Amsterdam Travel Photo Diary Part 2

Crooked Amsterdam Canal Houses

Amsterdam Canal Houses

Amsterdam Travel Photos

Lovely Cafe in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Church

Amsterdam Amstel Canal

Cheese in Amsterdam

Amsterdam the city of bikes

Amsterdam Cafe

Amsterdam The Netherlands

Amsterdam Gin & Tonic

Amsterdam House Boats

Canal Amsterdam

Blooms

Canal Houses in Amsterdam

Mid Morning Tea Break

I could walk up & down the canals in Amsterdam all day & night, they’re so pretty. The canal houses that line them are beautiful and historical. They are all different and are frozen in time, I love them. A few of them are open as museums & one of the best ones I have been in it the Museum Van Loon which has the cutest cafe in the garden where you can sit, relax & it feels like you’re in the countryside.

I’m embarrassed to say I have been to Amsterdam 3 times now & I am yet to ride a bike there, I’m terrible at riding a bike & fear that I may cause myself an injury. I always joke to my husband that we should hire a tandem. I think next time we go I will have to bite the bullet and hire one late at night when the streets are quiet and I can practise. It looks so much fun and you can cover a lot of ground which means I could see more of the city whilst feeling more like a local. Have you ever hired a bike in Amsterdam, if so let me know how you found it.

Oh & if you have time you need to stop by the Poezenboot (Cat Boat). It’s quite a site, especially if you are a cat lover & opposite the catboat there is a cafe called Greenwoods that does the nicest breakfast, they even have Vegan options. It does get very busy but I guarantee it’s worth the wait.

If you do visit the city you must go and have a walk around the streets & canals at night. The bridges are all lit with small lights & even the trees have fairy lights. It feels really romantic & magical.

To see part 1 of my Amsterdam photo diary click here

My Lip Crayon Collection

lip crayons

MUJI Makeup Storage

I love to see what other beauty bloggers have in their Muji Storage or just how they store their makeup in general. I am that person who can watch makeup collections on YouTube for hours. I don’t have a huge collection because I just don’t have the space to store it and I like to give products to friends & family that I don’t often use or that don’t work for me. So I thought over the next few weeks I would show you a peek at how I store my makeup & let you see the products I keep.

Lip Crayons

Today is what I like to call my lip crayons drawer, crayons are easily my favourite lip product I do have a few liquid lipsticks in there too. I like the packaging of lip crayons and how easy they are to apply. I also love that so many brands have released their own versions. The lip crayons in the top drawer are the ones I use most often and this cute 2 drawer Muji Storage is the perfect size & depth to keep them in.

Top Layer

No7 High Shine Lip Crayons

I have two of these in the shades Delicate Pink & Day Dreamer. They feel and look glossy on the lips. They don’t have much pigment but look pretty as an everyday lip colour, especially if you like minimal makeup. These are mini as they were a Christmas release.

Collection Work The Colour Lip Butters

I have two of these in the shades Vintage Rose & Perfect Plum. Both colours are pigmented and look so pretty on the lips. The plum shade is vibrant and the rose is a soft and elegant peachy pink. These are not overly glossy and don’t feel slippy or greasy on the lips. They wear really well on me & I think these are my favourite budget lip crayons.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense

This is in Roundest Raspberry & WOW does it pop a colour. It’s very similar to the Collection Perfect Plum, just more glossy & long wearing. I think this shade is a limited edition colour but I know that Clinique has a great selection of these chubby sticks.

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil

This is in the shade New Lover which is quite a complex but pretty shade. In some lights it looks like a dark pink & in other lights the shimmer comes through & it looks peach. It looks incredible and glossy on the lips. There is a definite shimmer to this pencil so I don’t wear it during the day but it is a pretty night lip look.

No7 BB Lips SPF15

In Blink Pink. I have had this for quite a while now & love to use it in the warmer months, it’s the glossy sugary pink shade. It’s quite pigmented for a gloss & I like that it has SPF 15. I keep meaning to buy more of these when I have my No7 vouchers. Let me know if you have any of these & what colours you would recommend.

Wet n Wild Lip Shimmer

In the shade 106 Spice. This has no shimmer in it, so the name is very misleading. It is a tinted lip balm (but has the pigmentation of a lipstick) & reminds me very much of the Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose. It is a deep mauve pink shade & if you build it up it can look quite red. I love this & for the price, I wish I’d bought a couple more. I use this all the time & always forget how pigmented it is.

Origins Kiss-Zing Lip Crayon*

In the shade Rosemance. It’s a pretty creamy brown shade and it’s the ideal lip colour for when I want my makeup to look low-key but still put together. It is a neutral easy to wear light brown shade which is also hydrating & nourishing for the lips. It has Meadowfoam Seed and Jojoba Oils with Mango Seed and Shea Butters, so jam-packed full of beneficial ingredients to keep your lips healthy and smooth. These come in 6 pretty wearable shades, perfect for Spring / Summer.

These Kiss-Zing Lip Colours are a new release from Origins & I have done a full review Rosemance, so look out for that on the blog next week.

Bottom Layer

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer

I have the shades Galaxy, Luna and Celestial. They’re glossy, pigmented and have great staying power. They can be quite messy and a little product goes a long way. I don’t wear Luna too much, it is a peachy orange shade and looks pretty in the warmer months. Celestial is a warm pink and is such an easy colour to wear. Its low key but very brightening and quite a nice Spring shade. Galaxy is my favourite of the three, mostly because I think plums/berry shades look better on me & Galaxy is a deep plum and might be more of an Autumn/Winter shade but I like to wear it all year round. It is glossy and pigmented but you can blot any of these with tissue to reduce the colour and they still look amazing.

Lord & Berry Twisticks*

In the shades Shut Up & Rock and Rose. Rock & Rose is a gorgeous bright girly pink. I was a little scared of this shade at first but it was so nice on. With my fair skin & dark hair this shade really popped, it stood out but in a good way. Shut Up is a gorgeous berry pink, It gives my lips the prettiest wash of colour. One coat is enough, no need to build it up as the colour payoff is so good. These are really good quality and are long wearing.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

I have two of these in the shades Lovesick and Cherish Devotion. I wore these so much when I first bought them and must say since getting the Lord & Berry and Collection ones they haven’t had much love. Lovesick is a bright pink, it’s bold and very pigmented. Cherish Devotion is more of a baby pink and is very glossy. They both have that minty scent which I am not overly keen on but it doesn’t last too long. Revlon has such big range of lip crayons in all different colours & finishes. What are your favourite from their range?

P.S Love Lip Gloss Crayon

This is from Primark & doesn’t have a colour name but it is a glossy nude shade. It looks natural and pretty, the staying power isn’t wonderful but I don’t mind reapplying throughout the day. This has a sweet scent and I tend to wear this when I’m popping out & have very little makeup on, as its so subtle but makes my lips look even and glossy.

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream

In Cotton Candy. The colour is a deep pink which applies evenly and creamy on the lips. It feels moisturising & it dries to a velvet matte finish. Despite this being a matte finish it doesn’t feel drying at all & wears off the lips evenly after a few hours. Its pretty, cheap & it smells so good!

Let me know how you store your lip products & if you’ve tried any of the ones in this post.

Products that are marked with a* have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Glo & Ray Makeup

Glo Ray Makeup

Glo & Ray Makeup

Glo & Ray are a new discovery for me, it is a British made brand (which I like) and they made their debut in 2012 so they’re still quite a young brand. Although relatively young their products have been so well received and have quite a following so I was excited to try out a few products from their range.

All three of the products I have been trying have the sleekest, sophisticated black packaging. They look & feel expensive and really good quality. You’re not frightened or hesitant to throw these products into your makeup bag & take with you on the go. I have had the lippie in my handbag for weeks & the cap never comes off & the packaging is holding up very well indeed.

Glo & Ray Makeup Packaging

Glo & Ray Mariposa Golden Dunes Quartet Eyeshadow*  £12.50

These shadows look gorgeous in the pan and they scream Summer bronzed makeup to me. I love that sun-kissed beach look in the warmer months & this is the quad for achieving that look. The shadows are soft and easy to apply, the lightest cream shade is a little harder to work with and not very pigmented but it still gives you enough colour and brightens up the lid. The metallic grey shade is also quite light that doesn’t let this palette down as the gold & bronze shades are utterly gorgeous and are beautiful worn alone or as a more intense smokey eye.

I have been wearing the bronze shade on its own quite a lot with a touch of the lightest cream just in the inner corner. All the colours are long wearing and I found you can build them up without them looking powdery or getting fall out under the eye.  Packaging as I said is lovely and sleek, and there is a good sized mirror inside which is so handy.

Glo & Ray MakeupGlo & Ray Lipstick in Freeze

Glo & Ray La Amo Creamy Matte Lip Colour in Freeze* £12.00

This is a very pigmented matte nude lipstick. If you’re into the Kylie Jenner lip look which is popular at the moment then you will love this colour. It has a slight rosy tint to it which really warms up my face. Although it is matte it doesn’t feel drying, it has a slight sheen to it when you first apply it.

Lipsticks never wear very long on me but this lip colour did a great job of staying put & even after drinking a few cups of tea I had a good even coverage still on my lips. This wouldn’t have been a colour I would have picked for myself but I have to say I am converted to a nude lip now.  The packaging has a magnetic closure which is a nice touch and the sleek black packaging with simple white lettering looks grown up and expensive.

Glo & Ray Golden Dunes Eyeshadow QuadGlo & Ray Blush in Stardust

Glo & Ray Nuage Solo Blush in Star Dust£11.00

Well, I wasn’t expecting this to be as stunning as it is. It is a beautiful peachy pink with an iridescent finish. This will be my Spring / Summer blush of choice as it adds a fresh bright colour to the cheek which lifts your whole face and makes you look healthy and glowing.

The updated formula of our Nuage blush contains Refractive Crystals for a multi-dimensional look.

I think it is quite a good dupe for NARS Deep Throat Blush, although I think the Glo & Ray one is prettier. It is so buttery and pigmented, there is no shimmer in it so don’t worry about looking like a disco ball. This has been a gorgeous addition to my makeup bag & I want to try more of these solo blushes as they come in a pretty range of colours.

Glo & Ray Stardust Blush

L-R Star Dust Blush / Freeze Matte Lip Colour / Golden Dunes Quartet Eyeshadow

I think this is a brand to keep your eye on in 2015. I have seen quite a few reviews of their Balloon Pop Eyeliner Set & they look beautiful and pigmented. Let me know if you have tried anything from this brand and if you have any recommendations for products I should try.

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Boots Haul February 2015

Boots Haul February 2015

I had a voucher that I had been saving from Christmas & last week I finally spent it in Boots. I bought a few products I had wanted to try for a long time and I am excited to try everything.

Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner £6.00 – I’ve used this a couple of times since I bought it & I like how black it is & that the colour doesn’t fade throughout the day. It was easy to apply & I was able to get quite a precise liner look at well as a more dramatic winged effect. So far I like it, we will see how long it takes for it to dry out as often these felt tip liners dry out quite quickly and that can be annoying.

Collection Work The Colour Lip Butter £2.99 – I bought the colour Vintage Rose a few weeks ago & loved the formula & colour so much I had to go back and get another shade. I opted for Perfect Plum & its just as pretty. These are quite long wearing for a lip crayon and I like that they’re not too glossy or greasy on the lips. Don’t tell anyone but I am going to go back for the other colours too.

Soap & Glory Love at First Blush £11.00 – This multi colour blush just looked so pretty in the pan, its quite a bold shimmery blush (reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks) I’m thinking it will make a good Spring / Summer blusher highlighter duo combo, if you know what I mean. I might have to use a light hand as it is quite pigmented & shimmery. I don’t want to look too 80’s disco ball. Let me know if you have this & how it works for you.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water £4.99 – I didn’t know this came in three options. I’ve used the pink one before and really rate that so I had to try out this one which is targeted at Combination Skin. So far I like it, its gentle and does the job at removing stubborn eye makeup. I like how much product you get in these Garnier Micellar Waters & the price is good too. I always have a bottle in my skincare stash.

Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray – I’ve tried high end sea salt sprays & budget ones too & to be honest there is never much in it. This one was on offer for no more than £3 & I like Toni & Guy products so it came home with me. I like it, it gives texture to my wavy hair without making it feel crusty or dry. This is the small travel size bottle which I thought was cute.

L’Oreal True Match The Powder £8.19 – I know nothing about this powder but it looks good & I love the L’Oreal True Match Foundation. So in my mind that is a good enough excuse for buying it. I have the shade Rose / Beige. It feels finely milled and gives a little extra coverage. We will see how well it wears throughout the day over my foundation. Oh & the packaging has a good sized mirror & a brush thats not horrid.

L’Oreal Glam Bronzer – This is a two toned bronzer, you get a lighter highlighter shade & a deeper brown shade. I’ve not tried this yet but I am hoping it is like my beloved Soap & Glory Solar Powder which I use daily. Its the same concept but the brown / bronze shade in the L’Oreal looks like a better match for me. We will see. Again much like the True Match Powder the packaging has a mirror.

Soap & Glory Lid Stuff £10.00 – This quad in What’s Nude has been the one product I’ve wanted & never bought. I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to buy it. All four of the shadows are perfect colours for me, I love a neutral eye. I have been using this quad since I bought it & it does not disappoint. The quality is excellent and the colours work well together or you can wear them alone. I’m impressed and kicking myself for waiting so long, but now I have it I will be making full use of it & showing these shadows a lot of love.

Let me know what new purchases you’ve made this month & if you love or hate anything I have bought. I’m excited to try everything properly over the next few weeks.