New in My Beauty Stash #2

August 1, 2016October 16, 2016 - Vicki 5 Comments

If you want to see my first New In My Beauty Stash post <—- Just click the link. So this month I have 4 really lovely new products in my beauty stash, I’m excited to tell you all about them.

ESPA Nourishing Lip Treatment*

Lip oils seem to be the product of the moment and quite a few brands are releasing their version, from Clarins to GOSH. This ESPA offering is brand new and it doesn’t disappoint. It has a doe foot applicator which makes it easy and mess free to apply (even on the go). This oil feels extremely comfortable and soft on the lips, not at all sticky or greasy. I love using it throughout the day to keep my lips soft, give them that lovely glossy look and they feel hydrated for hours. This Nourishing Lip Treatment is packed with skin loving ingredients including,

Indian Gentian Leaves – this blurs the appearance of fine lines and visible smooths skin, boosts collagen and elastin production
Konjac Root & Hyluronic Acid Filling Spheres – these plump, smooth and deliver long lasting hydration
Omega rich Raspberry & Pomegranate Seed Oils – Both are deeply nourishing and help keep your lips in a beautiful condition
Pink Grapefruit Essential Oils – This soothes and gives the oil a fresh flavour

HJ Manicure in Tropical Sunset

This came in the July Little Known Box and it is a beautiful juicy looking colour for Summer. This is a boutique brand offering salon quality nail polishes at affordable prices. HJ Manicure have a lovely selection of 20 colours in their core collection and I have 2 colours but this Tropical Sunset is my favourite. Its a beautiful glossy orange, coral that has a super glossy finish. Its opaque in 2 coats and the formula is so easy to apply. Its just a lovely Summer shade and I am going wear it a lot this year. HJ Manicure are proud to be

5-Free Nail Polish
Free from Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, DBP and Camphor
Cruelty Free & Vegan Friendly

Stila Perfect Me, Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palette

OK – how beautiful is this palette!? I am totally in love.The packaging is rose gold & the mirror is huge, which makes me very happy. This palette is available in four different shade options, Fair/Light, Light/Medium, Medium/Tan and Tan/Deep, I have the Fair / Light palette and it has everything you need to create a cute neutral look for fair skin (in terms of eye & cheek colours). You get 2 blush shades and 5 eyeshadows and they are all beautifully pigmented and so easy to blend. I like that there is a mix of matte, shimmer and pearl finishes.

In this Fair/ Light Palette you get the these beautiful shades

Eye Shades: Alluring (soft pale pink), Breathtaking (soft neutral white), Passionate (champagne pearl), Dynamic (soft taupe), Glamorous (warm chocolate brown)
Blush Shades: Romantic (soft pale pink), Playful (soft rose pink)

Lancome Grandiose Eyeliner*

Now I really wanted to like this & I even used it for an entire week, trying to make it work for me. Sadly I just can’t seem to apply my liner very neatly with this. I love wearing liquid liner, I like a cat eye or just a simple very close to the lash line look but with this liner I found both of these so hard to achieve.

The actual flexibility of the eyeliner wand is what makes this liner different from most others on the market & I liked the innovation and concept, a lot! You adjust the handle which clicks in to place making it more ergonomic for applying the liner, that does take some getting used to but I can appreciate that it allows you to get a better angle for applying liner. I just don’t think it made it easier (for me).

The formula is a very deep rich matte black, which is great and the colour doesn’t fade throughout the day. The nib is flexible and tappers to a very thin point which is good for achieving that precise line, I just found it quite hard to work with and couldn’t get my liner to look as good as when using my trusty Soap & Glory Liner. I’m not writing this off, I think its more to do with the way I have learn’t to apply my liner over the past 15 years & I’m set in my ways. Change isn’t always good for me, I urge you to pop along to a Lancome counter so you can test the product, it might be just the liner you’re looking for. I am not going to let this beat me & plan on watch a few tutorials so I can attempt to master it.

What is new in your beauty stash & have you tried any of the products I have mentioned?

*PR Sample

QVC Tili Beauty Box

July 25, 2016 - Vicki 6 Comments

When I saw this new box on the lovely Stephanie’s blog last week I knew I had to snap one up. It’s the Try it Love it (Tili) Beauty Box from QVC and before you ask if there is really room for another beauty box on the market – just take a look at the contents! Its jam packed full of luxurious, current must have beauty products.

This box is a complete bargain, the contents are worth over £60 but is selling for only £20 with free shipping. You get such value for money and the brands in this box are all premium brands. I’ve never tried anything from Alpha-H, Becca or Nexxus so I’m thrilled to try those brands out. You get 8 products in the box and it is a nice balance of skincare, haircare and makeup. Unlike most beauty boxed there are no meh products and I’m actually (very) excited to try every single product.

In your box:

Essie Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers (13.5ml) – a classic sheer pink
Nexxus Nutritive Shampoo (89ml) – enriched with a Caviar Complex, this hydrating shampoo that gives dry hair a thorough cleanse while delivering moisture from roots to tips
Nexxus Nutritive Conditioner (89ml) – infused with pure elastin protein and a Caviar Complex, this restorative conditioner helps to maintain your hair’s natural protective barrier to leave it feeling balanced and flexible
Vita Liberata Phenomenal Mousse and Mini Mitt (25ml) – a fast-drying self-tanning mousse designed to last up to three weeks
Elemis Smart Cleanse Micellar Water (50ml) – a lightweight cleansing water that removes make-up, dirt and impurities from the skin to leave your complexion looking radiant and feeling refreshed.
Alpha-H Liquid Gold (50ml) – an overnight exfoliating formula to refresh and revitalise tired and dull skin, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles and minimise the appearance of pores
Bareminerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion (7.5ml) – a lightweight, hybrid serum designed to help revitalise and protect your skin from environmental elements and leave it looking luminous
Becca Backlight Priming Filter (6ml) – this weightless primer gives illuminating coverage, blurring the appearance of imperfections to create a flawless, dewy canvas

So yes, I think there is more than room for this Beauty Box amongst all the more established ones & they may just have raised the bar in terms of value for money and the quality of brands included.

This months Tili Beauty Box is still available but be quick as I have a feeling it will sell out soon. Although if you miss out on the September box, keep your eyes peeled for our second box, coming this October. I can’t wait to see what treats they have in store for us next month.

Tili Beauty Box : £20

Zoeva Cosmetics Black Box

July 22, 2016January 23, 2018 - Vicki 2 Comments

This is Zoeva Black Box Collection* is for all the eyeliner addicts out there (me included). When it comes to my wardrobe I very much lean to the All Black Everything way of life & I feel like this Zoeva Eyeliner Collection mirrors my lifestyle.

The Zoeva Black Box is a quartet of four amazingly pigmented eyeliners in one iconic shade – BLACK! This collection almost sings out to me. I love the simplistic packaging, the almost rough texture of the cardboard and the handwritten style font. This collection is like your very own eyeliner wardrobe. black eyeliner is such a staple in anyone’s beauty wardrobe and having four different formula options means you’re able to create lots of different looks and finishes. Let’s face it black never goes out of style.

Zoeva Calli Graphic Liquid Eyeliner in Black

If there is one type of liner I wear most often it’s a liquid liner & this Zoeva one is inspired by a classic calligraphy. It has an inkwell packaging which you give a little shake before taking the brush out to make sure the brush has enough product on. It has quite a short nib but it gives you amazing control and its ideal for achieving a very precise finish. This has fantastic staying power & after you have applied it, it doesn’t smudge or transfer. It is an intense black which dries down to a matte finish.

Zoeva Soft Kohl Eyeliner in Noir

This is such an essential product to have in your makeup bag. Its not the most intense black but it has a lovely creamy formula which makes it effortless to apply. Its a great eyeliner for using on your waterline, to define your eyes. Although it has a soft formula it still has a long-lasting formula and the colour doesn’t fade. Just a great product to throw in your makeup bag and one that always gets a lot of use.

Zoeva Cat Eye Pen in Black

I’m most comfortable using this style of liner, it reminds me of my much used Pixi Lash Line Ink. This has an ultra long, flexible nib which gives you ultimate control to achieve an on ‘Fleek’ cat eye look. The nib is flexible but not to the point where it has no structure, whether you want a delicate line or more of dramatic bold strokes this Cat Eye Pen is good at creating both. The black colour is very intense and easy to apply, it doesn’t drag or go patchy. The colour has a beautiful rich glossy finish and it is a liner you can trust to stay in place and bold in colour all day.

Zoeva Graphic Eyes in Black to Earth

This is the waterproof offering & it’s a great option to have in your makeup collection. This eyeliner pencil has a very pigmented and creamy formula which makes it so versatile. It’s great for giving you a defined, precise look as well as being easy to blend and smudge out to create that classic smokey eye effect. This really reminds me of my much loved Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils and I have to say its just as pigmented as the perversion one. I have really liked using this Zoeva one and it has incredible staying power, after a couple of minutes, it’s there to stay (unless you have a very good cleanser). This gets two thumbs up from me, its very good quality and easy to use.

L-R Graphic Eyes / Soft Kohl / Cat Eye Pen / Calli Graphic

The Cat Eye Pen along with Graphic Eyes the are my absolute two favourites from the collection but they’re all different and give you such a selection of finishes and styles. I think this would make a fantastic gift for an eyeliner addict or just to add to your makeup collection to ensure you have all eyeliner bases covered.

I’m very impressed with this collection & love everything from the less is more minimal packaging style to the selection of eyeliners and the fact they’re all black. It’s like Zoeva has created this collection just for me & it’s exactly what I would have picked given the chance. Zoeva just always seems to deliver on quality every time whilst still being affordable.

Zoeva Black Box Collection* £19.50

*PR Sample

Essence Bloggers’ Beauty Secrets Palette

July 21, 2016July 21, 2016 - Vicki 2 Comments

I adore the German brand Essence all their products are cruelty free and extremely affordable. I have so many favourites from their makeup range and since it launched into Wilko stores a couple of years ago its so much easier to get hold of all my Essence essentials.

Essence recently collaborated with four bloggers as part of the bloggers beauty secrets trend edition and gave them the opportunity to design their very own makeup palette & nail polish. I have been testing out the two products designed by the lovely Mary, who blogs over at Strike a Pose.

Essence Cosmetics Shape & Shadows Eye Contouring Palette

This palette is a multi use eye & brow palette and was inspired by glamorous Hollywood women who influenced style and fashion. It comes beautifully packaged in a sturdy cardboard flip top palette with a magnetic close and it has a fun geometric print.

Inside you get a fab sized mirror, which I did not expect to find as Essence is a more affordable brand but its nice to see that they have included one & I like the unusual shape of it.

Inside you get 4 shadows, a highlighter, a prime & fix brow wax and also a small dual ended brush. One end has an angled brush and the other a cute brow spoolie, I have to say I’ve been using this brush and its great, ideal travel size and the spoolie is fantastic as brushing through your bows to tame them and even out the product. Very cute indeed.

Three of the shadows are lovely neutral matte shades and these double up as both shadows and great brow colours too. I mix the two darkest colours to make the perfect shade to fill in my brows. The powder is pigmented and quite soft so they’re easy to blend and create that natural full brow. I don’t really use the wax as I prefer to set my brows with a clear gel but if you like wax then it is included in here.

These matte shades also work really well as eyeshadows and are great either all over the lid or blended out in the crease. They do take a little work to build up a good amount of colour on the lids and Hazel Grace is quite light so isn’t going to give yo too much payoff but I like to use this shade as a transition shade.

Marilyn Metallic is a beautiful copper rose and is my favourite shade in the palette. Its not too sparkly but it has the most pretty metallic finish and when the light catches it looks really nice. I have been wearing this packed on top of Audrey Highbrow and I love the two together.

The highlighter Billie Vanilli is a frosty cream and it looks nice under your brows and in the inner corners to add some brightness and add a little lift to your eye look. Its not a subtle highlight but if you like to add that extra illumination to your eyes & definition to your brows then its a pretty shade for that!

Essence Bloggers’ Beauty Secrets Nail Polish in All Eyes on Me

The nail polish wasn’t for me, its a pretty grey beige shade but it has a matte finish and I’m not personally a fan of that trend so I have passed it on to my sister in law & she loves it. So it wasn’t a complete fail. The nail polish was easy to apply, it dried evenly, the colour was pigmented and only needed one coat. I didn’t wear it for long so I can’t tell you if it has good staying power, but I did like the colour just not the finish.

Above are all four of the palettes & polishes from this collection. Which ones do you like the look of?

Essence is available exclusively nationwide at Wilko Stores & online at www.wilko.com

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