Weil is a Harvard-trained physician and world-renowned leader in holistic health. I have enjoyed using Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief and Mega Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask.

It is no secret that I like products that are a little out of the ordinary - Bee Venom, Dragons Blood, Snake Venom and Colostrum to name a few. So it won't come as a surprise that something called Mega-Mushroom caught my attention. 

Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Lotion which is suitable for even the most sensitive skin types, is a lightweight lotion which both hydrates and calms the skin to deliver long-lasting comfort. Free from parabens, sulphates and phthalates, this lotion is specially formulated with what are referred to as 'miracle mushrooms' known as Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps which were discovered by Dr. Andrew Weil on his visits to china.  

It is said that the Mega-Mushroom blend helps to restore the skin's resilience for a firmer appearance and prevents damage caused by UV rays, everyday stresses and environmental aggressors to leave skin healthy-looking. It is also enriched with Sea Buckthorn which is healing and acts as an anti-inflammatory to repair the skin. Antioxident ginger and tumeric help with premature ageing and Holy basil helps to relieve the skin by reducing redness and irritation. All of those leave calm, soothed and rejuvenated skin. 

What I love about this lotion is how lightweight it is. The handy dispenser gives you enough from one pump to cover your entire face and it doesn't smell like a mouldy funghi patch either, what you do get is a hint of ginger which is incredibly fresh and as soon as it comes into contact with the skin, it begins to absorb leaving behind soft, smooth and hydrated skin. I have been using this for a good few weeks now and have seen a slight difference to the redness which flares up on my cheeks when I am stressed, it is something only I have noticed at this stage and I am hoping that in a few weeks time, others will also notice.

The Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask is again suitable for all skin types and is a luxurious mask that you wear overnight to boost resilience and radiance whilst you sleep. By using a blend of Vitamin-C rich Rosa roxburghii plus Mulberry, White Peony, Chestnut Seed Extract this mask is said to visibly reverse skin tone damage, revive translucency and fade dark spots. Skin’s awakens radiant, refreshed and Mega-Bright. 

I really like the texture of this mask, it has a creamy consistency that feels like a moisturising cream and it glides onto the skin with minimal effort before being very quickly absorbed. Once this has happened, it feels incredibly lightweight and there is no sign that there is a mask on your face, especially given that you don't have to peel it or wash it off after a few minutes. Once I have completed my double cleanse in an evening, I apply my mask, giving it the best opportunity I can to work its magic on my skin.

The scent is equally divine, it is fruity yet fresh and reminds me of Origins Night-a-Mins which I absolutely adore. My skin is always in need of extra hydration and this is why I love to use overnight masks, giving them a chance to work whilst I sleep. The following morning after using this, my skin does feel incredibly moisturised and hydrated and whilst I don't have any discolouration or dark spots, it does leave my skin looking and feeling refreshed and I do look as though I have had a good nights sleep.

These two products together are just amazing and they work so well on my skin. I love the texture of both, neither are greasy or leave residue on the skin and both are effortless to use.

Have you tried any Dr Andrew Weil for Origins products?

LookFantastic Beauty Box December Edition

For the last three months, LookFantastic have been doing their Christmas Edition boxes and you can see boxes one which came in October and two in November on my blog. The third box has arrived a little earlier than usual, so it was a nice surprise when it arrived.

Again a beautifully designed white and gold box to tempt you in, this months box features six products to test and try out and again there is a cute little eight page magazine which has information on each of the products and a guide that tells you have to achieve the perfect facial - something I will definitely be reading and trying out.

The first item out of the box this month is from Eve Lom an it is a 50ml Morning Time Cleanser. This cleanser is a lightweight rinse-off balm that cleanses the skin of makeup and dirt without stripping it of moisture. Papaya fruit enzymes help brighten and gently exfoliate while carrot oil nourishes and stimulates collagen production. Suitable for all skin types, this is a product which is perfectly designed for those on the go because you only need to massage it onto dry skin and leave for a few minutes before rinsing with warm water, so for me perfect for when I am waiting for the shower to warm up in a morning.

Lord & Berry Pailette Glitter Eye Pencil - Pailette is a classic black eye pencil which is infused with glitter, therefore making it perfect for the party season. It is said to have a subtle finish but long lasting effect. I never ever use eyeliner, I think it makes me look weird, so thankfully this has already found itself a home.

I was chuffed to see another the Wet Brush Squirt in my box and in a colour I don't have, in this case yellow. This brush helps you to detangle with no pulling, tugging or pain to leave our hair healthy with no split ends and less breakage. The Wet Brush Intellifelx bristles glide through hair effortlessly and the ultra-soft polytips SoftTips make this brush ideal for sensitive scalps and also provide a massaging action. I have a pink and now a yellow Wet brush and I am a big fan.

Codage No.3 Radiance & Energy Serum. Codage is a brand I am slowly getting to know through beauty boxes and this is one of the reasons why I am a fan of beauty boxes, without them, this is the sort of product I would not have tried. Described as being a genuine elixir of cellular replenishment, this serum is formulated to detoxify and restore brightness to lacklustre skin whilst helping to erase signs of fatigue. To be used on a morning and/or evening onto cleansed skin using your fingertips.

Eyelure Double Lash in No.156 Exaggerate - Described as being big and beautiful, these double-layered effect lashes are handmade, 100% natural and reusable. I am not the most patient person when it comes to the application of false lashes and anything that has a glue with it is not going to be used because it usually irritates my eyes. That said, I know they are a popular brand with bloggers and I am sure I can find them a home.

The final item in the box comes from Molton Brown and it is in the form of a body wash. I have Coco and Sandalwood as a scent and it isn't once I have come across before. Sounding quite masculine, this scent is actually really nice and uses a combination of Coconut and Jasmine alongside the sandalwood to give it a really nice scent and one that I will definitely be using.

So that is the third and final installment of the Christmas Edition Boxes and I have really liked all three and have enjoyed the nice mixture of brands and product types included, I have made some new discoveries with brands such as Codage that I really like and it is nice to be reacquainted with brands such as Ole Henriksen Wet Brush and Ren.

Mio Liquid Yoga - an incredible combination for relaxation!

Mio is a brand I am completely new to yet is one I absolutely love already. I was kindly send two products from the range - Liquid Yoga Stress-free Space Spray* and Liquid Yoga Restorative Bath Soak. 

Mio have a mantra which I really like and it is "We believe in giving you Fit Skin For Life" simple, straightforward and easy to understand. You will also not find any parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, artificial colourants, sodium laureth or lauryl sulphate, xenoestrogens, phthalates, PEGs or glycols within the range.

Mio Liquid Yoga Stress Freer Space Spray is designed for calm, especially important for those of us who are stressed, have busy minds, find it hard to switch off, cannot fall asleep easy and just need the chance to take a deep breath and let life catch up with us. This time of year is notoriously busy for everyone and I have really enjoyed spritzing this on my pulse points when I am sat at my desk being angered by many things, rather than pick up the computer screen and launch it, I reach for my Mio. I also use it as a pillow spray before going to bed if I am wide awake and need some help drifting off. It also doesn't stain any pillow cases it just smells incredible.

This spray uses at least 8 powerful essential oils including V-Tonic™ blend to give you incredible emotional benefits through aromachology. It therefore isn't a surprise to see Lavender, Mandarin and Mentha Arvansis (wild mint) all of which are incredibly calming. There is also Lemon which is stimulating and is said to help with concentration and alertness plus Cypress which is rebalancing.

Mio Liquid Yoga Restorative Bath Soak is heaven in a bottle. It is well known that I love bathing, I find it incredibly relaxing and it is something I look forward to doing to escape from the world for an hour. Add some of this bath soak and I am wanting to stay there all day. This Liquid Yoga bath soak has three main properties and that is to help ease tense, tired muscles and to calm and restore.

Again, Liquid Yoga Bath Soak again comes packed with amazing ingredients such as Magnesium-rich Epsom salts and Arnica, again there is the inclusion of the amazing V-Tonic™ blend which is a blend of essential oils such as spearmint, cypress, lavender, mandarin and chamomile essential oils all of which help to ease your stress and anxiety. Alongside those you will find Arnica which is renowned for its soothing properties and Andiroba Oil which is especially good for helping ease muscular aches and pains, plus Murumuru Butter which is really hydrating and moisturising for your skin. Put all of those together and it is bath heaven. Not only does it smell absolutely amazing with a mixture of Lavender and Arnica, it is one of those scents which is instantly relaxing and is the perfect tonic if you need some chill out time and want to wind down.

With these two products, you have an incredible combination for relaxation, tense easing, de-toxifying and re-energising. I have never tried anything quite like Liquid Yoga and these are definitely products that will remain in my bathroom and in my handbag for those times of need.

Have you ever tried Liquid Yoga?

MyShowcase: Christmas Dolores Ltd Edition Beauty Bag

Meet Dolores, isnt she just amazingly cute? Dolores is the Limited Edition Beauty Bag* from MyShowcase and she has just landed on my mat. Looking as though she is straight off the catwalk with this seasons trends, Dolores has her berry red lips and gold lids ready for any festive soiree or get-away.

So what is she? Dolores is the perfect sized back who is big enough to hold all of your beauty products, she measures 7inches x 8.5inches and has a depth of 1.5inches. Made from embroidered canvas with a handy wipe clean front cover, inside there is a beautiful festive red lining and it opens and closes with a zip.

I think this would make a brilliant Christmas gift for fellow beauty lovers, any female in your life, be it your mum, girlfriend, sister, wife or even best friend, it is such a lovely gift to give and as you can see, she does hold an awful lot of products!

Retailing for just £19.50 you can find Dolores right here on the Myshowcase

website, though you will have to be quick because she goes out of stock exceptionally quick.

Five Christmas Gadget Must Haves

Here at RED5 we are delighted to announce that this year we are able to bring to you a whole new host of cool gadgets. We’re talking, drones, quadcopters and loads of Star Wars goodies.  It’s our job to make sure nobody is disappointed with what’s under the tree and it’s your job to listen, get ready for this year’s top Christmas gadget must haves!

Zombie Slayer Blast Kit

At number one we have, wait for it, the Zombie Slayer Blast Kit. If Walking Dead has taught us anything it’s that a zombie apocalypse is coming.  The question is are you ready for it?  What’s great about this product is that it allows you to get creative and actually build the model yourself. So we advise you not go fighting any zombies before it’s up and running, the ending would not be pretty.

Now if you’re a mum reading this buying for your son, don’t fear. He’ll be chasing zombies not you. The gun fires paper ammo, 60 rounds will be included in the package. Just in case the apocalypse comes sooner than expected, everyone will be ready.

Spy Drone Quad

Everyone’s talking about them, we’re selling them. This particular product comes in at a very reasonable price. For those of you not wanting to spend too much, we recommend this style of drone quadcopter. This little quadcopter comes with a built in 3MP camera, allowing you to take pictures and record 640 x 480p videos whilst in flight.

Don’t really know what that means? It’s good, high quality imagery coming straight from the sky, amazing! A lot more user friendly for those who are new to this flying in the sky business.

The Beast

The Sky Drone Pro White is for those of you who want to spend a little more. Perhaps you’re a more experienced flyer. You won’t regret this purchase, at just a little extra cost comes great joy and added bonuses.  For example, this beast records high definition footage, with help from its clever free app your smartphone will become an eye in the sky.

Talking Chewbacca Plush

It’s back. Star Wars is back and we’re loving every minute of it. At RED5 HQ everyone has a beady eye on all Star Wars gifts, but it’s only fair we share the goodness. What is Christmas without the fluffy giant Talking Chewbacca Plush, who we all hold dear in our hearts.

Chewbacca, legendary co-pilot, not just best buds with Han-Solo, he’s now yours too.  This bundle of fun and fluff springs to life at a press of the belly. Enjoy endless hours copying his Wookie language and giant roars.

Star Wars BB8 Droid

Since we are on the topic of Star Wars, why stop? Keep the good stuff coming I say.  For those of you desperate to get in touch with your inner dark side, the new BB8 droid is for you.  This bundle of joy is already on the path to greatness, it’s set to star in the new ‘The Force Awakens’ and we’re all going crazy for it.

Give your loved one the gift of friendship this Christmas, guaranteed to keep you busy throughout the Christmas holidays. This clever little droid is completely controllable from your smartphone or tablet, packed with various voice commands which fulfil all of your Star Wars dreams.  With help from the clever app, BB8 Droid can create and view holographic recordings, awesome.

Interactive Glow T-Shirts

Ok so we accept that not everyone is Star Wars crazy, actually we’re not sure, but we’ll mix it up for you nonetheless.  After all, this product is so worth it. It’s hard to shock us gadget heads here at RED5 but every now and then, it happens.  

That was certainly the case when we first got our hands on these interactive Glow T-shirts from illuminated apparel. So cool! It’s sometimes the case that with novelty clothing comes a lack of style; thankfully, that’s not a worry here. At first glance you’d be none the wiser.

The T-shirt is a stylish black with a large white polygon graphic, pretty trendy if you ask me. When the lights go down, that’s when things really kick off. Simply pass a UV light (included) over the white space and watch as the clothing comes to life. The good news is Smartphone lights work just as well, so if you’re out clubbing and forget your pen, do not fear. Talking of clubbing, if you’re that guy who’s unlucky in love, I have a feeling your luck just turned.

What are your Christmas Gadget Must Haves?

Guest Post

LookFantastic Little Black Friday Box + Giveaway

If you are not aware, then today is Black Friday where you can grab youself some amazing bargain right across the internet, in supermarkets and in stores. The amazing people over at LookFantastic have put together this most amazing box, which you cannot purchase anywhere, to showcase some of the brands which will go on offer and you can see them right here plus all the rest of the Black Friday Deals.

Inside my LookFantastic Black Friday Box are the following items:

Amazing Cosmetics, Amazing Concealer. Now I have been using this for well over a year and absolutely love it and have a blog post ready to go live soon. It is available in 10 shades and it uses effective waterproof technology and highly pigmented formula is designed to conceal dark circles, blemishes, sun damage and broken capillaries. I absolutely love that it conceals my redness when I am feeling insecure and that it disguises dark circles really effectively. RRP £19.50

Eve Lom - There are two Eve Lom Products in this box, one I have tried and absolutely love and the other I am totally new too. The Eve Lom Cleanser (in the pot) has featured in a LookFantastic Beauty Box, to which I subscribe. This is an exfoliating cleanser which uses Clove Oil's antiseptic properties encourage clear skin, Eucalyptus Oil drains away toxins, Hops Oil tones, and Egyptian Chamomile and Cocoa Butter soften and soothe the skin. Without drying the skin, this Cleanser removes even the most stubborn waterproof make-up. Then we have the Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser which contains the four signature Eve Lom aromatic cleansing oils together with papaya enzymes and carrot oil to stimulate collagen production, leaving skin radiant, refreshed and balanced. It works to decongest the skin and remove even the most stubborn waterproof make-up, whilst rejuvenating and deeply nourishing tired skin. Together they have a value of around £50.

Glamglow Youth Mud Masque - I am an absolute massive fan of this mask and have raved about it here. It is essentially a 10 minute facial which leaves your skin feeling just absolutely amazing after use. The unique tingling and exfoliating treatment works for all skin types to tackle any problem areas and leave skin soft and renewed. This tube has an approximate value of £15.

Tangle Teezer Original Purple Crush - Now if there was one product I wished I had invented it is this one! I absolutely love it and have more than one (okay I have 4) and I just love how versatile the patterns, colours and shapes are. If you are not familiar with them, Tangle Teezer's uniquely designed teeth flex and flick as they glide through the hair, eliminating tangles and knots on contact, minimising breaking, splitting and damage caused by mistreatment. It's perfect for all hair types and is recommended for fragile or colour-treated hair, hair extensions, weaves and children's fine tangle-prone hair. RRP £10.60.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - I have never tried this particular sponge, but it is said to allow you to apply liquid and cream foundations flawlessly, giving your skin a poreless, airbrushed appearance. Easy to use, the sponge features rounded sides that allow you to smooth foundation over large areas of your face, whilst the flat edge allows you to blend it into the contours of your eyes and nose. I am looking forward to trying this out as I know quite a few people have raved about it. RRP £5.99.

The final item is this box is from La Roche-Posay and it is the Effaclar K (+) - La Roche-Posay research has shown that under the effects of external aggressors (pollutant particles, dust) oily, imperfection-prone skin undergoes oxidation, which can trigger a chain reaction – hyper-keratinisation, sebum hyper-production, oxidation of sebum and impurities present at skin surface. All of which can lead to the formation of new imperfections. Described as being the The anti-imperfection moisturiser is especially formulated for those who experience repeated pore-clogging resulting in an uneven skin texture. Microexfoliant LHA - a keratolytic agent - and retinol Linoleate perform an intense, fine and targeted micro-exfoliation which unclogs pores and transforms the surface of the skin. The complexion is left looking and feeling smoothed, with tightened pores and diminished imperfections. Suitable for combination to oily, imperfection-prone skin. Also suitable for sensitive skin. This has an RRP £14.90.

This amazing box of products has a value of over £100 and I have one to give away to one of my lovely readers along with a Steamcream Christmas Cracker which you can see here.  To enter please use the Rafflecopter below and ensure you do complete the mandatory entries otherwise your entry will be null and void.  If you are under 16, please ensure you have parental permission to enter because I will need your home address.  This Giveaway is UK only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If none of these products have grabbed your attention, then all is not lost because LookFantastic are also offering you a huge 20% off which can be redeemed on a wide selection of brands using code LFBLACK - valid 27/11-30/11. Minor exclusions apply.