Wednesday 31 July 2013

Review: Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liquid Liner

 
Hey dolls :)
 
I've never been much of a fan of liquid liner, mostly due to my disagreements with the sometimes long-drying formulas and the messy applicators, meaning I've always relied on mascara to make my eyes stand-out. Cue Collection's Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner.
 
I chose to put the heavy task of renewing my faith in liquid liners on this easy to use 'felt tip pen' styled liner. Collection claims it's an 'All day wear felt tip liner for perfectly defined lines. Easy to apply, fast dry formula."
 


Here's a breakdown of my opinions on these claims:
 
All Day Wear: This I can agree with, up to a certain point. I wouldn't go as far as saying it lasts 24 hours, although the testing line I drew on my hand when I bought this at Boots is still on my hand this morning, albeit containing a little less colour. However, this liner is far from waterproof so be careful wearing extravagant lines whilst out in the rain - these two things definitely do not mix.
 
 

 

 
Perfectly Defined Lines: The point of the pen is very precise which is great when drawing straight lines and also when winging out into a flick. Also, despite the thick appearance of the point, it's easy to draw thick or thin lines. Although, as you can tell from the lines I've drawn, the colour isn't the darkest, but you can barely tell when used with mascara.
 

 
 
 
Easy To Apply: Following the opinion from above, the point of this pen is great which makes it very easy to use. Also the 'felt tip pen' style of the bottle makes it very easy to grip onto as it's quite wide which makes it really easy to get your hand steady.
 
 
 
 
 
Fast Drying Formula: Agree, although it's a good and bad thing. The good thing about it is that it literally dries in three seconds flat, meaning you no longer need to risk the blink that will ruin everything! The bad thing about it is that if you make a mistake you can't simply wipe it away.
 
Overall I adore this eyeliner pen, especially for it's £2.99 price!
 
xx

Monday 29 July 2013

Review: Lush Think Pink Bath Bomb

 
 When it comes to 'relaxing' bath products, that is to say a product that doesn't really do anything except create an idea of luxuriousness, bubble baths isn't at the top of my list. Mostly because they either bubble too little or too much and the bubbles always manage to get in my hair even when it's clipped out the way so instead of helping me to chill out I just get stressed!

Which is why I decided to try one of Lush's famous bath bombs and I must say I'm glad I did. After discussing my requirements with a very helpful sales assistant (the ones in town in Bristol are all hilarious!) I decided upon 'Think Pink', a sweet smelling bath bomb that promises hidden surprises and colour-changing water. It's quite a large one and the gorgeous colour and pretty indented flowers makes it one of the prettiest too!






Once I got home I showed my baby sister (she's five) and immediately ran a bath! Once the bath was filled, we dropped in the bath bomb and watched it dissolve. It took around 2 minutes to dissolve completely and whilst it was dissolving it released the most deliciously sweet scent and lovely fizzing noise into the air.

Once we got into our now pink-coloured water, we found that the bath bomb had released loads of adorable little paper hearts into the bath! My sister and I played a game of how many we could find each, which certainly kept her entertained! The water felt silky on our skin and despite the bright colour, it didn't stain at all (something I was actually a little paranoid about beforehand!)




After around fifteen minutes, though, our noses were used to the smell and it flattened out, although my brother could still smell it from across the hall and after we got out the scent still lingered in the bathroom.

Overall I think this was a cute little surprise for my sister and was definitely a nice change from having a bubble bath - although this is just as relaxing. Next time I'm going to try the Dragon's Egg!

You can buy Lush's bath bombs from your local Lush store or online. Prices range from £1.50 - £4.

 
 

Sunday 28 July 2013

Bristol Harbour Festival: Purchases


Hi everyone!
 
Just a quick little additional post as I thought it would be easier to show you what I bought separately from the photo diary so things don't get confused!
 
 
 
 
The first thing I bought was this mouth-wateringly delicious scented soap in the smell 'Pink Grapefruit' I can't even tell you guys how nice this smells! I don't even care if it doesn't lather properly (haven't tried yet cause I don't want to waste the smell!) because it's that good. I got this for £1.99.
 
 
 
The next two things are these adorable little Himalayan crystal statues. You can't really tell from this picture but they're the most beautiful pale/mint green shade and are actually quite heavy for how small they are. I got the frog and Luke (the boyf) chose the elephant. Not really sure why we bought these but they're cute so who cares :)
 

 
Next is this pumice soap I mentioned in the photo diary. I got this for £3 and it has the most refreshing mint scent. I bought this for my mum and I regret not buying one for myself as they had so many other delish scents (citrus was another fave) and I can imagine how handy it would come in when doing DIY manicures. Expect a review soon!
 
 
 
The last thing are these two adorable dog cupcakes! I bought one each for my little boys as they were only £1 each and were both handmade! The ones I got are chicken and sausage flavour and both Archie and Thor (named after the hot Marvel character, although my mum doesn't know that...) ate them in one go haha!
 
Other purchases of the day include Glee Season 1 Volume 2 which I'm currently watching with my mum and a few t-shirts for the boyfriend from the men's section in Primark.
 
Did any of you guys go to the Harbour Fest this year?
 
xx


Bristol Harbour Festival: Photo Diary


Hey everyone!
 
I have a more photo based post for you today, as this weekend was the Harbour Festival in Bristol and my boyfriend and I took a trek down there this morning. The weather was a little windy but the sun pulled through all day and although it was a little cold it was bright and cheerful. I can't even tell you how many stalls showing gorgeous handmade products there were and although I didn't spend that much I did pick up a few things that I'll show you in my next post. Also something that was incredible was the smells of all the different food stands - churros, authentic thai noddles, burritos and whole pig roasts were the post popular stands with people lining up for up to ten minutes for their food! But hanging around and simply looking at everything there is to offer is all part of the fun!
 
Sweeeeets!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The boyfriend and I!
 
 
African Dance show!
 


On this stall (Harmony Bodycare) there were so many gorgeous scented, handmade soaps and body lotions! The lady I spoke to was so lovely so I thought it was worth giving her natural products a mention. I bought my mum a 'Gardeners Soap' in Cinnamon & Mint which is a buttery-feeling soap with added pumice to help with rough skin and ingrained dirt (review soon!).  All of the soap products below are products from her stall which are so beautiful and are all made from scratch with natural ingredients which is perfect, especially for dry and sensitive skins! For more information on her products, her email is: Maureen@harmonybodycare.co.uk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Hilarious sign I found on a soap stall!
 
 
Gorgeous handmade button earrings.
 
 
Me & Luke created our own Slush Puppie. Our flavours were Bubblegum, Lemon & Lime, Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry and Pineapple. Safe to say I thought it was disgusting but Luke liked it!
 
 
Adorable handmade dog treats!
 
So those are all of the photos I took today, if you were there/have made a photo diary from today on your blog then leave me a link, I'd love to see them!
 
xx


Saturday 27 July 2013

Update: Lush Seanik Shampoo Bar

 
Hi everyone!
 
I'm here today with an update on my Lush Seanik shampoo bar! I've seen a few other bloggers review these bars but I've never read an update that shows how long they've used it and how much is left so I thought I'd show you mine!
 
I first bought this shampoo bar back in April with the hopes that it would erase my doubts of how it would stand against my regular bottled shampoo and I can only say that it's done it's job - in more ways than one!
 
 
 
I use this shampoo bar 3 - 4 times a week, sometimes more if I'm going somewhere special, meaning it's seen me through over 50 washes so far and although the gorgeous blue colour has faded into a not-so-nice misty white it's washing power has remained the same. Size-wise, I think I've used around half meaning that Lush's promise of this bar seeing you through 80 - 100 washes is entirely right!
 
 
 
My natural hair is shoulder-length and fine, so maybe someone with longer/thicker hair than me would need to repurchase a little sooner but I find it's lasted longer than a regular bottled shampoo would, meaning that as well as meaning I have to purchase less, I've produced less waste which clogs up our landfills.
 
Post-wash this shampoo bar still leaves my hair feeling thicker and more volumised thanks to the added sea salt but still shiny and soft to touch due to the sea weed. I don't use any other volumising products on my hair anymore - something I always needed when using regular shampoos - which means that I simply need to blow-dry and straighten afterwards to get the desired effect.
 
Overall this shampoo bar is amazing - I would never dream of using a bottled shampoo again! It gives me all the volume and texture I desire whilst helping with the environment - something I feel as a blogger I should help people become more aware of.
 
You can buy Lush Shampoo Bars (and conditioners!) for around £5 from your local Lush store or online, and they come with a variety of scents and hair-effects depending on your hair type and desires.
 
For a more thorough review (plus pictures from before) of this shampoo bar, click here.

Saturday 20 July 2013

What's In My Make-Up Bag: The Summer Edition


Hello everyone!
 
I apologise for the lack of post recently, but my dad was in hospital for a short stay and so I was with him at every spare moment! I also had my very first beauty related job interview, which was amazing!
 
I thought I'd make a bit of a comeback by sharing with you my Summer Edition of the very popular 'what's in my make-up bag' post! I think the last time I gave you guys a glance into my make-up bag was back in April (here) and so I thought I'd show you what I've still been loving since then and a few new favourites.

 
Face:
 
Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in Light Porcelain.
 
I gave my first impressions on this foundation recently (here) so thought I'd use this post as a little update on how I've been getting on with it. The main thing that I drop from my make-up routine in summer is the use of foundation, but this is light-weight on my skin whilst giving light-medium coverage so it's perfect for hot days! The finish upon skin really is a 'my skin but better' look that's the perfect balance between matte and dewy. For a more thorough review on this foundation, refer to my First Impressions post.
 
Collection Cover Up Stick in Light Translucent.
 
This concealer has been a firm favourite of mine since my last 'what's in my make up bag' post! This bargain concealer is thick enough to cover imperfections and spots but light enough to use on my under eyes without creasing. It's super easy to blend and although there are only a few shades in the collection, I find the lightest is a perfect match for me.
 
Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud.
 
Another re-appearance from my last post! This was a recent repurchase of mine (as was the collection concealer above) as the disc containing the powder shattered! This time, the packaging seems to be intact and the product is every bit as amazing as I remember it. The colour pay-off is brilliant and easy to blend. For a more thorough review, click here.
 
Eyes:
 
Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara in Black and Max Factor 2000 Calorie Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black.
 
Both of these Max Factor mascaras were also in my other post! I think it's simply because I can't find any others to replace them - they're that good! The 2000 Calorie one is the perfect mascara for lengthening lashes without clumping and also for use on the lower lashes due to the thin brush whilst the Masterpiece Max one is amazing for thickening and curling. I'm very loyal to my mascaras, and these have certainly earned their place in my heart, and make-up bag.
 
Make Up Academy Single Eyeshadow in Shade 17.
 
This eye shadow is an almost perfect skin-match to me, which means I use it more for it's concealing properties than as an actual eye shadow. It has a lovely, buttery feel which blends easily across the lid whilst concealing any blue veins easily. Amazing for only £1!
 
Primark Leopard Print Tweezers, £1 for two.
 
As tweezers go, these are actually one of the best pairs I've tried, even compared to the most expensive. The tips meet together perfectly and they grip the hairs really well. The pair I get the most use out of is the slanted tip pair, although in the set there's a straight tipped pair! I would definitely recommend anyone to buy them if you spot them in Primark!
 
Lips:
 
Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Oxford St Fuchsia.
 
This is personally the best product I've ever found in the pound shop! The colour is the most beautiful dusty pink and the colour pay-off on lips is amazing even without using a brush! This lasts forever, even through meals and is super nourishing.
 
Lip Smackers Feast Lip Balm.
 
Another bargain Primark buy! This lip balm has the most delicious chocolate smell - not neccesarily like a Feast ice lolly but still amazing. I haven't had a chance to taste this yet as I'm still waiting for the diminish of my cold sores but as soon as they disappear I'll let you know what it's like.
 
Nails:
 
Rimmel I Heart Lasting Finish Nail Varnish in Marshmallow Heaven.
 
I'm not sure why, but I don't really understand the idea behind the name of this polish - any marshmallow I've ever had has been either green, pink or white but never mind! This pastel polish is the perfect shade for either fingernails or toes and the finish gives a lovely shine. I can wear this for 10 days without even one chip!
 
So, there you have it! If any of you write up your 'What's in my make-up bag' posts, please link them down below as I love reading them!
 
Hope you guys are enjoying the warm weather!
 
xx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Step By Step: Simple Leopard Print Nail Art

Hey everyone, hope you're all well.
I have another nail art post for you today! The only nail arts I've ever really shown on here are my Minions here and here so I thought I'd show you something a little different. I've been experimenting with nail art a lot recently, mostly to fill up my portfolio but also just because I enjoy doing it.

Difficulty: Beginner

As you can see, the design I've chosen for today is a really simple leopard print. All you need for this is a nail varnish of your choice for the background and black nail art pen!

Steps:

Step One: Paint all of your nails the colour(s) of your choice. I chose red as I think that it goes with the design a lot better and makes it stand out.

Step Two: Starting at the right tip of your nail and working in a diagonal towards the bottom left, draw a mix of irregular, squiggly circles and simple dots/blobs. You can be as neat or as messy as you like here, the more irregular the shape the more natural it looks!

Step Three: Fill in the space between the right tip and the bottom left with more squiggly circles.

Step Four: Repeat steps 1 - 3 on the rest of your nails! Simple.

Let me know what you think of this design in the comments below! I think it's the perfect way to incorporate some animal print into your style in such a subtle yet stand-out way!

xx


Friday 12 July 2013

Boots & Poundshop Haul!

 
I've been waiting to post this haul as a video, but turns out my camera isn't too fond of me at the moment and wont let me record! So I've done the next best thing and took photos instead. Almost everything in this post was bought at a reduced price, either found on the clearance shelf (which is hidden way at the back of my regular store), in a 'buy one get one half price' offer or simply on sale. Except for the food, which I'm willing to pay full price for every time!
 
- I would like to point out that for some reason, blogger will only let me enlarge one photo per post... if anyone knows how to fix this, please let me know! -
 
 
Skincare:
 
 
Boots Simply Sensitive Eye Make-Up Remover, £1.39 (on sale) - Boots.
 
I know I said I was going to persist with my Nivea Double Effects Eye Make-Up Remover, but I got so sick of shaking it up every day that I eventually gave in and bought this one - although I'm actually now back to the Nivea one. I thought I'd try this as it's from the same brand as the rest of the products in my skincare routine, but I sadly had a very bad reaction to this! So I don't think I'd recommend it for sensitive skins, but it should be fine for anyone else. The product itself is an oily make-up remover, and although it is a little too oily in my opinion, it's very moisturising and does it's job properly.
 
Clean & Clear Morning Energy Face Wash, £1.00 (clearance) - Boots
 
I bought this for my boyfriend as he's prone to blackheads on his nose and his skin is slightly sensitive so I thought I could try and tackle the problem by buying him a face wash with exfoliating beads rather than buying a straight up exfoliator. There were two other scents to choose from (one was orange, and I can't remember the other except it was a shimmery yellow liquid) but I got him this one basically because I thought it looked pretty... no idea how that works but hey. I'm not sure how well this performs as he hasn't used it yet, but I'll feature it in my Updates post to let you know.
 
Soap & Glory Wonderfill 3D Amazing Wrinkle Filler. £3.00 (clearance) - Boots.
 
Another product that's not for me! As soon as I saw this on the clearance shelf I grabbed it instantly without even looking at the actual product simply because I love S&G and I especially love it when it's at a discounted price. When I realised it was 'wrinkle filler', I thought of my mum (sorry!) as she's also a S&G freak and, well, because I thought it might be of use to her. The liquid itself has a 'toothpaste' texture, as to say it's quite thick and 'granular' whilst at the same time being easy to spread and blend. My mum uses this on her deepest of lines, and she feels it's softened the appearance of them significantly.
 
Soap & Glory Catch A Wrinkle In Time Day Moisturiser, £3.00 (clearance) - Boots.
 
Another purchase for my mother! She's not really prone to any dryness, and in fact I think she's the only person I've come across with a 'normal' skin type! However she finds this very softening and moisturising without leaving a greasy residue. Paired with the 'wrinkle filler' she's definitely noticed a difference in her fine lines, and as an added bonus both products have that traditional 'Soap & Glory smell'!
 
 
Make-Up:
 
Revlon Top Speed Nail Varnish in Cupid, £1.00 - Poundland
 
This colour was actually requested from a client of mine, as she wanted a 'bubblegum pink' shade on her nails following a manicure, so as soon as I saw this I jumped at the chance! I've actually fallen in love with this nail varnish, it's such a gorgeous colour and lovely to apply aswell. The brush isn't anything special with the standard width, but it applies like a dream and I only needed 1/2 coats per nail. Also, for once, I agree with the 'speed dry' name!
 
Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Nail Varnish in Marine Blue, £1.00 - Poundland
 
I'm pretty sure this type of nail varnish is no longer sold in Boots/Superdrug ect, however they're widely available online for a similar price. The shade I chose is a subtly shimmery blue/green shade which is highly pigmented with just one coat. The brush on this nail varnish is really wide, which is amazing to use as you can literally cover your nail in one slick. I also have this in a few other shades and I love them all!
 
Natural Collection Lipstick in Pink Mallow, £1.99 - Boots
 
I've been after this shade for a while (it's quite popular so is frequently sold out) as it's quite similar to my Rimmel Lipstick in Oxford St Fuchsia and I don't want to run out of it! It's a gorgeous 'dusty' pink colour with a matte finish. I find this formula really hydrating with good staying power, which is surprising considering the bargain price of this beauty!


 
 
Food:
 
Krispy Kreme Donuts - Original Glazed, Original Sprinkled and Pecan... something. £4.50 for three.
 
I'm not actually a big fan of Krispy Kreme donuts, simply because I can only manage to eat half of one without feeling sick, but when I saw that delicious chocolatey one that's coated with pecan nuts... well I fell in love. They're all so beautiful I almost don't want to eat them! Almost.
 
M&S Mini Salted Pretzels (55p) and Milk Chocolate Coated Pretzels (£1.19) - M & S
 
Aw, I love pretzels. In any shape or form I can get them. They're a (sort of) healthy snack and I prefer these to crisps as I find they have so much more flavour and contain a lot less fat and oil in them. Also, for people who have tried and like the Cadbury's Chocolate Pretzels, these ones from M&S (although there's less of them) are more thickly coated in chocolate and have more salt flakes! Delish.
 
I wasn't planning on this being such a long post, as like I said, I wanted it to be in video form but if I would've recorded this I probably would have gotten distracted by the food!
 
Hope you're all well, and hopefully enjoying some sunshine! xx


Thursday 11 July 2013

Minion Nail Art #2 (Despicable Me 2)


Hi everyone, just a quick post to share this cute new version of the minion nail art I've shown you previously. For this look I used Revlon's Speed Dry nail varnish in Cupid, a silver nail varnish and a black nail art pen. But of course you could choose to do your minion any colour you like! If you're not feeling confident enough to do all of your nails as minions (as seen here on my other post) then this is a simple way to interpret the minions without the stress of perfecting all ten nails. As you can see from my photo, my minion is far from perfect but it keeps it original ;)
 
 
 
Step One: Paint all of your nails a colour of your choice. I chose a cute bubblegum pink. Once dry, use the long thin brush from the black nail art pen to create the minion's little clothing by sweeping it along the tip of your nail just like you would with French tips. This line can be as thick or as thin as you want, and the thickness doesn't have to match on each nail, messy lines are okay here!
Step Two: Mid-way up/down the nail, using the thin brush from the black nail art pen, draw a thick/thin black line. This is going to be the strap from the minion's goggles. Wait to dry.
Step Three: Create the minions eye with a white nail art pen/dotting tool dipped in white nail varnish. You can either choose to do one or two eyes, and you can also choose to use a silver nail art pen/varnish or even some glitter instead of simple white.
 
Step Four: Whilst your waiting for the eye to dry, using the pen tip of the black nail art pen, draw your minion a mouth. You can choose to do either a big smile, half smile, pout, anything!

Step Five: Using the tip of the black nail art pen, draw your minion a pupil in the middle of the eye. Wait to dry, and apply a top coat!
 
This is my current favourite way to wear minion nails as the colour is really summery and goes with a lot more outfits than classic minion yellow!
 
I forgot to mention this in the last post, but if you do try out minion nails then tweet me a photo on Twitter! I would really love to see them. My twitter is @laaurenpiperx
 
xx

Wednesday 10 July 2013

First Impressions: Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

 
Hi everyone!
 
So I know I mentioned in my previous post that I was going to upload my Boots Haul but I've been having some problems with my camera and as I was going to upload it as a video, I've been putting it off until it's working again! I'm just beginning to figure out what's wrong with it so the post will be up as soon as possible!
 
In the mean time, I thought I'd share with you my first impression of my new foundation, Rimmel London's Match Perfection. As you may have read previously (I think I've mentioned it at some point), I don't wear a lot of foundation, mostly because I don't feel my skin benefits from it very much. However, as I've been going out so often lately due to the insane amount of sun we're getting in the UK I thought it was time I re-invested in a new shade.
 
Following a recommendation from a friend of mine (and the fact that this foundation was on offer!) I bought this one, in the shade 010 Light Porcelain. I find that this shade is a perfect colour-match for me and due to the fact it's a slightly warmer shade than I'm used to, I imagine it will work for me even after I've tanned a little more.
 
 
 
 
Similar to a tinted moisturiser, the consistency of this foundation is silky and light when applied with either a brush or with my fingers when I'm in a rush! The coverage is only light, but that's how I prefer my foundation and it blends perfectly despite it's sheerness. If you're someone who's looking for more heavy coverage, I probably wouldn't recommend this unless you had an amazing concealer to pair it with! My skin has been behaving itself for the past couple of days, so I'll definitely update you on what it's like tackling more serious redness/blemishes.
 
Another thing that I love about this foundation is the smell. As it contains SPF 18 (an essential in this weather!), the scent reminds me of days on the beach and sun tan lotion. This foundation is a summer must-have for me!
 
Also, as the foundation gets dispensed through a pump in the top of the bottle, it's super hygienic and easy to control how much or how little you want. Just don't push down on the pump too hard or it gushes out!
 
As you may be able to tell, I am in love with this foundation! I'm suffering though a cold-sore at the moment, but as soon as it clears up I'll update you on this foundation along with before and after photos!
 
Have you tried a Rimmel Foundation before? What did you think of it?


Sunday 7 July 2013

Repurchases #1

 
Hi everyone, hope you're all well.
 
Just a quick post, as the weather in Bristol today is bright and sunny and I intend to soak up any opportunity to add a little colour to my super-pale legs I can get! But I thought I'd quickly show you a couple repurchases I made on my trip into town this morning.
 
 
1. Collection Cover Up Stick in Light Translucent, £1.99, Superdrug
 
I'd been meaning to repurchase this concealer for such a long time, but I waited until the last possible minute to get one. My last one of these lasted me for well over a year and I prefer it to many other concealers I've tried! I use this under my eyes, and I find it's a perfect colour match for me, which is surprising as I always have trouble finding one pale enough. Also the buttery, creamy consistency blends amazingly without settling into lines or flaws.
 
2. Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud, £1.99, Boots.
 
The first one of these I had was only a recent purchase of mine (a few months ago) and you can see the full review including photos of colour finish here but, as I mentioned in the review, the packaging isn't the best and I unthinkingly left it lingering in my bag and the whole pan shattered! As Boots is currently running a 'buy one get one half price' I thought I'd pick up another (full Boots haul coming tomorrow!). The colour pay-off of this cute little blush is amazing, and despite the lack of colour range the product themselves are really good quality.
 
3. MUA Lipstick in Shade 4, £1, Superdrug.
 
I haven't actually ran out of my original lipstick yet, but this is probably one of my most-used and whilst in Superdrug recently I had a spare £1 on me so I grabbed it. Ultra moisturising with a gorgeous, sheer pink colour, this lipstick has been one of my 'current make-up faves' since the original post back in April (post here).
 
That's all I have for today, but I'm planning to upload my full Boots haul tomorrow, along with a few Poundshop purchases thrown in for good measure.
 
Hope it's sunny where you are!