Spring Beauty Wish List!

(click for larger image)

These are all the beauty items I've been lusting after. Some for ages now, some more recently, but I want them all!

The Too Faced Natural Eye Kit looks soooo pretty but I really can't justify buying it, especially when I already own the Naked palette. But maybe one day I'll talk myself into it.

The new MAC Sheen Supreme Lipsticks have such sleek packaging and look so moisturising and there are so many colors (Bare Again, Full Speed, Gotta Dash!) that I want to snatch up. But, AGAIN, I can't justify buying more lipsticks when I already have a drawer full of lip products that I haven't been paying much attention to lately.

I love the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils, so need I say more about wanting the new 24/7 Glide On Shadow Pencils? I think not!

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a new want of mine, but we're coming into Spring time and the hotter weather makes wearing a full coverage foundation a little bit uncomfortable. So the next best thing is a tinted moisturizer, which feels light weight but doesn't feel heavy on your skin. The thing that I love about this one is that it's still full coverage! Light weight and full coverage? Yes please! But 33 pounds? No please. =(

Ever since I heard about Laura Geller products from Emily Noel on YouTube, I've been dying to try them. I'm sorry, but baked products just look so gorgeous! And now my desire is even stronger now that I know QVC sells the brand. I really want to try the Brighten and Balance as a topper to my liquid foundation, or even on its own, and it comes with this 5 Piece On The Bright Side Collection kit! Because you can't just try one thing from a new brand...

The infamous lil egg shaped pink thing....or as some call it, the Beauty Blender. I never really had a desire to try a sponge for applying my foundation until I started hearing more and more about it (damn you bloggers and YouTube!). I find the best way to apply my Vichy foundation is with my fingers but I haaate the mess, so I reckon the sponge would be an even better alternative! I know cheaper versions are out there, but come on, this is a wish list!

I've been lemming after Zoya nail polishes ever since I saw the swatches of the Intimate Collection on Temptalia. They just have so many original colors, I must have!!! :D

What's on your wish list these days?

4 For The Month: March Recap

Hi ladies!

As we're nearing the end of the month, I've decided to do my 4 For The Month Recap. If you're unsure of what Challenge 4 For The Month is, check out my previous post, HERE.

So for the month of March I decided to try and get regular use out of these four products:

Sleek Storm Palette, NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Rose Petal, MAC Shy Girl Lipstick, and NYX Smokey Look Mega Shine Lipgloss.

Swatches:

The 4 shadows I used the most this month out of the Storm palette:

Swatches:

Sleek Storm Palette:

Out of all the products, this was the one I stuck to using the most. Up until last week, I was using this every time I wore makeup. I didn't make much use of the bottom row, but I loved using the top row, specifically the first four colors, because I tend to stick to neutral eyes on a daily basis. I used the second color on the inner lid/brow bone, either the fourth or first on the outer lid, and the third color in the crease and I thought it made for a really pretty natural but brightening eye. I definitely think this is the best palette Sleek offers!

MAC Shy Girl:

Once again, this month I didn't wear lip products that often. I wore them more often than last month, so I'm getting a bit better! Haha. There's no denying this is a gorgeous color, I guess I just wish it was a little more pigmented. I'd love a lovely pigmented coral/peach color, especially for Spring time! But this is just perfect for a subtle Spring coral lip.

NYX Smokey Look Mega Shine Lipgloss:

Anytime I wore Shy Girl, I wore this over top. Just in the middle of my bottom lip and then I'd smush. I think it's a perfect match for Shy Girl and just makes the color stick out even more and shine.

NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Rose Petal:

Sadly, I didn't make much use out of this. I was naughty and used powder blushes. Anytime I reached into my blush drawer, I'd see the cream blush and pass it over, just because I felt like it'd be too much hassle. I'm not sure why though! I forced myself to use it the past two days and really liked it. Maybe I'm just too lazy for my own good. ;) Either way, it's SUCH a pretty color and goes along very nicely with Shy Girl and Smokey Girl. Put those 3 together and you're all set!

Shy Girl, Smokey Look, and Rose Petal on my face:

(check out those brows...SORRY! lol)

Overall, I'm glad I started this challenge. It's definitely got me using things and forcing myself to assess whether or not I really to purchase certain products and whether or not they suit me.

I'll be picking out my next 4 items for April soon!

Editor of Glamour, Jo Elvin, speaks at University of Westminster

Hi ladies!

(image taken from Google images)

Last week, I was lucky enough to attend a lecture by Jo Elvin, the editor of Glamour. She was generous enough to come to Westminster University and speak to us about what it takes to become a magazine editor.

Now, recently I've decided I'd like to write for a beauty magazine about...well, beauty! So while I suppose the topic of this lecture wasn't exactly related to what I want to do, I still felt it was essential to attend, because some of her tips can be applied to just about any job. Plus who turns down a lecture by the editor of Glamour!?

Besides giving helpful tips on how to become a magazine editor, she also shared some funny stories from her career, including when she turned down the Spice Girls for a cover of Sugar magazine (which she recalls as one of her biggest mistakes!) and when her and Samantha from Sex and the City went over to meet Usher at an event and he very suavely asked "Well ladies, what are we doing after this?" and they left blushing and feeling very uncool.

Overall, I'm glad I went. And now I leave you with some of Jo's top tips:

-Be a good listener

-Be accountable

-Have a bit of an ego

-Have thick skin (your employees may not invite you out to the pub, but you'll have to deal with it)

-Have a life outside of the job

And finally:

-Love the job, even the dirty ones!

Basically, you're not going to get your dream job straight out of university. So Jo suggests you must enjoy all the jobs to get to the top. If you roll your eyes when you're asked to answer a phone, chances are you won't go far in that company.

She even said the most recent hire she did was a woman who had worked for a year at an off roading magazine and had done so much research into it, even though it wasn't her dream job. Jo said that it impressed her so much that it's largely why she hired her, because it showed just how tenacious she was!

Click HERE for a clip from the lecture, where she speaks about work experience (not my own footage).

Hope that was helpful to any of you aspiring magazine editors!

New Twitter Page For Laurs Beauty!

Hey ladies!

Just wanted to do a quick post telling you about my new Twitter account LaursBeauty!

This way I can tweet about my newest blog posts and talk about anything makeup related for the world to see, rather than do it on my personal Twitter that's private.

Go ahead and follow me!

-Lauren

Loose Button: Birchbox for Canadians!

I recently saw a blog post about a new service from Loose Button that I thought I'd share with you all.

(image from the Loose Button website)

Apparently it's very similar to Birchbox but it's for Canadians, and is a monthly service where you receive 3-5 deluxe sized samples for only $9.95 Canadian Dollars. They're currently working to get it available for US residents as well. (WHAT ABOUT US GALS IN THE UK? ahem...)

Some of the brands included are Clinique, Nars, OPI, Bobbi Brown, AND MAC!! Sounds even better than Birchbox....

Apparently, at the moment, there's a wait list to get an invite to join, but check out this post over at Beautezine for a link that lets you skip the waiting list!

What do you think? I'M SO JEALOUS, we need something like this in the UK, I'd sign up in a minute. No...a second....milli-second....you get the point...

NOTD: China Glaze For Audrey

When I did my last China Glaze haul, I knew I had to get the much raved about For Audrey, which was created with the Tiffany Box Blue in mind. It's turning up far more green in these photos than it is in real life, but it's definitely a gorgeous blue green that's well suited for Spring.

It went completely opaque in 2 coats, but if you're less picky than me, 1 coat would of done. I used Maybelline's Forever Strong Base Coat underneath.

What do you think? Do you think it deserves all the hype it gets?

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation Review

Hi ladies! FINALLY, I've got my review on the Vichy Dermablend foundation. I didn't want to rush my review until I'd found out how it best works on me and how I truly feel about it. And now I'm confident in saying it's my go to foundation for every day!

Quick Facts:

14.30 pounds for 30ml

Available in 5 shades

Hypoallergenic

Non-comedogenic

Non-acnegenic

Oil-free

Fragrance-free

Tested on sensitive and delicate skin

SPF 20

DOES contain parabens

12 hour coverage

Price:

Drug Store: Revlon Color Stay = 12.49 for 30ml

Vichy Dermablend=14.30 for 30ml

High End: MAC Studio Fix Fluid=19.50 for 30ml

It's pretty much right in the middle (in terms of price) of a high end foundation and a drugstore foundation. You get the same amount of product for each, but pay almost the same for a drugstore product and far more for something like a MAC foundation. Overall, I can't complain about the price, especially for such a full coverage foundation.

Packaging:

I'm rather happy with the packaging. I hate when a product has no pump, because I always pour out too much product, but a squeeze tube works just as well for me, because I can control the amount that comes out, especially since it's a very small hole. I imagine though, that when it nears the end, it might be kind of hard to get product out, but I'm sure I'll manage.

Product:

It's advertised as a full coverage foundation and definitely lives up to its name. Sadly, I guess I was expecting EVERYTHING to be completely covered, but for darker spots, they still shine through a little, but I can mostly cover them up with concealer. I use about two pea sized amounts for my whole face, but if you had better skin than I, you'd really only need one pea size amount, because as everyone says with this foundation, a little goes a long way. I was afraid this would be too thick or cakey for an all over foundation, but it's definitely not. And even if your skin isn't that terrible and you just want a really flawless finish, then this would work great.

By the end of the night, you will be a little greasy, so maybe bring some powder along for touch ups. I tried setting this with my Bare Minerals Mineral Veil when I first started using it, but in the end I found my actual Bare Minerals Foundation did a better job of keeping me matte. But even when you do begin to get a bit oily by the end of the day, it's not so much a gross oily as a dewy one? If that makes sense, haha.

In terms of color range, it's very limited. I use the lightest color, 15, Opal, and feel it's a pretty good match for me, if not almost a hint too dark, but it's not an issue when I blend down my neck so everything matches. So if you're a fair skinned gal, you won't be able to find a shade for yourself, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, very dark skinned girls may not be able to find a shade, which is a bit of a con, definitely.

Freshly Applied:

(I had 3 pimples pop up on the right side of my face and even though you can clearly see something is there, it's nowhere near as offensive with this foundation covering them up)

Hours Later:

Clearly not from the same day as from the photos above, but it's a picture I took on a different day after I'd been wearing the Vichy all day. It's still holding up, but you can tell my forehead has gone a bit oily. But this was when I'd set it just with the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, and as I've mentioned, it keeps me matte longer when I use the actual Bare Minerals Foundation.

Availability:

In terms of availability, for UK people, I think your best bet is to order it off the Boots website. I've never seen it in stores because I think it's only available in the Boots with high end counters like Benefit, etc, and I don't have many near me. Ordering online is only a pain in terms of shipping prices, but then again, I pay about the same I'd pay in tube fare, if not less, to get to the Boots in Central London, so buying online is no big deal for me. But it's apparently also available in other pharmacies besides Boots, but I don't really know the details.

If you're in the US, according to the Vichy website, it's sold in more than 850 stores across the US, but it's only available in 18 states and in CVS stores. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say you can find it at most CVS's, but don't hold me to it. Or once again, you can order from the Vichy website.

Overall, I love this foundation. When I've been out and about and snuck a look in a mirror in a shop, as we girls do, I've noticed my skin just looks better than it ever has with previous foundations. If you're in the market for a full coverage foundation, I can't recommend this enough.

PS: I've hit 400 followers!! Thanks so much, each and every one of you! xoxoxo

What's In My Makeup Bag? #2

Hi ladies! So this past weekend the boyfriend and I went back to his for the weekend to visit with his parents. That and he also needed his dad's help to fix his laptop. Anyways, here's what I brought back with me!

Eyes:

Sleek Storm Palette: This is the ONLY eyeshadow I've been using this month. It's one of the four products in my 4 For The Month challenge, and I've certainly stuck to it! I mostly make use of the top row, but I'll talk more about it at the end of the month. Anyways, I love the neutral colors in this palette and it's excellent for very simple, everyday eye looks.

Urban Decay Primer Potion: Last time I traveled, I didn't bother bringing an eye primer, and I regretted it! So this time I brought along the very travel friendly version of UDPP. It's the primer I've been using the majority of this month and I've fallen back in love with it. Good thing, since I have the professional size of it to get through!

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero: The only pencil I use for my waterline. Stays all day, it's amazing, that's all I have to say.

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara: I definitely prefer this one over the One By One mascara that I picked up along with this one. This one just does an amazing job of lengthening my lashes. I've never used something that made them look so long. But at the same time, it's not clumpy and my lashes don't look spidery. I can see why everyone raved about this one.

MUA Mascara in Shade 1: I just use this to brush and set my brows.

3 brushes: One's from e.l.f and the other 2 are from the Studio Tools line sold in Target. They're cheap, but I find they work well for simple eye looks.

Lips:

NADA! I know, how terrible have I been with the lips lately. I had my Summer Fruits EOS lip balm though!

Face:

L'oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base: Probably the first and last primer I'll ever use. It does such a good job of smoothing out my skin and making my makeup last that I don't see a point in searching for anything else!

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation in Opal: I'm still not quite ready to review this yet, because I'm still in the process of finding what sets it best and whether it's best used as an all over foundation or a concealer and blah blah blah. But at the moment, I'm using it as an all over foundation and I apply it with my fingers. The color matches me pretty well and it does an excellent job of covering, BUT, I feel like it's almost equal to the coverage I got when I mixed Neutrogena Healthy Skin and Revlon Photo Ready. But then again maybe I'm just not using enough, we'll see!

Garnier Tinted Eye Roll On in Light: I love this for my undereye circles. It just blends in so well and covers amazingly.

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil: I didn't want to use the Bare Minerals foundation to set my foundation, since the Vichy foundation is supposed to be so full coverage. But I found that this just didn't keep me oil free long enough, so I tried setting the Vichy with my Bare Minerals foundation and it worked out much better, but this did well enough at the time.

e.l.f Complexion Brush: Used this to apply the Mineral Veil. It's nice, doesn't put too much product on your face or make you look powdery.

What do you make sure to bring along in your makeup bag when you travel?

NOTD: China Glaze Sea Spray

How gorgeous is this color!? It's definitely one of my new favorites, especially for Spring time. It's a nice change from the typical pastel pinks, purples, and blues that we often see for Spring. It's like a blue gray and I just think it's gorgeous. It's probably looking a bit more blue than gray in these photos, but I promise you, there's gray in there! :D

I used 2 coats, but it was pretty opaque after 1.

Thoughts?

Bomb Cosmetics Haul

The other day, when I was back in the country with my boyfriend to visit his parent's, we went to the Garden Centre, and next to the Garden Centre was this little shop, which I'm afraid I don't know the name of, but it had a lot of lovely little odds and ends. Lots of jewlery, candles, cards, mugs, etc. What caught my eye was this section, which just screamed LUSH.

I quickly started smelling everything, after squealing to Craig about my find. I've recently fallen in love with Lush bath bombs, bubble bars, and melts, so when I saw something that looked to be very similar, I was sold. They were selling for 1.99 each, which sounded fantastic to me, even if they are a bit smaller than the type of bombs or melts you'd find in Lush. The photos aren't that great of quality, I just had my bf snap a few on his iPhone, but once I got home I searched for them online and found that they sell loooads more things on their website. There's a HUGE selection of bath melts and bombs, and also soaps and candles, a few of which I did see in store but I didn't know they were sold by the same people since they were in different sections. Anyways, I'd never heard of this company before, but I'm definitely glad I have now, and will be making an order online once I run out of my current stash.

But, I did notice, that on the website most things sell for 2.49 each, whereas they were only 1.99 in store, but still, that's a pretty decent price. They sell at some places in the US, but not online on their website like they do here in the UK.

But here's what I grabbed:

Raspberry Ripple Bath Mallow, (sorry I don't know the name of the middle one! I couldn't find it on their website either, but it's a strawberry one!) and Love Cloud Bath Creamer (I also couldn't find this one on their website, but luckily I could read the name from the photo my bf took)

The raspberry one smells like raspberries and the strawberry one smells like strawberries, haha, couldn't get more simple than that! And the Love Cloud one smells like chocolate and vanilla. They all smell AMAZING and look like cupcakes and candy!!! I can't get over how adorable they are.

Another photo I took once I got home:

The Raspberry Ripple one is missing because I used it when we were back at my boyfriend's. I was very impressed with it! My boyfriend's parent's bath is huuge and I thought it might be too small for the bath, but it wasn't. It made the bath creamy and was so fragrant. The only complaint I'd have is the little bits from the top of the bath melt that didn't melt down and just floated about in the bath, but they seemed to go down the drain alright, haha.

Have you ever tried Bomb Cosmetics before?