NEW IN: Sleek Brow Intensity and Lip VIP in Ready To Rock

It is no secret that I love writing about my love for Sleek makeup products on my blog - just check out my product directory; I've featured so many Sleek products on here over the Years, you can really tell its one of my fave brands. I have two new products to share with you today, and heads up - I am really impressed with both of them.

I adore this shade of lipstick, isn't it just beaut. The shade 'Ready To Rock' is a dark nude pink/mauve colour. I find it a really great shade for everyday wear, it isn't quite a matte finish and leaves a shimmer to the lips. I can't praise Sleeks Lip VIP Lipsticks enough - they stay put on the lips, last a fair amount of time and have a gorgeous and vast amount of different shades to choose from, and all for the tiny price tag of £5.50. I'm planning on writing a separate post dedicated to my Sleek Lip Vip lipsticks with lots of swatch photos, watch this space.

Another new product from Sleek is the Brow Intensity. This handy little tool has a tiny mascara-like wand with a sponge tip on one end to shape and define the brows with the coloured fibre gel, and a highlight on the other to define your brows. I really like this product, particularly the brow gel product as it is a great match for my brows, isn't messy and actually lasts really well throughout the day and keeps my 'brows at bay. The highlight is great to use under and over the brow arch too, I only wish it was a slightly lighter shade highlight, but this is just a personal preference.
Brow Intensity comes in five different shades which I think is pretty good considering a lot of brow products tend to come in only two or three shades.

*PR samples*

Sleek Rockstars Collection

Sleek are one of the best budget beauty brands available in the UK, and always have something new up there sleeve that doesn't cost the earth and are also just as good as the top brands. They recently launched their Rockstars Collection, which includes some beautiful products: two I-lust palettes, two strobing souffle's, and two Lip VIP lipsticks. I have one of each products that I have been using over the past few Weeks, and it is safe to say I am more than impressed.

I wear quite a lot of Sleek's Lip VIP lipsticks, so I already knew that 'Superstar' would be long-lasting and pigmented. Its a beautiful shade of purple and is very striking, great for fans of vibrant and bold lips. This leaves a pearl fleck finish to the lips, which gives a metallic/glossy look. The lipstick almost looks two - toned once applied. I think this lipstick has a really beautiful undertone to the vibrant purple which makes it look really bright.

The I-lust palette 'Hidden Gems' includes six bright, pigmented and incredibly creamy shadows that are full of glitter and sparkle. There is a mixture of shades and has a great selection for a glam night out. I wanted to give a special mention to the shade Ruby Red, it is very pigmented which is something I rarely see in red glitter shades, it is beautiful and I want to wear it all of the time!

The strobing souffle is a very new concept for me, I'm definitely an amateur when it comes to highlight and contour, never-mind strobing. The shade 'Smoky Quartz' is a luminous gold and gives a great glow. I apply this instead of highlight near my cheek bones and it gives such a gorgeous shimmer when the light hits. I find this so easy to apply and it lasts pretty well throughout the evening.

Some of the products from the Rockstars Collection are currently reduced in price online at the Sleek website, so are well worth checking out.

*PR sample*

Statement Purple Lip with Kat Von D

Kat Von D beauty being available online at Debenhams has kind-of been a huge deal in the beauty blogging world recently. From the look of other peoples videos and blogs, a lot of people have been making orders now that Kat Von D is readily available to order online with ease in the UK, thanks to Debenhams. I may or not have just made a cheeky little (huge) purchase myself. 

I really love a bold lip. Bright reds and corals, I find, are very difficult to pull off for me, so I do tend to choose bold pinks and purples as they seem to suit me much more. I love the whole vampy/gothic look with purple lipsticks, I just wish I was brave enough to wear very bright purples all of the time. I have actually discovered a purple which I feel comfortable and confident wearing any time, any occasion, which is this Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ayesha.

The shade Ayesha a gorgeous vibrant and incredibly pigmented muted purple. It is quite a grey/nude purple and is such a unique and bold shade. A lot of the purple lip products I own are either very dark or quite lilac toned, so it is great to see an in-between shade.

I just love the staying power of this lip product. It stays put for hours, doesn't smudge or fade, I really do just love it. I'm not usually a big liquid lip product wearer, but this sets into a gorgeous matte lip and isn't sticky and my lips don't feel like I am wearing any product. It even stays put after drinking and eating. The Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks are made with natural moisturising ingredients which makes sense as to why they leave the lips feeling soft.

Have you ordered anything from Kat Von D beauty? Which are your favourites?

*PR Sample*

Super Nude Lips for a Pastel Unicorn Princess

Hair: Colour Addict Spray in Hair Chalk in Lilac*

Top: Primark  | Skirt: New Look

Lips: Sleek Eau La La Lip Liner in Lingerie* & Sleek Lip VIP Lipstick in Icon* 

The title of this post is just a bit of fun really, although I would love to be a unicorn princess. I think I would make quite a good pastel princess, and, well, I think my inner spirit animal is definitely a unicorn. 

Sleek are one of the best brands for good quality lipsticks with a reasonable price tag in my opinion. I am all over the nude lipstick look (a little late to the party, but better late than never right?) and I've found three brilliant lip products to create a gorgeous nude lip. 

Sleeks' Goodnight Sweetheart collection includes this gorgeous new lipstick in Icon. It is a gorgeous deep  nude pink. The formulation of the lipstick is half matte, half velvet, and is super pigmented. I've worn this throughout the day and its lasted so well, even after eating and drinking it is still in place without any fading after several hours. 

The lip liner which is perfect to pair with this lippie is the Eau La La Liner in Lingerie. Being a slightly darker pink/brown nude, it matches really well with Icon, as well as the Sleek Lip Crayon in Notorious Nude - a true nude lip product which stays well on the lips and has some great staying power. It is so creamy and even gives a little tingling sensation when first applied to the lips. This is going to be my go-to lip crayon for Autumn/Winter. 

*Post includes PR samples*

The Best of: Sleek

It is no secret I am a big fan of budget beauty brands. Of-course, I do love to delve into the luxury beauty world too from time to time, but I am that kind-of person that tightens the purse strings a little bit and tries to find duplicates or cheaper alternatives to the high end brands. One brand in particular that I love is Sleek. Their products are incredibly affordable; but this does not reflect in the product- their products are just as good as the next high-end make-up brand.

Their eye shadows in particular are of a very good quality, with the shadows being highly pigmented, soft, creamy and easy to blend. I will continue to recommend Sleek's eye shadows until the end of time! A firm favourite eye shadow palette of theirs is the Storm palette; a favourite of many I believe. I love the neutral shade range as well as a few shimmery greens and blues. This is definitely a palette I reach for on a regular basis.
Another product I think is amazing from Sleek is their corrector and concealer palette. I am not a concealer or corrector pro by any means, but this palette works like magic to hide my dark circles, conceal any pesky spots and, best of all, the powder included in this nifty little palette ensures a long lasting coverage.

What are your favourite Sleek products? Do you have any recommendations?

*PR sample*

NEW: Natural Collection Brow and Highlight Products

Natural Collection are one of my favourite brands when it comes to powder and eye liner - but something I was excited to try from them where their brand new eye brow and highlight collection. I am a huge brow grooming fan and always keen to try out every brow-kit going, so I was eager to give the Natural Collection Brow Kit, Brow Pencil and Brow Gel a whirl.

The brow kit is good value for money costing just £1.99; it comes with a powder and wax which have a great pigmentation and when using this kit, my brows look natural and stay in place all day.
I don't always use a brow pencil, but when I do, I like to achieve a neat and tidy finish, which is so easy with the Natural Collection brow pencil. It is super soft and doesn't drag on the skin either - bonus. Probably my favourite product from the eyebrow range is their brow gel. It is a great tool to define and fill in the brows. The medium brown shade is a perfect match for my 'brows too.

Along with the brow products, Natural Collection also recently released their new highlighter sticks in shades rose glow, copper glow and coral glow. These are so easy to use if you are a highlighter novice like me; simply apply to the skin and blend to give a subtle shimmer and glow. My favourite of the three is coral glow, I think it is the perfect highlight for Summer!

*PR sample*

Products I Always Go Back To

Sleek Au Naturel Palette*, £8.99

I featured this very product on my blog way back in 2012 (!) and have since repurchased it a few times. It is brilliant value for money, and the shadows last on the eyelids for a good few hours. I love the selection of natural shades, making it the perfect go-to palette for almost any occasion. 

Lush Twilight Bath Bomb, £3.75
Twilight has been my favourite Lush bath bomb for a good while. No wait, of all time. This turns the bath water a beautiful shade of purple, and the scent of lavender helps me to relax and settle to sleep after a pampering bath. It is something I always go back and repurchase as I know its such a good product, I cant help myself.

Soap and Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash, £6.50 for 500ml
For me, Soap and Glory are one of those stand-out brands which I am always adding to my shopping basket. Their Clean, Girls Body Wash has been a firm favourite of mine for absolutely ages - I'm talking Years. I love the scent, Mist You Madly, so this body wash is just perfect and also leaves my skin feeling and smelling super gorgeous.

What products are you always going back to?

*post includes PR sample*

New In: Sleek Enchanted Forest Eyeshadow Palette

A brand I have always been a fan of is Sleek, particularly their super affordable eye shadow palettes. I am always interested in having a peak when they add a new palette to their collection, so when I heard a little about their new Enchanted Forest palette, I was eager to see what the colour selection would be.

Sleek did not disappoint - with a selection of pinks, greens, blues and browns, the palette is perfect for Autumn and Winter and can create a beautiful smokey eye with those creamy greens and browns. There are some shimmers and some matte shades, so there is something to please everyone in this palette.
I would say that the majority of the shadows are really pigmented, soft and easy to apply, apart from one or two of the lighter shades; which are not quite as pigmented as the others, but still of a really good quality.

*PR sample*

Get That Natural Glow with Natural Collection

When I first started getting into make-up, I would head to Boots and pick out some lipsticks, blushers and mascara and would be overjoyed playing with different colours and trying out different looks. Not much has changed since then; I still spend a lot of my time scanning the beauty stands in Boots looking for that perfect bronzer or the eyeliner of my dreams. A brand which has always stuck out to me is Natural Collection They are incredibly affordable and their products are good quality and great value for the money.

With the Summer ahead of us, I am hoping to achieve that natural and radiant glow with Natural Collection. With their products costing only £1.99 each, these are perfect for an every day work look, on holiday or even a night out.

Base - Use a tinted moisturiser in place of your foundation to give a more natural look, and a good setting powder like this one is perfect to apply to keep your make-up looking flawless whatever the weather. This tinted moisturiser gives a great finish without looking cakey and the pressed powder is one I have used many times before.
Bronze - Create a healthy summer glow by using this super affordable bronzer - you can even contour with this.
Blush - Apply a dash of blush to the apples of your cheeks, I can't recommend Natural Collection's blushers enough! I love a girly pink blusher, for me a blush completes my make-up, this one is perfect for the holiday season.

I absolutely adore the Natural Collection base products, have you ever tried them?

*PR sample*

Recent Beauty Haulin'

It has been a while since I have bought a load of new make-up, skin care or general bath and body products, as I have recently been going through a phase of clothes shopping rather than anything else, whoops! I have lost a little bit of weight since New Year, so I have been enjoying buying new clothes - but fear not, I have still managed to squeeze in a little bit of beauty shopping here and there! Who doesn't love a haul?

I've wanted to try out a new foundation for a few Weeks, so with the aid of another beauty blogger (oh hey Clare) I picked out the Loreal True Match Foundation. I have only tried it once but it seems to be pretty good so far.
I also picked up a Collection lipstick which I definitely didn't need, but I just love a nude lip at the minute, so I couldn't resist!

I'm not hugely into skin care but I had ran out of my micellar water, so I repurchased the Garnier Make-up Remover and Soap and Glory Facial Wash. I have repurchased the Garnier Make-up Remover multiple times and it such a good product.

I also picked up a few other essentials including the Loreal Elvive Dry Shampoo, (which is incredible, definitely recommend) Dove Nourishing Oil Carer Conditioner, Boots Anti - Perspirant, N Spa Fragrance Body Mist in Clementine, Palmolive Strawberry Touch Body Butter Shower Cream, and a Superdrug Semi- Permanent Hair Dye.

What have you bought recently?

Benecos Lip Liner

Hi everyone! It feels a little odd tapping away at a computer again, I had an impromptu break from blogging and I have missed writing my posts and talking to you all in the comments and on twitter a lot more than I expected. My blog has been a hobby of mine for the past four Years or so, it is definitely something I want to keep working at and improving on, so thank you for all of your continued support. Also, apologies for my awful camera skills!

Today I am sharing my thoughts on a lip liner by Benecos, in the shade brown. This lip liner is super affordable and costs only £3.95 from Mypure online. The brand Benecos make BDIH certified and natural products with beneficial ingredients. They sell a range of make - up, body, hair and skin care. If you are into your natural beauty products, the brand Benecos is one you should definitely look out for.

The lip liner is very pigmented and is easy to apply; it isn't rough on the skin and applies very smoothly. It doesn't bleed throughout the day and stays put for around 4 hours.
The lip liner is a colour I wear a lot on the lips; it is a great nude and is perfect to pair up with a nude or pink lipstick, or even to wear alone. I am a big fan of how soft and creamy the formulation this lip liner has.

I have worn this alone as a full lip product, and as a lip liner paired with lipsticks. I feel it does help my lipstick to stay in place and give a more definitive look. I think for the price, this is a really good product I would recommend. I will definitely be checking out the other shades in their collection.

Have you got a favourite lip liner?

Mypure Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

*PR sample*

Sleek Lip VIP Lipsticks Review and Swatches

Sleek are a beauty brand I have been a huge fan of for a while - their eye-shadow palettes are amazing quality for such a reasonable price. Something I was excited to try were their newly launched Lip VIP Lipsticks.
The collection includes six shades which are inspired by the luxuries of being a VIP - check out the very aptly chosen names.

Private Booth - a creamy nude
Flaunt It - a daring, bold orange
Backstage - a warm pink
Night Spot - a classic red
Reserved - a light, girly pink
Guest List - a wearable coral for every day wear

The lipsticks are extremely creamy, pigmented and moisturising. The colour lasts on the lips for around 5 hours without the need to reapply. I love the bold colours and feel the quality of the lipsticks is brilliant considering they cost less than £6 each. I couldn't recommend them more.
The Sleek Lip VIP Lipsticks are available from Boots, Superdrug and online at  www.sleekmakeup.com, costing £5.49 each.

*PR Sample*

Perfect Nude Lip: Lipliners

It seems a lot of people have been loving the nude lip look this Winter, I haven't been brave enough in the past to create a bold nude lip, but recently I have been trying a few new lipsticks and lip liners which I think are worth mentioning to achieve a great nude lip. Today's post is going to be focused on two lip liners from MyPure that I have been using a lot and think they are a real staple for my nude lip look.

Firstly we have the Living Nature Lip Pencil in Woods. This is probably my favourite of the two. The product is very soft and creamy and applies well without drying the lips. The colour is a medium brown nude. I like this lip liner by both using it to line the lips as well as being an all over lip colour. This is a perfect nude lip liner as it suits all of my nude lipsticks, including more pink toned lipsticks. The staying power on this lip liner is great as it lasts around 5 or 6 hours without smudging.

We then have the Inika Lip Liner Pencil in Nude Delight. This nude is more of a light gold and shimmer nude, perfect to line the lips with for a bold nude lip and looks great for a night out. I really like the colour of this nude lip liner as it suits most nude lip product shades I have. This lip liner stays on the lips for around 3 or 4 hours.

Overall I would definitely recommend the Living Nature lip pencil in the shade Woods. I think this an all--rounder good lip pencil that defines the lips and helps to create a nude lip look. I also really like the Inika lip liner in Nude Delight, although I think the Living Nature lip liner does last longer on the lips.
I have been really loving both of these lip liners. What are your favourite lip products to achieve a nude lip look?

MyPure Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook

*PR sample*

2015 Make Up Favourites

I haven't written a favourite's post in a while, so as we have just seen in the New Year I couldn't think of anything more fitting than writing my round up of all of my favourite beauty products from the last Year. I scuttled around the house collecting all my favourites; and I managed to choose one eye shadow product, one mascara, one base product and two lip products. 

First up we have my most reached for eye shadow palette, which is the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I use this palette most days. I find it perfect for just an every day look but also a great palette to have as you can create so many different looks with it. The mascara I have enjoyed using the most has been the Clinique High Impact Mascara. This gives good length and thickens the lashes, without looking clumpy. I am quite fussy when it comes to mascara but this is a great every day mascara. I couldn't decide on just one lip product so I had to include two; the first being Soap and Glory's A Great Kisser Lip Balm. I'm not sure if S&G still stock this, as I haven't been able to find it, so I am guessing not. This is a really nice lip balm which gives a little shimmer to the lips, keeps them coated and smells of peaches. I use this on top of matte lipsticks to give a more glossy look. I have a back up tin of this, I am so glad as it doesn't look like I will be able to buy it again! Anyone that has known me for a while knows I have always been a big fan of Cheryl's makeup looks. I bought the L'oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Exclusive Nudes in Cheryl's Nude in hope that I could recreate her lovely nude lip; unfortunately I did not transform into Cheryl overnight (!) but this lipstick is a beautiful nude and one I have reached for the most this Year.

I tried the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation for the first time this Year, and I really love it. After being a huge fan of Rimmels Match Perfection foundation for as long as I can remember, it is great to see they stock another good foundation which is a good match for my skin tone and gives a good medium coverage. 

What are you favourite beauty products from 2015? Any recommendations to share?

Soap and Glory The Whole She - Bang

I have picked up the 'big star gift' Soap and Glory set again this Year, and what a treat it is! I am such a fan of the brand and can not resist this amazing deal; £70 worth of products, retails at £60... and is just £30 at Boots during it's Week as the star gift. 

I think I have taken advantage of Soap and Glory's star gift every Year apart from last Year, sometimes I ask for it for Christmas and other times I pick it up myself.

The Whole She - Bang includes 9 full sized products; Peaches & Clean, Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss, Thick & Fast Mascara, The Righteous Butter Body Butter, Clean On Me Shower Gel, The Scrub Of Your Life, Heel Genius, The Righteous Butter Tinted Body Lotion and Hand Food Hand Cream. I love that this set always includes great products that I know I will get a lot of use out of.

Have you grabbed yourself any beauty bargains recently?

Soap and Glory #Mistletoepout

Anyone that knows me or has been reading my blog for a long time knows that my favourite body care brand is Soap and Glory. I love their products and they are that one brand that I will forever repurchase from.

The Glory Girls are Soap and Glorys top team that have been touring the country to bring all things Soap and Glory to beauty fans across the UK. When I heard The Glory Girls were heading to the Birmingham area, I knew I had to pop down and see what was going on.

The Glory Girls were offering mini make-overs, discount and free products, they were lovely too and a lot of fun. I loved my mini Soap and Glory makeover, I opted for a pink blush and nude lip with a natural eye. I loved the look that one of the girls had created, it was really simple and very me. It was great to try out some of the Soap and Glory make-up line; I have tried quite a few of their cosmetics before, and this makeover has made me want to buy more! There was also a chance to receive a free travel size body product if you shared a picture on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #Mistletoepout... how cool is that!?
The Glory Girls were also giving out 20% discount vouchers on the day, so I went and purchased the nude lip from the makeover; Sexy Mother Pucker Matte Powder Coat in Super nude. I love it!

The girls are next in Nottingham, so if you are local, I would recommend going over and having a makeover.

Stocking Fillers | Gift Ideas

I can't quite get my head around the fact that it is just a few Weeks until Christmas! I seem to say this every Year but it does seem to come round so quick. I have shared a few items I think would make good Christmas presents for stocking fillers or items that are ideal if you are on a budget.

There is nothing better than getting cosy at Christmas, so these fairisle slippers are just perfect for lazing around the home on a chilled Winter evening. What would Christmas be without socks? I personally think socks are a good gift as everyone uses them and although it is quite a boring item, it is something anyone would appreciate.

I think sentimental gifts always go down well, so these photograph strips* from Cheerz are perfect to pop into a Christmas card. I also think Christmas is the best time of Year to have a family game night, so quizzes and card games like this Top Trumps set are perfect playtime for anyone in the family.

I have included some make up in my gift guide, probably because this is something I like to receive myself! If you know of a beauty lover or someone who is just getting into make-up, products from brands like Sunkissed, Natural Collection and Models Own are perfect because they are inexpensive and are great to try out a new look with. I've also included Benefits Roller Lash Mascara* for those huge make - up junkies in your life; I highly recommend this mascara and think it would make a brilliant little gift for those who love their luxuries. I also included the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Hand Cleansing Gel as I think this makes a brilliant stocking filler. It has an awesome scent and everyone loves a good old hand sanitizer.

Other little items I have added to the stocking fillers are chocolate.. 'cause who doesn't love chocolate hey?! A pretty necklace and car air fresheners are also great stocking fillers or maybe even for a secret santa gift.

*post includes a PR sample & a product I have purchased with a gift voucher*

Beauty Bargains of the Week

Hi everyone! Being the bargain hunter that I am, I have found a few good beauty deals this Week that I thought I would share with you. I have had some time off work this Week which meant I spent an evening wasting spending time online window shopping on the internet (Oops). 

• MUA Limited Edition 5th Birthday Palette - Free 5th Birthday Palette when you spend £8+ on selected MUA makeup. Superdrug Online
• Beyonce Heat Eau de Parfum 100ml - 100ml EDP half price was £40 now £20. Superdrug Online
• Tanya Burr Lip Gloss - Reduced Was £6.99 Now £1.99. Fragrance Direct
• No 7 Summer Beauty Bag with four mini products - Free when you buy 2 selected No 7 products. Boots Online

Happy Shopping!

Clinique British Beauty Blogger Edit Latest in Beauty Box

I love the concept of Monthly subscription boxes, I like  a surprise and love to try out new beauty products, but as I have sensitive skin sometimes it works out better for me if I know what I am buying beforehand. Latest In Beauty are one of my favourite beauty box services. The best thing about Latest in Beauty is that you know what you are buying before it lands on your doorstep. As I said I do love a surprise but sometimes its good to know what you're getting. Latest In Beauty have a variety of different collections you can pick or choose from. Jane, AKA British Beauty Blogger, recently collaborated with Latest in Beauty to bring a Clinique Beauty box which was amazing value for money so I had to snap it before it went out of stock!

The box includes:

• High Impact Mascara (Full size - worth £17.50)
• Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm (Full size - worth £17)
• Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ (15ml)
• Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief (15ml)
• Liquid Facial Soap Mild (30ml)
• Happy Perfume Spray (4ml)
• £10 off voucher when you spend £40 at Clinique online

The box cost £18.50 including postage and packaging, so the mascara and chubby stick alone make the box brilliant value for money!

Did you manage to buy this box? What would be inside your ideal beauty box?

Downsizing Your Makeup Collection: My Tips and Advice

Being a blogger that often writes about my love of beauty, cosmetics and body care, I now have quite the collection of makeup. I love makeup, and as much as I do use most of the products in my collection, there were quite a few things sitting in my drawers which were unused and hadn't seen the light of day for some while. As I don't wear a full face of make-up on a day to day basis, (and was also getting stressed from all of the clutter) i decided to go through everything I owned and down-size my collection. I have compiled a little list of things to think about when organizing and down-sizing your make-up collection.

How old is the item? There is a lot of talk about use-by-date and shelf life with makeup, there are lots of websites online which can help you when it comes to chucking old make-up away. I got rid of a lot of eyeliners and mascaras which I hadn't used in a while - you have to be careful what you're putting near your eyes! 

When was the last time you used it? I love, love, love lipsticks, but to be honest with you, I held onto a lot of mine just because I like a choice of every colour. Glittery lip balms and orange lipsticks soon found there way into the rubbish pile - I have never worn them out of the house and probably never will, so why I am I holding onto them?

What does it look like? With some products, such as nail polish, for example, you can kind-of tell by sight if it is usable or not. Products that don't really look right or the way they should; the formula has changed, the product is gloopy - will you ever use them? I thought not. 

Does it suit you? Do you like how it looks when you wear it? If not, why not donate it to a friend that would use it. I had a few concealers and foundations which didn't match my skin tone at all - so I never used them. 

Do you like a lot of make-up or do you prefer a smaller collection?