Affordable Essence Makeup

March 14, 2017March 16, 2017 - Vicki 2 Comments

Essence has to be my favourite affordable makeup brand, it is available in Wilko stores and my local store always has a fantastic well stocked stand. If you have never tried Essence before you’re missing out they do everything well and most products are under £5 oh and they’re Vegan and Cruelty Free.

I have been trying a few products that I think we more aimed at Valentine’s Day but hey you can wear a red lip / nail polish any time of year, right!

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in Tres Chic

I have to say these Long Lasting lipsticks from Essence are always a safe bet, great quality and they’re really pigmented on the lips. This Trés Chic shade is a brownish red, the colour is intense without being too vibrant. I like that this is a wearable red and this formula is creamy and comfortable on the lips, these are long wearing but I do like to reapply after I eat & drink just so the colour stays even and with these more bold colours I hate the thought of them going patchy. These are so affordable that I challenge you not to want to buy the whole collection (there are 12 shades) – I think my next purchase will be, 04 On The Catwalk

Essence Forbidden Volume Mascara

I have tried quite a few Essence Mascara’s over the years and my all time favourite has to be their Plump No Clump (great all-rounder) but it’s no longer available. This For-Bidden Volume one I have been testing out is OK for Volume as contains fibres but I also like my mascara to give my lashes fullness and this I feel just gives them length. The formula is long wearing and holds a curl so I am not disappointed with it I just like my mascara to add thickness to my sparse lashes as well as volume. I think I will try their Rock nDoll Crazy Mascara next.

Essence 2in1 Eyeliner Pen

Liquid liner is my jam, I use it almost daily and have road tested super expensive brands, budget friendly ones and everything in between and I have to say this double ended Essence liquid liner is pretty good. I do prefer the standard pen nib end (thin end), simply because I find it easier to use and less fiddly to use. I can get right up to my lash line and create a very precise flick whereas the thick line I find to be more of a novelty. If you’re not so confident in applying eyeliner then it is a good way of almost stamping an outline for your wing / flick and then going back in with the thin end to join everything up but I do not see myself using both ends.

This liner is black but I do go over it twice to get that intense deep black colour and it stays put, make sure you leave it a couple of minutes to dry before curling your lashes just so the colour doesn’t lift off. Great addition to my makeup bag.

Essence The Gel Nail Polish in Do You Speak Love

If there is one thing Essence are well-known for it is their Nail Polish & Nail Care Products. Their range is huge and always expanding. I own so many of their nail colours and their top coat is my Holy Grail. I have had this beautiful red shade on my toes for about 2 weeks now and it still looks great. It’s a pretty deep, dark red and it is opaque in 2 coats.

Let me know what Essence products you love and would recommend.

Essence Cosmetics is available in Wilko Stores nationwide.

New Fragrance For Spring 2017

March 13, 2017March 13, 2017 - Vicki 2 Comments

I think it is nice to switch up a few products in your routine when the seasons change, as it’s almost time to wave goodbye to Winter (thank god) and say hello to Spring I thought I would share with you two lovely new Spring launches. What are your favourite perfumes for Spring?

Michael Kors – Sexy Blossom*

So many people I talk too are surprised to hear that Michael Kors do more than handbags and clothing and that their makeup and fragrance are equally as lovely. This latest fragrance release from Michael Kors is one for Spring / Summer and comes packaged in a beautiful, sleek hot pink bottle with a pretty gold cap and Michael Kors EST. 1981 embossed on the lid. It looks and feels luxurious, as you would expect from this brand.

This is a sweet floral scent with a sexy musky twist, very much my kind of fragrance. It has notes of,

Top Notes of Lychee, Rose Petals and Dewy Leaves
Middle Notes of Pink Peony, Pink Orchid Accord, Muguet and Freesia
Base Notes of Ambrox, Musk and Sandalwood

I think this fragrance would appeal to so many people as its layered with a real mix of notes and as you wear it throughout the day it settles from being quite juicy and floral to being much more woody, musky and sexy. This would work well for day or night and I know I will get a lot of wear from it.

DKNY Be Tempted Eau So Blush*

These DKNY fragrances are so familiar in the iconic apple packaging, each year they release a few fun limited edition versions and for Spring 2017 they have released the Eau So Blush which is a beautiful fruity / floral offering. It has notes of,

Top Notes: Pink Grapefruit, Blood Orange, Magnolia, Red Currant
Heart Notes: Peony, Jasmine, Cedarwood
Base Notes: Creamy Woods, Apricot, Musk

I like that you get a burst of zesty citrus which calms to a more sweet floral scent, its going to be gorgeous for the warmer months. I think its a nice fragrance for the daytime as it is quite fresh and light and the scent is easy to wear. I like the soft blush pink bottle and the more metallic lid, its pretty and feminine without being too girly or young, it strikes a nice balance between playful and pretty.

I can’t wait for Spring and the warmer days, it is always nice to change up your scent with the seasons and both these new releases are ideal if you’re looking for a fresh, scent with a floral twist. What is your go to Spring scent?

*PR Sample

Ideal Girls Night In

March 10, 2017March 12, 2017 - Vicki Leave a comment

Tonight between 7.30pm – 8.30pm I will be taking part in a virtual Girls Night in With Ideal World & I’m inviting all of you to join me in discussing all things from the perfect party snacks to your top tanning tips. The Twitter chat will coincide with a 3 hour event live on the Ideal World TV Channel (so make sure you tune in to that throughout the night) as there will be exclusive deals across lots of beauty products.

Ahead of the #IdealGirlsNightIn I have been testing out some of Ideal Worlds offerings and I have said it before that if you’re a beauty addict like myself it is a great channel / shop for discovering new brands and products.

GelTouch Starter Kit £49.99 but will be £39.99 during the #IdealGirlsNightIn

One very exciting product that is launching on Ideal World tonight is the Gel Touch Starter Kit and Nail Polish Set. You can’t have a girly night in without doing each others nails and this kit will allow you to get salon quality gel nails at home. The Top Coat allows you to transform ANY nail polish into a GEL in only 60 seconds. So your nails will look cute and be dry in time so you don’t miss out on the popcorn! In the starter kit you get the Gel Touch 9W LED Lamp, Clear Top Coat and Gel Cleansing Wipes

Attitude Gel Touch Nail Polish Trio £17.99

As we are approaching Spring I think it is finally time to ditch the darker shades and opt for something a little more bright and fun on your nails. These Attitude nail polishes are a perfect selection of pinks and I will be painting my nails with the middle pink share & using the gel topcoat & LED lamp to make my manicure last that little bit longer. These trios are available in a few colour options, if pink isn’t your cup of tea.

Zhuzh! Tan Accelerator £15.99 (BOGO during the Ideal Girls Night In)

A good girls night in should 100% involve some fake tan, you can get your friends to help you get that all over even tan – in those hard to reach place like your back. Ideal World are quite well known for their Zhuzh tan enhancer products and I have used this Tan Accelerator before, it’s not a fake tan but and it is great at speeding up your natural tan. It works to stimulate your skin’s natural melanin levels & it comes in a handy spray bottle for fuss free application.

Skinn Collagenesis Lip Stem Rejen Elite

Skinn Cosmetics are a skincare and makeup brand sold on Ideal World, they have a wide selection of products to suit all skintypes. I have a lip serum which sounds like it will help keep my lips looking smooth and diminish those pesky fine lines. We often forget about our lips in our skincare routine and it will be nice to have a product focused on protecting and hydrating this area.

What is a girls night in without cosy socks, these super soft fluffy socks from Joules are perfect for relaxing and getting the Hygge feeling and of course I have some delicious Tyrrells Poshcorn & I may put a rather large mojito in my cute tumbler. Let the pamper begin!

I have spoken about Ideal World quite a few times on my blog but for those that are not familiar with them they’re a home shopping channel and you can watch them on the following platforms SKY 654, Freeview 22, Virgin 747, Freesat 812 and also via live stream at www.idealworld.tv

Also if you’re going to join in the with tonights chat make sure you’re following @IdealWorldTV and use the hashtag #IdealGirlsNightIn & they’re giving away goodies bags too.

*This post contains PR Samples

Five Under £5 For March 2017

March 7, 2017 - Vicki 6 Comments

I haven’t joined in with the Five Under £5 tag since last November, a combination of being busy and also I forgot all about it a couple of times too.So I got my butt in gear this month because I really missed taking part and there is nothing I like more that hunting out a bargain.

If you want to get involved and link up your monthly 5 Under £5 finds then head over to Julia’s blog at Rainbeaubelle and join in. It’s a lot of fun & you get to see all of the cute bargains that everyone finds, I always end up purchasing so many things from everyone else’s roundups.

The Little Paris Bookshop £4.49

One of my goals this year was to read more and 2 months into 2017 I have read 5 books, which is decent for me. I read The Little Paris Book Shop last month, I purchased it on Amazon for my Kindle and thoroughly enjoyed it and finished it super quickly. It is a story about love, loss and friendship. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures and if you have a romantic soul like me then you will love this story. It is mostly set on board a book barge in the centre of Paris and that in itself was enough to make me purchase this book. I love that the main character Jean Perdu doesn’t let people pick their own books, he chooses their books for them almost like a prescription from a doctor. It follows his journey to try and mend his broken heart and you’re taken along for the very scenic ride. I 100% recommend adding this to your reading list for 2017.

Primark Wild Orchid & Honey Room Diffuser £1

I use these in my small downstairs toilet, there is no window and I don’t like to leave a candle burning in there as I am worried I’ll forget its lit. So a diffuser is a great way of giving the room a lovely subtle scent. These Primark ones are so affordable and this scent isn’t too overpowering or synthetic.

Aldi Rattan Ball Fairy Lights £2.99

My friend Hayley bought these for me and I adore them. I like the colours and just how sweet they look in the evening when it’s gone dark outside. I like to have fairy lights around my house and my motto is you can never have too many! So thank you so much Hayley, these are going to get a lot of love. I’m not too sure if Aldi will still have these in stock as they’re Special Buys seem to sell out pretty quickly.

Essence Make Me Brow £2.50

I am super lazy when it comes to my brows and I like to use products that are quick and fuss free. I love the Benefit Gimme Brow but I don’t like spending when there are such decent dupes out there. This tinted brow gel from Essence is a fantastic dupe, I get the darkest shade and that is a very good match for my bows. It provides a good amount of colour and covers any sparse areas and I like that it keeps those unruly brow hairs in place too. The brush is small and helps you to be precise with the product and only £2.50 everyone should add this to their makeup bag. If you haven’t tried Essence Cosmetics yet you really need too, it is available in Wilko Stores.

Lidl Star Washi Tape 3 Rolls £1.99

Yes, yes we all know that I’m a washi tape hoarder but in my defence I have actually found a few uses for it and have started to use it in my Bullet Journal and also when decorating envelopes when writing to my lovely niece. So it is useful as well as pretty. I bought this pack from Lidl and they had a good selection of patterns and colours, I was quite restrained and only bought one pack, I liked the star patterns and bright colours so I am chuffed with this bargain.

Poundland Creative Colouring Book £1

This is an Easter gift for my niece. I bought her one from Amazon for Christmas and she really enjoyed it, so I was pleased to come across this more affordable one in the Poundshop. The pictures are really beautiful and the paper is good quality. I think there were 3 options to pick from and because she gets so much chocolate for Easter I thought I would be a little different and buy her something creative to do. I might have to colour in a page before I send it.

Let me know if you join in this month.

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