NOTD's: Confetti Masquerade Ball & China Glaze Emerald Fitzgerald

Hi ladies! Tonight I've got two NOTD posts because I never got around to putting up one of them a couple days ago, so I just figured I'd condense the two. =)

Confetti Masquerade Ball:

A really pretty dark red color. I like to call it a "big girl" color, hehe. While I love the color, and it was opaque within two coats, I felt like it just looked dull the next day. I assume that's something to do with the $1.99 price tag.

China Glaze Emerald Fitzgerald:

One of the colors I got for Christmas. A gorgeous dark emerald that almost has a hint of blue to it. Lovely color, but it doesn't make me swoon every time I look at my nails. I know, I'm so demanding with my nail polishes, I expect so much! ;)

Thoughts?

Recent Buys!

Hi ladies! Just figured I'd do a post on some items I've bought over the last couple of weeks, including mini reviews on any of the items I've actually used.

No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Truffle:

8.00 pounds (only 3 pounds with the 5 pound off voucher!)

Swatch:

So I actually wanted to get the Beautifully Matte foundation with my voucher, but when I went to the shop they didn't have a color light enough for me. So I then decided to check in the next Boots down the road. But again, the foundation colors started from Shade 3. Well, turns out, there are no Shades 1 or 2! What a disappointment. I feel like I possibly could of pulled off Shade 3, but I didn't want to risk it, so I just grabbed the next best thing....I guess. Didn't want to bore my boyfriend and make him wait around too long, so I just picked up this eyeshadow. It looked pretty enough, but it's just kind of a typical brown I guess. I didn't need it, would of preferred the foundation, but such is life!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle & Aussie Mega Shampoo:

3.67 pounds for the shampoo, and 4.69 for the conditioner (but they were on offer, 2 for 6 pounds)

I've heard a lot of things about the 3 Minute Miracle, so I decided to try it out. Besides, we were getting low on shampoo, so I figured it was a good deal (yes, that's how I justify my spending, tehee). I've used both and am quite happy! I love the smell of the shampoo, it reminds me of grapes or something. The deep conditioner left my hair feeling soft, but I wasn't sure if that's just because I was really conscious of the fact that I was using a new product, so I was looking out for it, or what. So I decided the real test would be what it looked like the next day. Normally, my hair is a bit greasy a day after washing, but even by the 3rd day I was quite impressed with how it looked! So I plan on using this conditioner weekly.

Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover, Nivea Milk & Honey Lip Balm, and No 7 Precision Eyeliner Brush:

3.05 pounds for the eye makeup remover, 1.99 for the lip balm, and 6.64 for the brush.

I'm running low on eye makeup remover, and I've heard good things about the Botanics one, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I used it tonight and am rather impressed. It didn't sting the eye area at all and removed all of the makeup effortlessly. Looks like I've found a new go to remover!

I bought the lip balm because I've been wanting it for ages, but sadly it doesn't smell as yummy as I had hoped. I was imagining Honey I Washed The Kids type smells, but sadly, no. I'll still use it anyways!

I bought the No7 eyeliner brush for my MAC gel liner. I've been struggling with application of it because none of my brushes are thin/small enough for my rather small eyes. So I grabbed this one, because it's the only one this particular Boots had, and because it looked precise enough and I figured since it was the No 7 brand it would be nice enough. I'll try it out tomorrow and see how it goes!

Well that's all! Nothing too exciting, just some essentials really. What were some of your recent buys?

Lush Honey Bee & Honey I Washed The Kids Reviews

Hi ladies! Today I've got a review on two items from Lush that I've recently used up, both featuring the yummy ingredient honey!

Lush Honey Bee Bath Bomb:

Aww, it looks like a wil bumble bee!

What Lush says:

For a soothing and cleansing soak.

Honey Bee smells like caramel, much like the Honey, I Washed The Kids soap and Soft Coeur massage bar do. Honey Bee holds its own special distinction, though; in addition to soothing honey, it has Moroccan rhassoul mud to clean and soften your skin.

What Lauren Says:

While I had high hopes for this product, because I absolutely love the scent of Honey I Washed The Kids soap (see review below!), I was a bit let down by this product. When I first put it in, I had my childish moment of "Oooh look at it fizz, ooh it smells lovely!" but then when I actually got into the bath (which, might I add, looked like somebody took a wee in it and had lil grainy bits at the bottom from the bomb), I was like, where's the smell gone? The scent had completely disappeared! So for me to use this again, I reckon I'd need two, or just need to use it with some Honey I Washed The Kids soap.

Honey I Washed The Kids Soap:

I love the strip of honey comb at the top! So cute.

What Lush Says:

The irresistible toffee and honey. Once you've unwrapped this mouth-watering toffee scented soap, you'll immediately want to wash yourself all over with it - and then wash your honey, and then the kids and maybe even gran if she's lucky.

What Lauren Says:

It took me awhile to come around to this soap, at first I thought it smelled too sweet, but oh boy did it grow on me! So much that I kept using it till the very end, making sure not to waste even the tiniest sliver that was left, tehe. It just feels lovely on the skin, leaves you feeling clean, and smells simply amazing. I need to pick up another one of these, it's definitely my favorite item from Lush. The Valentine's Day range has a new shower gel out with the same scent apparently, and I must find a way to get my hands on it....even though their website is down and there's no store nearby.

What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy the Honey themed items from Lush as much as I do?

.

FOTD: Winterberry

Hi ladies! Today I've got a FOTD from the other day, when I started back at work. I largely used my Coastal Scents Winterberry Palette for this look, alongside with one of the Victoria's Secret shadows that I got from a haul I posted about a little while ago. I've been in the mood to be rather creative with my eye makeup lately. I think it's because I was holed up in my room for a couple weeks while finishing my dissertation and wasn't wearing any makeup, haha! But I've just been having fun with my eye makeup and trying out all the new products I got for Christmas.

Close Up of the Eye Makeup:

Products Used:

Eyes:

Benefit Stay Don't Stray

MAC Bare Study Paint Pot

Coastal Scents Palette:Winterberry (for the liner, crease, outer corner, and highlight)

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Luminous Shadow in Plum Passion (lid)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Rockstar (waterline)

Maybelline Lash Stiletto

Lips:

MAC Angel

17 Ultimate Volume Lip Gloss in Star Girl

Face:

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base (primer)

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW15 (for blemishes)

17 Hide Away Concealer in Light (under the eyes)

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation in Vanilla

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Benefit Georgia (blusher)

17 Bronzer in Light

Enjoy your weekend, ladies! I'm currently watching America's Next Top Model before I need to shower / head out for a quick class, then home to enjoy the weekend. What are your plans for the weekend?

Valentine's Day Looks

Hi ladies! This morning (I know, 5 am, wtf Lauren, again, messed up sleeping pattern, that's what writing a dissertation will do to you!) I felt like playing around with my makeup (I can't remember the last time I wore any) for a Valentine's Day inspired look. I did a couple different takes on it, so here we go:

Look 1:

Eyes:

Coastal Scents Palette: Think Pink (for details on the eyes see below!)

MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero (waterline)

17 Wild Curls Mascara

Lips:

Rimmel Lipliner in Eastend Snob

MAC Snob

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Salsa

Face:

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation in Vanilla

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW15

Rimmel Hide The Blemish Concealer in Ivory (under eyes)

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil (set undereye concealer)

Benefit Dandelion (all over the face)

Benefit Coralista (blusher)

17 Instant Glow Bronzer in Light

Look 2:

This second look is essentially the same as the one above, just a more subtle blusher, no bronzer, and a magenta red lip!

Close up of the eyes:

Other lip suggestions:

A red lipgloss by Lorac, MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass, and MAC's Angel lipstick. Or obviously any red or pink lipstick/lipgloss you fancy!

What do you think? =)

Best of 2010: Lips

Hiii ladies! Hope you're all enjoying your weekend. Tonight I've got a post on my favorite lip products of 2010, including lipsticks, a lipgloss, and a lipbalm. Enjoy!

Pink Lipsticks:

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Pink Pout: Gorgeous creamy matte blue based pink!

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Pink Please: A more muted pink lipstick, perfect for a subtle lip.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Pink Blush: A lovely bright pink color!

Swatches:

I'm sure none of those were a shocker! In the beauty world, these pinks are the HG of some.

Neutral Colors:

e.l.f Mineral Lipstick in Nicely Nude: A gooorgeous color that's basically my lips but better.

Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick in Rose Petal: A lovely pinky nude color.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Nude Lustre: The only lipgloss I picked for this year, largely because I didn't wear lipgloss that much, but when I did, it was usually this! I really liked wearing it over the Rose Petal color above.

Vaseline Lip Therapy with Cocoa Butter: As you can see from the dent I've made, this was my favorite lipbalm of the year! Smells lovely and leaves your lips feeling nice and moisturized.

Swatches:

That's it! Share any of the same favorites as me? I'm off to take a nice LUSH bath and then try and finish this dissertation that's due next week, I'm almost there!

Best of 2010: Eyes

Hi ladies! These are a bit late, but I decided to do my Best of 2010 products, starting with eye products. Now, I was unsure whether I wanted to do this series or not, because I started using makeup pretty late in the year, about halfway through, but either way, I did have some favorites from this year so I wanted to share them anyways. After Christmas and the influx of new makeup, I have many new favorites, but those shall be featured at the end of the month! But these posts will just have the products I reached for the most in the year 2010. Anyways, here we go:

Eyeshadow:

I'm pretty sure everyone has been putting the Naked Palette in their favorites of 2010, but that's just because it really is that great! I'm not going to bother going on about it much more than that because you've heard it all. Otherwise, when I felt like going for a colorful eye, I really liked using the greens in my Sleek Original palette.

Swatches:

I used the middle color on my inner lid, the green on the outer half of the lid, and then the brown color in the crease! I collected many Sleek palettes this year, but just didn't reach for them much. They are amazing quality for the price though and I recommend all of them.

Mascara:

Maybelline Lash Stiletto in Black and Maybelline Define A Lash Volume in Very Black were the mascaras I reached for the most this year, largely because they were the first two mascaras I purchased when first getting into makeup this year. The Define A Lash is good for when I want to just...well, define my lashes and add a bit of volume, and I used Lash Stiletto when I wanted something a bit more dramatic.

Primers:

These were my favorite primers of the year. I was quite shocked that the e.l.f primer worked just as well as the UDPP.

When swiping a makeup remover wipe over them:

The UDPP in Eden held up the best, probably because it's a bit thicker and stickier than the other two.

Eyeliner:

My favorite eyeliner of the year was definitely the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero, I love it for my waterline.

A bit on the boring side, but those were my favorite eye products of 2010! Thoughts?