Amsterdam Travel Makeup Essentials

September 5, 2017September 4, 2026 - Vicki

Every trip I say ‘I’m going to pack light this time’ but I always end up taking products I never use, So I’ve tried hard (very hard) to be ruthless with what I take on my city break to Amsterdam. I will be decanting the foundations into little pots so I don’t have to take the big bottles. I do that with most of my skincare too – it saves so much space & the little travel bottles & pots are super easy to get hold of. I get mine in Wilko & The Poundshop. So let’s take a look at what I am taking with me.

I’m taking two base products one for the day & a more high coverage option for the evening. I like to wear a base during the day that provides a good amount of protection from the sun. So I’ve opted for my beloved Tropic Tinted Skin Shade as this has SPF50 and it gives a nice light coverage too. It looks natural but gives my skin a nice even, healthy colour. This has been my go to base all Summer and I am excited to take it away with me.

For my evening foundation I have to take my Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear as this makes my skin look flawless without having to build up the coverage. It is a decent medium coverage and has serious staying power. I always feel really confident with my skin when I wear this, it is that mix of good coverage but still lightweight enough that you don’t feel caked in makeup!

For concealer I’m taking one that does it all and that is the I.T Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye, this stuff is wonderful. It covers blemishes, redness and even hides dark circles and when I tell you you need the tiniest amount of product I am not exaggerating. It comes out quite thick but if you warm it up in between your fingers and take your time to blend it out, this concealer with work miracles. I have been recommending it to everyone.

I’m only taking one brow product with me and it is the Rimmel Brow This Way Styling Gel, It’s a nice dark brown shade so matches my brows perfectly. It gives them a good amount of colour & helps cover any sparse areas and I like that it keeps those unruly brow hairs in place too. Such a fuss free product to use.

I don’t wear too much eyeshadow these days (lazy beauty blogger) so I am taking one of the Rosie for Autograph Cream Shadow Sticks. I have the shade Feline Fox which is a gorgeous metallic mauve bronze and it looks great on its own all over the lid or as a base for eyeshadow. It is creamy and I just blend it out with my finger, makes doing my makeup in the morning quick and easy.

Also in my travel makeup bag is the Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita Eyeshadow Quad which is my goto for an evening smokey eye. I love the shade Pop which is a stunning copper pressed pigment with a pop of sparkle. You just press this on top of the finished eye look with your finger to make it look extra special. All the colours in this quad are beautiful and pigmented & I love it when I get chance to use it. I have to be careful with it though as a couple of the pans are loose and tend to fall out in my bag! Must remember to fix them at some point before I lose them altogether.

I’m not one to wear blusher too often so I have packed my Soap & Glory Wonderbronze which is a multi shade mix of blush, bronzer and highlighter. It is pretty swept across my cheekbones for a nice daytime glow. The shades in this also make nice eyeshadows too!

I’m also taking my new delilah Cosmetics Illuminating Powder which is just gorgeous and more of an evening highlighter. It is a really nice mix rose gold, soft peach and lavender pink – so you just swirl your brush and add it to your cheekbones, brow bones and I like to sweep a little down my nose too. It just brightens dull looking skin, giving it an illuminating glow.

For an all over face powder I have opted for my bareMinerals Perfecting Veil, this adds a touch of coverage whilst helping to minimise shine and keep my makeup in place and looking flawless for longer. This is a firm favourite of mine because you can wear it alone for a very light coverage or over your foundation for that soft focus finish.

The Rimmel Wonder’full Mascara looks nice with just one coat for a subtle everyday look but you can layer it up for more va va voom lashes so that is why I have to take this with me. It works for both day & night. I like how nice and long it makes my lashes look but it is also very quick and easy to remove.

Lips, now this is always hard but I have been beyond ruthless and have only packed 3 options (who even am I?) This Essence Matte Long Lasting Lip Gloss only landed on my desk this week but as soon as I tested it it went straight into my travel makeup bag. OMG the colour is a dusky matte pink and it looks fab on the lips and feels pretty comfortable for a matte finish. I would say it is a nice velvet matte finish and I am in love with the sweet vanilla scent of these too. So excited to wear this.

I never travel without my Urban Decay Lipstick in Backtalk – It is my favourite lipcolour and always makes me look awake and pulled together. It is a nude toned pink and I just take it everywhere with me! Although it is another matte option it dries down to have a satin finish.

The third lip option is my favourite Clinique Chubby Stick in Roundest Raspberry which is one of the intense shades. It is a nice lipgloss, lipstick hybrid and It gives me a nice amount of colour and they’re so easy to apply on the go. They nourish your lips as the formula contains Vitamin E so that is a plus too.

Essence Matte Lipgloss in Girl of Today // Urban Decay in Back Talk / Clinique Chubby Stick in Roundest Raspberry

Lastly I am packing two black eyeliners. The first is my Essence Gel Eye Pencil, I use this on my lower lash line or to smudge out for a smokey eye. This stays put and for a pencil liner the shade is very intense black. The other is my favourite L’Oreal Superliner. I get the Black Lacquer option as I find when this dries down it still looks glossy and bold. I can get the more precise flicks with this and also right up close to my lashline. It is one of my Holy Grail products and this is a fresh one for going away and we all know how well a brand new liquid liner performs (bliss).

So there you have it, my travel makeup. I think I have managed to pack light this year?! Let me know if you struggle to pack light and what products you always take away with you.

*This post contains PR Samples

Crabtree & Evelyn Everyday Wellbeing Collections

September 5, 2017September 4, 2026 - Vicki 2 Comments

Over the years I have used a few products from Crabtree & Evelyn but I only seem to repurchase their hand creams so I was excited to learn that they’ve released a whole host of new products that are focused around our wellbeing! I have fallen in love with one product in particular that I just know is going to become a holy grail product in my routine.

‘Introducing the new Crabtree & Evelyn’s Everyday Wellbeing collections. Each of the six ranges inspires a different benefit with botanical elements to uplift, soothe, calm, energise, hydrate or nourish, depending on your needs and inclination. Bursting with natural ingredients and deeply pampering, think of them as your bath and body “5 a day.’

The 6 Everyday Wellbeing Collections are,

Lavender and Espresso to calm
Rosewater and Pink Peppercorn to hydrate
Citron and Coriander to energise
Pomegranate and Argan Oil to nourish
Pear and Pink Magnolia to uplift
Goatmilk and Oat to soothes,

Crabtree Evelyn Pomegranate and Argan Oil Collection

Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying out 3 products from 3 of the Everyday Wellbeing Collection and my skin has been getting pampered in the process.

Pomegranate and Argan Oil Nutri Oil

This Pomegranate and Argan Oil range features antioxidant rich Pomegranate, pistachio, ginger extract and grape seed oils as well as nutritive Argan oil. I have been putting the Nutri-Oil to the test, and it has been so good for hydrating my skin, especially after this lovely warm weather we’ve been having in Cornwall.

I also really like that this is a multi use oil which can be used pretty much anywhere. It is great for nourishing dry damaged hair, massaging into cuticles, using all over your body, and it is even gentle enough to use on your face. I’m taking this with me on holiday this week so I can hydrate and nourish dry hair, nails and skin all with this one oil. That has to mean I am packing light for a change.

Because this is a very lightweight oil there is no greasy residue, it is easily absorbed and leaves your body looking healthy with a subtle glow. This Nuti Oil smells amazing, it has a lovely sweetness from the pomegranate, orange and fig, but I can also really make out the ginger which gives it a nice warm calming scent.

Rosewater and Pink Peppercorn Body Gel

This Rosewater and Pink Peppercorn range features the fragrance of rose petals, spicy pink peppercorn, fresh peony, bergamot, Tonka Bean and Akigalawood (a new natural captive derived from Patchouli) which together with olive oil and vitamin E, quench thirsty skin.

This has to be the most luxurious, absorbent and incredibly lightweight body product I have ever tried. As the name states, this is a body gel, and it is ideal for people who find body butters / lotions too heavy or greasy. I would say this feels almost like a serum for your body. I have been slathering it on my legs after my morning shower (which is when I shave my legs) this gel makes them feel silky smooth and also to stop them drying out.

Its incredibly light formula means you don’t have to wait ages to put your clothes on, which is why I prefer to use it in the morning, so I don’t have to waste time waiting for my body lotion. This gel sinks into the skin really quickly and gives it a healthy, smooth, glow.

This scent is a little more classic with the distinctive rose notes, but it does have that twist of peppercorn and bergamot which bring out more of a masculine vibe, which I really like. This is quite a whopper of a pot at 250ml, so it is going to last me well into Autumn.

Goat Milk and Oat Hand Therapy

This Goat Milk and Oat range features free-range goat’s milk, nourishing oat kernel, skin- conditioning vitamin E and lavender blended with rose, geranium and bergamot. It is so calming, soothing and very hydrating. I didn’t expect too much from this as I find hand creams can be much of a muchness but after using this just once my hands felt hydrated, smooth and so soft. I instantly put it in my handbag, so I have it with me all the time.

This new collection is formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates and propylene glycol. Let me know if you have tried any products from the new Wellbeing Collections.

Just click through to shop all the latest Crabtree & Evelyn releases, or pop into your nearest store.

*This post contains PR Samples and affiliate links

Delilah Cosmetics First Impressions

August 31, 2017September 4, 2026 - Vicki 3 Comments

Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to win some makeup products from the British Brand Delilah Cosmetics & I had no idea that this was such a beautiful, luxurious brand.

This is my first time trying anything from them, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the four products I won. Everything feels and looks super elegant and luxurious, I am loving their aesthetic.

So everything comes beautifully packaged in dusky pale pink cardboard with rose gold writing, it looks and feels chic and luxurious. The two cheek products are in their own grey velvet dust bags which is a lovely touch, and I’m actually going to use them to pop some jewellery in when I travel.

delilah Illuminating Powder in Aura

This highlighter comes beautifully packaged in a rose gold and pewter compact, it is stunning. This is the perfect subtle highlighter which gives you a lovely warm glow without the dreaded sparkle. It is so finely milled that it is lightweight and easy to blend. I like that it’s a mix of rose gold, soft peach and lavender pink – so you just swirl your brush and add it to your cheekbones, brow bones and I like to sweep a little down my nose too. It just brightens dull looking skin, giving it an illuminating glow. I am beyond thrilled with this, and I know I am going to get so much use from it as we head into A/W and Festive party season.

delilah Brow Line Eyebrow Pencil in Sable

I have the shade sable, which is a nice dark conker brown & is the ideal shade for my dark brows. It is a retractable pencil with a spoolie on the other end, which is super handy to keep your brows looking tidy. The formula is a nice mix of being creamy enough to get good coverage whilst being waxy enough so that the colour stays in place all day long. I also like how slim the pencil so you can make precise strokes so they look like real hairs. This has gone straight into my everyday makeup bag.

delilah Colour Blush in Clementine

This comes in a similar (only smaller) rose gold and pewter style compact as the illuminating powder, and it is just as elegant. It is a pretty soft peachy pink blush that gives your cheeks that healthy flush of colour. It is a very sweet shade and very easy to wear. The formula is silky and is a dream to apply and blend. I think it is one of those subtle, easy to wear shades that would fit well into anyone’s makeup collection.

delilah Colour Gloss in Amalie

This is a pretty bubblegum pink shade and the formula gives the lips a seriously glossy finish. This moisturising colour gloss not only delivers pigmentation but also contains vitamin E and emollient oils which nourish and protect your lips so they stay hydrated, whilst a botanical cellular activator derived from olive and jojoba keep them looking smooth. I think this shade is pretty not something I would often wear, so I’m thinking of treating myself to Amethyst which is more of a berry / wine shade and more up my street. I know my sister-in-law will rock this shade, so I am going to pass it on to her.

Illuminating Powder in Aura // Colour Blush in Clementine // Lipgloss in Amalie

I love being introduced to new beauty brands, and Delilah Cosmetics is a beautiful British brand that has incredible attention to detail. If you enjoy luxury beauty products then this is a brand you need to look out for, I know it is sold on Amazon

AW 2017 Releases from Mii Cosmetics

August 29, 2017September 4, 2026 - Vicki 5 Comments

Mii Cosmetics are a brand that I have never heard of before so I was excited to try out their new AW 2017 Supernova Collection which is launching in September. This new collection doesn’t instantly scream A/W to me but I guess that is the beauty of makeup, anything goes and collections don’t have to be restricted by certain colours or what we expect from a season.

This collection for me is easy to wear makeup that has a subtle edge. The lip products are matte which is great for getting that long wear lip look and the eyeliner is my ideal shade. The liquid liner is perfect for adding a touch of glitter to your eye look and dare I say it, for the party season (Christmas isn’t too far away).

Mii Power Matte Lip Créme

These are available in 4 wearable shades which can take you from day to night. They have a matte formula packed with sweet almond and jojoba oils to help keep lips soft. They apply like a cream but dry down matte, once on the lip they look vibrant and have fantastic staying power. If you’re not a fan of how matte finishes can feel on the lips then these might not be for you as they are quite dry, but you do get a lip colour that is long wearing.

These have the nicest, sweetest scent and the doe foot applicator makes it easy to outline the lips with the edge then use the flat side to fill them in.

Eternity

This is a gorgeous everyday peachy nude shade. It does apply a little patchy but if you wait for the first coat to dry and apply a second it evens out the coverage. I have also used a lip liner under this shade too and that can help it apply more smoothly and more evenly. I really like this shade and have been keeping it in my car for any occasion, it’s a colour that makes it look like I’ve made more of an effort than I have.

Sensuous

This is a vibrant fuchsia pink and it is seriously bright. It is the type of shade that brightens up any makeup look and makes you look instantly awake. I would say this was more of a Summer shade but it is always nice to have a pretty pink in your collection no matter what season it is. This applies so well and doesn’t bleed at all.

Imperial

Perfect Christmas party red! Yep, that is what I thought as soon as I applied this, it’s a stunning bold red that makes your makeup look pop. Christmas is the perfect excuse to work that red lip and this Mii one is just beautiful, it applies the best out of the four shades I have tried and I would use a lip liner just so you can get that really sharp defined edge and fill your lips in without making a mess.

Supreme

Berries/plum shades are my favourite to wear in the colder months and I think they’re the shades that suit me best. Supreme is the perfect Winterberry, vampy shade but it takes a little patience to get the finish right, make sure you let the first coat dry before applying a second otherwise it just moves about and the finish is a little off.

Eternity 01 // Sensuous 03 // Imperial 02 // Supreme 04

Mii Show Stopping – Eyeliner

I love jumbo pen eyeliners and this new release from Mii is exactly that, it has a junky nib with a very precise tip so you can get both a thick, chunky line as well as a neat precise flick. This is an intense black shade but I did find it a little watery, however, it was still quite a bold black. It isn’t the best liner I have used but I liked how easy and smooth it applies and it is long wearing. If you have the time to apply two layers you will get your liner to be very bold and black.

Mii Glitter Glam Liner

I used to be obsessed with this kind of liner back in the late 90’s and I’m quite excited to have this in my collection. It is a mix of iridescent green, red, blue and silver micro flecks of glitter in a clear base, you can build this up to be quite intense or wear just one coat for a more subtle pop of glitter. I like to add this to my black liner so it looks bolder. This would have been fab for festival makeup looks, but I’m going to rock it anyway.

Let me know if you have tried anything from Mii Cosmetics and give me your recommendations.

Mii Supernova Collection is available from September at www.miicosmetics.com

This post contains PR Samples

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Author: Vicki