Origins Drink-Up Intensive Mask | Review

Origins Intensive Mask £22

It is finally here. The review I'm sure you have all been expecting, perhaps wanting. The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - what a mouthful! You may have seen this product cropping up in my weekly /monthly favourites, instagram photos for a while now. This is my holy grail, overnight wonder product. 

So many people rave about this product and I have most certainly hopped aboard the mask loving boat! This replenishing mask is used once or twice a week, depending on how dehydrated your skin is. The formula is so different to any other type of mask I have used before. A clear cream almost with a gel-like consistency. You apply as the last step just before you head to bed so your skin can absorb the formula and when you wake in the morning? BOOM! Refreshed skin.

You only need a pea-sized amount, it is so easy to over-use this. The thick intense moisturiser smells absolutely devine - the reason why we lather it on! Its smells is a mixture of avocado and apricot, so fruity and refreshing on the skin. I would use this every night if I could! My skin has been feeling a lot dryer these days, not sure of the cause, and I have noticed slight tightness and flaking around my forehead/ eyebrow area. This product takes away any trace of dehydration - a wonder product indeed.

As you can see I have the full size and a travel size which I was lucky to receive last time I was in store. I am saving that one for my holidays in July when my skin may be feeling a little more dry in the summer sunshine. I honestly couldn't sing this masks praises anymore and no doubt you will see this kicking around my favourites for many moons!

Have you tried the drink-up mask?

Lori x

Bourjois Velvet Lipsticks | Review

Bourjois Velvet Lipsticks £8.99

Everyone has that one product that is their 'thing'. Whether that's blusher, mascara or one of my best friends constantly growing collection of foundation (yes Kirsty, that's you!). Mine comes in the form of lipstick - Lots and lots and lots of lipstick. My collection is (I must admit) ridiculous but I absolutely love it and feel so underdressed when I'm not wearing any. I haven't quite found my ultimate lipstick yet so this justifies my constant searching (and buying). I have never been much of a lipgloss gal, I just find them too sticky and tacky. Hair and wind situations - no thanks. First came the Rimmel Apocalypse liquid lipsticks and I was so impressed with them, so when I heard Bourjois were bringing out a liquid lipstick I was super excited! Then the reviews started popping up and I couldn't find a bad one. I tried to be good, I tried to resist, then Boots 3 for 2 began and I couldn't control myself anymore...

I picked up the shades, 04 Peach Club, 06 Pink Pong and 03 Hot Pepper. Each from the different sections they were split into, there are eight shades overall. I have been getting the most use out of 'Peach Club' as I find it the easiest to wear for day to day use. A gorgeous peachy shade that isn't too bold but still has enough colour for a day look. Pink Pong is a beautiful bold pink lip and I had to have it. I saw Anna (here) wearing it in one of her videos and couldn't stop looking at it so when I spotted it on the shelf I knew it was coming home with me. Then finally I picked Hot Pepper, one I noticed was getting a lot of attention and quite rightly so. The perfect matte red lip!

The formula of these are so creamy and pigmented on application you really don't need a load of product. I love the applicator too, so easy to pop on your lips without worry of lipstick going everywear. They dry to a matte finish without leaving the lips feeling dry or product clinging to patches - a common trait with matte lipsticks. There is still a sheen to them as well, although the are matte they are still comfortable to wear and not powdery. Perfection in a tube.

I am a high end girl through and through, more so for the foundations as fashion brands don't cater for the immensely pale i.e me! However, I have to say I think these are amazing products and could be better than any of the high end lipsticks I own. They certainly kick their butts when it comes to lasting power!

Have you tried the Bourjois Velvet Lipsticks?

Lori x

Weekly Loves #2

Naked 3 Palette / Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet /
Benefit Cream Shadow R.S.V.P / Benefit Coralista Blusher

As I stated last week, this is a new style post I will be incorporating into my blog weekly. Just a round up of all of my most used and loved products of the week. What I have been loving and some mini reviews! So let me share with you my favourites from this week.

Since the sunshine has finally decided to make an appearance, hurray! I decided to start wearing some brighter and lighter eye make-up. So out came my Naked 3 palette to play! I love my Naked 2 palette, it is possibly my favourite from the range but it's very dark, cold colours and not very wearable for everyday use in the Summer. I have been loving mixing up the matte and shimmery shades and creating lots of different eye looks. The rose gold shades work perfectly with my pale skin. Let's be honest, we all know the Urban Decay create the best palettes, their shadows are so soft and easy to blend. They are every palette lovers dream!

For days when I am looking for something quick to swipe on the lids, or even when I'm looking for a light base for my shadows, I have been reaching for Benefit's R.S.V.P Cream Shadow. The light pink shade is perfect for a light base. These shadows are so creamy making them so easy to apply and blend together, plus the fact they are creaseless - perfection! Much better than the MAC paint pots - in my opinion! This is such an easy to wear shade, nice and subtle for everyday wear.

Hold the phone - I may have found the perfect lip product ever! Yes, yes I know, I may be a little late on this wagon however, the Bourjois Velvet Lipsticks are uh-mazing! The only lip product I own (and I own a lot) to stand the test of time against eating and drinking all day long. I will be popping up a full review on these bad boys in the next few days! The colour i've been wearing the most is 04 Peach Club - a gorgeous peach shade, perfect for spring/summer.

Last of my weekly faves this week comes from Benefit again and it is in the form of blush, my ultimate favourite, Coralista! This is my summer cheek shade. The perfect coral, peach blush with some shimmer through it to add a gorgeous highlight. I honestly thought I would hate this shade against my pale skin but in fact, I find it very warm on my skin adding some much needed colour and lift! Some may find this a little too shimmery for their liking but being a highlighter queen myself, it's perfection in a box!


Do you love any of these products?

Lori x

The Re-Purchase Test

Ghost Deep Night Perfume // Benefit High Beam //

Origins GinZing Moisturiser // Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

How many of us use up a full product and then go and repurchase it? Let's be honest, I know I'm guilty of thinking 'maybe I should try something else, it might be better'. Who's with me? However, in amoungst thinking of all the products I might be missing out on there are some products that just work. Things that you know you can't cope without, and when they are coming to an end you feel like your world is ending... Just me? Today I bring you The RePurchase Test, things that can't be replaced, only rebought!

Let's start with my signature scent: Ghost Deep Night. I have worn this perfume since I was about 14. Anyone who knows me can confirm. It's a gorgeous floral and fruity perfume without being overly sweet. A beautiful blend of vanilla (my absolute favourite), apricot and peach, not too over-powering making it perfect for everyday. I honestly couldn't count the amount of bottles of this perfume I have went through.

Another staple in my drawer comes from Benefit and can be the one and only High Beam. No matter how many highlighters I try, nothing will compare to my beloved High Beam. This was one of the, if not the first Benefit product I got and it is one of the only products that will be a constant in my make-up bag. Incredibly illuminating and perfect for my pale, translucent skin. Don't get me wrong, this may be a little too 'white' for people with more sallow/ tanned skin tones and may prefer Sun Beam instead. However, this is gorgeous multi-purpose product whether you want to use it one the highest points of the cheek bones, the bridge of the nose, on the lids to brighten the eye area, this product will not let you down! 

Moving on from my two greatest love stories throughout the years, comes my most recent affairs. Origins GinZing Moisturiser. I know, I know, i'm mentioning this again but this really is amazing stuff. I love it that much I have now just purchased my second tub, a first for myself and moisturisers. This means business! To hear more than jump over and read my full review (here).

Last, but certainly not least, is the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. This cult favourite was first purchased last year after reading Anna's review of it (I swear that girl could make me buy thin air). Having never failed on a recommendation before I took the plunge and have never looked back. This takes dull skin and turns it into the brightest, healthiest glow ever. I use this as a primer and/or mix it in with my foundation and it works absolute wonders. Late nights? Let me be havin' ya! I am now onto my second bottle of this lovely and doubt I'll ever switch from it. You can catch my full review of this product (here). 

What makes your repurchase list?

Lori x

Weekly | What I'm Loving

Bobbi Brown Foundation // Benefit Hoola Bronzer //

Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

I have been swithering over adding a new section to my blog for a while and have finally made my decision - it is happening! As of this week I am going to start doing a round up of what products I have been loving and using the most. Little mini reviews and reasons to why I have been loving them. I personally love reading these type of posts as it gives me an insight into 1. the blogger and 2. products I may be interested in. So let me show you what I have been loving this week.

If you watched my April Favourites video (here) then you would have heard me talking about Benefit's Hoola Bronzer. Bronzer has never been a product I have used, in fact, whenever anyone ever mentioned bronzer I ran to the hills! This may seem hard to believe but I actually enjoy being pale and I hate counters trying to 'give me a bit of colour' by colour matching me to and way too dark foundation or putting on so much bronzer I need a chisel to take it off. However, over the last month, with it coming up to summer, I've decided to start playing around a bit more with the product I once thought of as the devil! Hoola seems to be the one that works best for me, with no under tones and/or glitter it doesn't highlight the fact that I am wearing any and it doesn't make me look dirty! 

Do you ever notice that all of your make-up seems to run out at once? Firstly my Bobbi Brown Corrector, then Nars concealer, my Maybelline mascara went next quickly followed by YSL Foundation! Let's just say I've been having a nightmare! On YSL spitting out it's last few ounces I decided to rummage through my stash and found an old favourite of mine - Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. Why I stopped using this I will never know?! It is the perfect match for my skin tone - 00 Alabaster - although, this one is also on it's last legs and on looking on the website it seems they have discontinued this colour? Somebody please tell me this is a lie! Such a lightweight feel yet a medium, dewy finish. Enough glow in there for that healthy skin finish, yet not shiny enough to look like you are wearing make-up. A re-discovered favourite.

After scraping the remnants out of my sample size I finally ran to my nearest Origins counter and picked up the full size of the Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask. This stuff is my skin saviour! Pop this on once or twice a week (depending on how dry your skin in) and allow this gorgeous avocado scented mask to work it's magic! On applying this you don't need to do your full routine as this does everything you need and you wake with your skin looking more plump and feeling refreshed and replenished. This is a must have for everyone! 

What do we think of this style of post?

Lori x

Patterned Brights

Necklace // Top // Skort: Zara

Shoes: Primark

It's very unusual for me to wear patterned clothing, nevermind super bright and colourful patterns. You can tell we are heading into summer as I try to pull away from my beloved shade of Black and try and bring out the legs. I am still completely in love with the skort trend that has been kicking around. I find it super flattering and means I can cut all sorts of shapes on a night out! This particular pair make my legs appear 10x longer than they actually are - who could resist? Also love the bright orange shade!

I noticed recenetly that most items in my wardrobe are very plain and boring, I hardly own any patterned anything! I spotted this gorgeous top in Zara a few weeks back and fell instantly in love. It also has an open back but the photos weren't great so opted not to upload them - sorry, not sorry? Love the beautiful electric blue colour, especially contrasting against the orange skort. 

Popped on my thick, rope necklace which ties in nicely with the whole ensemble as it sports the shades blue and orange. Colour co-ordination to the max! The full outfit is a statement so I opted for nude heels to add even more length to my peely-wally pins.

Who's excited for Summer?

Lori x

Body Shop Shea Body Mist

Shea Body Mist £7.50

Now this may seem like quite a random choice for a blog post but oh my goodness! If you love a shea scent then you have got to get your hands on this Body Shop mist. You can thank me later! I picked it up randomly when I was browsing around my local store and after one spray it magically appeared in my basket... 

I was looking for something light and not too powering to wear to work and thought a body mist was probably my best bet. There are eight different scents in the collection including; grapefruit, coconut, vanilla, satsuma,  moringa, mango, strawberry and of course,shea! They are all warm, realistic and beautiful scents, not overpowering like some perfumes, yet still very distinctive. I also love that it comes in glass packaging as opposed to plastic. It makes the product seem that little more luxurious and more expensive than it is. You also get a whopping 100ml for a measly £7.50, I mean, can you really complain? Sure, the scent may not last you a whole 24 hours but for a top up once a day and at that cost? No complaints from me! In fact, I look forward to my mid-day spray!

This is perfect for everyday use and can safely safe it has pushed all of my other lovely perfumes to the back of the pile! This baby comes with me everywhere!

Are you a body mist lover?

Lori x

My Summer Lip Picks

 'Fable' Illamasqua // 'Morange' MAC // 32 'Jealous Coral' YSL

With the (very) brief encounter with the sun last weekend it got me thinking about Summer time and what trends I will be leaning towards. We all know how I love my lip products and decided to show you all the shades I shall be sporting this summer.

First up comes from Illamasqua and one of my favourite lipsticks ever, not just for the moment! This is 'Fable' and is a matte bubblegum pink shade. This is definitely a gorgeous pastel shade and will make a great transition through Spring to Summer. It is super pigmented and the formula stays on for hours! They are described as 'creamy' but I'll be honest it is quite a dry/chalky texture so a good lip balm is a must! I do love matte lipstick though and I absolutely love this summery shade so that extra step doesn't bother me.

Summer just isn't the same without a bright orange lip and mine is coming in the form of Mac 'Morange'. This little beauty comes with a gorgeous vanilla scent to it, if you don't like scented makeup much you may want to see if you can tolerate this first before you purchase. As for me? Well, I love vanilla scented anything so this was a huge plus! A cream, opaque finish with a slight shine to the lips, this is not one for the faint hearted. It is much more orange on application than it appears in the tube. This was the colour used on many of the catwalks at London Fashion Week so was a sure fire for this Summer!

Last but not least I will be popping on YSL Rouge Volupte in shade 32 'Jealous Coral'. Can we take a moment to appreciated just how gorgeous the packaging of these lipsticks are? The smooth, buttery type formulas just glide onto the lips. Some may find these a little too bold but I think they are fabulous! This is a peachy-pink tone and is perfect for the season ahead. It adds such warmth to your skin and gives your lips a super glossy/ shiny finish! The perfect everyday shade.

What is your summer lip colour of choice?

Lori x

Body Shop Chamomile Cleansing Oil | Review

Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil £10

The Body Shop was never a place I used to shop (spot the past tense) Now it has became a little obsession. Maybe it is all the rave reviews I have spotted knocking around the blogosphere lately, or perhaps that it is situated two doors down from my work and it would be rude not to pop in? There is just something that draws me in every time I walk by! Whatever the reason, it has certainly became a firm favourite and go-to for my skincare of late. With a 3 for 2 on all skincare and makeup then a buy one get one free on body care it was too much for my bargain hunter instincts to ignore! I come to you today with a review of one of my favourite, if not number one, purchases from my recent jaunt - the Chamomile Cleansing Oil. Now I have always sung praises to my beloved Clinique Take the Day Off Balm and I will always hold a spot (or tub) of it in my heart (cupboard). However, it is a little on the pricey side and can never be found on counters as it's constantly sold out! So I come to you with an amazing - fraction of the price - alternative!

Like the Clinique Balm, you apply to dry skin. The consistency of this product is definitely more of an oil and you can lather it onto a full face of makeup, right into those lashes - don't be afraid, the chamomile ingredient doesn't aggravate the skin. I use two pumps of this and it removes any form of makeup from my face. For those of you who suffer from oily skin, the words 'Cleansing Oil' usually make you run and duck for cover but do not fear! The formula leaves no residue therefore no drying or tight feeling to the skin.I love the fact that there is a pump so it can just go straight onto the hands without all the faffing around with lids - much more hygienic! It also smells absolutely divine and I find it very soothing, especially as I am using it at night before I head to bed.

I have now been using this product for roughly two weeks and have to say I am seriously impressed! I never thought this could possibly be as good as my Clinique Balm however, coming in at a ridiculously cheap £10 it could be my new front runner! Get yourself along to your nearest store whilst all of their deals are still running - it is certainly worth a purchase!

What are your favourite Body Shop products?

Lori x

Dry and Dehydrated Skin | Skincare Series

For the next installment of my skincare series I am going to look into dry and dehydrated skin. Over the last few weeks my skin has taken a severe turn for the worst. I'm not entirely sure of the cause of it whether it is to do with the constant changing of weather, the air conditioning in my work or maybe just my skin is changing in general. Either way, my skin has started to become more dry and dehydrated. I have never suffered from dry skin before and took time to look into products I felt would help combat against this. Into my lovely stash I went.

I started using the Clarins HydraQuench Cream when my skin was at it's complete worse. May I also state I was suffering a severe cold and had been constantly blowing my nose so that area was particularly sensitive and flaky. This bad boy was an absolute saviour! Applying morning and night to my face and focusing a lot on my sensitive, poor nose this cleared up the flaking in no time and helped to keep my skin feeling much more hydrated. 

Another amazing product to help my poor, sore skin was the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - what a mouthful! This only needs applied once a week, twice if your skin is particularly dry. I apply this about twenty minutes before I go to sleep to allow it to dry in a little and when I wake in the morning my skin looks much more plump and feels so much smoother and hydrated. This is honestly one of the best products I have ever used and would completely recommend it to anyone! As with all Origins products this smells insane! I actually can't wait to use it each week because it leaves my skin feeling amazing. *Please note this isn't included in the photo as I've ran out and need a new one!*

When suffering from dehydrated skin I opt for a thicker, heavier moisturiser to really soak into the skin and work it's magic. On these occasions I reach for Benefit's Total Moisture Facial Cream. Super thick in consistency so a tiny amount is needed to spread over the whole face. The packaging is huge so it will last you a very long time! The fresh cucumbers smell is absolutely delicious and refreshing. It definitely leaves my skin feeling more comfortable and less aggravated, Soothing it from its dehydrated state. It doesn't leave any oily residue and when foundation is applied on top, the foundation doesn't cling to any dry patches which you sometimes find on drier areas. A winner in my eyes. I have been using the travel size lately as I have been jetsetting throughout March and it has been absolutely perfect to pop in my travel bag!

For anyone looking for a good moisturiser but are on a budget and/or don't want to spend over the odds for one then the Nivea Refreshing Soft Moisturising Cream is an absolute dream! It comes in a huge amount of 200ml, it contains Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E making it super gorgeous to apply. I wouldn't say it has the nicest scent in the world, not compared to my Origins moisturiser, but it certainly does the job! Plus with the under a fiver price tag, you can't really go wrong!

These are just some of the products I head for when my skin is feeling dry and dehydrated. What works for me may not work for you, everyone knows their own skin the best. 

What products would you recommend for dry/dehydrated skin?

Lori x

Normal to Oily Skin | Skincare Series

After a recent post on my Facebook Page (here) I was asked to put together a post on skin care for certain skin types and decided I would break it down into a series. There are so many different skin types that it would be a novel by the time I finished on just the one post so I have divided this into sections; Normal to Oily, Dry and Blemish. The most common types among us. I am starting with Normal to Oily, my own skintype, I know a lot more products in this range due to it being my own type. Please Note* these are products that work well for me and may not necessarily work as well for you.

I start my day with a thorough cleanse and have recently moved onto the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap. I use one pump of this and massage it into the skin then wash off with warm water and clear with a flannel. The soap is very mild and doesn't aggravate my skin. It leaves my skin feeling very clean and fresh - exactly what I am after in the morning.

I then use the 2 step in the Clinique '3 step skin care' routine which is the clarifying lotion. Let me be clear, this is not a toner (my original thought)! It in fact, gets rid of any dead skin cells or dull surface flakes. To apply I simply use the tiniest amount of a cotton wool ball and sweep around my face avoiding the eye area - this is too harsh for the thin skin there. I've only recently started using this and the scent isn't exactly my favourite in the world however, it does leave my skin feeling fresher and looking brighter.

Going in with a toner I pop some of Origins A Perfect World Toner which is honestly like heaven in a bottle, on a cotton pad and swipe around my face. It smells absolutely beautiful and fresh and rids of any residue from the night before. This product is also oil and alcohol free which is perfect for the oiler skin type. 

Moisturiser wise I go for something light for day to day use. Over the last few months I have been using my Origins GinZing (full review here) religiously every morning. It is super lightweight in texture and the formula is so soft and hydrating. It is instantly refreshing and completely wakes me up with it's gorgeous citrus smell. I am actually starting to run low on this product and I am now having the repurchase debate. You know us girls, we find something we like but we constantly strive to find something better - I will keep you posted on my decision! It is also oil-free which is perfect for those of us with oily prone skin. This is another must with foundations if you lean more towards oily skin. Be sure to check if they are oil-free or not, if they aren't they will add more shine to your face and instead of giving that gorgeous dewy glow, you'll look more like a sweaty mess - not a good look!

These are just some products which I find immensely helpful at keeping my oily prone skin at bay. As I stated above, I am one of the lucky few who have pretty normal skin however, there are days when I can lean more towards the oily side of things and these products help to counteract that.

What are your favourite skincare products?

Lori x

Estee Lauder Double Wear | Review

Double Wear Foundation £28.50

Most of us all know of Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation. If you haven't tried it personally, then I'm sure you will have heard it's name crop up whenever someone asks for a recommendation on a new foundation. I'll be honest, as always with my reviews, I do love this foundation - but only as a night out/ special occasion number. This is one product that has been raved about within the beauty community and quite rightly so, my skin looks airbrushed whenever I wear it and am forever being asked what I am wearing on nights out. 

Lets get down to the nitty gritty. It is super thick, to the point where it can feel like a mask. It does take a couple of tries to work out the right consistency for you and how much product to use (If only it had a pump to control that...*shakes fist*!). The thickness holds it all day, this really is a 15 hour wearer without any touch ups - yes, it is that good! I buff this right into my face with my Real Techniques buffing brush to make sure it doesn't look cakey or that I'm wearing hundreds of product, I think this is the secret to my flawless base. This is full coverage and the finish is super matte, in fact, I don't think you could find a foundation more matte than this! In saying that, if you suffer from dry skin then I really wouldn't recommend this. It will be too heavy and just show up any dry patches and ain't nobody got time for that! It covers everything and I mean everything, from spots to scarring, and there is no slipping or sliding throughout the day! Your face is literally completely in-tact from day to night, who would have thought?! It really is a dream foundation.

I will warn you, the day after my skin can feel quite dehydrated and I always try to opt for a thick moisturiser and a no makeup, glasses type day. As I said earlier this is my special occasion, pulling out the big guns type foundation. I could never wear it day to day and can say from working on a makeup counter and listening to a lot of peoples opinions, many switch from using it daily to just a night out base. It is certainly not lightweight or a slap on and go type foundation, this takes work but the results are beautiful.

I love the packaging of the bottle, very chic and sophisticated with its gold lid - would we expect any less from Estee Lauder? Once again though, my biggest pet peeve has to lie with the lack of pump! Pouring it out of the bottle is just frustrating and causes waste, especially with the first few goes. However, it is honestly one of the most gorgeous foundations I have ever used. It is supermodel skin in a bottle - no joke! At £28.50 it is relatively average price for a premium brand however, believe me when I say, you genuinely need the teeniest tiniest amount of this to cover your face. I wear shade 'Shell' which is the perfect match for my milk-like tone and the girls on counter are more than happy to match you up!

What's your favourite foundation?

Lori x

TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer | Review

TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer £15

Highlighter has to be one of, if not my favourite, of all makeup products. I love that amazing, healthy glow it gives to the skin without the excess oil/ grease from a liquid 'dewy' foundation. Benefit's High Beam has been my staple highlighter since I was around 15 and I have never found another that I have loved quite so much - and then came theBalm. 

This baby was hyped up so much in the beauty community and there were so many times when I came close to buying but for some reason I never did. Maybe because I have around 3 bottles of High Beam in my drawer still needing used, or that nothing has ever came close to my beloved highlighter of choice. However, a few weeks back on a girls night in at Kirstys (here) she had this hiding in her drawer and I couldn't resist. It was love at first swatch! And was ordered the following day.

What makes this so good? I hear you say. Well, first off the quirky packaging makes me smile! Can't beat some light-hearted packaging. Then lets discuss just how huge this is? The whopping 8.5g you receive is almost double what you get in your average blush and with the amount of pigmentation that is thrown in here, I highly doubt I would ever need another! It adds so much brightness and glow to the face without the chunky glitter we all hate. Dull skin days be gone! 

The champagne colour was not something I thought I would suit but in actual fact, I think this is a highlighter that would suit all skin tones. The glowy sheen and highlight it adds is just beautiful although, this is not one for the subtle makeup wearers among us. This is definitely a 'hello sailor!' product. You could easily overdo it with this product so be sure to tap off excess on your brush and build it up slowly.

What are your favourite highlighters?

Lori x

Mac Mineralize SkinFinish 'Stereo Rose' | Review

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish 'Stereo Rose' £22

Having worn this solidly for over a month now I feel it is about time that I popped up a review. 'Stereo Rose' is a re-launch for the 'Fantasy of Flowers' Spring 2014 Collection and when I saw this was making a comeback I popped the date in my diary to be sure it wasn't missed! 

It has such a velvety, soft texture and it is very pigmented so be sure to build it up a little at a time - you don't want to end up looking like a doll! This may be due to my translucent skin tone, if you have slightly darker, sallow skin you may need to work a little more. It gives off a gorgeous sheen to the face, if you are building it up you don't need to worry about looking like a disco ball. It is a noticeable glow without being over powering or sparkly, a perfect day to night blush. 

The coral/ peachy colour is the perfect shade for summer. I would say it leans more towards the peach side of things as opposed to the coral however, you can also note some golden and bronze tones running through the product adding some extra dimension. I apply it to the apples of my cheeks and top of my cheekbones for a highlight. The lasting power is great too, it lasts for a good six hours before I even need to think about a quick top up. The packaging is huge which I was quite surprised at for a blush, a generous amount from Mac meaning it is a good investment. 

If you are a lover of highlighter and a glowing face then this should be popped onto the shopping list. If not, then this may not be up your street. I personally love the product and have been getting good use of this on a daily basis.

What's your favourite MSF?

Lori x

March Favourites | Video

MARCH FAVOURITES VIDEO HERE

One of my favourite posts to write has to be my monthly favourites. I love sharing with you all of the products I have been loving over the last month. As we head into April I have lots of lovely products to share with you from the month of March. This month, I decided to change it up a little and pop my favorites post into a video for you all to watch! I started up my new YouTube channel a few weeks ago and would love you all to pop over and subscribe to keep up-to-date!

Lori x

Benefit The Big Easy | Review

Benefit 'The Big Easy' £27.50

Yet another Benefit product has graced us this March (well, technically it launches in April but lets not be pedantic) and it comes in the form of 'The Big Easy'. The product claims to be 'Bigger than a BB Cream' which I have to give it to them, they certainly pulled this one out of the bag. Coming in six different shades, the first of them being 'Fair' which is two shades lighter than the 'Hello Flawless' range. Genuinely think I whooped when I discovered this! So for all those pale and interesting girls like myself, this is the perfect shade for you. The product states it will balance moisture and control shine which I can definitely see on application - certainly one to think about if you are from the oily skin family. It reduces the appearance of pores and shine as well as covering any redness on the face, all the while balancing out your skin tone. The liquid formula turns to powder on application, leaving your skin with a silky lightweight feel and an uber matte finish. It does give a light coverage, considerably more than I have found with any other BB cream, but can be built to medium if you so desire. Once I have applied this - if I am on a low-key makeup day - I just apply a little concealer around the areas it is needed and voila! Done. No need to set with powder, this bad boy does all the work for you.

I personally don't feel there is enough coverage for me for an everyday basis, I'm definitely a medium/full coverage type gal. The lights in my work are so bright and harsh I feel the need to wear a little more than I would on a day off. However, I have been applying The Big Easy as a primer and I have to say it is doing the trick! I used it originally after my primer decided enough was enough and she couldn't give anymore, thinking it could do no harm as it has a primer-type feel to it anyway. The cream gave me a beautiful flawless finish and shone through my foundation giving a 'lit from within' type glow. The amount of compliments I have received on the days I have been wearing it underneath is unbelievable so it is definitely doing something right. This will be the perfect product for summertime, especially when you are off on your holidays. Containing an SPF of 35, one of the highest I've seen on the market, it has you covered on your sun protection too! I hardly wear any makeup whilst I'm away however, at night when I am looking for a little something to perk me up I'll be throwing this on!

The Pros? The lightweight texture, the fact that they have expanded the shade range to even lighter, the high SPF, controlling shine and evening out your skin tone. The Cons? Although they have gone two shades lighter than the Hello Flawless range (which is great for me) the darker shade range is severely lacking - hopefully Benefit will expand the range for those of you with sallow skin. I have also noticed that it can cling to slightly drier patches if I don't moisturise thoroughly beforehand. Benefit do recommend moisturising prior to application and you can see why, after that though it does glide onto the skin. So if you do suffer from an extremely dry mug then this product maybe isn't the one for you! 

The Big Easy officially launches on Saturday 28th March and retails at £27.50. The bottle gives 35ml which is 5ml more than the Hello Flawless foundation so I do think this is a reasonable price, considering how long the foundation lasts! All in all, I do like the Big Easy, especially as a base for my makeup.

Will you be tempted to try The Big Easy?

Lori x

Video: Glamorous Red Lips

Tutorial Here

This weeks video is a makeup tutorial for pale skin and bold lips! Being a pale girl myself, it is quite hard finding pale YouTubers to grace us with lots of pale inspired makeup looks. There are loads of beauty gurus and their makeup tutorials are so inspiring and beautiful but for a lot of the tutorials I know I could never pull off with my skintone. I wasn't planning on doing tutorials at all to be honest, but after posting the above photo on Instagram (here) and lots of people commenting on how much the liked the look and asking if you would all like a tutorial I felt obliged! Make sure you check out my video and subscribe to my channel if you enjoy it!

If you would like to see some more tutorials like this on my channel then please let me know, or if there is anything else you would quite like to see please feel free to leave a comment!

Lori x

Surprise Birthdays

Dress: Miss Selfridge

Necklace (Silver): FCUK

(Blue): Gift

Shoes: No Clue, I've had them since I was like 15 (still haven't grown!)

Bag: Matalan

Watch: Jacob Ellis

This weekend saw myself and Craig take a trip to the capital and surprise our friend Bryan for his birthday! Sneaking around Edinburgh was so much fun, lurking around the corners to make sure we weren't spotted! It would certainly give the game away! For anyone who watched my YouTube Spring Haul video then they would have seen this purchase from Miss Selfridge. Fuschia pink isn't my usual colour in fact, any shade of pink isn't my usual colour! There was just something about this dress though that made me purchase!

I have been loving a longer length lately, I can't actually remember the last time I wore a mini dress. They make me feel more confident and comfortable, I don't need to keep pulling at my dress on a night out which is never an attractive look for anyone! The shift style is so flattering and the floaty sleeves give a beautiful sixties vibe to the outfit. 

Teaming colours with fuschia pink can be a hard task however, I have always loved opposites and remembering I had these electric blue numbers in my wardrobe I knew it would be a match-made in heaven! Continuing on with the blue theme, I doubled up these two necklaces to create a huge statement. The blue shining through on them. Right through to my electric blue nails in the form of 'Baker Street' by Nails Inc.

It was a great night through in the capital celebrating with great friends!

Lori x

Origins Super Spot Remover | Review

Origins Super Spot Remover

I am not one to suffer from bad skin, in fact, I have to admit I have been pretty lucky on the skin front. I hardly have break-outs and on the whole have quite a normal skin type however, when I do get that odd blemish it comes in mountain form. It's as though someone is punishing me, they let me have clear skin 90 per cent of the time and then BOOM! Everest has appeared on my face! Attractive eh? That's when this little bottle of magic comes in.

Origins Super Spot Remover claims to heal, fade and fight spots fast and I can't help but agree. This little baby does exactly what it says on the tin. When I purchased this product I had a slight breakout on my chin area, usually where I suffer from blemishes, and decided on a whim to get it while it was still in stock - it sells out constantly! To be honest, my first thought was how tiny the bottle is. Having had this since the beginning of January and it now being March and with me having to use this pretty regularly (my face and this weather are not on talking terms at the moment) it looks like I've hardly touched it. 

The gel dries quickly after application, with the formula containing Salicylic Acid it can be pretty nippy although I find this quite bitter sweet, at least I know it's working. This fades fairly quickly leaving a smooth coating over the skin where the blemish is. If the spot has already broke on your face then applying this will take redness away from the area and evens out the skin around it quicker than usual. If the spot is still under the skin (they are the worst ones) I dab a little of this on the area and it stops the blemish ever surfacing. See - magic!

Don't get me wrong, this isn't going to make your spots disappear mysteriously overnight. You will notice a significant difference in irritation and redness as well as size, removing the spot quicker than it would normally take to disappear. For applying I use a cotton bud, using your finger to dab will only spread infection and create blemishes elsewhere. For £14 it may seem pretty steep for the size of bottle but I do find this makes a huge difference and the bottle actually lasts a very long time. 

Have you tried Origins Spot Remover?

Lori x

February Favourites

Feels like just yesterday I was typing up my January favourites and now I'm onto February with March luming just around the corner! I have so many exciting things coming up this March, Craig and I are jetting off to London next week to see Beyonce in the flesh - I literally cannot contain my excitement. My 21st present is finally here! Cannot believe it has been 3 months since my birthday, absolute madness! I am hopefully going to be putting together something a little special whilst I am away, don't want to give too much away so you shall just have to keep your eyes peeled. Onto my February Favourites;

First up on the favourites is the latest launch from Benefit - 'Gimme Brow'. It feels like Benefit are churning out the new products of late, all of which I have been loving - yes, I am a little biased - but this is definitely the best of the bunch. When I first saw the product I honestly thought I would hate it, I am pretty happy with my BrowZings kit and think it works perfectly well. However, after a few days playing around with this beauty this became my go-to brow product! I do love defined brows so I am still applying BrowZings underneath for more definition, but if you are looking for a quick swipe and go, this is for you.

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lip glosses have made their way into my February Favourites. Having been a complete lipstick fiend for years, I was more shocked than anyone to find myself reaching for a gloss each day. I have a review which you can see here if you would like to know more.

Another Benefit product making it into this months hits is the latest cheek and lip stain Lolli tint. I have written a whole review on this product, along with swatches of the product in action which you can see here. I have been wearing this almost every day over the past month, there was no way this wasn't making the cut.

On the skin care front it has to be the Origins Super Spot Remover that has been front runner this month. I have never suffered from bad skin or been prone to spots - we all get that occasional Everest on our face but it was nothing I couldn't conquer. However, possibly due to the colder weather, my face has been horrendously unforgiving and bringing out all walks of life on my face. This bad boy zaps away spots within 24 hours - full review coming soon.

Tresemme Keratin Shampoo/ Conditioner have been working wonders with my weak, limp and lifeless hair this month *said in the voice of Cherly Cole*. Having read that Keratin is great for medium length hair I decided nothing could make my hair much worse and headed for the nearest store. These add lots of unknown texture to my hair and don't leave it feeling limp after washing, in fact quite the opposite. Adding volume and texture is all I have ever wanted - won't be changing these for a while.

I posted on my Twitter (here) a month or so ago about trying to find a great eye primer and so many people recommended Mac Paint Pot in 'Soft Ochre'. Although my customer service experience with MAC staff has never been great as it is virtually non-existent, my trip to pick up this product was probably the worst of the lot, I still love their products. A love/hate relationship if you will. I tend to wear a lot of liquid liner or shadow on my lids and need a neutral shade to make everything pop! Great base for eye make-up.

Last but certainly not least is another Origins product in the style of moisturiser. I wrote a review about the GinZing morning moisturiser a few posts ago (here) and still look forward to putting it on my face every morning. It instantly wakes me up and I don't think I'll ever get over the smell! 

That is all for my monthly favourites. Hope you like my post and let me know if you have tried or are planning on trying any of the products mentioned.

Lori x