My 5 Minute Face/Morning Routine

Hey Lovelies :)

I've been thinking of doing this video for a little while and I've finally got around to doing it - it's basically just a little video of my morning skincare routine and the make up that I normally pop on for work. It's nothing fancy or revolutionary, but I thought you might enjoy it anyway! xx

Kosmea Eighth Natural Wonder Facial Revitalising Serum and A'kin Pure Rose Hydrating Mist Review

As I'm sure you've picked up, the people at MyPure have selected 50 bloggers to recieve a package of goodies each month to review. At the moment, we're all receiving the same thing but hopefully it'll get a little more customised as it goes on. Anyway, here's my thoughts on the Facial Serum and the Face Mist that we were sent.

Kosmea Eighth Natural Wonder Facial Revitalising Serum

I have to admit when I first received this, I was pretty skeptical. My main reason? The smell - I couldn't see anyway that my sensitive nose and the strong smell of this serum would get on. It's not a horrible smell, it's just very errrr "natural". Sort of a herbal, rose health shop kinda smell. I was also skeptical because I've been around the natural organic skin care world for a fair while now and I've tried a multitude of things - what I generally find is that they either a)don't really do anything or b)don't really do anything other than make me break out. However, I was pleasently surprised by this serum!

Basically over the last couple of weeks, I've changed my skin care completely - partially because of the weather and partially because it just needed to change. I'm going to do a vlog soon on my morning routine so I won't bore you with the full details but basically I cleanse (sometimes... I'll explain another day), tone, spritz with the A'kin mist, pop this Serum on and then moisturise (apart from at night when I just put the serum on and nothing else) and it's utterly transformed my skin. 

Obviously because there's so many variables, I can't say for certain that it's just this serum, but it's definitely good stuff. The first time I used it was at night and I was shocked my how smooth my skin felt in the morning. I've also noticed my skin looking brighter and generally having less flakeyness and redness.

The downsides? Well, the smell for one! I also find the pump on the bottle a little annoying - it's hard to get exactly the right amount out (I always end up with a little too much) and sometimes I end up with (very expensive) serum all over the carpet after it spurts out. I also find the texture of it on my face a little odd - not bad, just weird. It's quite slimey and always makes me think of snails. I guess that's not really a reason to buy it though as it only feels like that for a short while and it's really not that bad!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ out of 5

Will I buy it again? Not sure - a 20ml bottle is £25.0 and a 50ml bottle is £49.99 so it's definitely a big investment - I'll see how my skin copes without it when it runs out and maybe that'll sway me!

Where can you get it from? My Pure

A'kin Pure Rose Hydrating Mist

This is the other thing that has become a daily part of my adapted routine. I imagine some of you are wondering why I don't use this as a toner? In all honesty, it's because I utterly love my toner and I don't think that anything ever leaves my skin feeling quite as clean as that does (It's Origins Perfect World Moisturising Lotion with White Tea in case you're wondering). However, I have been loving this for adding an extra level of hydration to my skin. I don't know why I thought of using toner lots of toner - I just did and it really has been excellent! I use my Origins one on cotton wool to remove dirt and rubbish and then sprtiz with this. It's super gentle, really refeshing and seems to make my moisturiser absorb better.

Saying that, I really don't know if I'd buy this myself - it's kind of nice in an extra treat for my skin kinda way, and it's looovely on super hot days, but really it's nothing that I've not seen done before. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist or Lush's Eau Roma Water are similar and have less air miles (This is an Austrailian product and even contains purified Australian Water according to the bottle). One really great addition that this does have is Aloe Vera which means its probably been helping some of my sore and red bits on my face a fair bit more than other hydrating mists will. Overall, it's good, but it's just not got the wow factor!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ out of 5
Would I buy it again? Maybe, maybe not...
Where can I get it from? My Pure

*Disclaimer* I was sent this products for review purposes

Lush York Friday Facials

Hello Lovelies :)

This only really applies to northern bloggers, but I thought I'd share with you what I got up to last Friday afternoon!

The beautiful guys and girls at Lush York have decided to offer facials every Friday between 4-6pm. For the price of a fresh face mask (£4.95) you not only get said mask, but also a full skin care consultation, a full facial (including a facial massage with one of the two new serum bars and a face mask) and a full size serum bar to take home (worth £7.50 on its own!).

I used to work at Lush York (a looong time ago) and I'm a regular customer so I know a couple of members of staff quite well, but I was still given the full facial treament and it was gorgeous. To say that none of the team are trained beauty type people, you really couldn't tell - the facial massage was perfect pressure, and all the cleansing and moisturising was done with a pro like approach (in fact, it was probably slightly better than pro as I didn't feel so pushed and pull around).

 The slight downside is that you have to sit at their skin care bar in the middle of the shop (and actually even this isn't awful - I just happened to have Oatifix on all of my face apart from my spotty chin which had a purple beard of Catastrophe Cosmetic... sexy) but other than that, this treatment is more than worth it.

Also, I know that if the Friday Facials start to become popular, they're possibly going to look at doing them at other points in the week as well :D My advice? Book one - you have literally nothing to loose and lets be honest, what other facial gives you so many treats and goodies?!

You can book by visiting them in their Coney Street Store or by giving them a call on 01904 541 927

Cloud Nine Sneak Peek - Behind the Scenes

Wow, where has this week gone?! I promised I'd show you a bit of behind the scene action from the Cloud Nine Shoot, so here it is!

When Jen and I were first invited to the Cloud Nine Shoot, we thought it would be a PR event - turn up, try to avoid eating any snacks for fears of starting a riot and being called Liggers, sit and listen to someone tell us nice things about the brand and then leave ready to tell you what was coming up. Hence it was a bit of a shock when we found out that a)it was just the two of us and b)it wasn't an event as such but a behind the scenes look at their newest style campaign!

When we arrived at the studio (which was the in the middle of nowhere!), we were greeted by the team - stylists, photographers, videographers (Jen and I spent a heck of a lot of time trying to avoid getting our face on film - we're not the most confident of girls!) and stunning models.

Ok, this is where I have to be blunt - you know those articles in magazines that tell you that models aren't all skinny and gorgeous etc etc? They lie. Models are just as stunning in real life as they are in magazines. Yes, obviously make up covers up a multitude of skin sins, and the odd bit of photoshopping will happen here and there, but wow! They're gorgeous. Very very skinny, but still stunning.

Anyway, we basically got the chance to hang around the studio, watch the make up artist work her magic and watch Guillaume work his magic.

It's incredible to see how many photos are taken to just get that one perfect shot - we only actually managed to see one model being shot and we were there for hours! Hundreds of different poses, facial expressions and styles are created and then sifted through.

So, was there any scandal? Any shocking revelations? No :) It was just a fairly chilled out room of people working at things they're passionate about and incredibly talented at. I was in awe of the photographers and all their kit, and I loved the fact that there were bowls of sweets and chocolates laying around and a nice big spread for lunch. I'll leave you with a few pictures and a wee video of our chat with Guillaume. Later today, tomorrow and Monday, I'll be showing you some of the new looks and the videos of how to create them, as well as my own attempts (it will be hilarious, trust me)

(Top 3 photos + video property of Propaganda Pr, everything else is mine!)

*Disclaimer* I'm not being paid to do this, and my opinions are all my own.

FOTD Corrupt Servant of a Popstar

So this was meant to be a fairly matte neutral look, but as I'm a bad lady who doesn't wash her brushes enough, it turned into a slightly more shimmery glammed up version of a neutral look. Mainly I just wanted to have a bit of a play around with a couple of goodies I got from Dainty Dolly Mix's blog sale.

Face:
Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation in Warm Peach
Lily Lolo Cover Up in Nude
Benefit Boi-ing in 02??
Superdrug MUA Bluser in Shade 4
MAC Hello Kitty Tinted Lip Conditioner in Popstar

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Servant (all over lid, up to brow bone)
Sleek Bohemian Paleete in Moto-X (crease and blended - see here for info on Sleek eyeshadow names)
Urban Decay - Mushroom (outer 2/3rds of lid and blended, also brought under lower lashline)
Urban Decay - Muchness from the Alice Palette (browbone highlight)
Urband Decay 24/7 Liner in Corrup (upper lashline)
17 Blush & Glow - Glow part only (inner corner)
17 Va Va Voom Mascara in Black
Elf Eyebrow Kit in Dark

Ta Da! I have to say, I think this is one of the nicest FOTDs that I've done for a while :)

Cloud Nine Shoot - Exclusive Preview Week

Hi Ladies!

So some of you may have heard me and Jen chatting about the Cloud Nine Event that we went to a few weeks ago - turns out it wasn't an event but an exclusive behind the scenes look at their new summer style shoot. The most exciting thing about their new campaign is that a)all the styles are incredibly easy to recreate at home and b) they can all be achieved at under 150C :D

We got the chance to chat to the incredibly talented Hair Stylist Guillaume Vappereau, lust over the make up artist's kit, watch each of the 3 looks being created and even got let loose on each other's hair (under Guillaume's supervision thankfully - poor Jen really didn't know what she'd let herself in for with me *straightening retard*).

Throughout the week, Jen and I will  be bringing you a series of posts including our attempts at each of the styles, some exclusive behind the scenes pictures and footage and a few other bits and bobs. If you're really good, Jen might even let us show you the videos of her doing my hair (oddly, there's no footage of me doing her hair.... I wasn't that bad, was I? Was I? Oh.)

Anyway for now I thought I'd just show you a couple of shots of Jen and I before we'd been whipped into shape by Guillaume and a few little sneeky looks around the shoot itself! Enjoy :D

Beautiful Jen! (property of Propaganda PR)

Me looking terrified (Property of Propaganda PR)

Our Cloud Nine Irons - we were very excited about these!

Where the photo magic happens...

 That's not even half the of the make up - we were in awe!

*Disclaimer* This post is being bought to you in association with Cloud Nine, however, all views, thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not being paid for doing this post and was not paid to attend the shoot. For more disclaimer info, please click the link at the top of my blog.

PS - I promise I'll blog about some non Cloud Nine things this week as well :)

Oh dear, I got bored...

...and decided to extend my previous look into some sort of butterfly/batman mask type thing. It almost resembles a sunset.... almost.

Anyway, thought I'd share with you as sometimes we all need a good laugh!

Anyone else ever get bored and paint their face a rainbow of colours? Anyone?

FOTD Nocturnal Phosphoric Amino Acids

Today I decided to have a bit of a play around with a couple of Sleek products that I've had in my kit for a while but haven't really had the chance to use - the Acid Palette and the Kajal in Nocturnal (Black). I'll be doing a proper review of the Kajals soon as well because they're awesome!

This look is quite a dramatic look inspired by some of the gorgeous Arabic looks that Oxford Jasmine has done, the Illamasqua Dystopia publicity from a while ago and the Cheshire Cat from the old Alice in Wonderland film. My fringe is in desperate need of a cut, so sadly this look is bought to you by my right eye only.

Face
Elf Mineral Face Primer
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Foundation in 02 Ivory
The Body Shop Natures Minerals Foundation in 03 (probably didn't need it to be honest)
The Body Shop Natures Minerals Blusher in 01 Pink Quartz
17 Blush and Glow (mainly just the Glow part) in Strawberries and Cream
Elf Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder (Bronzer only for contouring)
The Body Shop Colourglide Lip Colour  in 62 Velvet Wine

Eyes
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Sleek Acid Palette - Amino (inner 2/3rds)
Sleek Acid Palette - Phosphoric (outer 1/3rd plus winging and under eye)
Sleek Acid Palette - Neutralisation (inner corner)
Sleek Acid Palette - Carboxylic (outer cream - blended)
Sleek Kajal in Nocturnal (upper and lower lash and water lines)
17 Va Va Voom Mascara in Black
Elf Eyebrow Kit in Dark

(Wondering about the weird Sleek names? See this post - I gave every colour for all of my palettes a name!)

FOTD Black Sunshine on my Heartleaf

Ok, so somewhere in the midst of all the UK election craziness, I developed an addiction of BBC News 24 Hour and political commentry and haven't actually looked at anything beauty blog related for the past 5 days - I've not even been moisturising as it takes time away from my precious Jon Sopel, David Dimbleby et al. *worries* Anyway, I felt it was time to show you one of my favourite eyeshadow combinations ever. Blame my stray looking eyebrows on Dimbles et al as well.

Eyes:
Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy
Aromaleigh Heartleaf (inner 1/2)
Aromaleigh Blacksunshine (outer 1/2)
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Stash (upper lashline and lower lash and waterline)
17 Va Va Voom Mascara in Black

Face:
ELF Mineral Face Primer
Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Long Wear Foundation in 02 Ivory
17 Blush&Glow in Peaches and Cream
ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder (Bronzer only for contouring)
ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Bark

Also, what do you think of the new hair colour? It's a mixture of Lush Caca Rouge and Marron :D

April Favourites

April seems to have been a really exciting month for me make up wise - I feel like I've discovered lots of exciting new things that have really perked up my daily make up routine, so I thought that I'd share my April favourites with you :)

Elf Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Bark
Yum! This is actually my perfect "my lips but better shade" and it has a gorgeous peppermint taste. It's a cross between a lipgloss and a lipstick, not at all sticky and perfect for just finishing off a fairly quick neautral look :)

Lush Colour Supplement in Dark Yellow
I really do need to do an update post on these - since buying the actual jar (instead of using the sample in a plastic pot) I've been utterly transformed in my opinion of these. I previously said that they were only really good for the tinted moisturiser aspect - I was wrong! They're perfect concealers/foundations. Love it! Use this every day as a tinted  moistuirser and as a concealer on my nose and cheeks

The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Foundation in 03* and Kabuki Brush*
I wear this over my Lush Colour Supplement tinted moistuirser/concealer combo pretty much every day as it gives a light-medium coverage that I think is perfect for work. Again, I really need to do a full post on this soon as I've got a fair bit to say about it!

No 17 Blush & Glow in Peaches and Cream and Strawberries and Cream
I bought this on Mizz Worthy's suggestion and they're amazing! A perfection combination of blush and highlighter in really flattering shades for Spring/Summer. I adore these and again they get used most days.

Elf Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder
I got this as part of a massive Elf haul that I did recently (I still need to show you that -  It's full of pretty things!) and I love it. I know that there's a few posts around saying it's a dupe for some Nars things, but as I don't have those, I couldn't tell you. For me they're just a gorgeous blush and bronzer shade. (Note - I'll add a photo of it open when I get home.... silly me!)

Elf Studio Brushes - Blush, Powder, Complexion, Eyeshadow C
These have basically revolutionised my entire make up routine...  having good quality brushes makes such a difference! Again, I use these brushes pretty much everyday (apart from the powder brush as I use that for liquid foundation which I don't wear on a daily basis) and I love them. They make applying make up easy, give great control, haven't shedded at all and are use generally wonderful!


What have you been loving this April?
*This products were given to me free for review purposes

Sleek Palette Eyeshadow Names

This post is mainly for my own reference so that when I do a FOTD using a Sleek Palette I'll be able to use a name for each colour instead of "3rd from the left, top row". I'll also be linking to the post whenever a Sleek palette is featured on my blog. Also, I'm rubbish at coming up with names and wanted to keep them thematic so apologies for the utter rubbishness of most of them! (NB - I know that Sleek have now named a lot of their eyeshadows so this isn't as relevant - however, I still have the old nameless palettes so these are my "unofficial" Sleek palette eyeshadow names)

Note - Top row = 1-6 (l-r)/Bottom Row = 7-12 (l-r)

1.Storm Palette

1. Gentle Breeze
2. April Showers
3. Forecast
4. Sunny Day
5. Evening Clouds
6. Indian Summer
7. Muddy Fields
8. Spring Rain
9. Dusk
10. Midnight Storm
11. Winter
12. Black Sky

2. Sunset Palette

1. Sun has gone
2. Red Sky at Night...
3. Tropical Sun
4. Sunny Delight
5. Haymaking (while the sun still shines)
6. Sun, sea and surf
7. Autumn Summer
8. Strawberry Daquari
9. Sunday Afternoon
10. Golden Sun
11. Sunshine and Lollipops
12. Summer Breeze

3. Bohemian Palette

Ok, this one I'm going to cheat on and use Lipglossiping's names for as I'm pretty certain that Sleek said they'd become the official names (Also, lovely Lipglossiping, please let me know if you'd rather I didn't use your names and I'll change them straight away. You can find the original post here.
1.Gilt
2.Russet
3.Marron
4.Calendula
5.Anaemia
6.Neutron
7.Wafer
8.Sanguine
9.Clover
10.Overdyed
11.Emperor
12.Moto X
(See, those are much better names than I've been coming up with - she's a clever lady :D)

4. The Original Palette

1.Black Hole
2.Galaxies
3.Deep Space
4.Nebula
5.Comets
6.Aurora
7.Stratosphere
8.Orbit
9.Cosmology
10.Interstellar
11.Planets
12.Life on Mars

5. Acid

1. Amino
2. Neutralisation
3. Nitric
4. Corrosive
5. Hydrochloric
6. Perchloric
7. Phosphoric
8. Formic
9. Flurosulfuric
10. Sulfuric
11. Carboxylic
12. Chromic

Superdrug MUA FOTD (and a few new swatches!)

Gosh, I'm a ditzy thing at the moment... just uploaded some swatch pictures I'd done of a couple of new bits of MUA stuff I bought t'other day and found a whole FOTD that I'd done and forgotten about. I think I did this quite quickly before going to work, hence every picture is dodgy or blurry, but the overall effect isn't too bad :)

Face/cheeks/lips:
Can't quite remember for certain, but it's probably:
Lush Colour Supplement in Dark Yellow (I must do another post about these - I'm in love with them at the moment) - applied as tinted moisturiser and also applied "neat" to nose and cheeks
The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Foundation in Number 3
Superdrug MUA Blusher in Shade 4
Boots 17 Blush & Glow in Peaches and Cream
Superdrug MUA Lipstick in Shade 7

Eyes:
Superdrug MUA Solo Eyeshadow in Shade 7 (inner 1/2)
Superdrug MUA Solo Eyeshadow in Shade 11 (outer 1/2)
Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Black Mascara (I think ... It might have been The Body Shop Big and Curvy Mascara in Black)

Finally, let me finish with a few more MUA swatches.... I think I might be an addict :D

The top three are Solo Eyeshadows in Shades 11, 1 and 13 (Just realised as I typed this that I actually bought the same shade twice..... I now own two Shade 11s. Good job I like it!)

The bottom two are lipglosses (wand applicator type) - Shade 4 is the top one and Shade 3 is the bottom :)