Chanel Rouge Coco in 49 Liaison Lipstick Review ♥

Whilst in New York, I purchased my first Chanel lipstick...such an exciting moment! I've bought Chanel products before, but this was to be my first lipstick. With a hefty price tag, I had high expectations. 

 I always seem to be drawn to pink/coral tones, and originally I went for shade 77 which was a beautiful dark pink/rose colour. When the sales lady said this shade was sold out, I was gutted. She instead suggested that I buy shade 49, which is a really similar colour. 

 So, does it live up to my expectations? Chanel describe the Rouge Cocoa range as a formula that "combines hydration and comfort. Created by CHANEL, the Hydratender complex delivers 8-hour hydration with a single application. The choice of pigments with an utmost quality optimises the formula’s comfort". 

Sounds very fancy.

Firstly, the shade is absolutely beautiful, and perfect for day and evening wear. Appearance wise it looks beautiful in its case. Chanel always looks classy and timeless, and I can't deny that I really enjoy whipping this lipstick out of my handbag. 

It applies beautifully, and is so soft and almost buttery. It definitely hydrates as it says, and my lips feel so soft for hours after application.

The are two downfalls to this product though- It doesn't last on my lips. I reckon a get a good hour out of this lipstick before I have to reapply. I don't think this is good enough for a product that has a price tag of £25.00. That brings me to point number two- the price. It's definitely very expensive for something that doesn't wear for long. Nevertheless, it is such a beautiful shade, and the packaging is gorgeous as always.

What do you think of Chanel lipsticks? Have you tried this product/shade before? 

You can buy this lipstick for £25.00 from Chanel.

My new dressing table ♥

I just wanted to share a few photos of my new dressing table. I have always wanted a dressing table....however, my dressing table was in the form of a window sill with my bed as a stool. I've been on the hunt for a pretty but affordable dressing table for a long time. When I saw this dressing table, I knew I had to get it...

 I honestly can't believe how much I bought this beauty for. Including the stool, and fabulous mirror, my dressing table cost only £149.99 from Dunelm Mill. For this price, you would think that the dressing table isn't of good quality, however it's strong and sturdy.

 The dressing table has three compartments made up of two small drawers and one large drawer. The little drawers are perfect for storing bits and bobs, like hair clips and bobbles etc. The large drawer didn't look too big, however it's quite deep and goes far back, so I've managed to fit in a lot of products.

 I'm so delighted by my new dressing table...it also helps that the lighting is perfect i the room it has been placed.If you like this dressing table, you can take a nosey on Dunelm Mill's website.  Dunelm Mill also do the dressing table as a range, so you can get yourself drawers etc in the same style. 

What's In My Make Up Bag? ♥

 I love, love, looove this make up bag from Primark. It's actually meant to be a toiletries bag that you hang on the back of your door, but I thought it would be perfect as a make up bag. Only costing £4.00 from Primark and being an excellent Cath Kidston dupe, well, I had to have it! 

 All of these products are my must-go-to items in my make up bag at the moment. I'm loving Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, and it is so beautiful mixed with Mac Strobe Cream...perfect duo. I find that as my foundation is so long lasting, I'm not really having to use my L'oreal Studio Secrets Primer, but It's such a lovely product that I always pop it in my make up bag just in case. My favourite concealers are Benefit Erase Paste and Collection Long Lasting Concealer. I never used to be a big fan of the Erase Paste- I didn't feel it did anything for me...ah, so wrong I was! I suffer from terrible red/blueish bags under my eyes, and I find that this product really diminishes the blue and red tones. I then blob a little Collection Concealer on, and I look awake and bright eyed. My favourite highlighters are Estee Lauder Double Wear Highlighter, perfect for above the eyebrows, and Me Me Me highlighter, which looks a real treat on the cheek bones. I always finish the look with a touch of Rimmel Stay Matte Powder as I have oily skin occasionally, and a little Rimmel Sun Shimmer in the Summer- it's also perfect for contouring as it has very little shimmer to it. 

On my eyes I am loving Estee Lauder Double Wear creamy eye shadow pots in Ivory Lace. It stays put all day, and has such a natural, beautiful shimmer. I also enjoy L'oreal Colour Appeal Star Secret Trio eyeshadows (what a mouthful!) when I fancy a smokey eye. Favourite mascaras are L'oreal Telescopic mascara for super curled and separated lashes, and L'oreal Double Extension Renewal Mascara for extra length. I also really love my H&M Light Brown Eyebrow Pencil....an absolute bargain, lovely colour and stays put all day. I always curl my lashes with Primark lash curlers...absolute bargain at £2.00. 

I am currently using Real Techniques brushes; the Buffing Brush and Contour Brush being my favourite. I recently bought some Italian Brushes from a Company called Kubo Beauty. They retail around the £13 mark, but I know are also available in TkMaxx at the moment for a little cheaper. I'm not sure how I feel about them yet- the concealer brush is lovely, but I find the powder brush is a little dry and irritates my skin at times...shame, because they look pretty impressive. 

I've also been trying Seventeen Shimmer Palettes which are new to the collection- I'm not really that impressed. It has little colour pay off and the pigmentation is really pants. I am however loving the Estee Lauder Double Wear blusher....it is such a gorgeous colour, but I think it was limited edition because I can't find it to be available anywhere!

What are your favourite things in your make up bag? I'd love to know!

Mac Strobe Cream Review ♥

I absolutely love Mac Strobe Cream...I have no idea how I only just discovered it. I recently purchased Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, and although I love it, the consistency is quite thick and has a matte finish. I wanted a dewy finish however, so I decided to buy Mac Strobe Cream and combine the two. I think it's the best thing I've done. My skin looks so dewy and fresh, and so many people have complimented me on how my skin looks. 

 What makes this product even better, is that it contains vitamins and antioxidants that really help the skin. Mac's description of their Strobe Cream- 

The ultimate quick fix for the skin. Super-powered with potent botanicals; de-snoozes, de-stresses, moistens, freshens and boosts the look of dull, flat or tired-looking skin with a fully loaded vitamin zap and a mega dose of green tea. Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants. Enhances the effects of light on all skin and in all lighting conditions from sunlight to spotlight.

I also think that the benefits of Mac Strobe Cream have really improved my skin. I'v had awful break outs recently, but since using this product my skin has really improved. I love how multi-purpose it is too. Not only can it be used with your foundation, it makes an excellent moisturiser by itself, or as a highlighter. 

I really am hooked on this product and I can't see myself ever not using it. You can purchase Mac Strobe Cream for £22.50 (50ml), or £12.50 (30ml). I was going to get the 30ml size to try it out before I invested in the full size, but it was unavailable...and I'm so glad it was too!

Have you tried this product? What do you think?

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review ♥

I am so happy with my new foundation. I have always sworn by Dior Forever foundation. It suited my skin tone perfectly, but I found that it needed touching up after around five hours. This isn't ideal with my job, as I never get a minute spare. I needed a foundation that had amazing, long-lasting coverage. I instantly thought of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. I've heard so many great reviews, so I knew I had to try it!

I went to the Estee Lauder counter for a little makeover. I really do have to rave a little about how lovely the girls were. They were so friendly, and offered great tips and advice. They picked the perfect shade for me and gave me an amazing make over. I really couldn't believe how flawless my skin was since I suffer from large pores.

I couldn't wait to use it the next day. Now, it definitely didn't look quite as good as when the Estee Lauder ladies applied it, but it definitely looked impressive. The coverage is amazing. It really does take a small amount of foundation to cover the whole face. The only problems I struggled with at first, is that it's so thick that you have to be careful how much you apply. I applied mine with a foundation brush, and applied just a little too much and looked very made up. It's quite easy to make this mistake, so be careful! It definitely is worth every penny though. Although rather expensive, I can believe that a little goes a long way, and the bottle will last me a very long time. My mum is a big fan of this foundation, and still has half a bottle left after using every day for the last six months!

I've found that the foundation lasts all day, and by all day, I mean literally 24 hours! I was so, so impressed. This did mean that it was very difficult to get off. I found that I had to use a lot more cleanser than usual, which was a bit of a pain. My pores get easily clogged, so I did suffer a few breakouts at the beginning. Since I've worked a little harder at removing every scrap of it, my skin has been fine.

I've heard Estee Luader Double Wear looks lovely when combined with Mac Strobe Cream, so I'm going to have a go at this. This should make the foundation look dewy, as double wear is quite matte on the skin.

Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation retails for £27.50, and can be bought from Boots.

 I am so pleased I bought this product...have you tried it before? What's your favourite foundation? 

April Beauty Favourites ♥

1. Estee Lauder Double Wear- My new, favourite foundation. Amazing, buildable coverage, no streaks or lines, and long-lasting wear. 2. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder- Amazingly cheap, and fantastic product. Soft and light, and it matches my skin tone beautifully. 3. Models Own in Utopia- My all time favourite colour for Spring. It's a dusty purple/ grey colour, and looks so pretty. 4. L'oreal Limited Edition Lipstick- I'm a massive fan of L'oreal lipsticks. The colour of this lipstick is just stunning. It's the perfect rich red, and lasts for hours. 5. L'oreal False Lash Telescopic- My favourite mascara from L'oreal. My lashes look thicker, longer, and super separated. 6. Tangle Teezer- (see review below) Gets rid of knots pain free in seconds. 7. Fenjal Luxury Body Wash- This is so beautiul. It's smells amazing, and is so thick and luxurious. It makes my skin so soft and smooth. 

Tangle Teezer Review ♥

I think I may have the worlds knottiest hair. It really is horrendous sometimes. Even my hairdresser says my hair is a nightmare! I was horrified recently when I looked at my hair brush, and literally the whole hair brush was embedded with my hair...gross, I know. I knew I had to do something about it. I always deep condition my hair, I always use heat defense spray, so I knew I really was doing everything I could to stop these knots. Everyone kept telling me to get a Tangle Teezer, but at £10.99, I just thought it was too expensive for a hair brush. I was so wrong...

 In the end I bought one because I just couldn't put up with the knots. I am so glad I did too, and £10.99 is worth every penny. This brush is just amazing. It has little teeth, which makes getting rid of knots super easy. My hair used to take a good ten minutes to fully brush when wet, but now I'm done within two minutes. When I used to brush my hair with a regular brush, I'd see strands of hair clung to my hair brush after use. I don't get this with the Tangle Teezer, and it really is pain-free. 

 I always thought that the Tangle Teezers looked really heavy too, but they're really light an compact. I have no difficulties popping it into my handbag at all. Tangle Teezer have bought out a more compact range for the handbag however, but I really don't have any problems with the regular size. The Tangle Teezer comes in lots of different designs, and I opted for a blue, sparkly one. 

I really am so happy with this product. If you have problems with knotty hair, then I definitely recommend the Tangle Teezer!

Boots currently are doing 3 for 2, and you can purchase the Tangle Teezer for £10.99.

L'oreal Superliner in Black Crystal Review ♥

I have been using the L'oreal Superliner for the last two years, and absolutely love it! I think it is the best eyeliner I have ever used, and I now only use this over any eyeliner. It has amazing staying power, and I mean amazing...it literally doesn't budge. It is so easy to apply and only takes one application to get a lovely, black line. 

 It definitely has a little hint of sparkle, which makes your eye colour "pop". It's still perfect for daytime wear however, as the sparkle is lovely and subtle. The product is applied by a thin, soft brush- I've never had steady hands, but I find the brush really easy to use. 

 I've even tried using the eyeliner on my waterline, and the product still lasts a good eight hours before I feel I need to touch it up. 

 The product retails for £5.99, which although seems really pricey, it is really good value for money. The last Super eyeliner I purchased lasted over four months and I used it everyday, so definitely good value!

Sorry the product looks dirty! It had a big security sticker stuck to it!

You can purchase this product from Boots stores, however they no longer seem to me selling it via their website!

Barry M Gel Nails ♥

The Barry M Gel Nails seem to be very popular in the bloggingsphere. I've always been a massive fan of Barry M nail products- their polishes dry quickly, having amazing staying power, and come in a wide range of colours. I also love having gel nails, so when I heard that Barry M were bringing out gel polishes, I practically ran to the shops!

Both Boots and Superdrug were offering great deal on the polishes, but I purchased mine from Superdrug, as there were only two colours left in Boots. I bought mine in the colours Watermelon and Pomegranate. I think these are both beautiful colours, and they look even better when applied to the nails. I can't rave about this product enough! Literally, one stroke of the varnish is enough to cover the nail with a good, strong colour. There definitely is no need for two applications. 

The other great thing about these is that they dry so quickly! I think my nails were pretty much dry within two minutes. My nails were chip free for a good three days, and even then the chips were very small and unnoticeable. It does have a gel-like finish to it- my nails looked super shiny and manicured. 

So many people asked me if I'd been to have my nails done, and were shocked that it was just a drugstore nail varnish. I absolutely love this range, and I know I'll be back for more colours.

I bought mine on offer from Superdrug, 2 for £6.00. 

Avene Eau Thermale- Thermal Spring Water Review ♥

I'd heard so many things about the Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water. To be honest, I though that it was going to be a waste of money. I didn't understand why anybody would want to spend lots of money on a can of water! The product claims to calm and soothe various irritations, razor burns, hair removal irritations and sunburn...but is also perfect for setting make up, facial redness, after exercise, and in the summer.

 I've heard this is amazing for setting make up, but I already use a primer so I wasn't sure what else I would get from using it. I have to say I'm quite impressed though. I hate that cakey look from using powder, and found that a little spray of this works a treat. When I first sprayed it, I think I was a little too close, and I ended up looking very sweaty!

I don't feel it set my make up, but I do think it gave me a lovely, dewy appearance. My skin looked really healthy and natural. I can see myself using this quite a lot when Summer arrives. It's really refreshing, and really perks up my skin...especially when I'm not looking my best!

 It can be quite sticky looking if you spray too close to your face, so I'd advise spraying it at least 30cm away from the face. I'm not sure if I'll repurchase as it's quite expensive for what it is, but I have enjoyed using it.

Avene Eau Thermale can be purchased for £6.50 for 150ml from Boots.