29.7.14

The Summer Skincare Update

The Summer Skincare Update
Legs:
Although exfoliation is key to any skincare routine, it is really time to scrub down this summer. Exfoliation helps you get a closer shave, it leaves your skin feeling and looking soft and also if your a fan of self tanning, it also helps it apply more evenly. Say goodbye to dead skin cells by choosing a gentle exfoliator and don’t over do it, twice a week will do the job. I love Soap & Glory’s Sugar Crush Body Scrub, but you can always opt for a home made scrub by mixing brown sugar with a little bit of olive oil - its just as effective! And don’t forget to apply your favourite moisturiser daily after jumping out the shower, as when your skin is moist your products will soak in much faster, I’m currently loving The Body Shop’s Coconut Body Butter

Schedule Treatments:
Book a brow wax, bikini wax, manicure, pedicure, haircut and facial. All of these treatments can also be done at home. Would you like to see some DIY skincare? 

Foot Care:
As the sun makes its return so do your sandals! So make sure they are ready to see the sun by preparing them with a good pedicure, whether that be at home or at a salon. Remove all dead skin cells from the bottom of your feet, by soaking them for 10 minutes in a bath, or bowl of warm water with a quarter cup of milk... yes you read that right, the lactic acid in the milk loosens dead skin. Then use a pumice stone to remove all the dead skin. I also like to use Soap & Glory’s Heel Genius Foot Mask, followed by my 360 foot file. Don’t forget to give your nails a cut down and shape and then follow up with your favourite nail polish and foot moisturiser and voilĂ  your feet are ready! 

SPF:
We should all be using SPF all year round, but as the suns UVA and UVB rays grow stronger now really is the time to invest in a decent SPF. If you are worried about breaking out with the use of an SPF opt for an oil free SPF - there are no excuses. I’m currently loving Soap & Glory’s Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield (SPF 50) which is currently on offer at Boots. You'll be thankful when you are 30 and still look 20.

Lighten Up:
Pick a light weight moisturiser (or two, one for your face and one for your body) that won’t leave you all greasy but will still give you enough hydration. I recommend Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturiser and Superdrug’s Naturally Radiant Face Balm. If you dont want to switch moisturisers you can always try mixing in a little rosewater (that always works a treat!). It is also an added bonus if your moisturiser has an SPF. On the note of spray products, opting for a spray toner is always a good shout come summer.

Luscious Locks:
The summer sun, the sea and chlorine can really dry out your hair, make your ends brittle and fade your hair colour! So get a trim, opt for a hydrating shampoo and conditioner and wear a hat. Simple.  Recently I have been loving running Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner (currently £3.99!) through my hair once I have come out of the shower. You can read my full review on this product here

What are your summer skincare essentials? 
Emily
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25.7.14

Beauty Product Empties #1

Beauty Product Empties #1

With beauty products taking up a vast amount of my storage space, I have found it extremely satisfying and rather detoxifying to finish up a handful of beauty products! I have been trying to make my way through my beauty stash and use up the products I already own, before going out and buying something else (as I will admit, I probably have enough body butter, shower gel and face masks for myself, sally, dolly, polly and molly!). So today I have a beauty product empties post for you! And now I can finally chuck away all of the above and start collecting what is effectively my rubbish all over again, for my next empties post.

1. MUA Pro Base Fixing Mist £5.00
I ran out of my much loved MAC Fix+ and thought I would give MUA’s version a go and I wasn’t disappointed. I must say that in terms of keeping your makeup in place this spray does pretty well, it defiantly gives MAC a run for its money. It doesn’t break the bank and didn’t dry out my skin. Word of caution though, if you use too much, your makeup will run off your face and go patchy. 1-2 sprays is plenty! I’m undecided whether to buy this one again or return to a MAC counter.

2. Mitchum Advanced Women Powder Fresh 48hr Protection Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant £2.99 
I get through cans and cans of deodorant and I must say I’m not a loyal brand user and buy whatever is on offer! And this time round I opted for Mitchum Advanced Women Powder Fresh 48hr Protection Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant and I must say I the brand I had heard so much about didn’t live up to my expectations! As an anti-perspirant it did the trick, but as a deodorant I’m not so sure! I’m not a smelly individual, but this deodorant smelt funky. I have since switched to something else.

3. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash £6.50
The sugar crush range from Soap & Glory smells simply divine. I’m obsessed with the body butter and now obsessed with the body wash! This body wash has the most intoxicating citrus scent! It can be used in the shower and bath. You only need a couple of pumps and it is so moisturising. I was a little sad when this bottle ran out. And I will certainly be running back to Boots to pick up another.

4. Superfacialist Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask £8.99
This quick fix clay mask has been featured a handful of times here on British Beauty Addict. Undoubtedly the best clay mask on the hughstreet! Highly recommend. Read the full review here.

5. Rituals Fortune Scrub £7.00
Is it just me or are magazines upping their game when it comes to ‘freebies’? This cream scrub came free in a magazine a few months back and it went straight into my bathroom. The gentle exfoliant smells a little zesty, but isn’t in the same league as Soap & Glory’s Sugar Crush range, it is more subtle and you could say a little more luxurious. I enjoyed using the scrub and would consider buying it, however I have a few others I need to make my way through first.

6. Superdrug Deep Action 2in1 Detoxifying Cream Wash & Mask £2.59
Another product that has worked wonders for my skin. It didn’t take me long to head back out to the shops and repurchase this bargain of a face wash. Read the full review here.

Do you collect your empties?
Emily
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18.7.14

Worth The Hype? Escentric Molecules 01

Worth The Hype? Escentric Molecules 01

Escentric Molecules 01 has to be one of the most talked about perfumes and one, which at the time, I had to have. I love perfume, in fact, I’m a bit of a perfume hoarder and like to keep the boxes and bottles after use... why you ask? Well, I’m not all that sure myself! And although Escentric Molecules 01 it’s a firm favourite of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Daisy Lowe, I must say it isn’t a favourite of mine. 

Escentric Molecules 01 is described to ‘smell so good, every man, woman & child in a 5-mile radius will wanna know your secret. Remember the old Impulse ads? This is even better.’ and that the scent has a subtle, velvety, woody note which will meld with your natural pheromones, vanish, then re-surface after some time, making it totally individual and personalised to the wearer.Well I beg to differ.

I don’t dislike the fragrance, its inoffensive and subtle and smells rather like sandalwood (well once the alcohol scent wears off anyway). But I wouldn’t rave about it. It also fades relatively quickly and then completely disappears. And I’m aware that your not necessarily meant to be able to smell it on yourself, its more about the effect it has on others, which in my case is non existent! I had read a lot of rave reviews and in all honesty, I was expecting to be stopped in the street to be asked what perfume I was wearing and for men to fall at my feet (well not literally, but you get me!). I wore it on multiple occasions in the hope that it would live up to my expectations, but unfortunately it never did! Funnily enough one of the most complimented fragrances I own, is actually Victoria Secrets Coconut Passion Fragrance Mist, which may I just add, you can buy three bottles of, for the same price as Escentric Molecules 01.

Overall I have never been so disappointed with a beauty product and I wouldn’t repurchase it. I would actually much rather buy an Impluse body spray! So beware! If this perfume is something your considering buying,  to avoid disappointment, I recommend you try it before you buy it.

Have you tried this perfume?
Emily
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14.7.14

Rio Nail Art Pens // Review & Giveaway

Rio Nail Art Pens // Review & Giveaway
Rio Nail Art Pens // Review & Giveaway Rio Nail Art Pens // Review & Giveaway

The internet loves nail art. There are hundreds of Pinterest boards filled with the most incredible nail art designs, along with a handful of Intsagram accounts and not to mention my favourite nail art blog One Nail To Rule Them All, which is written by Alice and features some of the most pretty and creative designs. And although I’m a lover of nail art, I must admit I haven’t attempted it myself in a long time. But gone are the days of nail art being just for 9 year olds and the 90’s! So when I got contacted and asked if I would like to give the Rio Proffesional Nail Art Pens a go, the 9 year old in me couldn’t say no.

The Rio Nail Art Pens Kit (classic)* comes with six shades of polish and each polish has a 2-in-1 dual action detailing pen and a fine line brush. You also receive a nail art brush, step by step DVD and nail art instruction with a chart of designs. You get a lot for your money! Also, on the bottom of each bottle there is a little pin which can be used to unblock the detailing pen (and I must say, I initially thought this was to be used to create more intricate designs... I’m such a numpty!). 

Rio Nail Art Pens // Review & Giveaway Rio Nail Art Pens // Review & Giveaway

Overall, I was so impressed and presently surprised with how easy they where to use and control - although a little patience and a steady hand wouldn’t go a miss. The polish comes out of the detailing pen with a gentle squeeze and I  can’t fault the fine line brush. The DVD came in handy (pun intended!) and is brilliant for beginners, as it shows a step by step guide on how to do the basics.

I instantly went online in search for some nail art inspiration and as I work at a Zoo I decided animal themed nails would be very appropriate! And I’m so happy with how they turned out, even if there was a couple of failed attempts! And it’s fair to say I have fallen back in love with nail art again - I love how creative you can be! But as they say practice makes perfect! 

Rio Nail Art Pens // Review & Giveaway

Now, on to the exciting part of this post! Thanks to beautyexpert.co.uk I have new and unopened kit to giveaway to one lucky person! Unfortunately due to mailing restrictions this giveaway is for UK residents only. Please read the terms and conditions below before entering: 

TERMS & CONDITIONS 
The giveaway is for UK residents only
1 person will win 
To enter use the Rafflecopter widget below
You MUST be following me on bloglovin’ to enter:
The giveaway will be open for 2 weeks from the 14/07/14 - 28/07/14
There’s a few additional entries too, if you want to increase your chance of winning
The winner will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter
The winner will be contacted within 24 hours of the giveaway closing and if they haven't got back to me within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen at random.

Good luck and thank you to Beauty Expert for supplying the prize.

Are you a lover of nail art? 
Emily
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9.7.14

Charles Worthington Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner // Review

Charles Worthington Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner // Review

My hair care routine is pretty simple consisting of just shampoo and conditioner. But recently I have been loving the Charles Worthingtons Hair Healer leave in conditioner, from the moisture seal range. Firstly it smells pretty darn good, next time your in boots give it a sniff, I will be surprised if you don't like it! Charles Worthington products seem to smell intoxicating! But the product itself is great. It has a gel-cream formula and is enriched with argan oil. I like to apply it to towel dried hair, working a small amount though the mid length to the ends, avoiding the roots, as it can leave them looking a little greasy. And once my hair has dried, it is left feeling smooth, silky and very healthy looking (without any crunchy, solid chunks of hair, like I have got from using other leave in conditioners in the past!). It also makes more hair more manageable which is always a bonus,

Charles Worthington Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner // Review
Charles Worthington Hair Healer Leave In Conditioner // Review

I don’t have one negative thing to say about this product! If you have dry or damaged hair or just looking to try something new, this product is really nice. On occasion I skip conditioner in the shower and just use this product instead. It is an intense conditioning treatment and it works wonders. No other hair product I have tried has ever made my hair feel so soft and look so healthy! I must admit I’m having a bit of a love affair with CW hair care products at the moment and I will certainly be heading back into Boots and scanning the CW range for my next hair care purchase.

What’s your favourite hair product? 
Emily
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6.7.14

MAC Eye Shadow x15: Warm Neutral Palette // Review & Swatches

MAC Eye Shadow x15: Warm Neutral Palette // Review & Swatches

With neutral palettes taking centre stage, it was only a matter of time before MAC came to their senses and released a couple of pre made palettes themselves. Earlier this year MAC released two pre filled neutral palettes consisting of 15 eyeshadows, 1 warm toned and 1 cool toned, both of which are permanent. When I saw that these palettes had been released online, I was excited. As a devotee of MAC eyeshadows there was no doubt in my mind that I had to get the warm neutral palette. I didn’t even question my need for any more eyeshadow (defiantly not necessary). I was sold. Sold not only because MAC eyeshadows are possibly the best of the best, but also the fact that in the palette, there are shades which, at this time, are exclusive to the palette. And I’ll admit now, that I’m that girl that likes to sit down and attempt to recreate eyeshadow looks as seen on youTube, Instagram, Pinterest and from my latest glossy magazine and layer shadows, create looks and get creative. So I parted with the £49.50 and bought it. And I will be honest and say I very rarely walk away from a MAC counter having spent less than that. And I don’t regret my purchase.

MAC Eye Shadow x15: Warm Neutral Palette // Review & Swatches
MAC Eye Shadow x15: Warm Neutral Palette // Review & Swatches

I already own a 15 pan MAC palette which takes pride place on my dressing table and has become my most loved piece of makeup. I must say if the house set on fire and I could only have one thing from my makeup collection, it would be my MAC palette! You can read all about my MAC palette here. Mac eyeshadow finishes are also explained in this post. 

This palette is in no way, a copy of any of the Urban Decay Naked palettes. Urban Decay did not create neutrals ladies! In this warm toned palette, there are four permanent shades and four repromoted shades (ones that have been released previously as limited edition shades). The one negative I have about this palette is that unfortunately the pans are glued in, which to me seems a little silly, especially as it might encourage people to go back into store and buy another pan to replace another etc. But I’m sure with a bit of elbow grease and heat this can be resolved. Maybe if more of us kick up a fuss they might change this. And also just a side note, this is not a travel friendly palette, but if like me you couldn’t care less, your onto a winner.

MAC Eye Shadow x15: Warm Neutral Palette // Review & Swatches

Hey (Veluxe Pearl):  is a “metallic coral"  (Repromote). Hey is a light muted coral and it's creamy, and buildable. Colour payoff is good and the finish is buttery smooth. If you like MAC Naked Lunch you will like Hey. 

Warm Breeze (Satin): is a “pastel coral”. This shade is almost matte and has tiny little flecks of glitter. 

Gingersnap (Frost):  is a “deep rosy pink. This eyeshadow is rustic looking and has fab colour pay off! I love this shade and I have been wearing it with creative copper layered over the top. 

Dark Brew (Velvet): is a “deep chocolate with pink pearl. This mid-town brown is really pretty and has scattered pink shimmer running through it. It reminds me of blackheart from the UDN3 palette in terms of the dark colour with coloured shimmer. 

Dance in the Dark (Matte):  is a “dark brown (Repromote). Every palette needs either a black or a dark brown to create a smoky eye or to line the upper lash line. 

MAC Eye Shadow x15: Warm Neutral Palette // Review & Swatches

Brule (Satin): is a “soft creamy beige" (Permanent). This is the one shade in the palette that I already own. I like to use this shade all over my lid to neutralise it from any redness or veins. 

Vanilla Extract (Frost)is a “soft warm yellow beige" and out of all the eyeshadows has the worst colour pay off. For me although I still wear it, it was a little disappointing as I own Vanilla Extract Pigment and thought it might be similar. 

Honey Lust (Lustre):  is a “bronze-dipped peach"  (Permanent). I have been getting a lot of wear our of this shade although it does have a little fall out. The colour pay off is buildable and it is a really pretty shade. 

Amber Lights (Frost):  is a “peachy-brown with shimmer" (Permanent). Another new found love! If you have blue eyes and dont fancy buying this palette, I highly recommend getting your hands on this shade! Amber Lights is very smooth and has great great colour payoff. 

Saddle (Matte): is a “golden orange brown" (Permanent) and is described as one of the best transition colors ever. 

MAC Eye Shadow x15: Warm Neutral Palette // Review & Swatches

Lemon Tart (Veluxe Pearl):  is a “metallic gold.  It is a muted yellow gold and has good colour pay off and is soft and smooth in texture. 

Creative Copper (Lustre): is a “frosted gold" (Repromote). This shade does have a little fall out, but really pretty especially when worn over the top of other colours in the palette. This eyeshadow is very similar to Burnished Gold' from the Body Shop summer cubes palette 30.

Butterfudge (Satin): is a “dirty mocha with gold pearl. Although this eyeshadow doesnt look all that exciting in the pan (rather like MacPatina eyeshadow) it is actually a really lovely muted brown. 

Divine Decadence (Velvet):  is a “soft bronze" (Repromote). This shadow has red-orange undertones and is a pretty dark bronze shimmery brown. This shadow has an odd texture rather like when you layer a cream eyeshadow and it goes a little dry and gritty.

Unwind (Veluxe Pearl):  is a “dirty olive. This eyeshadow is a muted shade. And in all honestly isn’t a shadow I would pick if I was in store, but this shadow is actually a lovely colour! If ‘Patina' and  'Sumptuous Olive' by MAC had a baby this would be it!

If you are looking to build your own MAC neutral palette and have the budget, this palette is far more cost effective as completing your own would cost you £170.50, need I explain any further? For me this palette is like a blue eyed dream. Great colour combinations for bronzed and golden eyes. With every shadow being buildable, blendable and smooth. There isn’t one dud shade and I know I will get use out of every single colour - being that girl and all.



Do you own either of the pre filled palettes?
Emily
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4.7.14

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner Pen Black // Review

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner Pen Black // Review

Move over Benefit Cosmetics! Your not the only one who has released a gel liner pen! Maybelline have created their first Catwalk inspired eyeliner, which has made creating the prefect cat eye far easier for all makeup lovers for under £10! I rarely go a day without wearing a feline flick and I have been experimenting with new eyeliners for the last few months and although I much prefer gel liner over liquid, lets just say Im a little lazy and like a quick and easy application, without the fuss of having to clean the brush after. 

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner Pen Black // Review
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner Pen Black // Review

The eyeliner has a twist end to release the product, so you can control how much product you use, however don’t be too overzealous, or you’ll end up with a black eyelid (been there, done that!) and the product will dry up in the tip. It’s best to use 1-2 clicks and let the product dry and then reapply  and then wipe the tip clean after use (if you dont the product clogs and you will struggle next time you try to apply it!). The product also has a screw on cap, which I must admit I find a little irritating, but then again, it won’t get knocked off in your makeup bag and dry out! Also a little heads up, if you purchase this product, you have to click it ten times when you first use it to release the product - I wasn’t aware of this and thought it was broken! One thing that sets this eyeliner apart from any other I have tried, is not only the fact it is gel in a pen, but the liner has a wide-contouring, silicon-tip applicator, that is flexible and soft, which makes creating the perfect feline flick so easy - you can almost stamp it on! Although a little practice may be necessary. 

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner Pen Black // Review

The formula is super black (hence the name black shock!) and waterproof. It glides onto the lid with ease and without tugging and pulling on your skin. And if your one that gets the dreaded panda eyes when it comes to the end of the day, no worries! This eyeliner wears all day and doesn’t budge - I’m certain that if you wore it to bed, you would wake up with it on! ‘Lasting Drama’ was a very appropriate name! One word of caution though, the product can smudge when worn on top of foundation, but  it works wonders when applied to clean eyelids (so simply apply your eyeliner first then your base), also it dries relatively quickly. To remove the eyeliner there is no need to buy a fancy remover, you just need any old waterproof eye makeup remover. I find I can take the majority off with my Garnier Micellar Water and then I use my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm to remove the rest. 

It’s only fair to give credit where it’s due and I think Maybelline have done a fab job with this eyeliner. It does take a couple of uses to get use to this pen but and you have to keep it clean, but if your a fan of a flick like myself, then this eyeliner is worth a try! If you’ve been considering picking up Benefit’s They’re Real Push Up Liner, which costs £18.50, this eyeliner costs just £8.99! This could be a possible dupe? But I will need to try the Benefit one to confirm.

Have you tried this product yet? 
Emily
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2.7.14

OPI Gwen Stefani Rock Starlet Minis // Swatches & Review

OPI Gwen Stefani Rock Starlet Minis // Swatches & Review

Let me start by saying that these polishes may look a little bland in the box, but they are actually very deceiving, as this OPI set doesn’t disappoint! This limited edition set is OPI’s latest celebrity collaboration with Gwen Stefani, which hit the shops back in January this year. OPI in my opinion is the Queen of nail polish. It is the one brand which I rate above Ciate and Essie polish, as it’s one of the only nail polish brands that I find doesn’t chip on me after a couple of days. 

This set consists of four ‘Rock Starlet Minis’ and all four polishes have really fun names which relate to Gwen (of course). Two of the polishes have a creme gloss finish and the other two have satin finishes. All four colours apply evenly, apply easily and are are opaque with just one, or two coats. Like I mentioned before the polishes look a little dull in the bottles, but once on the nails I can’t complain! I’m not sure how much wear I will get out of the darker colours during the summer, but once the clocks turn back I know I will reach for these. 

On a side note I’ve never really thought about buying mini polishes before. But when I think about how much polish I own and how many bottles I have finished, (which I think is maybe 1, other than those that went all gloopy and I threw out), mini nail varnishes are actually very practical and also great for travel! All things considered, the price of this set in my opinion is very reasonable and all of the OPI mini sets are great gift ideas for any nail varnish lover.

OPI Gwen Stefani Rock Starlet Minis // Swatches & Review
OPI Gwen Stefani Rock Starlet Minis // Swatches & Review
Left to right: Hey Baby/ I sing in Color/ Love.Angle.Music.Baby/ 4 in the Morning

'Hey Baby' is simply a blue based bright pink, with a creme gloss finish. And although it’s nothing particularly special, every girl needs a bright pink in her collection and this one went straight onto my nails and was opaque in just one coat.

'I Sing in Color' is a vampy berry/burgundy although once a couple of coats are applied, its almost verging on being black. This polish has a creme gloss finish and reminds me of Essie’s Wicked polish. 

'Love.Angel.Music.Baby.' is a muted shimmery gold and it is a lush nail polish shade and although the finish is described to be a satin, it is defiantly semi-matte. In terms of appearance on the nails, it reminds me of Barry M’s Glitter nail polish in ‘Pink, Silver Glitter’, but it has a much smoother finish. At first I was hesitant as this shade is intended to be worn without a top coat, but I actually really like the finish. 

'4 in the Morning' is a semi-matte dark grey with a very minimal flecks of gold glitter and is intended to be worn without a top coat. There is something I really like about this shade and I don’t own a polish that is similar at all and can’t wait to wear it.

OPI Gwen Stefani Rock Starlet Minis // Swatches & Review
Above: Hey Baby/Love.Angle.Music.Baby

You can buy this collection from Look Fantastic here and if this collection doesn’t take your fancy, check out OPI’s latest limited edition nail polish collection called Brazil, which consists of bright summer/Brazil colours to celebrate the World Cup (now theres something I never thought I would mention on my blog - football!)

What’s your favourite OPI shade? 
Emily
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