Thursday 14 July 2016

My Beauty Bible Collection

Today's post is something a little different to my usual posts, but is still very much beauty related. In addition to make-up, I have a deep love for beauty books or bibles as they are more commonly known. I think this has been passed on to me by my Mum who originally owned two out of the five books in my collection and also has these type of bible/coffee table books for home décor and fashion. Another reason as to why I love beauty bibles is they are wonderfully visual. As a creative, particularly with layout and design, I could get lost in the way products and people are shot and laid onto a page. It presents the images as more than just accompaniments to the informative text, they are their own art form within this book. I thought I would do a post about my beauty bible collection because they span over 20 years and show how beauty trends have changed, but tips and techniques are still very similar to today.

The oldest book in my collection is Bobbi Brown Beauty: The Ultimate Beauty Resource by Bobbi Brown and Annemarie Iverson. There are three Bobbi Brown beauty bibles in my collection (clearly my Mum was a fan!) yet they are all different from each other. This book really is what it says on the tin, there are no defined demographics. Everyone and everything is catered for. The book starts off with beauty, skin and body care basics and how to find your own beauty style. It then dedicates chapters to different steps in your make-up routine such as your base, eyebrows, eyes and lips. In the latter half of the book, there is a chapter dedicated to every woman of every ethnicity, for every eventuality such as black-tie, bridal, pregnancy, chemotherapy and mature beauty. I've actually just noticed there is a chapter for men and male grooming! This book really is the ultimate beauty resource. The information in the book is ultimate as well with real advice about real situations. What kind of make-up to wear to an interview or for the camera whether it be a photoshoot, television or video. There is also advice for beauty counters and how not to be a victim to eager sales people, which I feel is something all women of all ages can feel the pressure of. Whilst this book is around 20 years old, the beauty advice is timeless.
The next oldest beauty bible in my collection is Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty: Everything You Need To Look Pretty, Natural, Sexy & Awesome, again by Bobbi Brown and Annemarie Iverson. This was actually a gift from my Mum when I started to take an interest in make-up. I remember we were in a department store and looking at the Bobbi Brown counter, she spotted this book and asked me if I would like it to learn how to do my make-up. I would hazard a guess that I have had this book for around 10-12 years and flicking through it now, I still think it is a great book for a young girl/woman who is figuring out make-up. It's a very sensible guide with sensible advice that makes sure girls are age-appropriate yet still are able to have fun with make-up, as it should be! One thing about the book that I love is the many 'before and after' shots of ordinary teenage girls where you see them made up but not over-done. I think this is very comforting to young girls (it was to me anyway) to see other teenagers their age looking good in minimal make-up.
The third and final Bobbi Brown beauty bible in my collection is called Bobbi Brown Living Beauty from 2007. Flicking through this book, I think this is definitely geared towards the forty-something women (which makes sense as this was originally bought by my Mum). The content of this book is definitely geared towards anti-aging, menopause etc. which isn't necessarily my ideal demographic but one day it will and until then, it is still nice to flick through the pages of this book.
The final two books were both gifts from family members last Christmas. The first is a very popular release from famous celebrity make-up artist, Lisa Eldridge. What is different about her book which I absolutely love (having studied History too at university) is that the content is focused on the history of make-up, rather than advice. It looks at both ancient and modern make-up muses and the traditions of make-up with breathtaking photography to visually illustrate the content. It then progresses into the business of beauty as we know it now. When I re-decorate my room, I'd love to display this book on a shelf because I think it is so visually stunning that it deserves its own space.
Secondly and lastly is The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible by Sarah Stacey & Josephine Fairley. I must admit, as much as I do love some good acids in my skincare I do enjoy going down the completely natural route for some beauty needs. This book has a ton of DIY face masks, foot sprays, teeth whiteners, tinted lip balms and more if you are feeling particularly fancy. I love the ability to customise products to your needs with DIY beauty and these can also make wonderful gifts for friends and family. The recipes allow you to learn about the properties of natural ingredients as well as understanding what it means when a company says their products are organic. Another part of this book that I love are the quick product reviews within the chapters and as this book was published fairly recently, the products are still available for purchase.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about my beauty bible collection! Let me know in the comments about your favourite beauty bibles and any great advice they have given you.

P x

Tuesday 12 July 2016

First Impressions | EX1, L'Oréal, Bourjois & More!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! If you have become accustomed to the routine here on my blog and YouTube channel, you may know that is it new video day! Yay! However if you are completely new then, Hello! I'm Paris and I make new videos on Tuesdays and a blog post on Thursday's. Today's video is quite a good watch (if I must say so myself). I recently have bought a few new to me products both online and in my local Superdrug and I thought I would do a first impressions video; showing you the application and how the products wear throughout the day. 


The products that I use in the video for the first time are:
  • L'Oréal Infallible Mattifying Primer
  • EX1 Invisiwear Foundation in F100
  • Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer in Light Ivory
  • MaxFactor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in Bronze
  • Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara in Black
There were several instances during filming that really made me question how I was going to edit this into something remotely smooth or even putting this up at all. Both of my batteries ran out of charge, I had to change memory cards, I put too much eyeshadow on and looked a bit OTT so had to wipe it off and then both of my batteries ran out of charge AGAIN. Nevertheless, I have managed to string it together so I would really appreciate it if you would give it a watch, it's about 10 minutes long so grab a drink, a biscuit and get comfy! Oh and please do subscribe whilst you are there! Thanks! :)

Let me know if you have tried any of these products and what you thought of them!

P x


Thursday 7 July 2016

Wantfeed Beauty Wishlist | July

Hello again, lovely people!

Today's post is a small peek into my very large make-up shopping list! I keep several lists on my phone of products I want to buy from Sephora in Europe, the U.S., online and in stores in the UK. I thought it would be fun to share some of the products on my lists with you fellow beauty obsessives, share suggestions for products and inadvertently make each other spend more money on make-up than we initially intended to! Can one ever have too much make-up? Never.

I have decided to house my wishlist on Wantfeed because I believe it is a great tool to store your favourite products in a visual way so that other people can see them and your nearest and dearest will always know what to get you. If you do not watch the Michalaks, Stef is the creator of Wantfeed and you can watch their weekly vlogs here. They are a cute family with great ethics and values, plus their content quality is consistently fantastic and one of the best I've seen on YouTube in a long time.

To view these products and many others on my Wantfeed, click here.


Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Mascara
Why I want it: You may have seen the promo for this product a few weeks ago but in case you haven't, it showed before and after images of this mascara on a model's lashes and it was impressive to say the least. I do not own anything from Charlotte Tilbury (believe me, I'd love to!) but this mascara really caught my eye. I'm a mascara junkie and I used to love the YSL Effet Faux Cils, begging my Dad to buy me it from duty free when he would go away on business trips. I love long and thick lashes and I feel like this one from Charlotte Tilbury could really deliver. I also don't think £25 is too bad a price to pay for what seems to be a very quality product. 

Original Beauty Blender
Why I want it: I purely want to try out this beauty sponge because a) everyone and their mother talks about this in the beauty community and b) I have and love the Miracle Complexion sponge from Real Techniques. I just want to compare the technologies and see if it really is worth all of the hype!

MAC Fix+ Mist
Why I want it: This is, again, a beauty blogger driven want but I do love a good setting spray for finishing my make-up with and giving my eyeshadow more pigment, especially with the more metallic shades. I think I will end up buying the travel size first, then move on to the full size if I really like it. My question is: If you use it every day for example, how long does a full size bottle last? 

E.L.F. Studio Bronzer in 'Warm Bronzer'
Why I want it: I saw this featured in one of Tati's (GlamLifeGuru) Hot or Not videos on the brand E.L.F. I'm really into bronzers at the moment (appropriate, seeing as it is summer!) but I love given my extremely fair skin a healthy dose of colour. Given the extremely affordable price of this, I thought I couldn't pass it up!

Zoeva Nude Spectrum Palette
Why I want it: I have mentioned before my love for my Zoeva Cocoa Blend eyeshadow palette, I talked about it in my June Favourites video here. The quality of these shades has ignited a flame now where I want to try more of their products. 

E.L.F. Baked Eyeshadow in 'Enchanted'
Why I want it: A few weeks ago I was perusing Pinterest at beauty dupes between affordable and high-end products and I spotted that this eyeshadow is a dupe for the Jaclyn Hill X Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop. Now that product is on my Christmas list for this year but I'd like to try this supposed dupe, you know, as an experiment ;)

Physician's Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara
Why I want it: This is another product endorsed by Tati who for as long as I have been watching her has raved about this mascara. Physicians Formula is not a brand we can get in the UK, but I have found a website called iHerb that sells the brand and ships to the UK! I'm definitely going to be buying several items from this brand in addition to this mascara.

Make-Up Revolution Ultra Contour Palette
Why I want it: As I've been obsessing over bronzers over the last few weeks, I've been reaching less for my contour products and not picking them up in store either. However, I've really been missing adding definition to my face. I really like the palettes from Make-Up Revolution; the Hot Spice Blush palette is my every-day go-to for blush, they are great quality for the price so I think it is time to give the brand another visit next time I am in Superdrug.

So there is my Wantfeed Wishlist for July! Let me know if you have tried any of these products, letting me know what you think and also what is on your wishlist for this month!

P x

Tuesday 5 July 2016

June Beauty Favourites! (+ NEW VIDEO!)

Hello there, lovely people!

So another month has passed and we are now over half way through the year. Yes I know, I can't quite believe it either. Nevertheless with any end of the month in the beauty blogger world, we gather together our beauty gems from the past month and tell other beauty obsessives why we love them and why they need to buy them ASAP. There are no guesses as to what I am going to be talking about today in this post so I might as well just jump in and tell you what I've been loving in June.
L'Oréal Glam Bronze Cushion De Soleil

This cushion bronzer was released at the same time as the highly anticipated Nude Magique Cushion foundation by L'Oréal. It is a wonderful amalgamation of innovative technology and a cult product everyone wants at this time of year. This is neither a powder or cream formula, it is more of a liquid that is so ridiculously easy to use. When blending onto the skin it doesn't disrupt the base underneath, it just adds a beautifully even veil of bronze. An absolute must-have in your make-up bag for a holiday or vacation.

http://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Face/Bronzer/L%27Oreal-Cushion-De-Soleil-Bronzer/p/700820

L'Oréal Glam Bronze La Terra Face & Body Sun Powder 02

A perfect multi-purpose product for summer. This HUGE bronzer from L'Oréal (they are killing it with bronzers this year) is seriously pigmented so do go in with a light hand and a tap of your bronzer brush before you sweep this onto the face. However if you are wanting to bronze up the body as well, I would say you don't really have to worry about this because you want it to show up. The texture of this product is ironically not very powdery at all, it feels very smooth which is great for blending into the skin seamlessly. Another bonus: it smells like holidays! *heart emoji*

http://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Face/Bronzer/L%27Oreal-Glam-Bronze-La-Terra-Tribal-Powder-Natural-Capri-6ml/p/461701?singleResultSearchPage=true

Sleek Make-Up Solstice Highlighting Palette

If you haven't heard of this product yet... Where have you been?! It seems the entire beauty community have been loving this product in the last few weeks and it's not hard to see why. I haven't picked up any other highlighter this month because this just gives me all I would need in that department. The pigment of the 4 shades in the palette are so incredible for the price and you are really able to tailor the intensity of your highlight to your tastes. I'm really into a very glowing look right now so you can imagine how heavy I go in with this.

http://www.superdrug.com/Sleek/Sleek-MakeUP-Highlighter-palette-Solstice-9g-32/p/576803?singleResultSearchPage=true

Make-Up Revolution Ultra Blush Palette in Hot Spice

This palette is more than just a favourite of June, it's a favourite from many months. It's the only palette I reach for for blush and it's only £6! Less than a £1 pound a blush! Each blush pan has great pigment to it and a real variety of shades that are great on their own but also mixed with each other on your blush brush. I personally reach for the 3 more muted tones on the left hand side of the palette as you look at it. I do sometimes dip into the more orangey shade amongst them to add a bronzed feel to my blush. If you're a little intimidated by blush and are not sure which shade to go for, I'd highly recommend this palette for experimenting.

http://www.superdrug.com/Makeup-Revolution/Makeup-Revolution-Ultra-Blush-Palette-Hot-Spice/p/246717?singleResultSearchPage=true

Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette

If you love your warm toned eyeshadows both matte and shimmery, look no further. I have been loving this palette from Zoeva this month as the gorgeous shimmery shades always add a bit of something special to any eye look. The packaging of this palette also makes it great for travel and the creaminess of the shades means application is easy and the pigment isn't compromised.

http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/zoeva/cocoablendpalette/

Essence Lip Liner in '11 In The Nude'

This lip liner is my new everyday go-to for my lips. I struggle sometimes to find a nude that is a true nude. I don't like anything too mauve-toned nor do I like very terracotta tones either. Geez I sound very high maintenance with my lip colours, don't I? Nevertheless, I had heard great things about this liner so for the super low low cost, I decided to pick it up. Such a great true nude on my lips and surprisingly creamy given the price. I'd definitely recommend it if you love your nude lips.

(I can't seem to find a link to buy this liner, best to check in Wilkinson's stores!)

Gosh Velvet Touch Lip Liner in '001 Nougat Crisp'

The struggle with getting ahold of this lip liner was real. I waited 2 months for this to come back into stock both in store and online, after which I soon gave up hope. Until I was browsing the Superdrug website and saw it in stock AND half price! Now that I have this in my life now, I can't seem to put it away when I'm going out for dinner or drinks (or both!). It stays on the lips really well and I do really love the colour. It is leaning towards the mauve-y end of the spectrum more than the Essence one but I still really love it.

http://www.superdrug.com/GOSH/Gosh-Velvet-Touch-Lip-Liner-Nougat-Crisp/p/281255 

Look Good Feel Better Powder Brush

I have written a blog post already on Look Good Feel Better brushes and the wonderful work they do and support they provide to those dealing with cancer, particularly the side affects. You can read that post here. I have continued to love this brush for a multitude of reasons in June. Predominantly I use it to blend all of my base powder products (blusher, bronzer, translucent powder) together to remedy any harsher than I'd like lines. I do also use it to dust away any 'baking' I do under the eyes or on my chin. If you are in need of some new brushes, take a look at LGFB.

http://www.boots.com/en/Look-Good-Feel-Better-Powder-brush_1691017/

And that is it for another month! I hope you have enjoyed reading this post, or even watching the video! Let me know what your favourites were from the month of June in the comments under this post.

If you want to check out my June Favourites video over on my YouTube channel, click the video below.



P x

Thursday 30 June 2016

Purple & Bronze Halo Smokey Eye | Make-Up Tutorial

Hello again! A slightly different post from me today- a video! I know I haven't created any content for my YouTube channel for many months but recently I've really missed the process of filming and editing. I've also had quite a few ideas for videos popping into my head and in particular make-up tutorials. These aren't the type of videos I have usually filmed for my channel before and I'm not really too sure why as I love watching them and I love doing my make-up off camera in my day-to-day life. I'm also constantly pinning different looks on Pinterest to try out to break me away from my beloved neutral tones both on the eyes and lips. 

For this look that is now on my YouTube channel for you to watch here, I wanted to create a really warm toned smokey eye with my Zoeva Cocoa Blend eyeshadow palette that I've been playing with off camera for about 6 months. It was a gift from my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas and I truly love it so much. It's my go-to palette when I want to warm up my eyeshadow and add a bit of glamour with the seriously creamy and pigmented metallic shades. If you haven't already tried out this palette (which is also great value for money at £18!) I highly recommend you pop it in your basket or on your birthday or Christmas list. 

I'd love it if you gave my video a watch and left a comment (say that you've come from my blog!) and if you are a YouTube fan like myself, subscribe to my channel so you know when I next upload. Spoiler alert: It's next week!

P x

Saturday 11 June 2016

The Body Shop's New Piñita Colada Range | Review

I've been a big fan of The Body Shop for many years now. I actually had my make-up done when I was 16 for my prom in one of their stores and I loved the look they did for me. Since then I've tried quite a few of their products and I can't think of one off the top of my head that I didn't like. The Body Shop is always one of the stores I tell people to go to if they want to buy me or someone else something for a birthday or for Christmas because there truly is something for everyone. 

When I saw what their latest release was I was so excited because it really is and will be the perfect addition to our summer beauty routines. Pina Colada's are also my all-time favourite cocktail so I had to give it a go. I bought the body butter and cream body scrub as a set in store when I was in London celebrating my birthday for £16. This is such a great deal and one that I would tell anyone interested in the range to pick up because the value and savings are fantastic. In the set, you get full size pots of the two products which retail separately at £15 for the scrub and £14 for the body butter. So depending on which one of the two you wanted, for a £1-2 more, you can get both and save £13! It is seriously a no-brainer and I really hope you are able to grab one of these sets! Another great bonus I received was that I was given £5 off my total for my birthday as part of their loyalty card scheme. So if it is your birthday this month, pop into store with your card and your products and you can make even more of a saving!
Now onto the products themselves, I'll start with the order that I would use them. As I'm getting back into my tanning routine, a good and abrasive body scrub is essential to get rid of dead skin before tan and left over tan when it's time to re-apply. Even if you aren't into fake tan, a good body scrub is great to have on hand anyway during the warmer months to help our bodies look and feel fabulously soft. The interesting thing about this Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub from the Piñita Colada range is that is a different formula to what I have used before. You can usually find salt and sugar body scrubs very readily now and whilst they are great, they can sometimes be a little too abrasive for some of us. I don't have particularly sensitive skin but I do like how this body scrub is very gentle on the skin and the creaminess of the formula seems to nourish as well as efficiently remove the dead skin. I think this body scrub is a great alternative to the traditional ones and of course it smells PHENOMENAL. The Body Shop absolutely nails scents in their body products so it's no surprise but seriously if you haven't smelt it yet, get to a store now! 

The Body Butter is equally wonderful. The Body Shop are well known for these products and they have such a variety of scents available that even if you aren't loving this range, there will definitely be one you do love. This product glides onto the skin like a dream and doesn't take ages to absorb either. On a day to day basis, I am not a fan of body butters/creams/lotions that take an age to sink in and having to walk around with my legs and arms out like a starfish. What I love about this product is that it is much creamier and fluid than other body butters I have tried from The Body Shop. Sometimes with body butters, I find I need to warm it up in my hands to get it to really spread evenly especially on the fronts of my legs where I do have particularly dry skin. This body butter doesn't need that at all which makes it great for quickly applying if you are in a rush and need a quick fix. The scent also lingers on the skin wonderfully so you'll be smelling sweet for hours. Great if you forget to sprits some perfume!

There are also 2 other products available from the range; a shower gel and a body sorbet. These could be even better for travel as they come in bottles and tubes rather than tubs. The body sorbet is also a much fresher and lighter boost of moisture which might be more suitable for warm and more humid climates. So if you have a holiday coming up, it might be worth popping these in your case. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, let me know what you think of this range and also what your absolute favourite products are from The Body Shop! To find more information about the range, click here.

P x 

Wednesday 8 June 2016

What I Got For My Birthday | 2016

So a few weeks ago, I celebrated my 23rd birthday. As I've got older, I've become much more relaxed with celebrating and with what gifts to ask my family for. When I was a teenager, I used to write a rather lengthy and comprehensive list of gifts and then I'd delegate them to different family members. It was my sure-fire way of getting everything I wanted. As I typed that last sentence, I realised how much of a brat that made me sound. I'm not, I promise! Now that I'm in my twenties, I get very lazy about my birthday and this year was no different. I had no list and no ideas about what I wanted. All I really wanted was to spend time with my family and boyfriend and go out for nice meals.

However, my chilled out vibes were not appreciated by my family and boyfriend. As I didn't have a list or express any desire for anything for my birthday, they had no idea what to get me. Nevertheless, they didn't disappoint; I was still extremely spoilt by them and I'm very grateful for everything they got me. 
A few days before my birthday I was talking to my brother on Whatsapp and he asked me if I had any ideas. I was also scrolling through some of the blogs that I read and it sparked an idea of some books that I wanted to read. I reeled off a few of the titles in a message to him and he replied saying he had placed an order on Amazon. These were Tyler Oakleys book 'Binge', Amy Poehler's book 'Yes Please' and Sophia Amoruso's '#Girlboss'. I didn't think anything more of it until the Amazon parcel came to my house and it was extremely heavy! When I came to open it, he had ordered all of the books I had suggested! I was gobsmacked. I was only expecting to receive one or two of them at most! So needless to say, my reading list is looking rather well stocked for quite a while! 
Most of my family and friends know that I am a make-up obsessive so I usually get something beauty-related for my birthday (and Christmas, too!) which is never a bad thing in my books. I actually got quite a variety of beauty goodies for my birthday this year. In addition to the books, my brother also got me the Sleek Solstice Highlighter Palette. This absolutely gorgeous highlighter quad has been doing the rounds of both beauty blogs and beauty YT channels. I'm obsessed with highlighting my skin at the moment so when I saw this amongst my books, I was extremely excited and used it straight away. Spoiler alert: this highlighter is so bright, I'm sure Tim Peake can see it all the way from the International Space Station. 

I am also waiting for another gift to arrive from my Mum. She usually always knows what to get me for my birthday but this year she was really stuck. However this was only until we were watching QVC beauty (which we do quite regularly) and the presenters were talking about some Tarte products. I piped up and said I really liked the look of the new Tartelette in Bloom 2 eyeshadow palette that I've seen a few of my favourite YouTubers rave about. There and then she ordered it from the QVC website but it is currently on a wait list so it could be anything up to 3 months until this beauty arrives on my doorstep. My Dad gifted me a MAC gift card because I've been banging on for months about how I want to buy myself some MAC make-up. It seems whenever I go into a MAC store, I have every intention to buy something but I get so intimated by the selection of products and the staff never really seem too willing to help at all. Does anyone else feel like that? I'm going to do the smart thing and save my gift card for when I have a good list of products that I've researched and feel confident in going in and buying in one fair swoop. If you are well-versed in MAC, what are your favourite products? Let me know!

Whilst I was in London celebrating my actual birthday with my boyfriend, I did also treat myself to some Soap & Glory goodies. I picked up the Thick & Fast Flash Extensions Effect Mascara, Kick Ass Concealer Crayon and the Sexy Mother Pucker Extreme Lip Plumper. I am still giving them a good road test but they will definitely feature on my blog soon. 
Now I'm not going to be talking about every single gift I was given because this post would be very long and potentially very boring for some of you. So I will finish off this post with some of the gifts that my boyfriend got me. He said that he really struggled with what to get me but I think he did a great job and I loved every single one. I'm a big Kardashian/Jenner fan and I had often mentioned that I wanted a Lumee phone case that they all have. However, I didn't think I'd mentioned it enough that he thought to get it for me and when I unwrapped it, I screamed and instantly sent a picture of it to my friend Emily. She's also a Kardashian fan. I'm so happy with it and I love being able to take good selfies when its dark. He also got me Cards Against Humanity which is a seriously offensive but hilarious game that I have been desperate to get my hands on and play for MONTHS. I've even watched game plays of it on YouTube just to feel part of a game! I'm so excited to play this with my friends because we all have a similar dark sense of humour. However, I don't think this will be making an appearance at Christmas as I don't think my Nan & Grandad would approve. 
I hope you have enjoyed this post and seeing some of the things I got for my birthday. I'm so grateful to my family and boyfriend for all of my lovely gifts- I'm a very lucky girl. If it was your birthday recently, leave a comment and let me know what you were gifted!

P x 

Sunday 5 June 2016

Look Good Feel Better Brush Review

My make-up addiction does not just include the products I put onto my skin, but also what I put them on with. Over the years I have amassed quite the make-up brush collection and am always on the look-out for ones that could trump my current favourites. However, they are all my favourites really and I love experimenting and finding different uses for them than what they may have been originally designed for. My collection compromises of mostly Real Techniques and Zoeva brushes, however I had heard about another make-up brush brand that has a slightly different background.
Look Good Feel Better is the only worldwide cancer charity that provides practical support for women struggling with the side effects of cancer. They have been hosting workshops and masterclasses since 1994 and to date have helped provide support for nearly 114,500 women in the UK. Their workshops and masterclasses are free to attend and feature a specially-designed routine that teaches basic skincare and make-up techniques to help cancer patients look good and feel better. In order to support the charity, Look Good Feel Better work with other companies who provide financial support, product donations, professional expertise and more. To see a full list of these companies, click here.

In order to support the charity in another avenue, Look Good Feel Better developed a 12-piece professional quality brush set alongside the expertise of brush specialists Bespoke Europe. They are hand-made with super-soft taklon bristles which make them allergy-free, cruelty-free and suitable for sensitive skin. The best part about them is that with every sale of a brush or set, a 8-12% donation goes straight to Look Good Feel Better.

I have bought 3 Look Good Feel Better brushes over the last few months and I absolutely adore them. My first purchase was the Angled Contour Brush, followed by the Angled Blending Brush and then my most recent addition has been the Powder Brush. The quality of these brushes across the board is phenomenal for the price and they have become my favourite ones to use for certain steps in my make-up routine.
The Angled Contour Brush is my favourite for applying and blending contour and cream bronzers. The bristles are densely packed enough that you can control the placement of the product and soft enough that buffing product into the skin is extremely comfortable. I don't have particularly sensitive skin but I can imagine that for those with sensitive skin (whether you've had cancer treatment or not), this brush is extremely comfortable to work with and feels very luxurious. The cut of the bristles is also very good for keeping contour or bronzer exactly where you want it with the longer bristles can help blending it seamlessly into the skin.
The Angled Blending Brush was a real experiment for me when using it. I believe it was designed to blend eyeshadow in the crease but I couldn't make that work for me. However, I was not deterred on finding a perfect use for this brush and I tried it out with blending my concealer as I felt that the densely packed bristles would help buff product into my skin without sheering it out too much. My oh my am I glad I tried this out, it's such a perfect match for me. The softness of the bristles also helps to ensure that I do not pull at the delicate skin around my eyes.

The Powder Brush is my newest addition and I actually cannot stop touching it. As the bristles are longer, there is slightly more movement in the brush as you use it and it glides over the skin like silk. I've lost count how many times during the writing of this blog post I have picked up this brush just to stroke it.
When it comes to the maintenance of these brushes, the quality of them shows when you wash them. I use either baby shampoo or Dr. Bronner's hand soap to clean my brushes and these lathered nicely and didn't lose their shape at all when they dried. As with all brushes, be careful to not get soap or water in the base of the bristles as this can soften the glue and they will start to shed.

I would highly recommend Look Good Feel Better brushes to anyone looking for some new make-up brushes as they help a great charity who provide invaluable support to thousands of women and the quality of them is fantastic. The brushes are available from selected Boots stores and online, feelunique.com, lookfantastic.com and beautyexpert.com. I purchased two of these brushes from TK Maxx and I was curious to find out whether the charity still receive a donation when their brushes are being sold at a lower price than the RRP. I emailed the company about this and they responded the very next morning that reassured me that the charity receives from the initial purchase of any item no matter where they are being sold. Therefore if you are a TK Maxx lover like me and see these brushes for sale, you don't have to hesitate about buying them. TK Maxx have essentially made the donation for you and you get to take home professional quality products for an even more affordable price.

If you'd like to learn more about the charity, their workshops or the make-up brushes, you can click here. International make-up artist Caroline Barnes features in a video for LGFB where she introduces the collection and the best way to use them which you can view here.

I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on some of the brushes from this collection and the great work the charity does in supporting women with the side affects of cancer.

P x

Thursday 2 June 2016

When Customer Service Is Done Right | Liz Earle

If you follow me on Twitter, you would have seen that extremely flattering photo of myself looking slightly more rosy-hued than normal. What had happened to my skin was a result of a reaction to Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, a product I had my using almost every day for about two months. Although my skin looks otherwise, it was not sore to the touch or tight in any way. There was just incredible heat radiating from my face and red blotchiness all over. To make things somewhat more of a challenge, I had to go out for dinner an hour after I took this photo, so needless to say some heavy coverage foundation was called in to service.

#nofilter

I tweeted the photo to Liz Earle and I didn't have to wait long for a response. The wonderfully professional Hannah requested me to direct message her to discuss the issue, which I did and I was so impressed with how the whole situation was dealt with. As the picture looks much more severe than what it felt like, Hannah was very keen to speak to me and understand how and why this could've happened, especially as I had been using this product almost every day. The next day I spoke to her on the phone and she asked me some questions about the product itself such as the batch number, where I bought it from and how long I have been using it. She then offered to give me a full refund on the product but I politely declined because I truly love the product and wanted to give it one more chance. Completely understanding, Hannah said I could give it another go and if it happened again or similar I would still be able to receive a full refund. The icing on the top of this cake was when Hannah took my details and said she would pop a little something in the post for me as a goodwill gesture for what had happened. How lovely?! Sure enough, a full size bottle of Rosemary & Rock Rose Hand Repair was delivered to my doorstep. It is a lovely product and I'm so grateful. During our conversation, I wanted to reassure her that I was not angry or deterred by the incident and I still want to explore the brand and try other products. More than anything, I was just confused by what had happened because I used the cleanser almost every day. Interestingly, I have continued to use the cleanser and I have had no problems at all.


So why am I writing this blog post? I've seen many YouTube videos or blog posts dedicated to slating a beauty brand for how they deal with a customer query. Now these complaints may be completely warranted as no person nor brand are perfect but as important I think it is to be honest when we have a bad experience, it is equally important to praise a brand and an individual when they provide outstanding customer service. So thank you to Hannah and to Liz Earle for showing how customer service should be done. 

Let me know if you've had great customer service from a beauty brand in the comments below; it's important to highlight great work too! If you are a lover of Liz Earle products, also leave a comment as I'd like to try more from the brand.

Friday 18 March 2016

My Make-Up Bag MVP's

We all have our staple products that absolutely, 100%, no questions asked have to be in our make-up bag on a day to day basis and when you don’t have them, things can feel a little less streamlined. When I was doing my make-up the other day, I noticed that I really only gravitate to particular items in my collection, despite having many other options available. These are the products that make my favourite looks effortless, quick and most importantly, thebomb.com. So here is a little insider into my make-up bag MVP’s…


Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

I’ll get the obvious out of the way as I know everyone loves this product. When I first started using this a few years ago, I didn't fall in love with it as an all-round concealer so I set it aside for just covering up any spots or pigmentation left behind from spots. I also felt that the finish of it was a tiny bit too cakey for my liking. However, fast forward those few years and here I am, loving this product and not wanting to be without it. There are several reasons behind my change of heart. Firstly, I think my skin has changed over the years and it know seems to respond well to the formula. I used to use quite harsh products on my skin that stripped it of the natural oils and made parts of it very dry. Secondly, how I apply and blend the product into my skin has changed. I use this product very sparingly on spots as a little does really go a long way with this and for my eyes I focus more of the product on the very inner corners, and then apply a lighter swipe underneath towards the outer. Since discovering the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (maybe I should’ve feature this in this post as well…), this is the only tool I will use to blend in my concealer. I dampen it under the tap and then bounce it on my face and it takes away any excess and creates a beautiful finish to the skin. 


Maybelline Master Ink Matte Liquid Liner

This is hands down the best product I have ever used to create winged eyeliner. I discovered this product whilst I was on the look-out in Superdrug for a matte formula because I don’t like a glossy finish to my liner and don’t want to have to always apply a matte black eyeshadow over the top every time. The applicator of this liner is great too, with a fibre tip that tapers into a perfect thin point that allows you to get a nice thin line on the inner corner. The staying power for this is great too. I’ve already converted my friend to it who says she loves it so if you are looking for a new liner to try, I would highly recommend checking out this one. 

(Note: When finding the links, these websites weren't very clear about the finishes... It's the matte one I am talking about in this post!)

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

I’ve talked about this mascara before on my blog so I won’t harp on too much… Although didn’t I just say that about the Collection concealer? This is a wonderful mascara and I am always recommending it to my friends and family who are looking for a new mascara. I particularly love this mascara when it has had some time to dry out a little bit. Too wet of a mascara formula can sometimes make my lashes stick together and not look very defined at all. If you want volume, length and curl, give this a go. 


Maybelline Brow Satin in Mahogany Red

The last Maybelline product that I will harp on about in this post… but seriously, they kill it with eye and brow products! This dual ended brow product is my holy grail for doing my brows. It has a wax tip for creating and defining the shape of your brow and the powder for sets the wax into place and intensifies the colour. As a redhead, I have always found it a bit difficult to find the best brow colour that isn’t too ashy but the shade ‘Mahogany Red’ complements my hair colour and complexion perfectly!


L’Oreal Collection Privée Lipstick in Cheryl’s Nude

Sadly discontinued from the L’Oreal shelves, I am now rationing the last few wears and looking for a dupe of this lipstick. It’s a great nude option and it isn’t too nude that it sucks the life out of my skin. The formula is very creamy and has a satin finish with a hint of a sheen. Maybe one day L’Oreal will bring this one back…

Real Techniques Multi-Task Brush

I have several foundation brushes in my collection yet, I always come back to this one. I believe it was created for applying powder products such as blush, bronzer or powder but I think it is great for getting an effortless and quick application of cream foundations. The fluffy and slightly tapered brush hairs make it buffing motion very mobile, unlike very densely packed brushes. If you have this brush but have never used it to apply your foundation, I’d definitely recommend you try it out!


(Only available as part of the Travel Essentials Kit)

Zoeva Luxe Soft Definer Brush

Zoeva absolutely kill it with their make-up brushes. They are so affordable yet great quality and there is such a variety to choose from! This brush is great for applying a wash of colour on the lids or blending out a shadow in the crease. They wash wonderfully (as does Real Techniques) and perform just as well as they do when you first use them. The only downside to these is that the metal case around them (I have the Rose Gold set) has scratched quite a bit so they don’t look as perfect up close anymore, but they do a great job so I don’t mind one bit! I’m definitely going to be making an order on beautybay.com for a few more of these to have in my collection. 


I hope you have enjoyed reading this post and maybe found some new things to try out! Let me know what your make-up MVP's are :)

P x


Friday 4 March 2016

Introducing Glycablend from Trilogy Skincare

Last week I had the absolute pleasure of attending an event hosted by the incredibly successful skincare brand, Trilogy. This was my first time ever attending a blogger event so naturally I was quite nervous about what to expect but I really needn't have been. I was warmly greeted by Juliette who introduced the brand and the products to me (I had heard of Trilogy but hadn't tried anything out) and made me feel very welcome. Shortly we were invited into a presentation about the brand's beginnings, ethos, learning about the products and the newly formulated Age-Proof range with Glycablend, which we all had a chance to test out for ourselves. If like me and you hadn't had a great idea about Trilogy or their products, let me fill in the blanks because I think you might just fall in love with them.
Trilogy are all about natural skincare that is simple, pure and vital. They endeavour to find and use the purest natural and botanical oils and extracts to create gorgeous blends that restore and maintain the natural vitality and radiance we all yearn for our skin, without you ending up with a medicine cabinet of lotions and potions for all different skin ailments. Now when it comes to skincare, the word 'natural' and 'organic' can be thrown around by many skincare brands that in actual fact are not that natural or organic at all. Trilogy is different. Not only are they the first carbon neutral brand but they are also the first New Zealand skincare brand to achieve the NATRUE Natural Cosmetics Certification, meaning all of the ingredients are natural and some are organic (which is clearly stated for the consumer) and the process to source and manufacture these ingredients into products is environmentally friendly. This certification can also tell you that Trilogy skincare has:

  • No animal testing (nor do they endorse it either)
  • No synthetic fragrances or colours
  • No genetically modified ingredients
  • No petroleum derived products
  • No silicone oils and derivatives 
  • No irradiation of end products and botanical ingredients

Pretty impressive right? Now you might be thinking "You know what, I think I do know of this brand after all", and you could well be right. Trilogy skincare is largely known for their oils and their cult product, Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil. This garnered popularity after Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge (yes, really) reportedly spoke out and said she and her mother Carole Middleton, loved the product and that she used it throughout both of her pregnancies due to it being without potentially harmful retinoids. 

Now onto the whole reason why I attended the event in the first place. Trilogy have improved the formula of their Age-Proof range with their new Glycablend formula comprising of chia seeds, blueberry, strawberry and pomegranate oils. One thing that stood out to me about this brand is that they were so intent on teaching me about their chosen ingredients and how powerful they are for our skin and I really felt that I left the event with a wealth of knowledge, which hopefully I can transcend to you. The reason behind the name Glycablend is because the range is an answer to glycation; a natural process which causes healthy collagen fibres in our skin to harden and lose their elasticity as we age. In my little goodie bag, I received Age-Proof CoQ10 Booster Oil (20ml) and the Age-Proof Line Smoothing Day Cream (50ml) which both contain the Glycablend formula, as does the entire range. Now I know that I may not be the ideal demographic for this range, however I was interested in this range because I do want to introduce an anti-ageing product into my routine to help prepare my skin combat the signs of ageing but to also allow my Mum to try it out as she is the ideal demographic. Trilogy's campaign with this range is to give women products with ingredients that they know works. I found this important because my Mum knows what is good for her skin as she ages and doesn't want to look 21 by next week, she wants to look her best version of herself right now.
CoQ10 Booster Oil

First impressions:
Texture was very typical of other oils I have used in the past so no surprises there. However, the scent is AMAZING. Smoothing into my skin in the evening made me feel like I was having the most wondrous facial massage in the swankiest of spas. It didn't absorb into my skin straight away which I liked; made me feel as if it was really going to work on my skin rather than being drunk up. I left it sitting on my skin for about 15 minutes before I locked it in with my usual moisturiser. Skin felt very fresh, clean, hydrated and ready for bed.

Final thoughts:
I really have enjoyed putting this product to the test over the last week since the event. I reserved it only for night time as I don't like to put oils on my skin in the morning. I must say I did notice a difference in my skin the next morning compared to a morning where I had admittedly forgotten to put it on (and generally been quite lazy with my skincare altogether) the night before. I used all of my regular products with the oil so I know it was definitely the oil that was making a difference and my skin felt balanced and looked very well rested. In the mornings, my chin and forehead can be quite oily and feel clogged up, this did not happen at all when I used the oil so it will definitely be staying in my night time routine. The CoQ10 Booster Oil is my favourite oil I have ever tried and I would highly recommend it if you want to give your skin a pampering treat in the evenings. My Mum said she really liked the product as well and I have a feeling this little bottle of goodness will be sneaking off into her room every now and again!
Line Smoothing Day Cream

First impressions:
I used this the next day after cleansing and it glided onto my skin like a dream. I prefer the scent of the oil but by no means is the scent of this day cream off-putting, it's just preference and something I could look past. The formula didn't make my skin feel clogged or heavy at all. I like to leave my moisturiser for a little while before I do my make-up, so it'll be interesting to see how my make-up applies over the top and how it affects the finish of it too.

Final thoughts:
Once I had worn this product a few times with my make-up layered over the top, I didn't see or notice any disruption between the two on my skin which is great. Make-up application was also not interrupted by the cream as the skin is perfectly moisturised. My foundation applied very seamlessly and didn't grab onto any dry patches which is an issue I do deal with, so its great that the cream helped with that issue. As much as I love this product, I think I will pass this into my Mum purely because I think it is better suited for her skin type and what she wants from her products. I don't have a great deal of lines on my skin yet to notice a huge difference but hopefully Mum will. I know I mentioned the smell in my first impressions but it actually grew on me the more I used it and now it doesn't bother me in the slightest. If you have mature skin and are around the same age as my Mum (she's in her 50's), I would recommend this day cream as it has great ingredients that are great for your skin and it doesn't disrupt any make-up- in fact, it makes a great base!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this review and a huge thank you to Trilogy for inviting me to their event, it was definitely a great first event for me and I'm excited to see what more wonderful products the brand has to offer in the future!

If you would like to find out more about the Age-Proof range with Glycablend, you can read about it here: http://www.trilogyproducts.com/products/range/age-proof

Trilogy Age-Proof along with their other ranges are available to buy from a wide range of stores and online retailers including John Lewis, Debenhams, Whole Foods, feelunique.com and lookfantastic.com

You can find your local stockists of Trilogy products here: http://www.trilogyproducts.com/contact-us/where-to-buy/

Have a great weekend, everyone!

P x

Friday 29 January 2016

A-Z of Valentine's Day #2


Happy Friday, everyone! I'm back today with the second instalment of my 'A-Z of Valentines Day' series. The first one seemed to be a hit so I'm excited for you guys to see this one. It is a little more on the expensive side, but I promise the rest of the series shouldn't be! I really hope you like this one, let me know in the comments below and don't forget to share it with your loved ones as a subtle hint, or just if you think it will be useful to someone you know!

Have a great weekend!

P x


Links:
Master Class Copper Finish Fondue Set: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-Class-Copper-Hammered-6-Persons/dp/B013C957DU/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1454064002&sr=8-15&keywords=fondue+set
GlamGlow Gift Sexy Dazzling Hydration Set: http://www.feelunique.com/p/GLAMGLOW-Gift-Sexy-Dazzling-Hydration-Set
Aspinal of London Red Heart Coin Purse: https://www.aspinaloflondon.com/products/heart-coin-purse-in-berry-lizard-and-cream-suede
Michael Kors Jet Set Saffiano Leather Tote: http://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/michael-michael-kors-jet-set-saffiano-leather-tote_128-3001451-30F4GTTT9L/?previewAttribute=Cherry
Apple Ipod Touch: http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-ipod/ipod-touch
Swarovski Duo Heart Small Pendant: http://www.swarovski.com/Web_GB/en/5139473/product/Duo_Heart_Small_Pendant.html




Monday 25 January 2016

A-Z of Valentines Day #1



Happy Monday, everyone! Bit of a different blog post today but I have been brainstorming and planning this series for quite a while now and I'm really excited about it. As Valentine's Day is looming, I thought it would be helpful to some of you to have some inspiration in picking the perfect gift for your loved one. Over the next week or so, there will be an alphabetised gift guide on this blog with a variety of different gifts; both material and experience, and of course to suit all budgets. I've also tried to include some unisex options where I can. If you see something from this series you like the look of for yourself and would like to drop a hint to your significant other, I have listed below the links to each product/experience and also added this article to my Pinterest board for my blog, that you can share with them or pin it yourself here.

I really hope you enjoy this series, find some inspiration and it helps to ease the stress of buying the perfect present! Let me know what you think and also leave any other suggestions in the comments below. 

P x

Links: 
Lush 'Lover Lamp' Bath Bomb:
Lush 'Sex Bomb' Bath Bomb:
Lush 'Tender is the Night' Massage Bar:
Lush 'Lots of Love' Valentines Gift Set:
Marks & Spencer Rose Gold Cufflinks:
All Things Brighton Beautiful Personalised Silver Plated Vintage Map Cufflinks:
Bejewelled Treasures: The Al Thani Collection at the V&A:
Star Wars Celebration at ExCeL London:
Cirque Du Soleil's 'Amaluna' at Royal Albert Hall:




Monday 18 January 2016

TK Maxx Beauty Bargains

For anyone who knows me, I don't make my love for TK Maxx a secret. I am about 10 minutes drive away from quite a large store which makes weekly visits a regular occurrence. One of the great things about TK Maxx is that I never know what will be in there week in week out across all departments of the store. I have heard that they have new deliveries every day and I often find many higher end brands with huge discounts and even brands that aren't readily available in the UK. Naturally as a beauty blogger, I go straight to the make-up section to see what goodies are waiting. Now, I don't always find great beauty buys every time I visit so please don't think I had found all of these products in one go. If my memory serves me right, I purchased all of these products over 3-4 week period. With all of that said, let's have a look at the products and my initial impressions of them...

Christian Breton Eye Focus Gift Set


This gift set was housed over by the Christmas clearance tables a few days after the big day. I had previously seen other products by the brand in the skincare aisles and generally liked the look of them. The packaging is sleek and rather expensive looking. This particular gift set has some more visual marketing attached to it, namely the 'STOP! INJECTION' sticker. Now I'm not in any market yet to have work done to any part of my face or body so it doesn't have a direct appeal to me but then again, if an eye cream can prevent me from needing work done and I buy said eye cream, then I guess the marketing has been a success? I must also mention that I was drawn to this product because of its French origins. Thanks to skincare expert Caroline Hirons, I have begun to notice the power and knowledge that French skincare has so this immediately made me trust and want to try the product out. Whilst I was browsing the product and thinking all of this, I flipped it over to look at the price. Oh. My. God. I don't know what I was more shocked at, the RRP or TK Maxx's price for the product. There was a saving of £62! As you can imagine, it went straight into my basket. If you'd like to learn more about the brand, click here. Keep an eye out for an in-depth review on this blog in a few weeks by following on Bloglovin' here.





Olivia Palermo X Ciaté London Satin Kiss Lipstick in Truffle

When this collaboration range launched back in August 2015, I waited with anticipation to see what my favourite bloggers and YouTubers thought of the range. The overall impression I got was largely positive and when I saw a few pieces of the line appear in TK Maxx, I was very excited and quickly rooted through to find something for me. First of all, I must address the packaging of this product. I only have 2 nail varnishes from Ciaté which is what they are known for, so didn't have many expectations for the design of their make-up. Now I'm sure Olivia herself had a say in the packaging and it definitely worked. I absolutely love the packaging. It's sleek and expensive looking with the signature Ciaté bow and Olivia's initials on the lipstick bullet itself. On to the colour pay-off. This shade is called Truffle and I would describe it as a nude with terracotta and a hint of pink undertones. It isn't usually a colour I'd go for but I do want to explore nude lipstick shades and this was my favourite out of the bunch on display. After first application, I was a bit apprehensive if it suited me but I stuck with it and I can honestly say I've used it so many times and it does look different in different lights. For example, the other night I was out with my friend for cocktails, it looks quite nude and gave me a real 90's feel to my make-up. Other times, it can look quite terracotta. The finish is true to name, it looks quite matte from the swatch but it does have a satin slip to it that makes it feel comfortable on the lips. If you'd like to see the full range, click here. I would definitely recommend this lipstick if you like your nudes, so keep an eye out in your local TK Maxx.





Olivia Palermo X Ciaté Nail Varnish in Sunday's

I can't say a great deal about this product as I haven't tried it out yet and it was bought for me as a gift for Christmas. However, it does look like a lovely shade perfect for work if you're not allowed to wear bright colours and even if you just need something to make them look a bit more polished (no pun intended). I love the packaging of this though, its very luxe and has been sitting pride of place on my desk because I can't bear to take it out and put it with all my other varnishes. I may even paint my nails tonight with them and post a pic on Instagram (link here), or you can of course find pictures online. Let me know if you have tried this varnish or any others from the range and what you thought of them!




Too Faced Bronzed & Poreless Pore Perfecting Bronzer 

I've never and have always wanted to own something from Too Faced. They're a much loved brand in the blogging community and have many successful products. I hadn't heard of this product before I saw it but being from Too Faced and claiming 'pore perfection', I was instantly intrigued and sold. I've used this product quite a lot and I really like it. I would say its a bit too orange for contouring but perfecting for adding a healthy colour around the face and on the high points during the summer. It's completely matte as well which is great as I like to add glow with other products. This product usually retailed for £23, but is now on a discount of £20 on the Too Faced website here. I managed to snap this up for £7.99, another reason why it is worth checking out the beauty aisles of TK Maxx.





So there you have it, 4 beauty products from great brands all at amazing discounts. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog post and have been inspired to start searching TK Maxx for some of your favourite brands or, if you already check out TK Maxx for make-up, have scheduled in a much needed visit! Let me know what beauty bargains you have found at TK Maxx in the comments below!

Thank you for reading and see you next week!

Paris x