Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I have been a long time fan of beauty blenders, but I can't justify buying an original one, as they don't really last that long, compared to a brush... However, I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques sponges, as I think their shape is spot on - with a delicate point at one end, so you can really work into the inner corners of your eyes and around your nose, and a flat edge at the other to blend foundation across your cheeks.

I think the finish I get from this blender is great, and I feel I use less product when I use a blender than I do when I use my regular brush. The only thing I don't like is cleaning them. If anyone knows a miracle product that can save me a lot of time I would love to know, because I can never get them perfect again!

Let me know what you think of these blenders. Personally I think for about £6 they are fab, and just as good as the £16 you will be paying for the original one! Love

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Rosie for Autograph Makeup Collection Review

I have been a huge Rosie for Autograph fan for a long time, and have several sets of her underwear, and when I heard about her makeup collection, I knew it was going to be beautiful - and I wasn't disappointed.
Everything is so sleek and rose gold coloured, with simple classy packaging and the products inside are fab. By far, my favourite item I purchased was the Lady Rose lipstick, and I will definitely be getting some more colours. The pigmentation is brilliant, the texture is so creamy, and it contains Argan Oil - which is a stroke of genius, because it isn't drying in the slightest. I would describe the finish as semi-matte, the colour lasts for so long, it hardly moved when I had a drink and a snack. The lipstick is priced at £14, so we are in the same price as MAC, and to be honest I would say yes - just as good! 
Finally, can I just say they have done something very simple but brilliant: magnetic closure for the lipstick lid. Celebrate ladies, you won't have to fish about in the bottom of your handbag for the lid anymore!

Lady Rose Lipstick

If you have been following my blog for a while, you will know that I love collecting perfumes, as I like a different one for every occasion! Well I can't pass up a beautiful (and reasonable priced) bottle, so I picked up the first Rosie for Autograph perfume. This has been out for quite a long time, but somehow I have always overlooked it. However for £12 for 30ml Eau de Parfum, it is definitely worth getting if you like flowery scents. As you would expect this is a very rose scented perfume, which isn't really my winter thing, but I'm definitely more floral in spring/ summer - so expect to smell it on me a lot then... in the meantime it just looks beautiful in my collection!

Rosie for Autograph Perfume

I decided to pick up a couple of the makeup sticks, I decided that the starstruck contour was a must have, and also the miracle concealer. Although I want to try the highlighter stick too...

I think the contour stick is fantastic, I got it in the lighter shade, which I would say is perfect for my skin tone, it is so easy to use, and works amazingly with a beauty blender! Such a quick way to contour!

Rosie for Autograph Starstruck Contour

I'm not sure how I feel about the miracle concealer, but I'm not certain I would call it my miracle product... I got it in colour 1, which seems ok, but to be honest there wasn't a lot of choice, which I think is quite disappointing. It is also very warm toned, which makes it good for under eyes, as it really helps with any dark circles, but warning - do not try and use it on any blemishes. I found it made them look a lot more obvious!! So yep, slightly mixed review - if you want something just for under eyes, the consistency and colour works. Just don't use it for anything else.

Rosie for Autograph Miracle Concealer

Saving one of the best till last.... I LOVE the Amazing Radiance cream! This is a brilliant product. Seriously no downsides. The consistency glides onto my skin (and my skin is quite fussy) and sits really well underneath my foundation. The glow it gives is amazing, it isn't sparkly or anything else, it just makes your skin look luminous! I can also see this working really well in the summer when I have a tan, because I would just use it on its own for a light makeup look!

Rosie for Autograph Amazing Radiance Cream

I did try and swatch the products, but the sun came out and I got a bit washed out!! However you can still see how pigmented the lipstick is, this was literally one swipe! You can also see the warm tone from the concealer, and the contour stick was a couple of swipes to show the colour - but I love that it's build able!

Amazing Radiance Cream swatch - I didn't really want to blend this in because it disappears, and you wouldn't see it... which is kind of the point!

So what do you think? Have you picked up any of the Rosie for Autograph Makeup? Is there any other bits I need to try? I'm probably going to get the highlighter stick, and another lipstick (or two) so if there is anything you think I can't live without let me know in the comments and I'll pick it up!

Lots of love

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Zoeva Brushes

A while ago, I did my first review of Zoeva brushes and after 18 months of using them, I can still say that I absolutely love them, they are still incredibly soft, and hardly shed at all when I wash them.

Therefore I have decided to replace some more of my brushes with Zoeva ones! The ones I bought this time around are all individual, as opposed to a set, because I was working on filling in some gaps within my collection!

The brushes are:

1. Luxe Highlight
2. Luxe Face Paint
3. Luxe All Over Shader
4. Luxe Smokey Shader
5. Luxe Eye Blender
6. Smudger
7. Brow Line
8. Luxe Precise Shader

Yet again I find myself really impressed with how soft and densely packed these brushes are - I think they are incredible value when you consider the most expensive one I bought myself was £11, which is a fraction of the price of MAC brushes.

L-R: Luxe Face Paint, Luxe Highlight, Luxe All Over Shader

I didn't have any brush which was similar to Luxe Face Paint, it is designed to be used as a contour brush, with dense soft bristles which pick up a decent amount of product and blend it seamlessly into the skin.

The Luxe Highlight brush is designed to be used as described - to highlight cheekbones, nose, cupid's bow or cleavage.

The other brushes I got are varying degrees of eyeshadow brushes, combinations of shaders, blenders and smudgers as well as an eyebrow brush. So far I think that the 226 smudged is my favourite - it is incredible for blending a smoky eye!

L-R: Luxe Eye Blender, Smudger, Luxe Smoky Shader, Luxe Precise Shader

So to surmise, if you are after some reasonably priced brushes I definitely recommend the Zoeva ones, and I hope that these last as long as my original Rose gold collection!

Let me know if you have tried any Zoeva brushes, and if there are any essential ones you think I need to get in the comments below.

Lots of Love

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What I Got For Christmas

It's New Years Eve! I hope you have all had a wonderful festive season! I thought I would share a couple of items that I got for Christmas (and some I bought with Christmas money!) with you! Usual disclaimer... I'm not showing off, I just think you will be interested in these items!

Naked Palette from Urban Decay

Naked Palette by Urban Deay

Naked Palette by Urban Deay

Diptyque Baies Candle

Diptyque Baies and Roses Candles (FYI I reviewed the Roses Candle here)

Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Perfune

Hourglass Ambient Highlighter Palette

Hourglass Ambient Highlighter Palette

Neon Christmas Wish Gold Candle

Neon Christmas Wish Gold Candle

I definitely got spoilt this year, Adam got me the Naked Palette, which I was so excited about as I've wanted it for ages! He also got me the perfume and Diptyque Roses Candle :) he's the best boyfriend! I still have a little bit of money left over from Christmas, is there anything you think I need to pick up in the sales? If so let me know below! Also I have watched a few youtube tutorials about different looks to create with the Naked Palette and Hourglass Ambient Palette, but if there are any you know of which are really good, please leave me some links in the comments!!
I hope you had a fantastic Christmas, and I wish you all the best for the New Year!
Lots of love

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High End Gift guide for girls

It's that time of year again where everyone is realising that Christmas is just around the corner and there is shopping yet to be completed! If you are stuck for ideas for gifts, or if you just feel like treating yourself, look right this way!
You will notice that most of the items in my gift guide are high end, this is because I prefer to get one or two nice items that I have been coveting for quite a long time, as opposed to lots of little things! But I understand that not everybody feels the same!

So, my gift guide for you consists of....

1) Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow

2) Ooh La La Leather Cosmetic Bag from Cult Beauty

3) Jimmy Choo Esme 85mm Glitter Heel Pump from Selfridges

4) Victoria's Secret Sleepover Knit Pajamas

5) Olympus Pen E-PL7 Camera from Amazon - I have recently bought this camera in the Cyber Monday sales, it's amazing!! There will be a review post going up about it soon!

6) French Sole Classic Ballet in Nude

7) Aspinal Brook Street Purse Wallet in Deer Saffiano

8) Diptyque Roses Candle - this is probably my favourite candle ever!

9) The Perfect Nude Kiss gift set from Charlotte Tilbury

10) Christian Louboutin Pigalle 100 Patent Calf in Nude from Selfridges

11) Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey from The Perfume Shop

If you want to see more of what is on my Christmas Wishlist this year, check out my pinterest board below!

Let me know in the comments section below what you think, and leave me links to your gift guides! Merry Christmas! Lots of love

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Amazing Barcelona Makeup Haul

One of my favourite things about going abroad is duty free and any local pharmacies or makeup stores for some new makeup bits! Last time I went to France, I got a some French Pharmacy bits, and a new Chanel quad, but this time I found a Sephora store and got really excited as I have never tried any of their own brand products! I may have also purchased a couple more lipsticks and lipliners...

MAC Brave lipstick and Soar lipliner

MAC Whirl lipstick and Morning Coffee Lipliner

As you may have realised from some of my previous posts, I am going through a bit of a nudes lipstick phase, while I was in France I bought Velvet Teddy and I also got Faux a couple of months ago! At London Gatwick on the way out I decided to try a more brown shade, and purchased Whirl with the matching lipliner in Morning Coffee. This is a matte lipstick, so I definitely recommend using a moisturising primer underneath it, otherwise it will dry out your lips. On the way back, I thought I would add another pinkier one to the collection and got Brave, and the lipliner Soar, which everyone talks about as being one of the Kylie Jenner lipstick staples, but I'm not sure how well they actually go together, I think I need to work on some blending.

Sephora Purchases

Chanel Chance Perfume

I have had Chanel Chance for years, and it is one of the staples in my collection. I think you can never really go wrong with Chanel Chance perfume, it's a classic scent which can be worn day or night, and even using the Eau de Toilette the scent is really long lasting.

Sephora Exfoliating Powder

I was so excited to get some new products from Sephora - I have never tried any of their things before, so I wanted to try a skincare item, an eyeshadow palette, a lip product and something a bit different, so that's what I did!

I have never used an exfoliating powder before, but I was looking forward to trying it! It's really simple to use, you literally shake some onto your wet hands and it foams up, cleaning your face really well. It's recommended to use this method once a week, but you can also include some in your daily cleanser every day for a deeper clean, which I'm yet to try!

Sephora Eyeshadow Palette

Sephora Eyeshadow Palette

I absolutely love getting new eyeshadow palettes, and I'm really regretting that I only bought the smokey eye one, as they had a neutrals one which was fantastic as well! Oh well, next trip!

Sephora Lip and Cheek Crayon and Smoothing & Brightening Powder

Bioderma Micellar Water

I have a definite issue where I seem to be unable to go to Europe without stopping by a pharmacy and buying some more Bioderma Micellar Water. It's definitely my favourite makeup remover, and it doesn't hurt my eczema at all which is a winner!

Lots of love

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You can never have enough MAC...

So, while I was in Cannes I was wandering around, and happened to come across a MAC store, so naturally I had to have a little wander in and made a few purchases!

Velvet Teddy

I am constantly searching for the perfect nude, and one I have been keen to add to my collection is Velvet Teddy... however tracking down a store when it is out of stock everywhere was really hard! However, in France, it turned out not to be an issue! Apparently the Kylie Jenner lip craze hasn't struck as hard there!

Nice 'n' Spicy Lip Pencil

I never used to bother buying lip pencils to go with my lipsticks, but now I realise what an asset they are, and always get one to go with any new lipstick. The girl in MAC suggested this one, and I think it's fab.

Continuing on the lip pencil requirements, I bought Ruby Woo lipstick quite a while ago, but I didn't get the lip liner... I love the colour but bleeding lipstick especially in bright red is literally the worst thing in the world, and it has meant I don't wear it as much as I would like. Problem is now solved, I have bought the liner!

Another item that I have been considering for a while was the Prep + Prime Lip Base, and seeing as how I'm currently massively into matte lipsticks, I decided it was the perfect time to buy it! Definitely no regrets, I always use it under mattes and it makes them look so much better. Also if I am having a dry lip day I use it under any other formula, and it makes the lipsticks go on so much easier and they stay on much more evenly if that makes sense!

I hope you have enjoyed reading this, as always I'm sure my next MAC trip isn't going to be far off, and if there is anything new you think I need to try out let me know!
Lots of love

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