Dupe #7 NARS Orgasm Blusher

This dupe came apparent by complete accident whilst looking through makeup. This elf studio blusher in 'Candid Coral' reminded me immediately of Nars' 'Orgasm', and sure enough, they are too similar not to mention! 

Nars Orgasm is one of my favourite blushers but, being a high end product, is a little more on the pricey side coming in at £21.50.

On the other hand, this elf blusher was just £3.95, making it more than considerably cheaper. Although elf is more difficult to get in the UK and most of Europe, it can be purchased online so is still available. (+ elf often have great online deals, so keep an eye out) These also come in a large selection of colours, some which may be even more similar to NARS' Orgasm!

The shades are not exactly the same as the elf shade is slightly more dusty and as the name suggests, Coral, although they are remarkably similar, both pink tones with a golden shimmer under-tone. Not only this, but the packaging is also similar, with a sturdy black casing and a mirror. 

In the swatch below, the shade on the right is NARS, and elf in the left.

For the price, the pigmentation of the elf blusher is fantastic, so although I would say if you already have the NARS option, you would not need both, but it is definitely worth a try of the elf blusher before splashing out. 

Thanks for reading,

Lou 

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Book Haul: Charity Shop

One of our absolute favourite places to go searching for books is charity stores. You can go with a book in mind and if you're lucky, find it, or go with an open mind to read anything and find some great new authors.

Recently, I went to find some books to read during the summer and found not only some interesting new ones, but also books I've been searching for before.

1. "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown

2. "Dear John" by Nicholas Sparks

3. "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks

4. "The Crocodile Bird" and "Simisola" by Ruth Rendell

The charity shop I purchased these at was Cancer Research UK, although the deals vary in different places, paperbacks are usually around 25p each, in which case you can't really go wrong.

Technology now means that most people can buy books on tablets or even use audible books, but I have always preferred to have a physical book and if you do want some, this is the best way to go about it and the quality often could be mistaken for an almost brand new book.

Thanks for reading,

Lou

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American Haul: Florida Gifts

My dad has just returned from Florida where he went on holiday whilst I was in Greece (Haul to come soon - Keep an eye out). Needless to say he HAD to bring bacck goodies from America and this is what I will talk about in the post. Individual reviews will also be posted on the Bath and Body Works candles and the EOS lipbalms (which we are planning to compare to the Balmi ones which are in the UK in Boots). 

One of the first things I always ask for when some body goes to America is VOGUE America. I am a suscriber to the English VOGUE and I absolutely love it. The American version is obvioulsy quite similar but it features more American designers and celebrities and actually size wise is a bit smaller in height and page number. But anyway it just interests me to read another version of the same magazine and it's another excuse to spend most of my time reading magazines!

The second thing which was brought back (I'm still not quite sure abut these to be honest) are Minnie Mouse screen protectors. They go on like a normal screen protector however at the top and the bottom of the screen there is a Minnie Mouse design. They come in a pack of 3 and on the back it says they were $9.95. In my opinion that's quite pricey, being converted to around £6. However if you are a big fan of Minnie Mouse then these are a perfect buy for you. I think they come from a Disney sstore out there but I  am not entirely sure. I'm just not too sure about the look on my phone, I like more minimal designs.

Another suprise purchase by my dad (he knows me pretty well so usually gets me somthing I will use) are the Havaianas flip flops. I already have a pair of these flip flops and they are the comfiest things ever! I would definitely recommend investing in a pair of these. There is the more classic style or the pearl look ones like these pink ones. There are even Havaianas stoes in London in which you can choose the colour of the strap and the sole to your own choice. I believe they are about £20 over here and are available from Office however they last F O R E V E R. I promise you! Another added feature of these ones is that they are a slim version (my feet are so skinny I have real trouble finding shoes) and this style is definitely available online at Office (it maybe in store too, I don't have a store close to me for me to check). Another little tip before I move onto another one of the presents  - I know I've gone on about this footwear - is that some times these are available in TKMaxx for just over half the price of Office so if you live near a TKMaxx you need to get down there, although there is obviously not enough colour range there as Office stocks, they are still bargains!

Right, on to a brief first impression of the Bath and Body Works Candes (I will do a full review, I promise!). I have the flavour 'Gelato" and "Paris Daydream". W O W. They smell so amazing. Gelato is quite a sweet but Paris Daydream smells soooo good. It basically just smells a bit like Abercrombie and Fitch and I've also heard that Mahogany Teakwood smells like that so I will be getting someone to buy me that one too. The packagaing of these is so cute with the lids. One thing I will mention of you are bringing these back from America is that it may be better to package them in bubble wrap and clothes and then put them in your case that goes in the hold as my dad got stopped with them in his hand luggage and the security guards had to take them out and smell them to make sure they were candles!!!!!! It's just not worth having to leave them at the airport as that really would be tragic!

Laslty the Eos lipbalms (I think we can safely say that peanut M&Ms are basically the same apart from the packaging). I got the flavour mint (the blue one), strawberry (the baby pink one) and summer fruit (the red one). I really like the mint scent and the strawberry one but I don't really like sweet scents so summer fruit falvour is too much for me. These are a really good bargain though as they work out about £3 I think.

I shall be doing more hauls soon (from Greece) and probably from Glasgow where we are both going for the Commonwealth games.

Thanks for reading,

Rose

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Book Review: P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern

I've just finished reading P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern and it was a fantastic read!

I know the movie is a very popular one but I am yet to watch it as I wanted to read the book first and I ,just say, I now cannot wait to watch the movie! The tale is absolutely gripping and I couldn't put it down, I laughed and cried simultaneously and the overall storyline as well as the lessons the book shared are really incredible.

I'm definitely interested in looking at more books by this author now and am really excited to see what else she has available. A definite recommendation from me! 

Thanks for reading,

Lou

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Summer Prom Eye Makeup

This post is of the eye makeup I wore to my prom this year. My base makeup is relatively simiple and often peoples perferences for base and face makeup vary depending on skin types, tones etc. so this is just my eye makeup. 

1. Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion

2. Base Eye Shadow: Mac Paint Pot in 'Indianwood' 

3. Inner Corner Shadow: UD Virgin (Naked Shade One)

4. Crease Shadow: UD Buck (Naked Shade 5) 

5. Tightline Kohl Liner: Urban Decay 24/7 in 'Zero' 

5. Upper lash liner: Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in 'Black Ink'

6. Mascara: Benefit They're Real

7. Eyebrows: Kiko Precision Eyebrow Pencil in '04' 

Thanks for reading, 

Lou 

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Florida Packing: Clothes

I'm going to Florida for 10 days in the middle of July so today my packing started and here are the items I'll be taking with me. 

I'm trying as hard as I can to limit the amount I'm taking as I have plans to be doing a lot of shopping, and running out of space/weight is not going to be an option! 

The contents have been reduced to:

2 pairs of shoes

10 tshirts 

2 pairs of shorts

1 pair of light trousers

1 skirt 

1 dress 

Added to my clothing, which has been rolled on the right hand size, I have my underwear, pyjamas, shoes and Disney ears on the left size (minus the clothes I'll be wearing for the journey)

There is plenty more to be added before I leave, including plenty of accessories and makeup and cosmetics which will come under another post, but for now these will be the pieces staying in there.

Thanks for reading,

Lou

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Dupe #6 Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Moisturiser

"Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions All-Over Clearing Treatment" and "Essence Pure Skin Anti-Spot Moisturizer"



On my recent holiday to Greece I forgot my Clinique Moisturiser so I had to take a trip to the Hondos Centre near my hotel to try and find an anti-spot moisturiser as I had my prom the following week and I did not want to leave anything to chance! This is when this dupe was found, like many of our other dupes, this was also totally by accident.

I had never heard of the brand Essence in the UK before however when I got home I conducted some research and turns out Essence makeup is available in Wilkinson although I could not find the moisturiser still. On the other hand I think I will have to try out some of their nail polishes as they look like a good dupe for the Bourjois ones. Anyway to other international readers it seems to be quite a widely available in most drugstores in Europe and beyond. Admittedly in Greece I did not have a lot of choice of anti-spot ranges, one thing that quite surprised me, as in about every drugstore in the UK there is a whole section dedicated to blemish defense. In Greece this market is obviously not as big. Even Clean and Clear only had 4 products in the whole 3 story shop!

Onto the Essence moisturiser it has a good texture like the Clinique one, maybe even more matte, which makes it perfect to use as a primer under makeup. It applies well and feels smooth on the skin, while providing a little moisture which is just enough for my normal type skin however would not be moisturising enough for someone with even slightly dry skin by any means. One thing that I first noticed about this moisturiser is that it has a green tint however after thinking about this it is probably designed to combat redness although I'm not sure that it really does in particular as it sinks into the skin pretty quickly rather than covering any blemishes. Smell wise it smells of a mixture of sun cream and cucumber even though it does not say that it contains an SPF. The claims on the packaging says that the cream does the following things:

• Fights spots and blackheads
• Refines and Mattifies the Skin
• Visibly reduces redness

I agree that the cream reduces and mattifies the skin and to some extent it helps to fight spots and blackheads but I think it more helps to keep them at bay rather than helping any existing spots to go down. And as to reducing redness, I must say I haven't really noticed this.

Now onto the clinique one. For the price difference, I must say that this one is not amazingly different. It does have a very nice texture and is more moisturising than the Essence one which I prefer in terms of making my skin look healthy and meaning makeup apply well. The packaging is very similar to the Essence one, with the only thing making it slightly more luxurious is the more metallic packaging and obviously the brand logo. It battles blemishes at about the same rate as the Essence one so overall obviously the Essence one is better value although the Clinique one has a slightly nicer smell but that does not justify the price difference with the Clinique Moisturiser (50ml) coming it £19 at compared to the Essence moisturiser converting to roughly £2.90 (75ml) depending on where in the world you buy it.

So overall I can confidently say that although I do love the Clinique moisturiser the Essence one definitely puts up an amazing battle for the price.

Thanks for Reading,
Rose
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What's In My Makeup Bag

I'm going to do a quick WIMMB today to show you guys the things I carry round with me on a daily basis.

I'm not going to lie, there are probably many things in here that are not necessities but I carry most things for good reason, and I hope this gives you guys a bit of inspiration.

1. Hair Accessories: 

I carry bands and bobby pins on a piece of card that came with a group of hair elastics from Urban Outfitters - it just keeps them all together neatly and I can find them easily when I need them. 

2. Hand Sanitiser:

Mine was super cheap from wilkinsons and smells great but I hope to get some more interesting scents abroad soon!

3. Shine Absorbing Sheets:

These Kleenex ones were 50p from a budget store and work great at absorbing oil especially in the hot summer months and overseas climate.

4. Travel Size Mascara:

I got a travel Benefit set for Christmas this year and use this mini They're Real! Mascara when I'm on the go.

5. Eyeliner:

I always like to have an eyeliner when I'm travelling as it's one of the most common touch ups I need and I got this Lancôme Kohl ages ago but it's now the perfect travel size.

6. Travel Atomiser:

I use this to carry around with me and top it up with the scent I'm wearing, this particular one currently contains Versace Yellow Diamond.

7. Vaseline:

The first of my many lip balms is Vaseline just because it's the most reliable and can also be used for different purposes when out and about.

8. EOS: 

The second lipbalm I'm carrying is eos in Summer Fruits. Firstly because I'm currently testing it for a post, but also due to the fact it is incredibly satisfying to use!

9. Concealer:

I carry the Benefit Boing concealer because it's one of my all time favourites and can be used for any problem areas that may arise throughout the day. 

10. Powder:

Powder is an essential for people with combination/oily skin and is so easy to just flick over the face when on the go.

11. Lip/Cheek Colour:

I carry a mini of Benefits Bene-Tint which is both a lip and cheek stain so is a great multitasker in such a small container - definitely one of my favourites!

12. Chapstick: 

Lipbalm no.3 is Chapstick original, simply because it is a classic, unscented and contains SPF 15.

13. Malibu Lipcare:

My last lipbalm is the Malibu Lipcare in Watermelon, which I use mostly when the weather gets really got because it has UV Protection and SPF 30.

14. Primer:

I carry a mini of Benefits Porefessional because if I need to completely re-do my makeup I can use it as a base but is also great to add to current makeup to lengthen it's wear.

Thanks for reading,

Lou 

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Review: John Frieda Highlight Activating Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner

John Frieda Highlight Activating Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner


Hello!

Today I will be reviewing the John Frieda shampoo and conditioner for Blonde hair that is available at Boots.

The shampoo and conditioner overall work well over a long period of time at making your hair go blonder and I have definitely noticed the difference in my hair colour since I began using this a couple of months ago. It has helped my hair to have more of a summer tone to it without using all of the harmful chemicals that go into your hair when it is highlighted/dyed.
Personally I really like the smell of the shampoo and conditioner. They remind me of the hairdressers with that smell that I can't quite put my finger on but I think it is just all of the hair products that they use mixed into one. Consistency wise both the shampoo and especially the conditioner is quite thick compared to normal which may be because of its purpose of changing hair colour so it needs to stay on the hair for longer, who knows! Anyway, I'm not quite sure whether I like the thicker consistency on the conditioner as it is quite hard to spread out throughout your hair however I prefer the thicker shampoo as it means that the shampoo does not slide off my head which normally happens.

I have incorporated this shampoo and conditioner duo into my daily routine by alternating them with my other shampoo and conditioner (which vary all the time!) so overall I use these every other wash. I think this is better as otherwise I find that these start to dry out my roots due to all of the coloring chemicals but used every other wash my hair is still luscious and smooth and blonde.
Packaging wise I like that both of these are in tubes as opposed to bottles as it is easier to get out, especially as they are of a thicker consistency. The packaging also feels very smooth and luxurious however that is expected with the slightly dear price tag (well, I think so anyway). I have the " highlight activating moisturising blonde" one which I think are the same price as all of the other versions of the same size such as "everlasting blonde". The grand price of these was £5.59 for the shampoo and another £5.59 for the conditioner which is quite pricey if you ask me so I would definitely recommend using it every other wash in order to make it last longer and save your bank balance.


Thanks for reading,
Rose
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American Independence Day Picnic

In celebration of July 4th, although we're not American, we thought we would make an event of the day. So, we gathered up a group of friends and a whole lot of food and thought we'd share our outfits.

Rose's Outfit:

NYC T-Shirt: Primark
Light Blue Shorts: Primark
Sunglasses: Next
Trainers: Ralph Lauren

Louise's Outfit:

Red Cami: Primark
Cropped Lace Top:  Urban Outfitters
High Waisted Shorts: Topshop
Trainers: Converse

Thanks for reading,
Rose and Louise
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Mac 'Indianwood' Paint Pot First Impressions

Recently I thought I'd give a mac paint pot a go. After rummaging through the pretty big variety of shades, I settled on Indianwood and intend on wearing it to my prom today. I don't have anything else like this shade and it also seemed pretty appropriate and versatile.

I gave it a try earlier this week and was really impressed. I have super oily eyelids and used it without any kind of base beforehand and after a day of wear, it was probably one of the most long lasting products I have tried. 

I wore it with a highlight in the inner corner and a flick of eyeliner and it was a great casual look, so I, excited to dress it up a bit more this evening and there will be a post later showing you the look and what I thought.


Thanks for reading,
Lou
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NOTD: Chanel 217 'Splendeur' Nail Colour

Chanel Nail Colour in 217 'Splendeur'

I love this colour, a typical summer bright fuschia pink is always an essential and I cannot wait to wear it non-stop this year.

As much as I love this colour, and the fact that one coat can get all the colour you need is always a bonus, but as with many other Chanel polishes, when it comes to chipping, the staying power just is not up to scratch for the price of one of these babies. 

So, much as I love it, the idea of having to re-paint my nails every couple of days is not always quite as appealing as the gorgeous colour and finish it comes with. 

Thanks for reading,

Lou

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Kiko Unlimited Stylo 'Shade 04' Lipstick Dupe #5

I stumbled upon this dupe really by accident. A couple of weeks ago we payed a visit to the Kiko store on Regent Street and it was so exciting I felt I couldn't leave without buying something! I settled for this lipstick as after swatching it on my hand I realised that the texture was incredible and I thought I would use it for my prom (I still haven't decided yet though!).

When I got home I realised I had an MUA lipstick in a very similar shade and bam a dupe was found! The Kiko 'Unlimited Stylo' Lipstick in Shade 04 has an amazing velvety soft texture that feels so nice to apply and has a smell resembling a MAC lipstick. The packaging is really sleek and original and overall this is a lovely product. The price is also very reasonable (comparing very well to your standard drug store lipstick prices) at only £6.90! It glides onto the lips and applies well and is not too drying on the lips. Kiko claims that this lipstick is long lasting and so far it has been however as with most lipsticks I don't think it will survive a meal. 

On the other hand the MUA lipstick in Shade 16 also lives up to most of these points. It smells good and the packaging may not look like a high end product but is still sturdy and pleasant to use. Also the MUA lipsticks have the added feature of the little pot of lipstick on the end which I'm not entirely sure of the purpose of but it's amazing none the less! The price of the MUA lipstick is definitely good value along with most other MUA products, coming in at just £1. 

To compare the MUA lipstick does not have quite as much staying power as the Kiko one as it is more easy to smudge. Also I personally prefer the colour of the Kiko one as I think it is more natural compared to the more orange tones in the MUA one but for the price the MUA one is definitely better for the bank balance. One thing that also gives MUA an edge over the Kiko one is that it is much more widely available as you can get them in almost all Superdrug stores where as the Kiko one is only available in 3 stores in the UK, all of which are in London. As with any of our dupes, we try to be as honest as possible, and I do still prefer the Kiko one even though it is more expensive but the MUA one is still worth a try! 

Thanks for reading, 

Rose 

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Healthy Summer Picnic

Today we decided to take advantage of the brief amount of sunshine that swept the country and have a healthy picnic. We kept it basic and didn't bring too much food so that we weren't tempted to eat it all and therefore defeat the whole point eating well.

This is what we had:

1. Couscous with lemon, parsley and smoked salmon

2. Cashew Nuts

3. Strawberries

4. Yoghurt Covered Fruit Flakes

5. Naked Green Machine Juice (Apples, Bananas, Pineapple, Kiwi and Mango)

Now I wouldn't say by any means that either of us are experts about living a healthy lifestyle but on this picnic we tried to steer away from sugary snacks as this usually means that my energy levels are higher later on in the day. Also it's really helpful if you eat slower (we manage to fill the time by having a gossip) as this gives your body time to tell your brain when it has eaten enough food so you don't over eat!

Overall this picnic was a great success and didn't cost the earth. Our main new trial was the Naked Juice and this has made me want to try more of them! The taste is amazing and the packaging is really plain and simple but at the same time really appealing . One thing I will add however is that the juice is a rather unattractive colour. I know the colour is supposed to show that there is no added colourings in the drink however they do say that we eat with our eyes! On the other hand the Naked Juice could be swapped for a homemade smoothie which may work out cheaper and it would also mean that all of the fruits included can be exactly to your taste!

Thanks for reading,

Rose and Lou

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Bioderma 'Sensibio H20' Dupe #4

A slightly different dupe today involves cleansing water, the Bioderma 'Sensibo H20' (formerly Créaline H20) and the new garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. Bioderma is incredibly raved about in the beauty community for it's effortless use and fantastic results, although unfortunately it is extremely difficult to come across outside Europe and also is uncommon in the UK apart from online providers, which makes it not only a pain to buy, but considerably more expensive also.

Bioderma 'Créaline H20' 
(as far as I am aware, my stash is the exact same formula as the new one mentioned above, but just with a different name)

The prices for this vary depending on where they are bought. From my personal experience (2x 500ml bottles bought in Paris) I got a deal on two for €19.99 (approximately £7.99 each) which was a pretty good deal for this product. Other prices online range from around ££15 - £20 for a single 500ml bottle, considerably more expensive although you can find the rare seller doing a genuinely good deal on Amazon.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

The new Garnier 400ml product retails at about £4.99 in drugstores such as boots, although I recently found it on special offer in Sainsburys and similar supermarket stores - so keep your eyes peeled for this certainly cheaper alternative. 

So, the immediate prices indicate that, for your money, the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water is not as expensive, but how cost effective is each of the products? 

I have not been using the Garnier product as long as my Bioderma so it may be difficult to judge, but due to the claim on the packaging approximately '400ml = 200 uses' (although obviously this is depending on the amount of product used during each application), if the Bioderma also goes by this 2ml per use rule, 250 uses will be available. My calculations would therefore say, the Garnier is also the most cost effective product - good news, right? (Although for people purchasing in Europe, the prices may not be as dissimilar) 

In other views of comparison, the two claim to do virtually the same job and come in undeniably similar packaging (good job, Garnier). Each of them are for sensitive skin, can be used on both the face and eyes, are scent free and hypoallergenic. Okay, I admit, at first glance and on paper they look pretty darn similar: but how do they compare in practise?

The images below display the using of each of the products on my eyes and the before and after images of how well they perform. (Please ignore my oily eyelids and uncontrollable brows)

First Up: Bioderma

Garnier

After my attempt to apply the same amount of each and use the same technique: It's a pretty close one, lets be honest, if I wasn't looking then I'd say the results are almost the same. Upon close inspection, it would appear to me that the bioderma did a slightly better job and my cotton pad appeared to have more product left remaining on it.

Overall, although the Biodermas removal power is slightly stronger than that of the Garnier water, the products really aren't worth the difference in price for the difference in effect. Therefore, if I were to suggest one which is the best price and least hassle to get in the UK (and also easy to obtain in the US as far as I am aware - if you cannot find it, it is available on feelunique.com), the Garnier is a straight-out winner. I have plenty of Bioderma left for now to use up, so I am not completely converted yet, but when my next purchase comes along, it may well be Garnier.

Thank you for reading,
I hope this was helpful - take care

Lou x

Maybelline 'Baby Lips' Review #1

I'm sure I don't even need to give the Baby Lips an introduction, because, quite frankly it seems as though everyone has jumped on the Baby Lips bandwagon. Before they came to the UK, I was also included in the group of people who could simply not wait to give them a try, and to put it nicely - I have a very strong opinion on this lip balm 'sensation'.

As soon as I could get hold of them, I got two Maybelline Baby Lips in the shades 'Cherry Me' and 'Peach Kiss', so I am going to break down both of the and review the complete products and my opinion. I hope you enjoy!

 Peach Kiss

                                                                                        Cherry Me >





                                                                       


Colour
The colours are pretty self explanatory, 'Cherry Me' is a deep pink shade, whilst 'Peach Kiss' is a lighter, peachy shade. Both shades have a pretty good pigmentation and for a lip balm, they are definitely one of the best I have tried. Although the pigment is good, the Peach colour is not a colour I would be happy to wear on a regular basis as a colour alone, this is because there is shimmer in large amounts (verging on glitter) in the colour, and it just isn't very flattering on the lips.

Below is 'Cherry Me'. Above is 'Peach Kiss'

Scent
Alike to the colours, the scents are quite obvious within the name as well, and true to their names, one smells of Cherry and the other Peach. They are both quite pleasant smells - so this is definitely a high point.
Packaging
I am definitely a fan of the packaging of baby lips, the colours are vibrant and relevant to the product, as well as the sturdy packaging making them easy to travel with throughout the day, which of course, is expected of a lip balm.

Review
So, it all sounds fine and dandy so far - as far as a product goes, Maybelline have done everything right. Correct? No. My experience with these LIP BALMS has been pretty terrible. As far as a lip balm goes, they are useless. Both of these products simply sit on top of my lips and do nothing but rest there while the oil spreads to the edges of my mouth and causes breakouts.
I was so excited for these products and love Maybelline as a brand, but I am so disappointed with them, as they do not hydrate the lips in any way, nor do they help with chapped lips - which caused a lot of problem for me in the winter when I most needed a good lip balm.
On the upper side, I have been told the non-pigmented Baby Lips are the best, particularly the 'Hydrate' product. Unfortunately at the moment I am completely put off the balms for the foreseeable future.

In regards to an alternative - sticking with Vaseline is the best option and an absolute favourite of mine. To complete the post with a final dupe, I feel as though a great option instead of the Cherry Me Baby Lips is Vaseline Rosy Lips. The shades are quite similar, and have equal pigmentation - but I can assure the Vaseline will, at very least, hydrate lips even a small amount.

I hope you enjoyed the first review and there will be many to come in the future,
Thank you for taking the time to read.

~ Lou x