Makeup Revolution Haul

I've wanted to try Makeup Revolution products for the longest time so when I had some Christmas money, I decided straight away to get some items. At the time there was a Christmas promotion whereby if you spent £25 or more on items then you got a free gift with your order. After seeing what you would get, I took full advantage of the offer.

Makeup Revolution was launched in London in March 2014 and in that time has gained fast popularity. Their products range from as little as £1 and I have heard fantastic comments about the pigmentation of the makeup. New products are launching all the time and I already want/ need the I love Makeup Blushing Hearts (I adore the heart shaped packaging,)  the Naked Chocolate Palette  and the new Lip Lava's.  Anything with cute packaging and I neeeeed it!

I decided on three eye shadow palettes these being;

Iconic 1 - I chose this one as it had lots of shimmer shades and I love nudes as they make my blue eyes stand out more. I loved the look of the golds in particular and can't wait to see if they are buttery and pigmented.

Iconic 3 Again this has a great mix of shimmers and mattes and what I love about this one is the more pink/ gold shades. These really remind me of the Urban Decay Palettes but for a much smaller price tag of £4 compared to £37. 

Mermaids vs Unicorns When I heard the name of this palette, it made me want it even more! I love mermaids and I love Unicorns so great name choice.  I've only actually started wearing nude colours recently whereas this palette is definitely my go to. I like wearing blues and greens so I'm leaning towards a Mermaid already. 

 

I got the blush palette in All About The Pink  for £6 and it has a mixture of shimmer, matte and baked blushers. I love pink blushers and these six shades look fabulous.

I love lipsticks and so I decided to choose six different ones as they were an amazing £1 each.

The colours I chose were;

Enchant,

Magnificent

Flashing

Sweetheart

Dazzle

Cheer

Mostly pink shades with a purple too as I loved the look of this shade.

This is the free gift that I got with my order. I wanted one of these palettes as soon as I saw them, yes purely for the pink gem heart on the front! This is the I Heart Passion palette and it will look beautiful on my dressing.

Also included with the gift were these three lipglosses. The vibrant pink shade looks an absolute beaut.

I also got this vivid blush lacquer too which is not a shade I would necessarily choose myself but it will be great to try it out and see if I suit it or not.

What do you recommend from Makeup Revolution? Have you tried this brand before?

Love Laura xoxo

My W7 Make Up Advent Calendar - Days 1-12

Happy Saturday everyone.

I am so productive today already. I have completed a lot of to-do things before I have work later on and then a Christmas party to go to straight after!

I was over the moon to have won this W7 advent makeup calendar from W7 themselves. I have witnessed the explosion of the variety of advents that are now available and think that they are a super exciting and brilliant idea. I still have a Milky Bar chocolate one though as you can't beat the original chocolatey ones. Yum!

I really loved the look of the Benefit one ( My favourite make up brand) The Body Shop one and the Yankee Candle one too but I spent my money on Christmas presents for other people instead and couldn't really afford an expensive calendar. So you can imagine I was so excited to have won one of these calendars filled with a different make up treat for each of the 24 days of Christmas.

I've not owned any W7 make up before so what a brilliant way of being introduced to a range of their products all at once.

On the reverse of the Advent calendar it has a spoiler of all of the different treats that you're going to find inside so don't peep if you want it to be a surprise! I'm naughty as I just can't resist. Although having said that I haven't opened the calendar doors unless it's for that specific day.

The calendar opens up like a book and behind each one of the easy to open doors, you find your treat. The numbered days are all in order so they are easy to find.

Here are days 1 and 2.

On the 1st December I opened the door to reveal this gorgeous shade of eyeshadow. I've started to wear more of these bronzey colours as I've got older as they make blue eyes stand out. 

On the 2nd day I received this gold glitter polish which is super Christmassy. I needed two coats of this and was pleased that it lasted a few days.

On the 3rd I received a mini lipstick which applies smoothly and I love the pink shade. I will wear this to work to get my use out of it.

On the 4th day, I received the silver glitter polish which I was pleased with again as it's perfect for this time of year.

The container is quite cheap on this and the lid popped out and fell on the floor. When swatching, the powder feels velvety and required a few swipes to build up the colour.  I will apply this with a quality eyeshadow brush to see if it makes a difference.

I love the shade of this pink lipstick as it's like a Barbie pink candy colour. It applied smoothly and evenly which is great. I'm not keen on the lipstick tube but I suppose it fits into the calendar being a mini.

On the 5th day of Christmas I received this deep pink sparkly glitter polish which is more me. I love glitter polishes as when they start to chip you can just apply more to make it last longer as it just blends in.

On the 6th day, I received this little tube of foundation. After swatching I found that it has a pink undertone and is too dark and bronzey for my skintone. It did however blend really well.

On the 7th day I received this neon pink polish which I love. The colour is so me and what I would buy if I saw it in a shop.

On the 8th day I received this stunning iridescent glitter pot which reminds me of mermaids and I want to bathe in it! I absolutely love this so much.

On the 9th day Of Christmas W7 gave to me this gorgeous pink holographic glitter pot which is just beautiful and uber mermaidy again.

On the 10th day was another hot pink polish which is similar to day 7 but this one is even more neon.

On the 11th day I received this coral lipstick, which again, I love and can't wait to wear.

On the 12th day of Christmas I received a clear lip gloss which I don't really wear but I may add it to a matte lipstick to make it more smooth when applying.

So that's my 12 days of Advent treats with 12 days to go :)

Do you have an Advent calendar this year?

Love Laura xoxo

Glossybox December 2014 Unboxing

Oh Glossybox, Oh Glossybox. My lovely little Glossybox!

I was so excited to receive the Glossybox December version as they are usually the best one. Let me first of all mention the box as it's absolutely gorgeous. I love the little snowflakes with the print of the Glossybox ribbon all around it. Inside the box, the tissue paper matches and you get a beautiful ribbon tied into a bow.

Now unfortunately they forgot to put me in a card which details all the products so that makes it a lot harder as I've had to research for all of the prices and product uses. Sigh!

Inside the box this month is a very impressive four full-sized products and one sample size. None of these items scream out to me Christmas though. Do they to you? I think I was maybe expecting sparkly nail polish, perfume and lipstick. Anyway, expectations aside, the products are actually fabulous.

I love, love, love Anatomicals brand. They are so quirky and the marketing people are genius as the text on the products is hilarious. The slogan is 'We only want you for your body.' Ooooh your roody toodies Anatomicals. Well I will gladly give it to you if this spot zapper works. I like how it has two ends and one is for the day and one is to apply at night. This retails for £3.50 but you can get it from ASOS or Amazon for cheaper.

"Zap! Zap! Zap! Gets that chap."

Next, I got this Skin Pep - Anti ageing 12 hour defence serum sample.  This retails on Amazon for £29.99 for 30ml and I received 7ml. I don't get excited over skin products but I will use it. 

                           

Oooo I love lip balms and this is one that I've not heard of before by the brand #LipGlam. This retails for £9.99 and is full size. Although it states lip balm, it actually has multi- uses and can be used as a cuticle ointment, split ends smoother, lipstick & mascara primer, eyebrow balm, to soothe rashes and for dry skin relief. Wow, what a lot of uses. I've just applied it to my lips as they get so chapped in this weather. It feels so smooth and like it actually works rather than just coating the lips like some other lip products do. A big thumbs up to this one.

I then got a bellapierre coral cheek & lip stain which retails for £12.99. You can get it in a pink shade too which looks fabulous. 

"Unlike traditional stains that are hard to apply, this oil-free Cheek and Lip Stain will finish off any look with great ease and is super blend-able. Available in Pink or Coral."

I love hair products so I'm pleased that I got these TRESemme Renewal Hair and Scalp 60 second treatment shots. You can buy these from Boots for £5.50 and they are included in the 3 for 2. These are said to nourish your scalp and they renew your hair. I can't wait to try these out.

So that's what I received in my December Glossybox! What do you think?

My favourite items are the #LipGlam and the TRESemme as I am excited to see the results on these two products. I was initially disappointed that there wasn't anything Christmassy inside but the products more than make up for that.

Love Laura xoxo

What's In My November Glossybox?

Hello. I hope you are all well.

Today I have my November Glossybox unboxing to show you. I thought I had received it last week and then I got a sudden realisation that it was my missing August box that has only just been resent. It took from August until last week to sort it out and get it resent which is disappointing to say the least. 

Anyway onto this November box. In my e-mail box everyone was sent a spoiler to say that each box was going to contain a Burt's Bees lip product which I was looking forward to receiving. I do love beauty boxes but I'm not sure after Christmas whether I am going to continue with them as I want my Kawaii ones and foodie ones instead. We shall see.

The products were contained in the luxury pink Glossy box with tissue paper, sticker and paper crinkles. It always looks impressive does Glossybox and it's a lovely treat to arrive through the post. 

If you're not familiar with Glossybox, it's a monthly subscription box which contains beauty items and costs £10 plus £3.25 postage and packaging per month. If you pay month by month as you go on, you can unsubscribe at any time.

On first glimpse I was impressed by the contents. I was pleased to see that there is a contents card with information and prices on this month as I didn't like it being online. I was used to having a card in there for quick reference. 

I adore hair care. I could stare at it in Boots for the longest time. I am in search of a miracle, softening and glossy product that makes my curls look fab without any frizz. I can't wait to try out this OGX Argan Oil Of Morocco Shampoo. The oil contained inside is said to rapidly reach the hair shaft and restore shine, soften and strengthen the hair. The full size of this is only £3 for 385ml so if I like it I will certainly be purchasing the full size. The size I received was a dinky 88.7ml. Some subscribers may have received the conditioner instead which I would usually prefer. I needed more shampoo though so I'm happy.

I love eyeliner as it makes my eyes stand out. Without it my eyes look really bare and I notice a difference. I've not heard of this Lollipops Make Up Eye Pencil before but I love the name of the brand! On the card it states that it's international and when searching the website it says that the products are made in France and Italy. I'm liking the look of their lipsticks as well as other products very much. I love that this pencil is twist-up-able as I can never be bothered finding a sharpener. Usually once it's gone blunt I just reach for a new one so with twistables I can use them to the end. 

I love the pink and gold leopard packaging and love how it contains Vitamin E with anti-aging and anti-radical action. I love, love, love that the pencil glides on like a dream too. I get rid of pencils that you need to exert effort or drag across the skin and I can tell already that this is going to be an absolute dream. I will get lots of use out of this product.

The eye pencil costs 14 euros.

Next we have this Monu Skincare- Refining Capri Facial Oil which was so hard to photograph with the days getting darker earlier and the white text on the bottle. The full size of this oil would be £26 for 100ml and I received 30ml. 

"An invigorating facial oil to balance oily skin and decongest pores to ensure that breakouts remain a thing of the past."

The oil contans grape seed, Camphor ( I had to google what this is and it's a white crystalline substance with an aromatic scent and is found in essential oils) and citrus oils. I unscrewed the lid and  sniffed it and I can smell lemons in there.

Oooo I love lip products and haven't had anything from Burt's Bees before. This costs £6.99 and I'm really happy with the shade Pucker that I received. 

"100% natural, sheer colour enriched with moisturising Apricot Wax glides on lips for a sweet and super shiny finish.. so your lips shine as much as your personality." 

This smells deliciously sweet like strawberries and glided on my lips. It feels really moisturising on my lips too. If you touch it, it does have that slightly sticky feeling.

Last but not least I received this H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment which would cost £27.50 full sized which is 50ml. I received 8ml in a small tube. You can buy the full size from Marks & Spencer's. 

"This oil-free moisture gel delivers deep hydration while minimising the appearance of fine lines." I usually leave skin products in little tubes but this actually sounds good so I'm going to make a point of trying this out.

So that's November's Glossybox. I do like this box and feel that they are improving and getting back to their roots of where they first started. 

My favourite products this month are the shampoo, eye pencil and Burt's Bees.

What do you think of this box? Did you get one too?

Love Laura xoxo

Oh and the invitation is to use on a website that has designer clothes and I got a £20 voucher to use. I haven't been on the site so I'm not sure how far this £20 will go.

Haunting Halloween Shades with BeautyUk

Hi everyone,

Today I have some Beauty Uk make up which would be great shades to use at Halloween. I enjoyed trying out these pieces and I think these would be perfect for a sultry vampire look ie Morticia Addams. I absolutely love that film(s) and I haven't actually seen it in years. Think it's going to be a must see for me this Halloween. 

The pieces that I received above are the *Compact Face Powder in Number 2 , *Black lipstick in the Shade No. 13 Darkness, *Glacier Gloss in shade No 10 'Plum and Have A Go' and finally the new *Eyebrow kit.

The Compact face powder was a dream to use. It has a built in applicator puff and mirror and would be great to take in your handbag. I thought Shade 2 would be too light for me but it was actually a good match. The powder was really easy to sweep across my face and it felt smooth and easy to achieve a subtle cover up. It provides a light coverage and I was pleased with the results. This retails for £3.99.

The '*Darkness' lipstick would be fantastic to use at Halloween. The formulation is wet which makes it very easy to apply and two swipes give you an opaque colour. When tested on the back of my hand it was easy to build up the darkness and there was no dragging or pulling, it just glided on. You get plenty of product in the tube and it has a decent lasting time too. The lipstick is £3.49 which is cheap and cheerful and will last a long time.

This is not a shade that I would have chosen myself in Plum & Have A Go but now that I've swatched it and worn it, I think it's a perfect berry shade for Autumn and Winter time and I really like it. The gloss feels slightly sticky but is great quality and has good lasting power. For £2.99 it's a bargain price and is a versatile shade.

The *Eyebrow kit  is a compact case which includes three shades of powder, wax, tweezers and an angled applicator for £3.99. The wax was smooth to apply and I chose the medium shade of brown to fill in and shape my brows. I've never actually used a kit like this before as I prefer my eyebrows to  be natural but found it easy to use. The powder was simple to apply but you have to have a steady hand and know the desired look that you are aiming for. This kit would be useful for an everyday look or as a Disney villain for Halloween with exaggerated brows. For me I still prefer my natural brows as they stood out too much for my liking. The colour was strong and lasted well but I need a lot more practice at how to actually apply it and look good!

On my lips, I applied the gloss first and then added a little black lipstick and blended.

What are you wearing for Halloween?

Love Laura xoxo

*PR items sent kindly for review.

Glacier Gloss- BeautyUK - Peach for the Sky & Atomic Pink review

Image credit: BeautyUk

Hello everyone. Hope you are all well. 

I get excited about new lip products and the shades I'm always drawn to are the peaches and pinks. I tend to mix up whether I wear lip glosses or lip sticks just depending on the wear of them. With glosses, a necessity for me is that they are not sticky. I don't like the hair-stuck-to-my-lips look as soon as a gust of wind blows. I tend to look out for moisturisation, wearability and particular colours and packaging.

BeautyUK have released a new collection of Glacier Glosses which promise high impact shine and an intense colour. The collection is available in 10 different shades and I have two of them here in *Peach For The Sky no.3 and *Atomic Pink no.6 to show you and review.

The Glacier Glosses retail for £2.99 each and are available on the BeautyUk website or in Superdrug stores.

There are a variety of shades ranging from the nudes up to the more intense purple and red.

The lip glosses have a protective plastic coating so you can be safe in the knowledge that no one has tried them out before you purchase them. At the top is the *Atomic Pink which is a gorgeous vibrant pink shade and the lower one is the *Peach for the Sky.

I like the tubes how you can see the shades clearly and the actual design of them. They do feel a little plasticky but don't look it.

They have a doe foot applicator which makes application easy. The Atomic Pink one seems to pick up more colour whereas my peach one had to be dipped back in to get more product.

The Peach shade is a more nude tone and required a few layers to get an even colour whereas the Atomic pink was vibrant with one easy swipe and is my favourite out of the two.

Overall I'm impressed with the Glacier Glosses as they apply smoothly and feel moisturising on the lips. They are not sticky which is a massive bonus and they have a sweet scented smell to them. They also lasted for a few hours before they needed reapplying which is great. I love the two shades that I was sent and for £2.99 can afford to buy more shades in the range.

Have you tried these out? Which shades do you tend to go for?

Love Laura xoxo

*PR items kindly sent for review.

South African box swap goodies from 'I'll take it all' Irina :)

A little while ago whilst reading blogs that I follow I came across a blog post from Kat at 'Tales of a Pale Face' which stated that she was organising a box swap for people to join and that you could decide to send a box of goodies to either UK or International. I was intrigued as I have never done a box swap before and thought I'd go for it and chose International.

A few weeks later I received an e-mail from Kat giving details on what works well and telling me that my box swap partner was Irina from 'I'll take it all'   
I couldn't recommend Irina's blog high enough. Not only is she gorgeous on the outside she is the most friendliest person with a big heart. Irina shows her outfits of the day, make-up reviews and attends many glamorous events. She is super easy to get along with and I'm so glad I had the fortune of being paired up with her.

After exchanging e-mails and tweets we decided on a budget, what we liked and when we were going to send the box. Then it was a waiting game of excitement.

My box from Irina arrived quicker than what it did to send mine to South Africa as both of our packages got held in customs and examined as regulations have become really tight. In the end all was good and Irina received my box too yesterday phew!

Right onto the box of goodies :)

Parcel arrived- love the South African stamps!

How lovely is this box! Wrapped with zebra paper and tied with a pink bow :')

First look inside!

Pretty red and pink tissue paper.

All of these fit in the little box.

Absolutely love how Irina had organised the presents into categories!

Yummy South African food.

Two Bella lipglosses that I've never seen before.

Made in South Africa . Irina uses this herself :) Love vanilla!!

Never seen this before!

Pretty pink face mask and matching mitts <3

Essence lip balm! Love this ! <3

I've not used these brands before. I absolutely love the colours of these polishes.

Gorgeous perfume spray.

Swiftly added this to my iPhone 5 :) Love the design!

Three hairbands- worn the polka one already- it's adorable!

I had put these on my wishlist on my blog from Mr Price! Irina bought them for me and I am in love with these. Stunning!

Looooooooove Unicorns <3

How amazing is this stamp- you just stamp onto everything that you love and it will say 'Love it!'

Gorgeous unicorn wooden stamp.

I was absolutely over the moon with the items that Irina had bought for me!! Oh my goodness!!! <3  She is so thoughtful and generous and knows what I like!!! I can't thank her enough!
It was such an exciting event to take part in and I will definitely be doing this again!

Thanks so much to Kat as without her I would have never met Irina !!

xoxo