Accessorize Illusion Nail Polish - Purple Dream

Well after having a play with the Accessorize make up samples I was sent, I hotfooted it down to Superdrug (the Marble Arch branch) a couple of weeks ago, where I stood for a minimum of 30 minutes (I kid you not) much to the bemusement of the store security guard, playing to my hearts content with the various different products available.

I finally settled for three nail polishes (and got another last week) and swatched the most unusual of my selection, Purple Dreams.

This blue purple duochrome polish from the Illusion line, is infused with pink, green and blue glitter. I found it quite difficult to photograph. From one angle it looks blue, the next purple!

Three coats were enough to give full coverage, but be careful when applying your second or third coat as it has a tendency to drag if you apply it too quickly. I'm pleased that despite being a glitter polish it doesn't feel rough on the nails when you run your fingers over it, quite smooth in fact. The glitter isn't chunky at all.

It's still a pain in the a** to remove though, as are most glitter polishes but it's worth it. A very pretty shade that's not as 'disco ball' as it looks in my photo and is actually quite a 'sophisticated' and muted glitter, if there's such a thing!

How much is it? £4
Where can I buy it? Accessorize stores and online, larger Superdrug branches

Nails Inc Lucky Dip Offer - 5 Full Size Products For £10. TODAY ONLY!

Another day, another nails inc offer!

nails inc are running their Lucky Dip offer again today - where you can purchase five full size products for £10.

Yep, for just £10 (plus £3.95 for postage and packaging) you can order four full size (10ml) nails inc polishes which will be selected at random. plus an A&E advanced treatment base coat.

This offer is only available until midnight tonight (GMT) while stocks last, so if you don't mind taking a gamble on what you're sent, get ordering.

NEW! ELF Tinted Moisturisers

I'm yet to try any products from ELF (Eye Lips Face). I toyed with the idea of buying a few items from their Studio line months ago, but got sidetracked and just ended up in MAC again! A couple of items arrived unexpectedly in the post for me to try over the festive period, but I just haven't had the time to so much as take them out of their box yet. I'll get round to it eventually though as I was quite impressed at first glance.

On Monday I was told by an ELF employee that they have just released new tinted moisturisers which come with SPF20 for added protection. I don't tend to really use tinted moisturisers that often - even during warmer weather, mainly because I guess I'm too used to wearing heavier coverage, so I feel a bit conscious being so 'exposed'.

Despite being told that it was a possibility I could find a match for my skin tone, deep down I was still a little sceptical. However, last night I remembered what she said, had a quick look at the website and found these:

Available in seven shades, three are aimed at those of us with deeper skin tones. The first three shades in the image above are described as:

 (L-R)

Expresso - Dark skin with yellow and red undertones

Mocha - Rich brown for medium to dark skin tones

Almond - For medium to dark skin with yellow undertones

Something to check out perhaps if you struggle to find a tinted moisturiser that compliments you. Priced at just £3.50, it won't be a costly mistake if the shade isn't quite right. I think I'll order one this week and review it shortly.

The Nail Files: Barry M Dusky Mauve

When Barry M released Dusky Mauve a few months ago, you could almost hear the stampede to Superdrug branches across the country. Why? Well it's a bang on dupe for Chanel's Paradoxal - and a darn sight cheaper too at just £2.99

At the time I couldn't have cared less that it was a dupe for a Chanel polish, I haven't paid them much attention since wasting my money on Rouge Noir, when I was a young, impressionable 20 year and it killed me to hand over £11 (which is what it cost at the time - can you say mark up?!), only to see it chip a day later. Now can you say pissed?!

Anyway, despite ignoring the buzz on this 'must have' dupe, Dusky Mauve ended up in my basket during a visit to Superdrug one evening but was cast aside and now over four months later I've finally pulled it out for a closer look. Surprisingly it doesn't look as 'blah' as I thought it would. It's a smart, sophisticated shade that's work-friendly and actually looks alright in natural daylight, but looks crap and bland in dull lighting.

I'm not too keen on the formula either. I found the first coat to be quite runny and I had to take care to wipe the excess off the brush, but two coats gave an opaque finish. It hasn't rocked my world, but it's more pleasing to the eye than I thought it would be. Saying that though, I doubt I'll be reaching for it again in a hurry. I like my nail polish to have a bit more of the wow factor.

More Spring/Summer 2011 Launches from Bourjois

As well as having a preview of the new Spring/Summer collection Paris Ballerine, I also had at some other new products and limited edition ranges from the French cosmetic powerhouse.

Check out their new mascara which lands on shelves in May. Volume Fast & Perfect comes with a new auto-rotating brush, which promises to give a false eyelash effect with one coat. Overall I was pretty impressed with their last lash enhancing offering, Volumizer, but to date, there hasn't been one vibrating mascara which has impressed me. Ok, so this is rotating, not vibrating, but I'm sceptical already. I'm looking forward to putting this to the test. It has a big claim to live up to!

Due for release in May 2011.

 

Bourjois are well known for their 'little round pots' of blush, and now you can get your hands on six of their best selling shades in these cute limited edition Paris themed pots created by textile desisgner Juliete Bure.

Available in:

16 Rose Coup de foudre - A satin coral pink

32 Ambre d'or - A sheer orange pink

33 Lilas d'or - A golden pink

34 Rose d'or - A golden wild rose pink

74 Rose ambre - A matt warm pink

95 Rose de jaspe - A satin pink

Below are the shades I thought would work best with my NC50 skin tone.

The blushes were released today and are available throughout March 2011.

Finally, the Effet 3D lipglosses have been given a makeover. The new look glosses are already available to buy and come in a collection of 15 shades. Paraben free, their new formula leave lips feeling hydrated and glossy and smelling fab (well, I don't know who you have near your lips, do I?!) with a red fruit fragrance of blackberry, raspberry and blackcurrant.

There are a six new glittery ones which reminded me of the MAC Dazzleglasses, but enough shades subtle enough for every day wear to keep old fans happy.

All done. Bourjois have been busy!

Bourjois Spring/Summer 2011 - Paris Ballerine

Last Saturday, I previewed Bourjois' new spring/summer collection Paris Ballerine, and it left me pleasantly surprised. Conveniently tying in with the current obsession with the arts, particularly ballet thanks to the success of Oscar nominated film, Black Swan, Paris Ballerine is awash of pretty, subtle shades that allow you to flaunt your femininity, giving the wearer the option of a demure or sultry look.

Pretty, non?

The collection consists of three Effet Smoky pencils in Ultra Black (76), Sand Rose (77) and New Wave Blue (78) which are dual-ended and have a fine nip to help line and frame the eyes for an easy to apply smoked out look. The pencils are creamy, don't drag along the skin and cost £4.99 each.

Two Little Round Pot eyeshadow's come in a frosty oyster pink (05) and light silver (25) priced at £5.99 each. I found the silver contained quite a lot of glitter and it swatched a little patchy, so I'd recommend it be used wet instead. To be honest the shades aren't ones that I'd usually reach for, because I don't think they're particularly flattering on my skin tone. At a push, the silver could be layered over either the black or blue Effect Smoky pencils to give your smoky eye a pop - or over a black or dark grey eyeshadow.
 

 Top Row: 

Sweet Kiss Naturel in Rose Innocence (11)

Sweet Kiss Naturel in Rose Passionne (13)
£7.99 each

Bottom Row (Right)

So Laque Ultra Shine in Rose satin (36)

So Laque Shine in Bleu asphalte (37)
£5.49 each

Bottom (Left)

Illuminating Touch in Rose Essentiel (far left of photo)
£6.99

I like both lipstick shades in this collection. The dusty pink (11) will obviously look great teamed with a smoky eye and the red (13) gives lips a touch of colour without screaming "You have red lipstick ooooon!!!!" Bourjois' Sweet Kiss lipsticks are smooth, non drying and come in a wide range of shades and have had my seal of approval for being an affordable, decent high street lipstick for a while now, so check them out next time you're in Boots or Superdrug.

Finally, the nail polishes. Bleu asphalte is a creme purpley grey - and pretty hard to describe. Two coats give full coverage and it leaves nails looking glossy with a streak free finish. Apparently Rose passionne is a full coverage opaque nude - so no lacklustre, so clear it's practically invisible finish from this polish. If you're looking for a french manicure every day polish, then this may be a option to check out next time you're by a Bourjois stand.

Huge thanks to the ladies at Bourjois HQ for giving up their Saturday to entertain us on a rainy day!

Paris Ballerine will be released in mid April.

Topshop Sandstorm Collection - Now Instore/Online

Topshop's latest limited edition capsule make up collection flew into selected stores and online last weekend. The Sandstorm Collection combines sultry metallics with sunset tones accentuated with a kick of hell raising neon.

Hmm this Gloss Stick in Glisten looks interesting! Great packaging too - tres slick.

Do you pay Topshop's make up stand a visit when you're instore or do you tend to stick with their clothes? I keep forgetting they've branched into cosmetics, only to be reminded once a product pops up on a blog!

Priced between £5-£12, it won't break the bank. Have you had a play with it yet? Thoughts please!

Guest Review: Boss Orange Man

When Escentual.com tweeted they were looking for male reviewers to test Boss Orange Man, I knew just the person I had in mind to pen the first male guest review for Vex in the City. My mate 'Stav' took up the challenge of penning me a review for Boss Orange Man and his review turnaround was a damn sight quicker than mine!

Here's what he had to say about it.

The first thing I noticed about Boss Orange Man, the male equivalent to Hugo Boss Orange, which launched for you ladies in 2009, wasn’t actually the fragrance. It was the casing, which I really like. It looks like a chiselled six pack and screams “I am man!” in a real passive aggressive way, which I guess is what 'a man perfume' is meant to do right?

Once I popped the top off and had a sniff I noticed that it isn’t the strongest of scents which means it’s perfect for using right before a date or somewhere where you want to smell good but not drown everyone near you. Maybe not so good if you want it to last all day without reaching for more though. That leads me to say this is an evening type of EDT.

You’re not gonna believe this but after a further sniff trying to help myself decipher how I would describe the smell, the first thing that came to my head was Orange. No, seriously. The thing is, It doesn’t actually smell like Orange but it reminds me of it. It has a definite woody, citrusy mood to it, even though it doesn’t linger. That’s to say that it’s not too overpowering.

Hugo Boss says it has elements of Vanilla, Frankincense, Bublinga Wood & Apple to it (maybe I mistook the Apple for Orange). Not that I can sense the Vanilla mind you.

I’d like to know how long I’d actually be smelling good for, after a couple of hours on the town but all in all, I’m impressed with it after initial use.

For now it’s definitely something I’d put in my car and break out with the breathe mints just before a lady jumps in.

How much is it? RRP of £25 (30ml), £35 (50ml) & £45 (100ml)
Where can I buy it?  Escentual.com

**You can check out Stavs' podcasts over at  Eloquently Saying Nothing where he and his fellow 'schlags' give a male and weekly insight on popular culture and yes, women!**

Normal Service Shall Resume Shortly.

Apologies for the lack of posts this week, but I've just had no spare time to blog at all. I have a gazillion posts to write up (what's new), but it's just becoming increasingly difficult to find the time to squeeze in blogging when I'm getting home at random times in the evening aka 'having a life'!

I'm currently making changes to my layout, so excuse my blogs appearance and any glitches you come across as I try and sort that out too. Oh and not forgetting that my camera decided to break itself last weekend so I'm currently trying to get to grips with its temporary replacement which is ironically proving to be a better device than my own!

I'll be back as soon as 'real life' calms down a little - hopefully posting will get to back to normal within a couple of weeks. From previous experience, each time I write one of these kinda posts, I end up posting the very next day, so there may be a couple of posts from me but no regular posting for at least a couple of weeks.

Thanks for your understanding and patience x

Orly Mani Mini's - in Boots Next Month

Orly's new Mani Mini's will be launching in Boots next month for a fiver each They come in 48 different colour and 2 treatements, meaning there's something for everyone. 

The mini 5.3ml bottles will make them easy to pop into your handbag or in your desk drawer at work and the collection includes luxes cremes to dazzling glitter finishes.

To date I currently just one Orly polish, Country Club Khaki, so I'll definitely be taking a look at the Orly stand once it hits stores.

They'll be available online from 8th March and in 54 Boots branches from 9th March 2011.

For All The Lovers Out There ....

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is less than 24 hours away. Whether you're single or in a couple, make sure you have a great day and check out these last minute necessities and gift ideas to either cheer yourself up or make your partner a happy soul tomorrow!

First thing first, if you are planning on getting some lip action, make sure you breath is on point. There's nothing like bad breath to kill the sparks of passion before it even has a chance to get going. Freshen breath with RetarDEX Oral Spray which eliminates bad breath for up to 8 hours. Find it in Boots and selected Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Booth, Ocado.com and all good pharmacies and dental surgeries. RRP £3.05

 

 To help set the mood, check out I Love ..range, which includes affordable treats such as body butters, shower smoothies and scented candles. The candles come in yummy Strawberry Milkshake and Raspberry and Blackberry. Find them at selected Morrisons supermarkets for only £3

If you want to go all out, then a soak in Connock London Kukui Oil Soothing Bath Oil is guaranteed to kickstart your Valentine's Day on the right track. It smells utterly divine! Immerse yourself in this luxurious bath oil, which is the perfect addition to an intimate soak. This highly conditioning Kukui Oil contains a blend of Kukui, Macadamia and Tamanu to comfort and sooth for incredibly soft skin with a healthy glow. It's not cheap at £42.90 (20ml), but if you have the cash to splash then why not ..

For glowing cheeks, that'll rival any candlelit effect, then you can't go wrong with NARS Albatross - a cheek powder highlighter which suits skin tones across the board. This is one of my favourite NARS products. I buff it in along my cheekbones or directly on the apples of my cheeks,  either way it gives a gorgeous glow. Price £20.50 from NARS counters or online

Dr Bronner's lip balm in Naked

Make sure your lips are prepped to perfection and baby soft with Dr Bronner's organic lip balms. Containing jojoba, avocado oil and hemp oil moisturisers, they're free from synthetic ingredients and preservatives. Find them at Victoriahealth.com priced just £2.55, they're available in Lemon Lime, Naked, Orange Ginger and Peppermint.

You don't want any lipstick on your teeth or hairs out of place - so give yourself the once over with the Model Mirror, which lights up at a push of a button and also flips open to display 2x magnification on one side too. Check out the variety of styles it comes in on http://www.lestaitai.com/

We all appreciate a good smelling man, so treat yours to a classic scent such as Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani. Fresh, acquatic, yet warm and masculine ...trust me on this one ladies. It's not the number one best selling men's fragrance in the world for nothing! Priced from £31.99 for 30ml at The Perfume Shop

...or celebrate your love with a Bang (ahem!)! I'm talking about Marc Jacobs Bang, the new fragrance whose advertising campaign caused a bit of a stir courtesy of a certain Mr Jacobs. The irresistable peppery scent is now available in a transparent black sprayed bottle in a pocket-sized 30ml. RRP £31 at The Perfume Shop

Finally for those with a sweet tooth, declare your love in chocolate! Check out the mouthwatering offerings from chocolate connoisseurs Thorntons. Their Alphabet Truffles are always a big hit and this 'I Love You' set is already half price and now £8.75. Thorntons say you can order online until 6pm (GMT) TONIGHT and still have your order delivered tomorrow ...oooh bit risky if you ask me, but hey if they don't deliver, you can always sue 'em! Check where your nearest branch is here

The Nail Files: Sephora by OPI - Only Gold For Me

I'm so glad I own Sephora by O.P.I's Only Gold For Me Top Coat 

Why? 

Well it looks very pretty on the nails (especially when it catches the light), application doesn't have to be perfect and it be applied in two minutes. The clear polish which is infused with chunky and micro gold glitter, is also a cheaper dupe for Rococo Gold Leaf Lacquer which I'm very happy I didn't fork out £25 for now! Yeah, that would have been an obscene cosmetic purchase, even by my frivolous standards!

Two coats is all you need for full coverage (as shown in the photo). I don't wait for the first coat to dry before applying the second and surprisingly it doesn't feel rough to the touch when you run your fingers over it either.  It's funny, but it was only when I took photos for this post that I realised the 'specks' of glitter were in fact teeny shaped hexagons - cute.

Only Gold For Me is versatile and looks great on bare nails or when layered over either a bright or dark polish.

Priced at $9.50 (which is approximately £6 at the time of publishing), it's a great way to jazz up your 'naked' nail looks or favourite polish shades. 

Check out it out next time you're in Sephora!

The Winner of the Fade Out Giveaway is,,,

Tass

... who correctly answered that Vitamin A can be found in the White Anti-Shadow Brightening Eye Cream, and was randomly selected from the submitted entries.

There's an email waiting in your inbox for you.

Thank you to everybody who entered. I have another giveaway open to all that I have to post up at some point over the weekend!

Free Barry M Make Up Courtesy of Buzz Magazine

Tomorrow for ONE DAY ONLY in Buzz, The Sun’s free weekly TV and Radio supplement, Barry M are giving away a make-up set comprising of limited edition shades, which are not available in the shops.

Worth over £9, the set includes a black kohl eyeliner pencil, nail polish and Glossy Tubes lip gloss - ideal for getting dolled up on Valentine’s day!

All you need to do is take the voucher printed in this week's Buzz to your nearest participating Superdrug store and voila - free make up is yours!

For fashion, beauty and sleb goss tweets, you can follow The Sun's Buzz Magazine here on Twitter.

Have a Wahanda-ful Valentine's Day

Don't worry, Wahanda to the rescue!

If you've left it to the last minute to get your beloved a Valentine's gift, you could do far worse than treating them to a Wahanda spa gift voucher.

You can order right up until Friday for guranteed Monday delivery and it's redeemable at over 700 spas and salons nationwide. Wahanda have dedicated an entire page to their Valentine's Spa and Pamper Day gift ideas.

 Now if you're devious like me, you'd do the smart thing and buy a gift that you could BOTH benefit from - such as a couples-only treatment or treating yourself yourselves to a spa break. Boys like being pampered too, regardless of what they may say in front of their friends!

Check them out in all their loving glory here

You can buy vouchers between the value of £25-£200 and top Valentine's Gift Ideas start from just £10. Make sure you order your voucher before 3pm on Friday 11th February, for guaranteed delivery before 1pm on Valentine's Day.

17 Miami Pop Summer Limited Edition Collection

Bright, tropical, summery and aptly named Miami Pop, the new upcoming limited edition summer range from 17 mixes neon metallic bronze tones with season brights and vivid neons.

Comprising of two contrasting polishes in juicy hot pink and bright orange (both creme finishes), a marbled shimmering bronze/gold baked bronzer, a hot pink sheer lipgloss, a volumisnig mascara which promises to give you thick 'wow' lashes and a weightless 'skin adapting' SPF15 foundation (only available in four shades - boo!), Miami Pop aims to give you a great summer look without having to lug a million products around.

I love the bright neon packaging which takes inspiration from the imagery and graphic elements of Miami's art deco district in the 1920s and 40s. It's fun and just screams summer.

Miami Pop Lipgloss - £3.99

Miami Pop Bronzer - £4.99

Miami Pop Nail Colour - £2.99

(Available from 15th June 2011 for 4 weeks only)

Falsifeye False Lash Mascara - £6.49

(Available from July 2011)

Falsifeye Gel Eyeliner - given as a free gift when the mascara is purchased. I can't remember the exact details of that promo, so I'll amend ths post once it's confirmed.

A very blurry picture of Miami Pop Nail Colour in Palm Beach!

Adapti-tude Adapting Skin Match Foundation. Comes in Extra Fair, Fair, Medium and Medium Dark - £6.29 

(Available from May 2011)

 Miami Pop Bronzer - def something to take a look at if you have a darker skin tone. It gives a lovely sheen to the skin and ISN'T packed full of glitter!

Affordable as ever, 17 have out together a fun mini collection which I think will prove popular once the sun (eventually) comes out and temperatures start to rise.

Availble from Boots stores and Boots.com

Review: Julien MacDonald by Babyliss Hairdryer + Straighteners

Remember that new hairstyling range by BaByliss that Julien Macdonald slapped his name on late last year? Well, they were sent to me for potential review, but since my hair's currently in braids, rather than have them sat gathering dust, I sought the help of a guest reviewer to give them the once over.

I called on the services of my old work colleague Tracy to put them through their paces and here's what she had to say about them:

I'm not one for using products that have some designer's name on them whoever they may be but I can forgive BaByliss on this occasion as the design is quite inoffensive (thankfully not some sickly pink!). As for the design of the product itself well I have to say it does exactly what it says on the tin (or box in this case). They heat up in seconds (booklet mentions 15 but I wasn't counting, it was quick though). There is ample cord (3m) with the obligatory 360 degree swivel for ease of use.... a must on any product when you could do with an extra pair of hands. Light weight and generally easy to use, I used the middle setting as my hair is naturally blonde and not too thick (yes a genuine one, no packet was involved). It took me probably less than five mins to straighten my hair and it doesn't feel like it's been singed thankfully. I also tried a few curls as well.... impressive, again the swivel cord is a blessing when doing this style. I'm pleased they have included a heat mat as I'm always paranoid about scorching furniture. The cooling down time was pretty rapid too so..... Overall, not a bad product in any sense and thank you for letting me have the opportunity to try them out. I may even come to work on Monday not looking like a dishevelled witch for a change!

You'll also be pleased to hear that since receiving the fluttery buttery hair dryer I have actually blow dried my hair every time it's been washed. Obviously like the straighteners it has a cool design. It's a typical hair dryer shape with ample cord. The weight isn't anything to write home about or the fact that's it's 2000w. There are four heat controls plus a cool shot button and three speed settings. The cool shot is really useful as you don't have to flick between heat settings when cooling that all important curl. The heat and speed settings (speed switch also includes the 'on and off' control) are controlled by switches that push up and down. I found them quite awkward to use. It felt a bit disjointed when trying to switch on or off and not easy to move between each heat or speed setting. Maybe after time they might run a little smoother. The end result was pleasing, achieving my preferred bouffant look as apposed to the slick poker straight styles. Oh I must just add though, I needed a crow bar to get the hair dryer out of the moulded packaging. Thankfully no nails were broken in the process.

All in all I would say that the hair dryer and straighters are both individually and jointly products I would recommend to friend or foe!

Cheers Trace!

Valentine's Scents Guaranteed to Turn Up the Heat!

Love it or loathe it, you can't escape it. Valentine's Day is looming! Whatever you're up to that day, make sure you smell amazing - it's the law! Looking for a new scent? Take a look at these fragrances which continue to turn heads.

I was sceptical of the hype surrounding Tom Ford's Black Orchid but now I can't live without it. Bergamot and Black Truffle, blended with Lotus Wood and Vanilla create pure sex in a bottle! Black Orchid is wild, erotic and the perfect spicy fruity floral - I love it! Don't go spray crazy with it though, all you need is a couple of squirts to leave a lasting sophisticated, sensual impression.Prices starting from £42 for 30ml

I tend to be quite cynical of celebrity endorsed perfumes, but after initially turning my nose up at diva Beyonce's fragrant offering, I have to admit that it's not actually that bad. Release the fire within you to the wafts of almond macaroon, neroli and red vanilla,  Intensify the Heat to have your loved one 'Cater 4 U' this Valentine's Day (OMG did I really just type that?!). Look 'ere...to be put it bluntly, you could do far worse than wear this in an attempt to exhude some passion. It didn't sell 72,000 bottles in an hour at superstore Macy's for nothing! Prices starting from £23 for 30ml.

Can't afford his shoes yet? No problem!  Check out the new Jimmy Choo perfume instead, which combines Tiger Orchid and Fruity Chypr to bring together creamy seductiveness. Its base notes of Toffee and Indonesian Patchouli make it perfect for those with a sweet tooth too! This has been getting rave reviews and I'm desperate to have a sniff, and judge for myself.  Prices starting from £39 for 40ml.

The new fragrance from saucy iconic brrand Agent Provocatuer, L'Agent, has hit counters. Powerful, mysterious and seductive, it's described as a summer night fragrance for the modern woman with a mixture of amber, musk and florals. Price starting from £50 for 50ml. Available from Selfridges and Selfridges.com

 Snare your prey with the Limited Edition L'Eau d'Issey Noir Absolu . Its signature ingredient of amber is accompanied with lily and jasmine plus a touch of orange, cinnamon and nutmeg. Its signature conical bottle  is sleek and modern making this an ideal scent to help finalise your seduction plans. Prices starting from £59 for 50ml available from Debenhams.com and nationwide.

If you're sugary sweet and like all things nice, then a spritz of Vicktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb will be right up your street. Think of fluffy clouds, candy floss and kittens and you're on the right track - or baby powder!  Amongst its many notes you'll find Bergamot, Cattleya Orchid and Patchouli which when combined make up a full bodied floral explosion. One sniff and you'll understand why it's a besteller. From £45 for 30ml

One of my all time fave scents definitely deserves a mention in this post. Hugo Boss Deep Red - it hasn't failed me yet! Show stoppinngly sexy, this floral scent has leaves a lingering musky scent thanks to freesia, blackcurrant and vanilla it contains. I luuuuurve this perfume! Prices starting from £26.50 for 30ml. Available from The Perfume Shop and nationwide.

Which scent(s) will you be relying on to get a certain someone all hot under the collar this Valentine's Day?

Estee Lauder Wild Violet Photos + Swatches

Check out the new Estee Lauder Wild Violet eye shadow palette. Comprising of five shades which consist of a champagne frost shimmer, a greyish taupe (which shows up khaki-like on my skin tone), a warm medium shimmery brown, a metallic bronzey amber and a striking matte purple with blue flecks of glitter make up the latest showcase piece from the iconic brand.

My first impressions were that it looked amazing, but when swatched I wasn't as enthusiastic. The stand out shade is of course the purple, but nothing could have prepared me for just how intense it is. Its rich pigment is so intense and this needs to be made into a single eye shadow pronto! My swatch doesn't do it justice, you need to go to a counter and swatch that purple immediately for yourselves. I'd go as far to say this is the most impressive purple shadow that I now own, certainly in terms of depth.

 

  Excuse the fingerprints!

The shadows all swatched smoothly but as far as how well they blend together once on the eyelid I need to wait until I use them, so will reserve overall judgement until then. I'm sure they'll be of similar quality to the other Lauder shadows that I've used in the past though, so I'm not to worried to be honest.

I can't help but think that the other shades remind me a little of the Extravagant Gold palette which was released in the Christmas collection. I'm already looking forward to the Summer collection.

What do you think of the latest five shade palette? Are you keen to try it, or will you be giving this a miss?

A FOTD using thie palette will be coming up as soon as the delightful breakout on my chin in under control!!

How much is it? £34

Where can I buy it from? Estee Lauder counters natonwide and online.

The Perfect Accessory!

High street accessory maestro, Accessorize launched their first cosmetics line last Autumn and I have to say I'm impressed with what I've seen of it so far. There's something for everyone - eye shadows, nail polishes, falsies, lipgloss, bronzer -  they've covered it all and it appears to be good value and quality for a brand making its virgin voyage into the competitive world of beauty.

With prices starting at a mere £3, there are five collections in total, all covering different themes - Exotic Brights, With Love, Illusion, Je t'aime and Rock Chic.

The Rock Chic collection - one of five launched by high street accessory chain Accessorize

Recently I was sent two eyeshadow duos and a pack of false eyelashes from Rock Chic to try. First impressions - I like the packaging, which is feminine and pretty without looking overtly childish.

The pigment in the shadows is impressive and I imagine will appear even more intense, when used wet. Along with their funky names, High Maintenance (champagne gold/bronzey brown) and Bad Reputation (silver white with iridescent sparkle/steel grey) are pretty decent products which at first glance immediately remind me of a similar product from a pricier brand - only these cost £4 each instead!

Click to enlarge

Admittedly I haven't used the eyelashes yet, but I'll try them eventually. I really struggle to put them on and envy those who have mastered the technique and just haven't had the time to sit and try. I like the style of these lashes which overlap themselves in a 'criss cross' fashion which I haven't seen on falsies before. I'm not really a fan of OTT falsies and these look 'fancy' without looking extreme. It doesn't state which style they are on the box, other than 'lot 8' on the back but you can pick them up in Boho, Party and Natural for £4 a pack.

You can find the Accessorize make up range in Accessorize and selected branches of Superdrug.

What's your opinion of the line so far?

ETA: The range is currently 3 for 2 in Superdrug at the moment!

New Nars Illuminator Shades

Remember the insane hype last year, surrounding the NARS Orgasm Illuminator which actually left the majority of us feeling a little disappointed? Well NARS are set to make waves again by releasing not one but three new illuminator shades which are scheduled for finger-grabbing in mid-February. 

NARS Copacabana Illuminator

Super Orgasm, Copacabana and Laguna will storm onto counters and when mixed with body lotion and used on the décolleté and shoulders reveal a stunning illuminating glow.

COPACABANA - Like its namesake Multiple, Copacabana Illuminator will impart a pearlescent sheen and can be applied all over the face, mixed with foundation, and used to highlight the neck, shoulders and décolleté.

SUPER ORGASM – Infused, like the blush, with golden shimmer and a peachy-gold hue that can be applied all over the face, mixed with foundation, and used to highlight the neck, shoulders and décolleté.

LAGUNA - A golden-bronze hue, just as in Laguna Bronzer, that will give a sun-kissed glow and can be applied to the face or mixed with foundation. 

Priced at £21.50, the new illuminators will be available from Feb 15th at Spack NK at from March 1st from Selfridges, NARS counters and online

Will you be checking these out?