January Beauty Favourites 2016

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 - Vicki 6 Comments

Inglot Freedom Palette

I have two Inglot Freedom Palettes, this is my 10 pan but I also have a 5 pan palette and I love them both. You get a magnetic board & can pick from so many colours to fill your palette. It took me ages to decide on the 10 colours for this palette but its my dream palette. The shadows are incredible quality, pigmented and great value for money. I think Inglot eyeshadows are amongst the best out there, I use this palette so often and its a really good one to travel with as its slim and you know that you like every shadow because you filled the palette yourself.

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blusher in Ecstasy

This has to be one of the most pigmented blushers I have ever used, to say you need very little product on your brush is an understatement. You get two beautiful cheek shades in this blush, the outer shade is a dark peachy pink with a pretty frosted finish, and the shade in the middle is a more true pink with the most gorgeous gold shimmer running through. I absolutely adore wearing it. The packaging is weighty, it looks and feels luxurious, with the added rose gold touches that Charlotte Tilbury includes making it look extra special.

PS Love Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon

You never know when buying more affordable products if they’re going to be any good but I am pleased to say this Velvet Matte Lip Crayon is pretty damn good. Its not too drying on my lips and the colour is really pretty, it is a deep raspberry plum shade which is one of my favourites to wear. Its pigmented and for a budget matte lip colour its surprisingly long wearing.

Max Factor Velvet Volume False Lash Effect Mascara*

I really like the plastic wand on this mascara, it helps coat every single lash and give the illusion I have considerably more lashes than I do. I wear two coats of this mascara which makes my lashes look long and fluttery, not heavy or weighed down. Your lashes still feel flexible even after a couple of coats – not brittle at all. Its a great mascara to have in my collection & I have worn it so much in January.

Chloé Eau de Parfum

I instantly fell for this perfume. Its a lot more of a feminine scent that I usually wear but OMG its beautiful. How cute is the bottle too? The perfume features top notes of Lychee, Freesia and Peony, middle notes of Lily of the Valley, Rose and Magnolia and base notes of Virginia Cedar and Musk. Its light scent but one that you can smell all day long and I think as the perfume settles on your skin throughout the day the becomes a lot more rich and smells so good. I only have the 30ml of this right now but I will be treating myself to the larger size as soon as its all used up.

INIKA Mineral Foundation

I like this because its lightweight and looks so natural on my skin, I use concealer as normal then sweep a light application of this all over my face with a kabuki brush. It gives a good amount of coverage and gives your skin that velvet smooth finish. I also like that it has SPF15 in & Its very easy to reapply throughout the day. It is a little messy to travel with but its a good everyday foundation and it won’t break you out. Also this pot has lasted me months & it doesn’t look like I have made a dent in it, there is so much product left. Its great value for money.

What have been your most used products this past month & have you used any of ones I have mentioned?

*PR Sample

Pixi by Petra Lash Primer & Mascara

February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 - Vicki 4 Comments

Pixi By Petra Lash Products

I first discovered Pixi about 10 years ago when they had a small stand in the Manchester Selfridges, since then I have been addicted to their makeup and skincare. They have so many fab products but I have never tried their mascara’s (until now). I have been using two of their newest releases – Black Lash Primer* and Lengthy Fibre Mascara* for the last couple of weeks and thought I best let you know how I am getting on.

Pixi By Petra Makeup

Pixi Black Lacquer Lash Primer £15

The first few times I used this it felt very wet and I made the mistake of applying too much & looked like I had spider lashes. Once I had got to grips with it & it had dried up a little I managed to make it work. This lash primer is jet black and I have to admit a couple of times I have worn it as a mascara & it looks pretty good.

It contains ingredients that condition your lashes – vitamin A, vitamin C and panthenol. This primer is a great first step in making my lashes look full and thick. I’m not sure it is a necessary step for everyday makeup but if you like your lashes to look long and your mascara to stay put all day its a product worth adding to your makeup bag.

Pixi Mascara

Pixi Lengthy Fibre Mascara £16

This is the product for people who like their lashes to have that false lash effect. It is jam packed with stretch fibres that add length and volume to your lashes in one sweep. I do have to wipe off the end of the wand before applying the Mascara because the fibres tend to gather there.

If you add two coats of this it will take your lashes to the next level – va va voom! Its definitely a product I would use on a night out, I tend not to wear false lashes (I’m hopeless at applying them) so this would give my lashes that effect without the hassle. This mascara contains Vitamin E, panthenol and chamomile which will strengthen and protect your lashes

These are two releases that will be perfect for anyone that likes their lashes to be Have you tried any Pixi products?

PR Sample

Eloquence Skincare Review

February 1, 2016 - Vicki 3 Comments

Luxury skincare brand Eloquence is a new brand to emerge onto the UK skincare scene and its already getting some fantastic reviews. Its a natural premium brand that’s dedicated to giving their customers the very best products with a real emphasis on value for money. So you’re getting products that are affordable and that deliver great results.

Eloquence products include the very best ingredients in their products, with a focus on anti-ageing, skin hydration and skin health. A common ingredient that features heavily through their range is Sachi Inchi Oil, its a superfood which comes from Peru and is found in seed form. Its known for its high levels of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids and its oil has a unique blend of

Omega 3 which helps to restore the skins elasticity
Omega 6 helps to combat skin dehydration
Omega 9 helps against premature ageing by intensely nourishing and protecting the skin from environmental stress.

Eloquence skincare comprises of a four step daily routine that is so easy to follow, each product comes in elegant green packaging with its step 1 – 4 clearly marked so this will help you keep your skincare steps in order. There is also a nourishing treatment oil which a multi use product.

Step 1 Purifying Facial Cleanser*

This is a refreshing cleanser thats infused with Sacha Inchi Oil, Cucumber and Coconut Extracts. So its gentle and extremely hydrating. I massage a small 5p sized amount on to dry skin then I dampen my fingers and massage for a further minute just to make sure I’m breaking down all my makeup & grime from the day, then I use a hot cloth. It removes my makeup with ease and it leaves my skin feeling lovely and smooth, soft and most importantly (for me) not tight or stripped of moisture.

Step 2 Firm and Tone Serum*

The Firm & Tone Serum with Glycerin and Coconut oil will illuminate the skin and give it a flawless appearance. Added Hyaluronic Acid will give a boost of Collagen, which will keep your skin plump, smooth and supple. This is an extremely lightweight serum & if you’re someone that worries about having too many steps in your routine or that the products feel heavy on your skin then this isn’t like that at all. I felt like it almost evaporated once it touched my skin (in a good way). It 100% left it feeling velvety soft and almost like it had a soft focus element to it. I adore this serum & I feel like its helped my skin beat the January blues.

Step 3 Firming and Moisturising Eye Gel*

The Firming & Moisturising Eye Gel targets dark circles and puffiness, and with added Hyaluronic acid will keep your eye area plump and will smooth out fine lines. It feels cooling when you first apply it and its not greasy at all but helps wake up my tired eyes each morning. I find my concealer sits well on top and a little goes a long way, the gel is so easy to pat in around the orbital bone. I am an eye cream addict and never go a day without using one, I have tried very few eye gels and I am smitten with this one. Its just so lightweight and nourishing.

Step 4 Protect and Repair 24hr Cream*

This cream can be used either am or pm (or both if you wish). It contains added Hyaluronic Acid making it an intensive moisturiser and UVA & UVB protection so your skin is protected from the harmful effects of the sun. Its a lovely moisturiser and I have found it helps keep my skin blemish free and also feeling supple. I like how it wears under foundation, as my base looks smooth all day. Its been a welcomed addition to my skincare regime and think this product from the range will appeal to people of all skin types and ages.

Nourishing Treatment Oil

This is one of those multi purpose products and I love those, this has been getting a lot of love these past few weeks. I have enjoyed massaging it into my dry cuticles just before I go to bed, I like to use the excess as a hand treatment and I wakeup to the softest healthy looking hands. Its instantly nourishing and it is an oil that absorbs quickly too. This product is blended with Coconut and Sweet Almond Oil which will help to Renew, Repair and Revitalise skin, hair and nails.

All Eloquence skincare products contain no Artificial Perfume or Colour, no Parabens, no Harsh Chemicals and are Cruelty Free, which makes them suitable for all skin types, even dry and sensitive skin areas.

This is a fantastic skincare brand and when I first started testing out these products at the start of the new year I didn’t for one minute think I would enjoy using them all. There is normally one product I like least or that didn’t really fit my needs but this skincare regime is simple, effective and jam packed full of ingredients that nourish, replenish and rejuvenate your skin. This is a brand to keep your eye on & if like me you enjoy skincare then you need to add these products to your shopping list asap.

Eloquence Skincare is available to purchase via their online shop

Cosmopolitan, The Fragrance

January 29, 2016August 25, 2017 - Vicki 1 Comment

Cosmopolitan The Fragrance*

This debut scent from Cosmopolitan comes beautifully packaged in a crisp white box with a pretty pink and orange bow. iIt looks simple and cute. The bottle itself is really pretty and the glass is almost ombre with shades of pink and orange, its a bottle that will look really nice sat out on your vanity. The glass is heavy and feels luxurious and it has a decorative cut glass effect lid.

The scent is very fruity and quite heady at first but it calms down to more of a mellow scent after a few minutes. It is going to be a very nice scent for the warmer months, it has notes of,

TOP: Pineapple, bergamot, cardamom, mandarin, nectarine and red berries.

MIDDLE: Saffron, heliotrope, night-blooming jasmine, pimento berries and carrot seed.

BASE: Tonka, Patchouli, musk, sandalwood, vanilla and caramel.

I love sandalwood and musk scents as these tend to be a little more masculine but paired with the more fruity scents it makes this fragrance quite complex and gives it a nice depth. I think this is a scent that people will really enjoy and people will be able to pick out different notes that they love.

The scent does last well on me and I can still smell it on my skin after many hours. I think its quite a fresh uplifting scent

Cosmo isn’t a brand I associate with fragrance but for their debut release I have to hand it to them, I really like it, its quite a sophisticated scent and it mellows into being really quite beautiful on the skin. Although the price point I think may be a little high. However it is an eau de parfum and the scent is long wearing. If you get chance to test it out in store, let me know what you think & if you’d say it was worth the price tag.