Hema Easy Shine Lip Balm*

Posted on 03/06/2015 by laurengdall

I think it’s pretty fair to say that chubby-stick style lip balms and glosses have taken the world by storm over the past couple of years. I’ve tried and loved crayon styles from Clinique to Clarins, but something they’ve had in common is a pretty high price tag.

Hema, though, have introduced their take on the Chubby Stick trend with their Easy Shine Lip Balm. Available in three shades – Red (pictured), Pink and Orange, they are a great option if you’re after a pop of glossy colour right in time for Spring.

When first applied, the Easy Shine Lip Balm feels super rich and nourishing, and the colour is beautifully glossy. The red shade is a lovely pink-toned red which is perfect for amping up a casual look. There is great colour payoff, and if you’re after a more intense look, the colour is incredibly easy to build. Although the wear-time wasn’t the very best I’ve tried, I easily got over two hours of glossy wear before I needed to touch up.

Hema’s Easy Shine Lip Balm costs £ 4.50 and is available here.

Delarom Infinite White Cream*

Posted on 03/05/2015 by laurengdall

Delarom is one of those brands which are just incredible. Even though they might not be the easiest products to find, they are consistently among my favourites, and one of the newest members of routine is the Delarom Infinite White Cream. Although the name sounds a little intimidating, the cream is designed to reduce any dark spots as well as even out complexions.

Since we are (hopefully) moving into Spring, I thought it would be the perfect time to start using the cream. Unlike a lot of brightening or whitening products I’ve tried in the past, Delarom’s Infinite White Cream feels incredibly gentle to use. Twice a day after cleansing, I smooth a couple of the pumps of the cream over my face and neck. It feels lovely and cooling when applied, and it provides just the right amount of moisture I need too. I’ve been using the cream over the past couple of weeks, and I’m definitely seeing some results! Around my chin there were a couple of faint dark marks which showed where I had broken out a couple of months ago. They weren’t too bad, but they were still really annoying to have to cover up. Thanks to Delarom’s Infinite White Cream they have completely disappeared!

Delarom’s Infinite White Cream costs £55.00 and is available here

Mila Chiara Fragrance Diffuser*

Posted on 03/04/2015 by laurengdall

I don’t think there is much that is more luxurious feeling than home fragrance. If I’m having a stressful day, it just feels heavenly to push open the front door and breathe in something lovely. Since I hate leaving candles unattended, Mila’s Home Fragrance Diffuser is the perfect option to keep your home smelling divine round the clock!

Packaged in a stunning watercolour decorated box, Mila’s Fragrance Diffuser is just the thing if you want a constant fragrance. Inside the box is a stunning blue glass bottle which is filled with scented oil as well as a bundle of natural rattan reeds.

Setting up the diffuser couldn’t be easier! All you have to do is pop open the bottle and arrange the reeds. For the first 24 hours, the reeds completely soak up the oil, and then you’re set – you can tuck the diffuser wherever you want the fragrance to emanate. My diffuser is the Chiara fragrance, and I’m absolutely in love with it – iris, jasmine, amber and sandalwood create the most luxurious feeling scent. When I unwrapped the diffuser, I knew the scent reminded me of something – and I’ve figured out what it is – Agent Provocateur’s Original scent. I’ve loved and worn than perfume since I was 18, so it’s lovely to have rooms which smell similar. I’ve tucked mine into my bathroom, and the whole room has stayed delicately perfumed with the Chiara scent – it’s seriously divine!

Mila’s £45.00 Chiara Fragrance Diffuser costs and is available here.

Hema Soft Eyeliner Pen*

Posted on 03/03/2015 by laurengdall

As I’m typing this it’s snowing outside. Not a pleasant flurry which makes you want to grab a cup of something hot and sit by the window, rather it’s a complete white-out complete with whistling winds. So, in an effort to turn lemons into lemonade, I’ve been practising my more dramatic eyeliner skills.

Rather than relying on my usual quick swipe of crayon in my waterline, Hema’s Soft Eyeliner Pen has been making my efforts rather enjoyable too! The Soft Eyeliner Pen comes from Hema, which I’m sure is going to be as big as H&M or Primark. What differentiates Hema from its competitors, though, is the quality. Although the prices are incredibly affordable, the makeup I’ve tried has been really great.

The Soft Eyeliner Pen might be my favourite; you can see how pointed the tip of the pen is, which means precise application is incredibly easy. The lightest touch leaves a jet black line, and it you can achieve a super thin or rather more dramatic line depending on how you angle the pen. Unlike a lot of felt-pen liners I’ve tried, I don’t need to re-draw any of my lines, meaning cat eyes can be drawn perfectly first time around. When I’ve worn the liner, it’s lasted throughout the day without a hint of fading. Instead, I get to enjoy inky black eyeliner all day long!

Hema’s Soft Eyeliner Pen is priced at £4.25 and is available here.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color – Orange*

Posted on 03/02/2015 by laurengdall

Ok, so it’s not news that Mondays are pretty dull, so I thought I would brighten up the dullest day of the week with Bobbi Brown’s new Sheer Lip Color in Orange.

This lipstick is part of the new Hot Nudes Collection which is a new release for summer. It’s inspired by Florida, the home state of spokesmodel Kate Upton, so the whole collection is filled with the most stunning pinks, oranges and corals.

In the tube, the Sheer Lip Color in Orange looks seriously pigmented, but thankfully when applied, the formula is absolutely perfect! I can slick the lipstick on straight from the bullet without having to worry about using a lip brush or smearing the colour everywhere! The Sheer Lip Colors feel like a balm to apply, but have a stunning pop of glossy colour which is just perfect for Spring and Summer!

Rather than looking like a true orange, I would say that the Orange Sheer Lip Color wears more like a bright, warm-toned coral. I love wearing it with a natural, bronzed base and defined brows. It feels like a nice change from my usual pinks and nudes, and I’ve received so many compliments and comments when I’ve worn it.

If, like me, you normally only wear neutrals, this is such a fun and pretty way of expanding your lipstick collection. Since it’s Bobbi Brown, you know it is going to be incredibly flattering to wear, and I think the formula is just dreamy – I had over 4 hours of glossy colour which faded to a pretty stain.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color in Orange is priced at £19.50 and is available here. (But hurry, it’s a limited edition!)

Clarins Everlasting Foundation+*

Posted on 03/01/2015 by laurengdall

New for Spring, Clarins are releasing their new Everlasting Foundation+ which is perfect if you’re after a base which is both flattering, as well as incredibly long wearing.

Honestly, this is one incredible foundation! The formula has been developed to provide a matte, luminous finish which stays looking fresh and flawless for up to 18 hours! After cleansing and moisturising, I apply a little of the Everlasting Foundation+ with my Dior Beauty Blender (read about it here) concentrating on my nose and chin and any areas of redness or blemishes. The foundation completely melts into my skin, and it blurs away any imperfections. It’s also a great choice if my skin isn’t looking or feeling its best as unlike a lot of my other foundations, this is pretty much full coverage. Don’t let that scare you though, because once it’s on, it looks incredibly natural. The formulation of the foundation also means I don’t even need to bother with a primer!

Packaged in a chic brushed glass bottle with metallic golden lid, this feels like an incredibly grown up makeup choice. Even though the formula lasts and lasts, it never feels drying on the skin. Bamboo powder in the formula works throughout the day to absorb any of your skins excess sebum, so you stay looking picture perfect. The range also includes 19 different shades, so no matter or how pale or how dark you are, there should be a colour to suit!

Clarins’ Everlasting Foundation+ costs £27.50 and is available here.

Urban Decay Naked Concealer*

Posted on 02/27/2015 by laurengdall

Over the past couple of months I’ve really been getting into the no-makeup look. I think it looks super chic, and it’s perfect for Spring (which is hopefully on the way)! The most important part of looking super-natural is finding a perfect base, and that’s where Urban Decay’s Naked Concealer comes in.

For a natural dewy look, I like to apply a little of the Naked Concealer while my moisturiser is still sinking in. I swipe the concealer under my eyes, around my nose, and on my chin. I then use my finger to blend the formula. I’m obsessed with Naked’s formula – it’s a full coverage concealer, yet it feels silky soft to apply. Even if you need a little more coverage, the concealer is incredibly easy to build – even if you apply layers and layers of the stuff it doesn’t cake! If I have a blemish I need to conceal, I just dot a little of the formula, leave it for a second, then blend it in using my finger. To finish my natural look, I reach for my Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette which you can read about here.

The wear time of the concealer is actually amazing – I easily get 8-10 hours of wear without the need to touch up. It stays looking fresh all day, and thankfully it doesn’t oxidise or fade away either. The doe foot applicator makes applying it an absolute breeze, and it’s super easy to control the amount of concealer I’m using, as well as get into awkward spots.

Urban Decay’s Naked Concealer is priced at £17.50 and is available here.

Weleda Skin Food Skin Saviour*

Posted on 02/25/2015 by laurengdall

Weleda’s Skin Food has become something of an skincare icon, and not without reason. It’s one of those products which every stash should have. If you have dry, sensitive or troubled skin you need to try Skin Food. It was Weleda’s first skincare cream, and the formula contains organic sunflower seed oil, and extracts of wild pansy, chamomile, calendula as well as rosemary so it fixes basically any skin woe you can think of. Not only this, but the cream is rich enough to treat elbows, knees and torn cuticles too!

The Weleda Skin Saviour comes packaged with an organic cotton flannel and is meant to be used as a moisture mask. All you have to do is apply a layer of Skin Food to clean, cleansed skin and then relax for 10-15 minutes. Before applying the Skin Food, I dampen the flannel with warm water and drape it on my face for a minute just to open my pores. Once the mask is on, I relax for a bit to let my skin drink in all the moisture it needs. A rather long and relaxing bath is great for this, since the steam seems to encourage the process even more.

Once I’m done, I just tissue the excess off and I’m left with skin which feels super moisturised and nourished. For days after using Skin Food, I’ve noticed that I don’t suffer from any little dry patches, and my makeup applies super smoothly. I’m such a fan!

Weleda’s Skin Saviour set costs £9.95 and is available here.

Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod Eau de Toilette*

Posted on 02/24/2015 by laurengdall

Whenever someone mentions Molton Brown, my mind immediately jumps to the most luxurious shower gels and moisturisers available. But who knew there was a huge selection outside of the shower? I certainly didn’t, so when a rather beautiful little pink box popped through the letterbox I was both intrigued and very excited!

Described as a spicy pink peppercorn fragrance, Pink Pepperpod is my first foray into Molton Brown’s fragrances. I think I fell in love with the Eau de Toilette before I even opened the box. I just adore the beautiful pink box – perfect for a gift don’t you think?!

Packaged like one of their bath products, Molton Brown’s Pink Pepperpod Eau de Toilette is a perfect Spring and Summer fragrance. When first applied, I immediately get the top notes of Pink Pepper and Tangerine. It’s definitely a grown-up way to enjoy a fruitier fragrance, and whenever I spritz it, I feel like I should be relaxing on a beach somewhere tropical.

Once the fragrance warms up on my skin, the sultrier notes start to become more noticeable. I love the way that the Patchouli and Cedarwood Oil interact with the Ginger Oil and Nutmeg. The result is surprisingly complex, and very exotic. It’s one of those perfumes which I just can’t stop smelling on myself! It has the perfect amount of silage too; it seems to just swirl around you rather than fade away like some of my fruitier scents tend to do. I also just love the fact that the scent is also available in everything from shower gel to candles, so it’s such a lovely way to enjoy the fragrance.

Molton Brown’s Pink Pepperpod Eau de Toilette is priced at £39.00 and is available here.

Bobbi Brown Art Stick – Hot Pink*

Posted on 02/23/2015 by laurengdall

I’m not sure about you, but when I think of Bobbi Brown makeup, it conjures images of sumptuous nudes and naturals. Well, prepare for a shock when you see this summer’s Hot Collection!

Inspired by spokesmodel Kate Upton’s home state of Florida, Bobbi Brown has released the prettiest collection of bright pinks, oranges and corals which will be must have items all summer long! I am more than obsessed with range, and I completely get the Floridian inspiration – there is just something about the place which makes you reach for your brightest stuff!

The first piece from the range that I was able to try out is the Art Stick in Hot Pink. One of the season’s three limited edition shades, the Art Stick fulfils all of my neon pink dreams. I’ve never tried any of Bobbi Brown’s Art Sticks before, but they couldn’t be easier to use. Packaged like a jumbo eyeliner or lipliner, the Art Sticks make precision application an absolute breeze. Even though the formula is matte, it doesn’t tug on my lips, instead it feels super creamy and the colour payoff is incredible.

Hot Pink is a running blue-based, almost neon pink, and I’m completely in love with it! It makes a serious statement, but it looks incredibly pretty with a natural, tanned look. Before applying, I smooth a little balm over my lips, then all I need are a couple of swipes of the Art Stick for a fully opaque pout. The lasting power of the Stick is incredible too – I got around 4 hours before I felt I wanted to freshen the colour up, and rather incredibly, there was no feathering or smearing. Instead I just enjoyed the prettiest bright pink lips I think I’ve ever sported!

Bobbi Brown’s Art Sticks cost £19.50 each and are available here

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