LookFantastic Haul ft. Benefit, Redken and Korres

I received a little performance related bonus through work a few weeks ago and as part of this I had a few pounds to spend at one of my favourite beauty sites - LookFantastic.  Along the lines of FeelUnique et al, this hub stocks a huge array of beauty products - the classics and newly hyped - with most at a reduced price compared to the RRP.  There are literally hundreds of brands and thousands of products to swoon over but these were the ones that worked their way into my basket:

Redken Extreme Anti Snap - £12.64 (RRP £18.85)

I spoke about this product way back in 2010 in my Hair Routine post and although my love affair with extensions has faded, my feelings for Anti Snap remain as strong to this day. Used post-shower after I've combed through my wet hair, this gorgeous smelling treatment helps to keep my ends in tip top condition, whilst leaving no sticky residue. For a hot tool addict like me, this is truly a holy grail product and one I will repurchase time and time again.

Korres Jasmine Lip Butter - £6.40 (RRP £8)

I have to hold my hands up here - I already have far too many lip products and definitely didn't need this but I'm a girl and have heard lots of good things about this so resistance was futile.  I was lured in by the milky finish and moisture enhancing formula and so far, it's living up to its promises. 

DUO Lash Adhesive - £7.95 (RRP £10)

After watching numerous YouTube videos, I purchased a tube of this on a whim many moons ago. What can I say?  Once you use this glue, the tiny vials you get in eyelash packs will never be the same. This stuff is of industrial strength and will ensure your lashes last the whole night, even if you don't. Try it; you won't regret it.

Tweezerman For Benefit Slant Tweezer - £19.50

I finally caved and spent £20 on a pair of tweezers. I haven't given them a whirl yet - Cara has inspired me to grow out my brows - but I am sure they will be as wonderful as everyone says they are. Fingers crossed.

Benefit Sun Beam - £19.50

Never one to get along with High Beam, I didn't think it's younger, sunkissed sister Sun Beam would work for me either. Oh, how wrong I was. This highlighter is a dream to apply, blends seamlessly and leaves the cheeks with a beautifully delicate, golden glow. Although a summer favourite to enhance bronzed features, it works just as well now my tan has faded and can tell this will be an all-year-round favourite.

Benefit They're Real - Deluxe Free Sample (Worth £9.50)

Although Benefit products aren't discounted on LF, currently when you buy any two products from the range you get a free sample of their cult mascara. I've wanted to try this for a while but I'm always a bit reluctant to splash out on new mascaras as I have a trusty MaxFactor favourite. Will this give me the eyelashes of my dreams?  I'll let you know...

New In|NARS Phone Case

For the past few weeks I've been searching high and low for a new phone case.  As a girl who knows what she likes, I was starting to get frustrated as I couldn't find 'the one'.  Until one day last week when I scrawling through pages and pages of eBay listings, I came across this beauty...

Link!

It's pink.  

It's beauty related.  

It's in homage to one of my favourite brands.  

I bought it immediately.  

Well, it would’ve been rude not to…

Since ordering this around a week ago, I’ve noticed that I’m definitely not alone and the nail polish/phone cover trend is definitely become a blogger favourite.  Most of the cases I’ve seen are Chanel – a quick Etsy search brings up thousands – and I can feel one of these may be in my possession sooner rather than later…  A designer beauty injection for less than £20?  What’s not to love?!

xxx

Product Rave|Soap & Glory Sugar Crush

Soap and Glory.  Three little words that will always bring a smile to my face.  I’ve been a fan for years and I’m yet to find a product I don’t love.  So when my sister gifted me their Sugar Crush Body Wash , I knew instantly it would be a permanent addition to my collection. 

If their original Clean On Me shower gel is the subtle, pretty and sensible one, Sugar Crush is the loud, brash and vibrant younger sister.  With lime extracts and secret ingredients such as ‘COOLCAPSULE™X’ and ‘Kiwi Water Juice’, this shower gel pulls an intense punch and definitely wakes you up in the morning.  It foams, it lathers and best of all, it makes your bathroom smell like a sweet shop – definitely a winner!  And my original fears that it wouldn't be as moisturising as its predecessor were unfounded - my skin was left just as smooth and soft due to a large helping of veggie oils which, although hardly sound glamorous, absolutely do the job.

It’s safe to say, Soap & Glory definitely didn’t disappoint again and at a cool £6.50 for 100ml, it’s a love affair that is sure to continue!   Sugar Crush, welcome to the family…

What are your favourite Soap & Glory products?  Could you start a shop with your collection like me? xxx

In Style Peach Sorbet

Since my last haul of the nail polish variety, I was determined they would be the last purchases for a while.  Then I saw In Style's latest issue and well, the rest is history!

Nails Inc latest freebie offerings (they are so good to us!) come in 3 beautiful Spring-appropriate shades and as soon as I saw the selection, I knew Peach Sorbet had to be mine.  The name conjures up a colour that is delicate, pretty and feminine; and the result is just that.

As for the application, the first layer results in a surprisingly pigmented and opaque finish, although some-what streaky.  After a second coat, the colour is truly opaque and could well be left here - as I have done on my toes - but I did apply a third and final coat to ensure no streaks.  After a top layer with Seche Vite, you are left with a beautiful and glossy light peach shade that is nude in some lights and slightly pink in others.  It is almost like a peachy cousin of OPI's Mod About You; creamy and very light but with enough colour that it stops your hands looking like a corpse and will also look amazing offset with a deep tan.

I think this is going to have to be a shade that I will buy multiple copies of the same magazine for.  I want back ups of this and for the price of £3.80, it'd be rude not to!

xxx

Sex and The City plus a little Chanel...

The weekends for me are an opportunity to sit myself in front of my mirror and actually take my time with my make up.  This is a stark contrast to weekdays when I'm sat on a train at 7.20 and attempting to apply my face whilst half asleep....oh how glamorous!

The biggest difference from week to weekend is how I do my eye make up.  Monday to Friday it's all about the mascara and not much else.  However, come Saturday and Sunday - the eye shadow is out in force, lashes are carefully applied and more than a hint of eyeliner can be seen.

Today, this was the result:

 Golden brown eyelids with a hint of sheen courtesy of Chanel, a flick of black khol and my new obsession: Sex And The City Charlotte lashes.

The texture of the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre (82) did take a bit of getting used to, I will admit.  However, the result is beautiful and the Khol pencil was an absolute dream to apply - it was soft enough to apply without dragging the delicate eyelid but still allowed for precision.  As for the lashes - these are true Holy Grail material.  They are ridiculously cheap from Savers but are fantastic quality, have an invisible band so they are so easy to apply and even after 5 or 6 wears they are still in perfect condition.  As can be seen from the picture, I have a pair of the Miranda version too which I am yet to try, but have high hopes for!

What are your current favourite for creating a simple, but effective eye look?  I'd love some recommendations!

xxx

Dream Jeans

Every few months, that horrific day comes when you finally have to admit that your jeans do not look fashionably worn in or 'vintage'....they just look old, tired and when it gets really bad, a little bit holey.  Then the panic sets in that you have to set a day to traipse around the shops trying on a hundred pairs of jeans that are either too long/too short/too tight/too loose.  You then give up and decide that maybe your faithful jeans don't actually look too bad and you can get away with them for a little while longer....yeah right..!

Well now, those days are over for me (and hopefully you...) my friends!  These babies have caused quite a stir in the blogging community and having had them in my wardrobe for around 2 months now, I decided I needed to also declare my love for....

TOPSHOP'S LEIGH SUPERSOFT SKINNY JEANS

When I first saw these on the hanger, I though they looked far too thin and assumed they would look too baggy and just generally, pretty awful.  Oh, how wrong I was!  In reality they are:

a) So incredibly soft I could sleep in them

b) Stretchy enough that they hug all the right areas (namely my impossibly flat derrière) and give you a fantastic shape with no saggy knees in sight!

c) Tight enough around that ankles that they look perfect with any type of boot - no bunching up to be seen

d) So durable that even after a million and one washes & wears, they still look as good as new

e) Cheap as chips!

f) Available in a colour/print/length/size to suit absolutely anybody - I've got my eye on some of the fantastic new designs for spring

g) Just generally, bloody fantastic!!

If you haven't been introduced to these already, go and try them on and I promise - you'll fall in love!  You can thank me later... ;)

Chanel at a fraction of the cost?!

When the Chanel Illusion d'Ombre luminous eye shadows hit the shelves, it's safe to say there was a little bit of hysteria throughout the blogging community ;).

I, for one, admired them from afar but my frantic saving for 'Gap Year Round Two' restricts me from my buying such luxurious things.  Well....sometimes anyway!

I have to be honest, I was feeling a little bit hard done-by (after all, is going back to Australia really worth it?  Answer - yes very much so!) so was over the moon when these 17 Wild Metallic Eyes popped up on my radar.

Obviously I have no idea on how they compare in formulations, but so far, I reckon the 17 version is pretty much perfect and comes in at a delicious £3.99.

Heavily swatched, Wild Nude is quite a cool toned brown but when blended, becomes a sheer, warm bronze.  Perfect as base for a brown smoky eye or as a wash of colour for every day.  Right up my street and on second inspection, a colour I prefer to all the Chanel options..my bank balance is sighing with relief ;).

Have you tried these, Chanel's version or both?  Let me know how you think they compare! xxx

Product of the month: Mythic Oil

Ever since the September Glossy Box landed in my lap, there has been one product that I have used every single day, without fail.

It is, of course, the beautiful Mythic Oil from the L'oreal Professionnel range.

Hair oils have been on my radar for months but I'd always been of the view that I had enough hair products to last me a life time and I just didn't need one.  Not anymore!!!!

I honestly could not live without this product now.  From the first time I applied two drops to my wet hair and then blow dried it, I noticed a difference.  My hair was softer, smoother and generally looked a million times better.  My split ends were sealed and any fly-aways were history.  When applied to my dry hair after, it gave me the most amazing shine and the scent made my hair smell like I'd just come out of the hairdressers.  I was hooked!

As for the actual product, it's enriched with all sorts of oils that care for your hair and give it back some moisture without ever making your hair greasy or weighed down.

I am in love!  If you are like me and think that any old serum makes your hair feel as good as you possibly think.....try a hair oil!  You will not be disappointed - I promise!!!

EDIT: I am a useless blogger and put absolutely no details in of where to get this.  It can be bought from hair salons but for the savvy beauty addict, Cheap Smells or Feel Unique are your best option to snap it up for £11.95.  Go on...... You're worth it ;)

Christmas comes but once a.....month

After another long day at work on Friday, coming home to a parcel was definitely the highlight of the working week!  What made this even more exciting, was that I literally had no idea what was going to be inside it.  I am, of course, talking about the infamous Glossy Box.

The monthly luxury-sample subscription service was something that I'd heard so much about but had just never got around to signing up for.

However, after experiencing the sheer excitement of not knowing what I was going to find, I am definitely a convert!  I was literally squealing - talk about a big kid!

Out of the 5 items, there is definitely one stand out product that I am already in love with - watch this space for a review very soon!

xxx

An old favourite...

My love affair with MAC's Hush Cream Colour Base is no secret... since I purchased it last year it has barely been off my cheekbones.  So when I realised to my dismay last week that I literally had only a scrap left (..I think I'd been in denial for weeks at how fast I was running out) and no time to repurchase, I had a rummage in my stash and came across a previous love...

Prestige Skin Loving Minerals Glam Tan Bronzer

 

Although showcased in a previous FOTD in the form of a bronzer, this time I lightly swept it just along the tops of my cheekbones to provide the 'lit-from-within' dewiness I love.  I am not sure this would work with my normal skin tone - as the product is quite dark - but with my Spanish tan still lingering, it took on the role of a highlighter perfectly.

Cue embarrassing photo from a recent night out...

If someone has a hat on, you just have to try it on...right?!

As well as the gorgeous sheen and fantastic pigmentation, this product applies beautifully; you can build it up as you wish and takes on the role of an eyeshadow perfectly.  The mineral based product means it's gentle on your skin and at just £9.49, it is gentle on your purse too.

Prestige is one of those brands that I always overlook but out of the few products I do own, they are seriously impressive and I go back to time and time again.  The Pure Shimmer version of this product is definitely on my radar for when I'm less tanned... 

Do you have any Prestige recommendations?

xxx

A Match Made in Heaven: #2

Another day; another few select products that were a match made in cosmetic heaven....!

Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Kabuki & MAC Cream Colour Bases

The synthetic brush picks up the perfect amount of product and allows it to be buffed in perfectly where needed - a fantastic finish that I just can never achieve with my fingers.

I absolutely love this brush - any other flat top kabukis that I should invest in?!

My Summer make-up saviour

When the sun starts shining or I set off for a warmer climate I, like many, am faced with the prospect of an all too shiny face and make up that slides right off.
I hate attempting to cover the shine or set foundation with tonnes of powder as I just feel like it masks the problem and doesn't help your skin one bit.  So my saviour is?

Lancane Anti-Chafing Gel

I can hear the collective "WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!" !!

Well I heard on the grapevine that this product has basically the same base ingredients as popular high end primers such as MAC Prep and Prime.  Well after a bit of web based research I found this to be true but also that the Lancane has only four ingredients compared to MAC's TWENTY SEVEN.  I'm not usually fussed about things like that but it is nice to feel like I'm putting something on my face that it not a total crazy mix of chemicals.  The MAC also contains acid and silica which doesn't sound that great to me either.

The other major difference is the price.  Lancane = £5.99 for 30 ml ; MAC = £16.50 for 30ml.

So far, so good. :)

I have to admit, I have never tried MAC's but I have tried the GOSH primer and as far as I'm aware they are both much of a muchness?

Well this product is the same as the GOSH if not better.  All you need is a pea sized amount and you simply rub in into your entire face or the areas you just get oily - after moisturiser; before foundation.  It makes my skin so incredibly soft, reduces the appearance of pores and makes my foundation glide on effortlessly.  It also does exactly what I want a primer to do - keeps my make up looking fresh all day and keeps my t-zone matte - I assume due to the starch it contains which soaks up any oils.

In conclusion - I love it!  I would not be without it in the Summer months now - it just makes the world of difference to my make up.  I did get some funny looks when it fell out of my bag one day though - so now I decant it into small clear pots - reduces the embarrassment of the apparent need for an anti-chafing gel....

NB It is also fantastic for popping on under your foundation before a big night out - allows me to dance the night away and still look matte in the photos - fantastic!

Chanel Dupe??

I have worn Chanel Chance every day for as long as I can remember.  I like a lighter fragrance in the day compared to what I wear in the evening - Dior Midnight Poison and Hugo Boss being two examples.

It is however a lot of pennies and as I am rapidly running out I was all set to drop £40 or so on a new bottle.  However, when I was at the Zara till a few days ago and attempting to distract myself on how much money I was spending, I had a quick spritz of their perfume 'Zara Collection'.  The first thought that came into my head?.. "Chanel Chance."  At just £14.90 for 50ml I couldn't resist.

As soon as I stepped out the strore I ripped open the plastic and set about spritzing like mad.  I LOVE IT!!!

When I got home I did a little comparison with the Chanel.  As far as I am concered, they smell pretty damn similar.  My brother said they smell nothing alike and that I don't have 'a nose' for smells...  Well, I attempted a little google search of their notes etc but I could find no real info on the Zara fragrance except that it is 'floral' - as is the Chance.

So the reality is, they don't smell exactly the same but it's as close as one can get and for £14.90 I'm not complaining!  My only gripe is that it doesn't last that long on the skin - being only an Eau de Toilette - but it doesn't really bother me because I know I can spritz away to my heart's content without worrying about how much each spray is costing me!

No, it won't replace my Chance which I will love forever I'm sure but this is great for the Summer and, being Zara, looks simple and pretty classy on my dressing table at the same time.

Smiles all around :)

NOTD & A Product Rave

I applied my new beaut of a purchase Mod About You to compliment my dress for the ball on Friday. It was slightly thicker than some of my other polishes and did need a good two coats but I am in lurrrrrrve with the finished product....

It provides the most beautiful milky, baby pink colour that makes your hands look gorgeous.  I can't believe I waited so long to purchase this?!

I also cannot believe I waited so long to buy Seche Vite topcoat....it is amazing.  I never really believed all the hype about it but it is honestly fantastic.  I painted it straight over a wet second coat of Mod About You and before I knew it my nails were as dry as a bone and gorgeously shiny.  It does have a very strong smell of chemicals but I can get over that easily.  It really is a miracle product and will mean no more imprints of my bed sheets on my talons - bloody brilliant!

My Nail Savour: Boots Nail Strength Solution

After my first year at University I realised in the Summer that my nails were seriously damaged. I had had so much free time on my hands during term time that I had changed my nail varnish once, sometimes twice a day, with no regard for nail care. I sawed my nails with emery boards, never used a base coat and if I ran out of nail varnish remover I would quite happily just buff all the polish off. Urrgghhhhh it sends shivers through me now! In the end, my nails were paper thin and so short they became little circles as you can see in this photo.

They looked so awful and I couldn't wait long enough to grow them that I had a brief love affair with fake nails.  I loved how they looked but didn't love how ridiculous I looked when I lost one in the middle of the day or how thin my natural nails became underneath them.

I therefore decided this Christmas to get my natural nails long and healthy.  And the result one month on??

I really can't believe how good they look now and I put this all down to this little beauty...

I bought this from Boots purely because of the price. I think this was £3 or £4 compared to the £8 mark for Sally Hansen which I have used in the past but don't really rate.

I am so glad I bought it as it has done wonders for my nails as the pictures show!  I purely use this as a base and top coat and well, it does what it says on the bottle.... My nails have become so strong that in turn they have grown rapidly and do not break, chip, flake or peel. 

If you are trying to grow your nails I highly, highly recommend this!