How much is my face worth?

So I have seen this floating around on a couple of blogs and I thought how much I really wanted to give it a go! So this is where I price up the make up products I use on a daily basis. So the products in the photo above are products that I use when I go to work!

Theodora Palette by Urban Decay- £35.00

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation- £9.99

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer- £7.49

L'oreal True Match Powder- £8.19

Lush Eyes Bright Mascara- £12.00

Mac Lipstick (Colour Varies) £14.00

Bourjois Cream Blusher 03-  £7.99

Mac Soft and Gentle- £21.50

Total: £116.16...ouch!

Bank Holiday Mac Splurge

So it doesn't take many purchases to class as a splurge in Mac. It was a bank holiday last weekend and I just felt the need to treat myself for some reason, like we do. The two products I picked up are two I have had my eye on for quite some time now. When it comes to Mac I like to make sure that I really want the product before spending the money.

The first product is the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. I think I have had my eye on this product for over a year now and I haven't been able to find a cheaper product that fills my craving. I saw rave reviews of this online and just decided to go for it. It's stunning, the glitter is quite chunky which will take some getting used to but the glow it gives is so healthy! Perfect for this time of year, and I haven't been very well recently so I need a bit of radiance to my skin!

I then thought I would pick up another Mac lipstick as I would like to extend my collection. I bought Patisserie, this seems like the perfect nude with a bit of sparkle. I have quite bad lips so I have to make sure that they are super soft before I use this otherwise it can look a bit yuk. My lips are quite pigmented so I don't see the same effect that I see people talking about. But all in all, I'm going to get this to work.

What are your favourite Mac Products?

Urban Decay Theodora Palette

I was in two minds about this product for a while and I was in two minds about which one to get. But I decided to go with the Theodora palette as I know I will get lots more use out of this one- and I have already! I purchased it from Debenhams and also got 10% off and triple points! Winner.

The palette is the style of the Urban Decay Build Your Own Palettes, only this is a steal as it's full already and you get a travel sized eyeliner and lipstick!

The Shadows are shades Broken, Beware, Bewitch, West, Spell and Jealous.

I love the fact there are also duo shadows here, two for the price of one! I get a lot of use out of all the colours and I'm so glad I purchased it after a large debate with myself. In usual Urban Decay standard the eyeshadows are really pigmented, nice and shimmery and just a pleasure to use. I never doubt Urban Decay when it comes to eyeshadows. 

Have you bought any Urban Decay Limited Edition Palettes?

Glossybox May 2013!

I'm totally in love with this months and it may of rekindled my love for beauty boxes! I was so surprised to see 2 make up products in my box this month- but I'm over the moon! It's so rare and I love both. This month Glossybox 2 so it's a birthday box, with lovely tissue paper and really vibrant ribbon. This month in my box I received:

• Caudalie Divine Oil- This is a multipurpose oil, it can be used on body, face and hair. I'm all over multipurpose products as I find they are really beneficial to have as they can be used for a number of things. Caudalie has become a big brand recently and I have been tempted by this product quite a few times so I'm really glad I get to try this, it's such a decent size and I can imagine it will last a while.
• Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lash Mascara- First off, what a cute name?! And the packaging is lovely. I'm really looking forward to testing this out, it claims to be a light weight mascara that you can't feel on your lashes (and I hate that feeling.) Mascara's are something I am always interested in trying as I change mine all the time.
• Bellapierre Cosmetics Super Lip Gloss in Raspberry- This is so my colour! I can't wait to test this, I'm interested in the sticky factor but I think this will be a really pigmented gloss. But purples are well up my valley! So pleased to receive another full sized make up product.
• L'Occitaine Angelica Hydration Cream- Another brand I love. I admire the hand creams so I am really looking forward to testing this face cream. It's a really decent sample sized and I'm sure it will be enough for me to test it properly. I am in the market for some new face creams so this could be an interesting one!
• Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Prime and Create Mixing Medium- This is the one product I am a bit hmm about in the box. You can use it alone as a primer to give a matte base for make up products. Or you can mix it with powder products to create cream products. To me this does seem a bit of a faff especially in the week when I'm going to work in the mornings. But I am interesting in seeing how it does mix. I will probably try it with a blusher.

Overall I am so pleased with this box, there are 2 full sized products and decent sample sizes, for a birthday box this is definitely great! There is a gift included from Glossybox as well- travel nail files in a match box style!

New Perfume| Vera Wang Pink Princess

Around this time last year I absolutely fell in love with Vera Wang's Princess Night fragrance (the purple glittery heart) I wore the perfume every single day and once it ran out I really struggled getting back into my others. When you have been wearing the same for everyday it's always strange to change it up.

Doing some bank holiday shopping this weekend and I come across this fragrance in Debenhams. Oh, my god. I had to smell to it, as it was the same style bottle of my all time favourite. I fell in love. It's a really sweet perfume, but quite floral at the same time, it's a nice light scent. It has top notes of pink grapefruit and raspberry sorbet. Heart notes of pink hibiscus and honeysuckle. Base notes of marshmallow and winter amber. I would say I agree with the description. I'm not sure whether it beats the Vera Wang Princess Night which I lust over all the time. But it's a nice difference and I'm enjoying wearing it now the summer seems to be coming.

I also got a free bag with the purchase!

Have you tried any Vera Wang perfumes?

A friend of mine used to work for Clarins and she introduced me to the brand, I became a massive fan of the Instant Smooth primer. I ran out of all the samples I had acquired and really felt like there was always something missing in my routine. 

Well hello, to the sunny weather! I dug out my gradual tanner to get a bit of colour in my life. Then realised my face was still awfully pale, I shy away from face tanners as I am so pale and none seem to work. Then browsing the Clarins website this little beauty just slipped into my virtual basket. Oh and it was love. This is the Instant Smooth primer with a self tanner that builds up after time. It gives such a nice glow of radiance and the colour isn't too much. It's a two in one products and you only need a very small amount as it goes a long way. Such a bargain in my eyes and even though it pained me to pay this much for something (I'm all about savings!) I don't regret it one bit for these summer months. The only downside is in the pot it does have the horrible fake tan smell but once it's on the face this goes! Definitely a staple for the summer months. 

Barry M| Touch of Magic

You might think what a strange colour lipstick to buy. But oh no, this my friends, is one of the best colour lipsticks I have ever purchased! It applies clear and changes to the perfect colour for your lips. I'm no expert on the science behind it and I won't jump into that as I will probably be totally wrong.

It creates quite a pigmented lip, which I love, it's not drying and has amazing staying power, it can be like a stain! Once I put this on, I have no worries about it for the rest of the day. The more you apply- the more intense the colour is. So it's very workable. I highly recommend this lipstick and I am so glad that I bought it! It would be the perfect gift as you wouldn't need to decide on what colour to purchase for someone!

Jarome Alexander Magic Minerals Stackables

A friend at work was on about this product the other day, raving about how good it is. I searched online and found it for £8.99 when she had paid around £20. So I thought I would pick it up and give it a go- I LOVE IT. For the price this is the best buy that I have had in ages! Jarome Alexander Magic Mineral stackables comes with an all over face powder, blusher and bronzer, 4 eyeshadows, 3 brushes and a mirror.

Lets start with the all over powder- this is amazing. I was worried it was going to be too dark for my pale complexion but it adjusts well and can be used on all. I don't have the best skin, the occasional spot and I still have acne scarring so I didn't really have a great hope in this. But I was wrong. It's so light and it covers everything so well! It has four colour correctors in the powder. Lavender- to correct sallow complexions. Pink- to conceal dark circles and uneven skin tone. Yellow- to brighten dull skin. Mint- to reduce redness and blemishes. It works so well and it's a nice light coverage so you don't feel like your wearing anything on your skin, perfect for this time of year!

The blusher and the bronzer are very nice when they are mixed together, using the blusher alone I didn't really feel like there was a lot of colour pay off but using them both together you get a nice sunkissed, healthy glow which everyone craves!

I'm not all that big on the eyeshadows yet, but I do love sticking to my naked palettes and I don't think there will really be anything that can take me away from that. I find the colours a very random selection but they are very nice quality and workable into a subtle look.

The brushes are also really nice quality which did surprise me!

All in all I think this is a great product for when I'm in a rush in the mornings. It will also be good for travel purposes as it's all in one!

Have you ever tried anything from Jarmone Alexander before?

Face of the Day|Wedding

So last Saturday I went to a family wedding!

Products Used:

• Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Foundation 
• L'oreal True Match Powder
• Bouriois Healthy Mix Concealer 
• MUA Highlighter
• Miners Blusher and Bronzer Mix
• Naked 2 Palette
• Magnifibres
• 17 Doll'd up Mascara
• Soap and Glory Glosstick

April Faves

It's really not a big one this month, I haven't really been using anything all that different. 

I've turned back to using the Bouriois Healthy Mix foundation as it was a favourite of mine back last year, and with the new formula I thought I would pick it up again, along with the concealer. I'm loving the combo of these two this month and I think they will be a staple for a long time. 

My latest perfume is Hypnotic Poison by Dior and I absolutely love this, I don't think it would be to everybody's taste as it can be quite a heavy perfume, but I do like that. 

The last two products are the MUA highlighter and the Miners blusher bronzer blend, and these are two products which I have been using as a combo also and they are both super cheap! I find they give a nice radiant glow together and thats what we all need this time of year!

What are your monthly favourites?

April Glossybox 2013

So I stepped out of the beauty box world for a while as I found it quite tiresome as the products were getting so similar from month to month and I felt that I would rather save my money and buy a product which I actually need/wanted. But this month I just couldn't resist dipping my fingers in!

This months box was designed by Pearl Lowe (isn't it a beauty?!) I saw a lot of reviews before I plunged in and got one for myself but I thought it would be a treat! I was lucky to receive two of the products I wanted the most. I got the Sleek blush in flamingo, so pigmented I have to work with it to get the right amount on the brush as so far I'm a big heavy handed! I got the Essie nail polish in Sugar Daddy, it does appear quite sheer and I'm worrying how I'm going to get on with this, as me and sheer don't go. The perfume sample by Yves Roche is stunning! It's right up my street! A sample of Nip + Fab body butter in coconut latte, I've tried some from this brand before and I'm glad I recieved a scent which I'm yet to try! Last but not least a full sized lip balm from A-Derma, I'm looking forward to giving this a go when my current one has ran out, so for now it'll be waiting.

So I feel that this was a very good box this month as I will be able to use everything that I have received which I find rare with the beauty box scheme,.

Did you get a Glossybox this month?

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Empties

• Naked Shampoo- I love this range and have totally moved over to this, no my sulphates for my hair!
• Champeneys body butter and scrub- What luxury products these are, really love them. The consistency of the body butter is really interesting but is great.
• Johnsons Baby Oil- I add this to the bath sometimes, to add moisture to my skin, would recommend this as a cheap bath oil!
• La Roche Posay Matte Moisturiser- This stuff is amazing now I've ran out I find my skin to be so oily!

I took another photo of some empties but can't seem to find it! It included;

• Dove Maximum protection deodorant
• About 3 old mascara's
• Some blotting papers
• L'oral true match powder
• Tesco Body Wash
• Steam cream
• Soap and Glory Body Butter

Pay Day Shopping

I went on a pay day shopping trip (well it was two trips) so above are the products I purchased, you may notice that some of them are in my previous post for my favourites.

• Dior Hypnotic Poison
• Naked haircare, 2 shampoos and a conditioner
• Lush No Drought dry shampoo
• Lush 9 to 5 cleanser
• Superdrug facewipes
• Sanctuary Sleep Therapy Body Butter
• La Roche Posay Effeclar Duo
• Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream
• L'oreal True Match the Powder
• MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter
• L'oreal Splash Shine Stain
• Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer 

Monthly Faves! March 2013

• Sanctuary Sleep Therapy Body Butter- Have had awful trouble sleeping recent due to my anxiety, so I bought this in hope that it would aid my sleep. I am impressed the scent is very relaxing and soothing, another plus is that it does moisturise.
• Clinque Anti-blemish Solutions Foundation- My go to foundation for over a year now, my skin is acting up again recently so I thought I would switch back to this foundation as it is oil free.
• Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette- Fallen in love with this palette this month, at first I was a bit like hmm I didn't really need this but for work it is brilliant!
• 17 Doll'd up Mascara- Great mascara for the day time wear. Doesn't clump, the brush is a plastic brush and separates my lashes really well.
• Maybelline Fit Me Powder- I'm not too fussy on powder, but it does provide a bit of coverage and the colour matches my skin really well.
• La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and Mat- These products are my savours this month, they have been really helping my skin recently. These are a staple in my routine. 

Sheer Cover Smokey Eye Palette

Todays post is on this palette by Sheer Cover. I received this in my December Lux Box and was so pleased to see a full sized palette! I love a smokey eye so this was right up my street. I have used it a couple of times but I think the colours are gorgeous and the pigmentation is amazing!

Colours L- R: White Ice, Silver Polish, Soft Coal, Royal Blue, Deep Violet and Starry Night

This is the perfect palette to through in your bag and take your look from day to night! I really love using soft coal and deep violet, out of the whole palette these two shades are by far my favourite!

Have you ever tried any Sheer Colour products before?

Quick Empties Post

TAAJ Hand Cream- Loved this stuff, smelt amazing and it didn't leave my hands feeling sticky. Once I put it on and rubbed it in I could just carry on with what I was doing!

Clarins Eye Cream- This was ok, I didn't really notice much of a difference when I used it. But yeah I don't think I would purchase this.

Clarins toning body balm- Loved this, smelt amazing, can't say I felt anymore toned but I did really enjoy using this product.

The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Body Scrub- Loved this, lots of grains in it and the smell was very christmasy!

WEI Eye Cream- I did quite enjoy this product but I don't think I'm old enough to see the results of an eye cream yet. But I did enjoy the consistency and smell.

Long Barn Lavender Bath Oil- I won this from the Lux Box christmas calendar- I loved this and found it very relaxing! I'd get this again.

Clairns Instant Smooth- I want this again! This was a sample and I loved it, my skin looked so smooth such a great make up base.

Maccadamia hair oil spray- Holy Grail- need I say more?

Recent Purchases

Very unlike me, but recent I made some higher end make up purchases. I do like the dabble in higher end brands when I feel like I can part with my cash, as there are some things that I just can't find in Boots and Superdrug. I had some leftover christmas money burning a hole in my pocket and Debenhams were offering 10% so I thought why not! As these items have been in my sight for a while now.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette- It took me ages to justify this as I have the Naked 2. But I'm a sucker for a neutral matte eye and knew I wanted it, I've gotten a fair bit of use out of this so far and find myself gravitating towards it more then my Naked 2.

Mac Lipsticks in Velvet Teddy and Plumful- These are my first ever Mac purchases everybody! I've always wanted to try their lipsticks and there have always been two that have really stuck out for me. Velvet Teddy- Primarily because of the name, I love teddies! But this is such a nice shade and fellow pastey people like me have recommended it. Plumful- Who hasn't heard of plumful. I'm all about plummy shades me! Favourite lipstick by far. 

PIXI Early Bird Palette

This is pretty much an all in one palette for your face. After Christmas I went on the PIXI site as I was interested in trying out some of their eyeliners as I hear such good reviews about them. But then I came across this little number. Behind those beautifully designed closed doors are 4 shadow bases, 16 eyeshadows, 3 blushers, 2 bronzers and a highlighter. I thought wow that would be perfect for my weekday mornings where I'm up early and in a rush to go to work! So I picked it up for £16.

Above you can see the shadow bases and the eyeshadows themselves. There is a good range of colours here I'm not disappointed. I love the shadow bases and would actually wear them on their own sometimes. The majority of the eyeshadows are shimmery, there is one matte brown, for me this is where the palette is let down as I do like my matte shades. The pigmentation is good although can sometimes be a bit grainy.

The bronzers are both shimmery, not too much but it is noticeable. The highlight is beautiful it could probably be my favourite thing about the whole palette, it slides on so well and gives a perfectly radiant glow. As for the blushers, I've only just really started getting in to them and I do lie heavily faithful to my Benefit Harvana. I love the plum blusher and the pink one, but me and orange don't really go. the consistency and pigmentation of these are good and I do recommend them. 

I'm glad I had this palette as it will be great to throw in my bag is I'm staying away for the night, it's got everything in it and it's so compact, for the price I really don't think I can complain, I think I will get a pair bit of use out of this product.

Have you tried any PIXI products?

17 Doll'd up Eyeliner

Back last summer I saw that Clarins came out with a 3 dot liner, I couldn't believe how impressed I was with it, I rushed to buy one, and they had all sold out. I then thought did I really need it? (as I do with a lot of my make up purchases) and decided no, maybe I would buy the one from Too Faced. Anyway my fascination with these liners had died down.

Until I was in Boots looking for a new mascara. I'd never tried anything by 17 before and I saw that they had this offer on, where if you bought their new Doll'd Up mascara you would get a free eyeliner. The mascara was only £5- bargain. So when I got home I was so surprised to see that the eyeliner was a 3 dot liner.

I have tried this out a couple of times and I can't compare it to any others that have been on the market as I have not tried them. But so far I'm really liking this. I stopped wearing liquid eyeliner for a while and now I feel that this product is getting me back into it. You can do a variation of different lines from a nice subtle line close to the lash line or bold liner. It takes a bit of practicing to get used to this product as it is different but the results are really good. But the main winner factors for me is that its quick in the morning and the price! It's brilliant if you want to give something like this a go. 

Do you think you will try this product? Whats your favourite eyeliner out there?

My thoughts on beauty boxes

So last year we saw a boom in the industry for monthly subscription beauty boxes. Everybody was wanting one and we had companies up to our eyeballs offering them. I remember being so intrigued by the concept, I thought- it's like a goodie bag (we used to have them as kids) but these beauty one's are obviously more expensive. So I dipped my fingers into the water by sampling a Carmine box, it was my first so I was very impressed. Since then I have tried boxes from Glossybox, She Said Beauty, Birch Box and Lux Box. Overall I would say I have been most impressed with Lux Box. But were they all really worth my £10 a month?

That is the big question that seems to lie over everyones head. An I don't really know.

I love the fact that it's a surprise every month, but if I don't like what's in the boxes then it's not really a good surprise- I end up feeling disappointed. I like the fact you get to try brands that are new to you, and that I wouldn't normally buy- maybe due to the price. But some of the samples aren't that great, sometimes you just end up with sachets and to me, that's not really trying the product. Some boxes I have had and I have been really pleased with, but others, not so much. To me that £10 could go on a product that I really want. I now wait for the reviews to show up online to decide as to whether I want a box or not and I find this the best way after testing a number of boxes. For £10 a month I think I expect a variety, decent sample sizes and quality service. Some months the boxes hit these expectations, others they don't. Overall, in my experience they are rather hit and miss.

What do you think of the monthly beauty box subscription world? Have you ever tried any, or would you ever consider trying any? Let's talk!