LCN 'Baked Apple' Collection - Hand Cream and Lip Gloss

Ooh these 'Baked Apple' goodies from LCN are a real delicious treat, not only do they smell utterly delectable and good enough to eat, their main ingredient is Cell Active Hydro which is based on an algae lupins protein mixture and an apple pectin extract which will provide intensive moisture and offer long lasting protection from dehydration and skin ageing.

Baked Apple Hand Cream

This hand cream has a gorgeous apple and cinnamon scent that is perfect for the winter months. I love the bright red foil packaging as it is easy to find in my handbag and reminds me of Christmas. The cream goes on quite greasy, a little goes a long way but it soon absorbs to leave long lasting silky soft skin.  As well as the above ingredients it also contains Almond and Soy Oil.

Baked Apple Lip Gloss

First off, I absolutely adore this apple shaped and scented gloss which looks just so cute sat atop my mirrored jewellery box. When this arrived I thought that it was a solid gloss so unwittingly dipped my finger in only to find a really gloopy red apple coloured gloss. Once I was aware it wasn't of a more solid texture I knew to be far more careful and only pick up a tiny amount to apply to lips. A very pretty red gloss that on the lips doesn't feel sticky at all and imparts a wonderful shine.

LCN Baked Apple Hand Cream costs £7.55 for 50ml
LCN Baked Apple Lip Gloss costs £6.80 

Items available to buy from www.bcidirect.com

*PR Samples

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 - Review

Botanical Essence No15 from Liz Earle is only the second fragrance from the brand and I was lucky enough to be sent a bottle to review.

Inspired by a myriad of scents and aromas from around the globe No15 is so named as fifteen precious botanicals have been carefully selected and handcrafted by one of the world’s leading female perfumers to create a fresh, spicy oriental scent.

The wonderful 15 ingredients making up this scent - Damask Rose Absolute, Cedarwood - Virginian Essential Oil, Vetiver, Bergamot, Tonka Bean Absolute, Clove bud oil, Benzoin Gum, Elemi Gum, 
Vanilla Extract, Pink Pepper Berry Oil, Sandalwood Essential Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Guaiacwood Oil, Cypriol Root Oil and Patchouli.

Described as clean, sexy and addictive the eau de parfum is synonymous with feeling seductive and elegant.

My thoughts 

From the clean lines of the angled bottle to the classic pale green 'Liz Earle' brand colour, this eau de parfum is classy inside and out. The bottle is opaque and the outer packaging is designed with drawings of the 15 ingredients, which then unfolds to list the ingredients. Very nice and quite unusual, I like it a lot.

This is a beautiful grown up scent, spicy and warming but still managing to retain a freshness and lightness that makes it ideal for any time of day or night. Intoxicating, sensual and inviting, I am drawn to the fact that the spicy aspects mean that it is not overtly feminine but neither is it masculine. I find it complex to describe fully and yet for me it evokes everything that is found in the winter and Christmas months - with the inclusion of clove, sandalwood, bergamot and pink pepper berry.

I feel that actually, this would also make a really fantastic candle fragrance floating around the room.

As the clocks have gone back just this weekend signalling the start of winter and the nights drawing ever darker and colder we begin to seek solace in familiar things, comfort and warmth. Whether this is curling up in our favourite chair or wrapping our hands around a hot drink, I know that I will also be spraying No15, the newest fragrance from Liz Earle.  If ever there was a fragrance to describe winter, this is it.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No15 costs £45 for 50ml

Anatomicals Don't Just Clean It Woman, Scrub It Body Scrub - Review

I am currently loving using Anatomicals Don't Just Clean It Woman, Scrub It Body Scrub. This 75ml sample tube came in October's GlossyBox and has a fabulously zingy and refreshing grapefruit scent. The actual product is clear and has a gel texture which is interspersed with apricot seed to exfoliate.

I find this scrub to be a gentle exfoliator, more like a polish rather than a real, scrubby scrub but it does leave skin feeling lovely and soft.

With packaging that is colourful, cheeky and cheerful this really does brighten up the bathroom.

Anatomicals Don't Just Clean It Woman, Scrub It Body Scrub costs £3.49 for 200ml

Benefit Peek-A-Bright Eyes Eye Illuminating Kit - Review

I was recently sent the Peek-A-Bright Eyes Illuminating Kit from Benefit to try out. I was quite excited about trying it out as I have small eyes and anything promising to make my eyes appear wider appeals to me!

The front of the outer packaging is exactly the same as the inner and the back tells you exactly what is contained inside.

I do have a fondness for Benefit beauty kits, they are portable and eye catchingly packaged. They also make great gifts.

Benefit say

“Wake up” your look with this portable makeup kit! Illuminate, highlight and contour with three complementary shadows & famous creamy brightener, eye bright. It’s your secret to big, bright eyes!

Inside you will find a mirror and the following products and tools

buff base shadow (matte)
warm chocolate countour shadow (matte)
pearly pink highlight shadow (shimmer)
eye bright
concealer brush
contour brush / liner brush

My thoughts

Small enough to fit into one hand (and my hands are small!) this kit comes with a step by step how to guide, a generous size built in mirror, applicators, 3 shadows and eye bright. In essence this kit  has everything you need to get wide, bright eyes. The shadows are pigmented, easy to wear, flattering and do exactly what they need to do. With a good texture that is easy to work with, blending nicely and with no fall out and it lasts, I have been impressed. I have been reaching for this kit more often than not, I particularly like to wear the buff  base shadow alone for instant wide awake eyes. 

Swatches 

With flash

Without Flash

Benefit Peek-A-Bright Eyes Eye Illuminating Kit costs £24.50

Sample Sachet Sunday - Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup - Review

I recently had a huge sort out and organisation of my makeup and skincare, finding things I had long forgotten about and discovering along the way that I had accumulated a ridiculous amount of sachets. I thought I may do a regular post on a Sunday based on these sachets.

I absolutely love Estee Lauder's Double Wear for its unbeatable coverage and staying power so have not really been too interested in trying Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup fearing that its coverage may just be too light for my needs. However this sachet sample was a perfect way to try it out and satisfy my curiousity..

The shade of the sample is 2WN1

Estee Lauder says

See no makeup. Feel no makeup™.
First-ever IntuiTone™ technology guarantees your true-to-life shade and keeps it real in every light.
Fresh, flawless, radiant. Ultra light, ultra breathable, oil-free.
Weightless, buildable coverage. Air-infused with every shake.
Blends so perfectly for the look and feel of bare skin-only better.
Lasts all day. Controls excess oil. Won't clog pores.

Coverage - Sheer to Medium

Swatched 

My thoughts 

First off I should mention that the shade is a little too dark for me. The formula is really runny as you can tell from the above picture. It blends really well to pretty much go undetectable as can be seen from the second picture above. Applied, it did provide a nice smooth finish that made my skin look radiant and it went on nicely over my pores on my nose. However, as I suspected, due to it being sheer it didn't cover the redness I suffer from having rosacea and neither did it cover blemishes. It is called Invisible Fluid Makeup but personally this was a bit too invisible for my liking! 

If you like light coverage from your foundation that you cannot feel at all,  if you like your skin to look very natural then you may like to try this foundation. I would consider this as a Summer product but as you may have guessed I need my coverage to be more than this offers.

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup is available in 16 shades and costs £27 for 30ml

Eyes Of The Day - Purple Smokey and Smouldering

Products Used - 

Sleek Oh So Special Palette - Shades Wrapped Up and Celebrate 

Eyeko Purple Graffiti Eyeliner Pen

17 Photo Flawless Eye Pencil Black Blue 

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Purple shadow/liner against my green eyes is one of my favourite combinations - it is incredibly flattering. The purple enhances the whites of the eyes, makes the eyes pop and increases the depth of the green.

Christmas Gift Idea - Alice Tait Map Of London Print

This Illustrated Map Of London by artist and illustrator Alice Tait caught my eye when it popped into my inbox, I think it would make a fab Christmas gift for someone.

The map contains sketches of some of London’s best-known landmarks and attractions, including Notting Hill, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, London Zoo, Buckingham Palace, The London Eye, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, The Gherkin and Brick Lane, as well as the River Thames.

The picture is litho printed on thick watercolour style A3 paper (42cm X 29.7cm) and is supplied unframed. The print will be hand signed by Alice herself, and if you wish you can request for it to be personalised.

The Alice Tait Illustrated London Map costs £21.50 and includes free delivery. Available from www.notonthehighstreet.com/alicetaitshop

New Launch - bareMinerals Ready Luminizer

Being a fan of getting 'the glow', I absolutely love all manner of face highlighters and illuminators, with that in mind it comes as no surprise that the bareMinerals READY Luminizers have piqued my interest.

I have struggled with mineral products in the past as they were in loose format but now that advances in technology has meant that mineral makeup is able to come in solid form I feel more at ease with using them.

Promising to enhance the complexion with a lit from within glow it contains ingredients to deliver skin nourishing benefits whilst highlighting the complexion with a soft candlelit radiance. It sounds so good!

The Ready Luminizer comes in two shades -

The Shining Moment - Shimmering yellow gold

The Love Affair - Shimmering warm nude pink

Formulated without parabens, binders, fillers or harsh chemicals.

Available from November from bareMinerals stockists priced £26

Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment - Review

After the disappointment of the Dr. Nick Lowe Age Correct Eye Serum I switched to Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment in the hope of seeing some improvement around my eye area.

To recap the issues I have - Dark circles, lines and generally looking old and crepey around the eye due to years of rubbing from hayfever!

Elemis say

Super-active padina pavonica and blue flower linseed helps smooth and firm, targeting fine lines and wrinkles, for a more youthful appearance. A super-light formula that packs heavy-weight results!

A sophisticated amino acid complex of natural humectants which attracts moisture into the deeper layers of the skin. Combines exceptional moisturisation with added protection to support the fragile skin around the eyes, without overloading them.

Skin Type: Mature, All

My thoughts

I love the glass bottle and dropper design, this has the all important bathroom shelf appeal. The product is a rather thin and runny liquid. The instructions say to use 2 drops around the eye contour. The dropper is very easy to use and perfectly dispenses the correct amount. Once applied as it is so runny the eye area looks wet, I give it a few moments to give it time to disappear before applying my makeup.

I have been using this eye treatment for just under a month and am seeing results. The results were not instant but now I can definitely see a difference. My eye area looks smoother, the lines are less pronounced, foundation doesn't settle in the area, it feels hydrated and the skin looks and feels softer. In the dark areas I had these white tiny dots and these have practically disappeared. 

Overall my eye area looks less dark and younger. 

Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment is light and really quite wonderful. I am impressed.

I am very happy with the results so far and will continue to use this product until the bottle is finished.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment costs £39 for 15ml.

*PR Sample

Ted Baker Launches Nail Duos

I couldn't resist sharing these Nail Duos from one of my favourite fashion brands, Ted Baker. I love the cute packaging and the shades look good too! Each pack comes with two complementary polishes - A base shade and a glitter.

Pictured above is gorgeous pink Cherry Bomb and Sugar Rush

 Above - Give nails the midas touch with Golden Girl and Totally Twinkle 

Dance beyond midnight with Blue Moon and Space Dust

Each Nail duo costs a rather wallet friendly £8.50 and is available from Boots and selected Ted Baker stores

Clinique Quickliner For Eyes Intense Plum and Chocolate - Review

Clinique Quickliner For Eyes Intense have to be my favourite eyeliners as they are so incredibly quick and easy to use and they literally do not budge once applied. Soft and creamy they give a strong and consistent line. I like the choice of shades, they are hugely flattering and make the eyes really pop, I also like the tiny, fine metallic flecks.

Clinique say -

Smooth, creamy, transfer-resistant application  that stays where you want it. The formula glides on cleanly, easily, and evenly, without skipping, tugging, or dragging on lids even if applied over eye shadow.

Quickliner For Eyes Intense provides non-fading, long-wearing flexibility. You have 60 seconds of playing time to smudge, blend or correct and then the colour sets. Stays put all day long. Water-resistant. Ophthalmologist tested.

• Formula: Pencil

They are available in 4 shades  - Intense Chocolate, Intense Plum, Intense Midnight and Intense Charcoal.

I have two of them, the Intense Plum was a PR sample and the Intense Chocolate I purchased myself having been so impressed with the product. 

Swatches of Intense Plum and Intense Chocolate 

Intense Plum is a gorgeously dark blue/purple shade just like a perfect plum and Intense Chocolate is a wonderfully rich and dark brown. Both shades are just beautiful.

With flash

Clinique Quickliner For Eyes Intense cost £14

New Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Balm

I am really excited about the launch of Clinique's Chubby Stick Intense. The original chubby stick was my launch of the year in 2011. This year sees the launch of the intense version.

Containing everything I liked about the original ones - In the same playful, crayon-like barrels but featuring a new fuller coverage formula with more intense colour pay off. 

Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm offers the benefit of a moisturising lip balm using a special blend of decadent butters, oils and antioxidants to help protect and pamper lips with immediate and lasting moisturisation. Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm is infused with Shea Butter, Mango Seed Butter and Jojoba Seed Oil, to deliver a surge of moisture in a sleek stick leaving lips soft, supple and soothed, while antioxidants help protect your lips from environmental effects.

Available in 8 gorgeous shades from neutral to brights, there is bound to be one to appeal.

Curviest Caramel

Plushest Punch

Chunkiest Chili 

Roomiest Rose

Heftiest Hibiscus

Broadest Berry

Mightiest Maraschino

Grandest Grape

Chubby Stick Intense Moisturising Lip Colour Balm, 1.5ml RRP £16.00 / €19.00

Steps Launch Fragrance - Guilty Pleasure

Last week I popped along to Cafe De Paris for the launch party of Steps' new fragrance - Guilty Pleasure.

When I read the description of the scent I thought it would actually make a fab cocktail!

Top Notes: Bergamot, Cassis, Raspberry Ripple
Heart Notes: Peony Petals, Geranium Bourbon, Aqautic Accord
Base Notes: Musk Crystals, Patchouli, Vanilla Cream

It is a quite a sweet floral scent and I found it to be not too dissimilar to Armani 'Diamonds'.

The fragrance bottle is an eye catching silver glitterball, it had to be really..didn't it?

During the evening we were treated to a live performance of three songs - Deeper Shade Of Blue, their new song Light Up The World and ending with the incredibly crowd pleasing Tragedy. It was a wonderful night.

Guilty Pleasure 100ml EDT & Gift Set RRP £18.49 - Available November 2012

New Look Fashion Fab Shoes

New Look has been fantastic this season for affordable and up to the minute fashionable shoes.

I spotted these absolutely gorgeous Cream and Black Lace Ankle Boots and fell instantly in love with them and knew they just had to be mine. Perfect for parties and actually surprisingly super comfortable.

Bows, lace, heels what's not to love :-)

I seem to have a thing for shoe boots this Autumn/Winter and earlier in the season I purchased these black suede effect lace up ankle boots with a wedge heel. Suitable for every day but smart enough to dress up for evenings.