Review on Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Lipsticks

Hello again guys!

Now this week I'm reviewing a couple of new lipsticks I've bought.

These were featured in my Summertime Haul blog and well if I'm honest I did buy them mainly because of the stunning packaging. Fear not though... I did do my usual amount of research and these were some popular lipsticks to say the least! They were voted by many bloggers as the most beautiful lipstick available so I was super excited to try these out.

After swatching many of the colours I picked out two...

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in Pink in Paris
&
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Lipstick in Peach Passion

The first;
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in Pink in Paris was one of my absolute favourites as soon as I saw it (pictured above).

The finish of this lipstick is glossy and oh my is this lipstick gorgeous! It's highly pigmented too so only one layer on your lips and it has a full colour, however you can also build it up if you want your colour to have more 'pop'. 

The second I bought was;
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Lipstick in Peach Passion (pictured to the left).

This has a more sheer finish to it so lasts a touch longer on the lips. The colour a chose was a gorgeous deep coral colour. This colour is just perfect for Spring and Summer and I think it would suit just about everybody!

Obviously you can see that both lipsticks have the stunning YSL logo on them and a gorgeous gold surround.

Now at £26 these are pricey, but as a little goes a long way with these they do last a long time! Also they're a great treat to yourself or a little pick me up. 

Honestly I would get these again but yes, it would have to be a treat. I was lucky enough to have one of these as a gift, but if you're feeling like getting yourself a nice new lipstick that will last and look gorgeous in your handbag - than look no further! :)

Jess xox

Maggs London Makeup Bags

Hi guys!

Wow what a month for blog posts! I've gotten myself very organised and drafted a load of posts for you guys so I'm ready to fire them out for you. This week I'm sharing my thoughts on the new Hannah Maggs makeup bags. These two are a part of her new range available over at Maggs London here. Anyway without further delay, here we go...!

Maggs London Makeup Bag in 'The Benevolent' (pictured on the left) - I love this design. It's very me as I love all things black but also girly; so it's a good mix of the two. The print is a gorgeous Liberty London print and so is really high quality. The bag itself is a great size for all your everyday makeup bits and pieces and as it's lined on the inside its easy to clean should you have any leakages. My favourite thing on both of these bags is the hidden zip too - it just allows the design of the bag to really show without any nasty zips showing. Beautiful!

Maggs London Makeup Bag in 'Cherish' (pictured on the right) - Obviously this is similar to the previous bag. It has the hidden zip, same size and lining but this time in a gorgeous pink/red print. This bag was a gift from my husband for my birthday and it's just gorgeous. I love how girly and vibrant the print is (again from Liberty London). I use this bag in my handbag as I just love the pop of colour it brings when I look inside my bag. 

All in all these bags are just stunning and worth every penny! If you're able to grab one make sure you do as you won't regret it! I can see myself wanting to buy more but I just don't need to as yet (dammit!). I would also like to say that the packaging they come in is also so pretty! If you would like a sneaky peak follow me on Instagram here so you can have a look :)

Anyhoo, thanks for reading guys!
Jess xox

What's in my Makeup Bag?

Hi and welcome back my lovelies! :)

This week I thought a nice blog post about what is currently in my makeup bag as I've got this lovely new makeup bag case for my birthday last month. 

First of all the bag itself is the gorgeous, Hannah Maggs Makeup Bag in 'The Benevolent'! This is one of the new designs Hannah has brought out and I must say it's gorgeous! I will have a nice blog post about these soon to go in more detail. 

My brushes in my bag are:
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - This one is great for foundation and buffing in any concealer.
Models Own Powder Brush - Just a standard powder brush.
Real Techniques Blush Brush - My go to blush brush.
Real Techniques Shading Brush - Finally this is a nice eyeshadow brush.

Now onto the makeup, primers and sprays that I use...
Maybelline Babyskin Primer - Great to create a nice even base on your skin before foundation.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 51 - This shade is a touch too dark for me but I LOVE the formula of this! It just glides on and is a nice medium coverage too.
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair - A beauty blogger favourite. This concealer is just amazing! It's better than a lot of the high-end concealers and is a fraction of the price at £4.49!
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - This is a firm favourite too. Nice and simple powder and again budget friendly at £3.99.

Mary-Lou Manizer - The Luminizer - This is one of my new products (shown in my latest haul also) but it's amazing!! It's a gorgeous golden highlighter and it just transforms my makeup.

Bourjois Blusher in 34 Golden Rose - This is another new product and I can't quite make my mind up on how I feel about it, so at the moment it's in my case to try out. Watch this space! :)
Collection Eyes Uncovered Nude Bronze Palette - I bought these on a whim as I thought the shades looked gorgeous and again it was a bargain! Soon after trying it and loving it, it seemed that other bloggers had also loved it and now it's hard to find them in the stores! I love it! It's just a lovely little set to use day to day and it's travel friendly too.
Primark Shape and Shade Brow Pencil in Dark Brown - I use this to fill my eyebrows but I think Primark have renamed it all and they have a new name for this range now. I just love it. It does the trick but I'm sure there are better brow products out there. I'm going to use this one up and then go shopping and venture out for a new one!

No7 Amazing Eyes Eyeliner in Black - Again this is another firm favourite. For some reason I'm loving pencil eyeliner again instead of gel or pen eyeliners. This one is always my favourite to go to. It's soft so is gentle on the eyes and I love that it has a little buffer on the other end to help blend it for a softer look.
Maybelline Lash Sensational - I'm in love with this mascara. You will have probably seen that I've posted about this a few times already, but it truly is that good! It makes my lashes look fuller, longer and nicely natural too.
Bourjois Shine Lipstick in 26 - This lipstick is gorgeous for an everyday look and as I'm trying to move away from using Mac everyday as it can get pricey I've moved to this gorgeous little lipstick.
Mac Lustre Lipstick in Lovelorn - This is when I feel like a little more of a pick me up or dressing up my makeup a little. Lovelorn is gorgeous, it's a warm pinky shade that lasts well on the lips. Again one of my favourite from Mac.
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - Finally if I'm having a heavy day or I'm really chuffed with my makeup and I would like it to stay that way I use this stuff. This stuff is great and just seals in your look so it doesnt budge. I would buy this over and over again now I've tried it - it's just a fab little product!

So here is a little look-see of what I have in my makeup bag. If you've noticed my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder is missing (you clever lot!), it's because it crumbled all over the floor just before this picture (ha!).

I hope you enjoyed my post this week. I love seeing what you guys use everyday and also what products you would recommend - if you have any suggestions please comment below. I would love to have an excuse to buy some more makeup! :)

Jess xox

March Beauty Haul

Hello my lovelies and welcome back to my blog!

This month I had decided to treat myself to a few little goodies. I figured as now Spring is on the way I can treat myself to some nice little beauty buys to see in this lovely time of year.

Now being a new mom means that I have a habit of forgetting to treat myself at times. All my time, attention and money now goes on our little one. Recently I'd been working super hard and getting in some extra pennies and so I was a little naughty and treated myself to something a little more special than usual! :-)

Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm
I have written a whole blog post on this new cleansing balm as I have fallen in love with it. However as a quick summary it has been my favourite purchase of this month's haul. It easily removes all your makeup, leaves your skin clear and soft and smells heavenly!! :-)

Nivea Firming Lotion
Two weeks in and I have seen a slight improvement to the firming of my skin. Now as I've just had a baby I was really putting this lotion to the test. It doesn't promise any miracles by any means but with some exercise, a balanced diet and this to help keep everything firm - you'll be onto a winner. On a side note, the scent isn't overly exciting but it moisturises well and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth also. I'm going to keep going with this one.. I'll let you know how I get on!

Olay Total Effects BB Cream
I bought this in shade fair. So far I have been loving how moisturising this product is and it gives me a lovely summer's glow.  However I wouldn't repurchase this as the shade just isn't right. It takes a lot of working into the skin for it to blend properly and by the time I have done that there is a little too light of a coverage for my liking. I think next time I will just get the Olay Total Effects Moisturiser instead and see how that sits under my usual foundation.

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream
I bought this cream with the promise that it's both moisturising but also helps fade dark circles (did I say I was a new mom?!). I need all the help I can get at the moment so took the plunge and treated myself. I have used this eye cream now for two weeks daily and so far I've noticed a massive improvement to my dark circles under my eyes. I'm loving this product and will be using this for my eye cream from now on.

Mac Lustre Lipstick in Syrup
My favourite lipstick brand of all time... Mac. Again this has it's usual Mac finish, texture and scent - all lovely. This shade is a pinky nude, I would say on the slightly darker side. It's great for brunettes as the shade looks so natural. I think this may become a quick everyday favourite!

Mac Sheen Surpreme Lipstick in Blossom Culture
This was a new style of Mac lipstick for me and so I wasnt sure what I was going to think of it but I'm happy to say that after wearing it a couple of times it's beginning to be a nice Springtime favourite of mine. It's a pinky peach shade that is just gorgeous for this time of year. I love the finish of this lipstick too, it's sheer and glowing but also stays put well on my lips!

Thanks for reading!! Next month I may try something a little different for my blog. Let me know if you have any ideas or requests!

Jess xox

July Haul with Reviews

Hello everyone & welcome back to my blog! :)

This week I thought I would share my latest beauty haul with you all.

I popped into Boots for a couple of items and came out with quite a few more... oops! (Liz Earle product was purchased online through the Liz Earle website though) :)

So without any delay... This month's beauty haul!

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder in Shade 51
I bought this bronzing powder mainly down to the fact its known to smell like chocolate. I know, I know, me and my scents!! Anyway, it's lovely. Shade 51 is perfect for my skin tone (fair) as it leaves a lovely soft sun kissed glow rather than anything to heavy. Yes, it smells of chocolate too, such a good reason to purchase an item if you ask me. Also as Boots were offering 3 for 2 I got a couple of other items from Bourjois :)

Garnier Micellar Water Solution
I bought this as I'd run out of my L'Oreal Micellar Water and wanted to try another to compare the two. This seems to be a like for like and offers the same things as L'Oreal. The main difference I noticed was the price was far more competitive as the bottle is larger you get more for your money. If you're new to micellar solutions I would recommend giving this one a shot as it's so kind to your skin and helps make you feel that extra fresh in the mornings.

Real Techniques Foundation Face Brush
This brush works wonders! I have the standard foundation brush from Real Techniques but this is something else! I'm not sure if its how I'm using it but the standard foundation brush I can't get on with. It seems to leave streaks of foundation on my face and I'm left having to blend it by hand. With this brush I use a circular motion to blend my foundation into my skin and it works wonders! For £9.99 you really can't go wrong and its saving me getting my fingertips dirty, bonus!

Liz Earle Brightening Eye Lotion
I got this lotion as a 'freebie' from Liz Earle with my order. The formula is similar to the toner, kind to your skin, gentle on the eyes - no tears and a nice neutral scent. I use this when I feel that I need an extra boost in my morning routine to get my eyes looking more awake and ready for the day ahead. I can't say I've noticed a massive difference as yet, but it feels very refreshing on my eyes and feels as if it soothes them from any 'puffiness'. All in all, I'm happy with the product but I would probably repurchase using cheaper channels as I'm not sure it's worth the full RRP of  £10.75.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in Shade 51
This foundation is amazing, its so dewy and blendable. It just works with your skin. My only flaw with this is I picked up the wrong shade and I think it's a tad off from my usual shade - but that is purely my error. It's a gorgeous formula and has a lovely fruity scent to it too which is a nice little extra when applying your makeup. I would say this is a more dewy option rather than my other foundations which I think is lovely for Summer and helping give you that 'healthy glow' as suggested by the name. Worth a try and I will definitely be repurchasing this one! :)

Soap and Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen in Black
This has been a new wonder product for me. It's made putting on my eyeliner so much easier and quicker in the mornings. It's a felt tip end that obviously if you left without the lid on, it would dry out. I have used this for a few weeks now and I can't see it feeling or looking any dryer so think this should last a while. I may be able to now do cat eyes too! Ah the excitement is all too much!!

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Shade Peach and the Beach
I got this lipstick as my freebie in the 3 for 2 offer in Boots. Unsure on what to expect I wasn't sure if I would like it or not but to my surprise the shade was gorgeous and it was really moisturizing. As it promised long wear I was expecting it to feel dry, but it was glossy and lasted well on my lips. It promises 10 hour wear, I would say it may do this if you don't eat but for me it came off as I ate. It did last well through drinks though and didn't transfer too much on my mug, bonus!

Miss Sporty Lasting Colour Nail Polish in Shade 4148
I saw this gorgeous pink nail polish and bought it to see if it would be a dupe for the Hot Pink Shellac I had done a year ago. I've taken a picture below to show the final finish with two coats. I would say the shellac is a tad darker and deeper in colour, but for a dupe this was perfect. It was only £2.99 too which is much better price! I think next time I may try 3 coats and see if the colour is a little closer, but yes gorgeous colour and finish, lasted pretty well and the brush was nice and thick which made applying the nail polish easy and precise.

Here is the outcome, to the left is this nailpolish and to the right is the shellac hot pink.What do you guys think?

I hope you enjoyed this month's beauty haul. Did you guys head to Boots also for their 3 for 1 deals?

As always, thanks for visiting! xox

February's Beauty Haul with Reviews 2014

Hi everyone,

I just want to say a quick thank you to those of you who are now following my blog! It's very exciting to see that there are some of you who enjoy reading my reviews and updates as much as I enjoy writing them. Anyway, enough touchy feely stuff.. onto my February haul and reviews!

In February I was trying to behave and not buy too much but I did get some exciting new products.

Loreal Paris Skin Perfection, 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution
This stuff is amazing. Now I still use my Liz Earle, but I wanted something that I could use if I'm feeling lazy and don't want to do my usual full routine but on the same token I don't want to use a face wipe. This stuff is so gentle and easy to use, it's like water but shifts all trace of my makeup in just one wipe. If you're looking for something as a quick fix for when you're not feeling yourself than this stuff is perfect.  The bonus is that's it's only £4.99!

Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique
Now this stuff has been a life saver, it's a little pricey but I only use a 20p size blob on my towel dried hair, focusing on the ends. After blow drying my hair the ends are no longer dry and tangled but instead I have what looks like salon, glossy hair. The one downside of the product is the smell, it's a strange mix between melon and mouldy fruit, not the nicest but thankfully this disappears after you dry your hair. I will defiantly be repurchasing this!

TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray Heat Defender
I got this as I was running low on my current heat spray and after reading great reviews on this one I thought I would give it a try. On first impressions I wasn't sure of the packaging, for the price tag I think the packaging could be prettier but the results are great. I haven't had any new split ends since using this on my hair with my irons (quite unusual!) & the smell is amazing! It smells of strawberry sundae - almost an excuse to buy it anyway! I think it's safe to say that this one will be replacing the top spot for me on my heat protector - wahooo more mornings with gorgeous strawberry sprays!

Maybelline Anti-Age Instant Eraser
I thought it was time I tried a new concealer and I'd seen this one used on a makeup tutorial and thought it had great results. First things first, packaging - it's simple, small and cute looking, I love the little sponge on the top - it makes applying it so much nicer. I can't say I've noticed any scent in the product either, which I think is a plus, I'm never sure on makeup with scents. I think the results are very good too, but I don't think it will replace my love for the Collection 2000 concealer. I didn't like the fact that also I bought this in Ivory as I have a fair complexion, however this is a tad too dark for my skin tone. I would like to see more colours available for these concealers. All in all, worth a try but I don't think I will be repurchasing this one.

Thanks again for visiting my blog, and I will be posting more soon!
Jess x

My First Beauty Haul - January 2014 (with reviews!)

Firstly welcome to my blog, this is my first official blog post of hopefully many, many more.

As the New Year came in on 2014 I decided I would like to start a blog and to me this started with a traditional beauty haul.

Tanya Burr Lip gloss in Afternoon Tea
Of course, like many of us I follow Tanya's blog & YouTube channel so when Tanya announced her line of lip glosses & nail polishes I just had to get involved. I bought one of her lip glosses in shade, Afternoon Tea. The colour & formula is highly pigmented, it glides on perfectly without being sticky and tends to last well on the lips. My favourite thing about the formula is that when the lip gloss fades it does so slowly and quietly, looking beautiful to the very end. I will be purchasing many more soon!

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation
I wanted to try out a new foundation as I've stuck to my Maxfactor Lasting Performance foundation. I bought this Benefit foundation in shade Believe in Me, Ivory. I usually love Benefit products and as this had such great reviews of a promised weightless feel and flawless finish I couldn't wait to purchase it. On first applying it, the foundation looked great - great and consistent cover with a beautiful matt finish. Unfortunately after a few hours of wearing it the foundation started shifting on my face. I have combination skin, with an oily t-zone and it seems that this foundation just couldn't handle my t-zone. I ended up getting rid of it in the end as it just wouldn't suit my skin well. I would suggest using this foundation if you have dry or combination skin without any oily patches.

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm
These lip balms are amazing, I have these in a few shades but this time I bought it in Peach Kiss, it's a lovely neutral peach shade meaning it's the perfect everyday lip balm. I find these lip balms moisturising and so nourishing. If you haven't tried them, give them a go soon! I hope to get all the shades.

Benefit Naked 3 Pallet
I couldn't wait for this pallet, I have the Naked 1 pallet, missed the 2nd as I wasn't sure my skin tone would suit the cooler shades, however this one with it's pinker tones looked perfect. I must say this pallet has become a must have in my collection, it's pinker shades and tones suit my skin tone as well as my personality. The colours are so pigmented and blendable, if you haven't gone out to get this already make sure you do soon, it's defiantly worth the hype!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge 
I wanted to try a blending sponge and almost bought the famous Beauty Blender, but I decided to go for the Real Techniques version after seeing great reviews on it. I love this sponge and although I can't compare it against the Beauty Blender, I can say that I think the shape of this blender is much better. I love the flat surface and the point at the end as it means I can get to every curve and inch of my face. I don't tend to have a problem blending but this sure does make it easier and quicker to apply my makeup and I know then every time I use this my makeup will be well blended & I will be ready for the day's adventures.

NYX Butter Gloss Lip Gloss
These lip glosses are amazing, I haven't bought a lip gloss in some time but in January I ended up buying three! I bought two of these in shades, Tiramisu & Vanilla Cream Pie. Tiramisu is a gorgeous browny, pink shade that is perfect for every day wear & Vanilla Cream Pie is a light pink that adds just enough pink for the daytime or evening wear. Both smell amazing and as the shade describes. They are a little sticky but not overly, you soon look past this as they glide on so smoothly and last well throughout the day. I will defiantly be repurchasing these!

I hope you enjoyed this, please leave your thoughts and comments below and I will upload my February haul soon.

Jess x