Topshop Constellation Eye Palette

I've never really got into the whole Topshop make up range. I've had one or two items but never been overly impressed with them. I recently got the Constellation Palette that they do and I have to say I'm rather impressed. It retails for £12 and can be found here on their website. Its a really nice smokey eye kit and would be great for Christmas.

Here is the palette, I love the packaging. Its really sturdy and feels like it would hold up if you popped it in your hand bag. It includes a mirror and an applicator.

Here is what it says on the back of the packaging.

The palette includes a very glittery black, a dark  glittery silver, a shimmery pink and shimmery light silver. As you can see the palette doesn't include any matt shades but who doesn't want a bit of glitter at Christmas? 

Now, it isn't the most pigmented of palettes, the swatches below took quite a bit of building up to get the colours as close to the pan as possible. The only shade that didn't quite get there was the black but I don't think that is really an issue if you are wanting to do a subtle smokey eye. All the other colours are lovely and really soft to work with and they don't create a lot of fallout which is really good, I hate having little speckles of shadow on my cheeks.

I think this is a really good palette, the packaging is cute, the colours are nice and do blend nicely and the price is not too bad. However I do think there are other products on the market that are as good or better than this palette for less money. 2  that spring to mind are the MUA Pro Glamour Nights Eyeshadow Palette 
This is only £4 and has 12 shades, definitely good value for money as these shadows are so pigmented, although I would recommend a good primer with them, the second palette is the Sleek Bad Girl Palette 
This retails for around £7.99 and again has 12 very pigmented shades, there is also the storm palette which would be a good alternative that retails for the same price. I love Sleek palettes and reach for my Au Naturel palette alot more than I do my Urban Decay Naked 2.

Have you tried any of the Topshop make up range yet?

Look Beauty Glow, Bronze and Sculpt

Look Beauty isn't a brand I'm really familiar with. I have a blush and a couple of nail polishes from them but never really looked into them properly but I spotted these on the Superdrug website. They do a selection of Look Books, they do a smokey eye, lashes, metallic smoulder and the glow, bronze and sculpt. This one in particular is £18 but they are on 3 for 2 at the moment so you could grab a few for Christmas presents at a really good price.

 

 It comes with this handy guide on how to contour and blush which will be useful for anyone new to make up or anyone unsure on how to contour.

In the box you get a blush in Rosy, a Holiday Glow in Rio, a highlighter and a brush.
 

I didn't like the look of the blush at first as it seemed to be really shimmery and I prefer matt blushes but once you actually apply it the shimmer really isn't too much it just gives a nice healthy glow to your cheeks.

Again the bronzer scared me a little, I thought it would be too dark for my super pale skin and it looked really glittery too but its not at all on the face. If blends out perfectly to contour and looks really natural. 

I think the highlighter is the winner in this set. Its a gorgeous colour and looks stunning on the face. It looks completely natural when blended out and I imagine it would look great in summer with a bit more colour on the face. 

The brush, well this is a bit awful. You can see from the other pictures that it sheds like mad, around 10 hairs fell out whilst trying to take the brush out of the packet but saying that I don't think I've ever liked an applicator that comes with a product, even high end ones so I'm not going to be too negative and I definitely think its worth it without the brush, especially whilst its 3 for 2 as well.

Have you ever tried anything by Look Beauty?

Quick review of Natural Collection mascaras

I recently repurchased some of the Natural Collection mascaras from Boots. They are a Boots own brand product and are super cheap. Some of the products in the range aren't that great but these mascaras are fab, and for £1.99 each you can't go wrong.

Firstly I'll apologize for the really crappy photos. My camera is playing up at the moment but I wanted to get this post up.

Here are my naked lashes. I wanted to show how the mascara works so I didn't curl them before I just went straight in with the mascara.

This is the Natural Collection Lashlength Mascara in black. It definitely lengthens and separates my lashes and much better than some of the more expensive ones I own. 

This is the Natural Collection Lash Build mascara. This again lengthens and separates my lashes but also adds some volume too. 

Have you ever tried the Natural Collection mascaras? I used to be a bit of a mascara snob and only purchased high end mascaras but not too long ago decided to try out high street brands and I'm so glad I did because I've found some fantastic mascaras 10 times cheaper and just as good as others that I've tried.

Whats your favourite high street mascara?

John Frieda Full Repair Review

Before I start I would just like to make you aware that these product were sent to me to trial, but my opinions are completely honest.

I was sent the John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and Conditioner to try out, I'll be honest and say I wasn't really expecting much as I find most products don't work for me and tend to stick to products I know I love. I also received 3 of each in mini form to give out to friends/family to try out.

I have given the three of each to my work colleagues, each with different hair types. Unfortunately one of my colleagues was off work since I gave her the products so I have been unable to get an after picture for her. Here are the two before pictures that I have:

Colleague A has fine hair but lots of it, her main issue that she finds with shampoos and conditioners is that they often leave a film on her hair. She currently uses Tigi and is quite loyal to the brand and generally doesn't branch out to any other products.

Colleague B has very thick hair that can be quite course and unmanageable, she uses serum to help tame her hair and smooth it out whilst blow drying her hair. She is currently using Herbal essences.

Here are the after shots

Colleague A said her hair was a lot softer and shinier than usual and that the products didn't leave that horrible film that she normally gets with other shampoos and conditioners. She said she will continue to use the sample sizes and if her hair still feels the same after getting through the whole tube she would definitely consider repurchasing the product. The only negative that she initially had was that she usually likes a shampoo or conditioner to have quite a strong smell that lingers throughout the day, she felt this didn't have that strong scent she often likes, however she did mention throughout the day that she did get occasional wafts of smell that was quite pleasant.

Colleague B was extremely happy with the results, she didn't use any serum and said after blow drying her hair was incredibly soft and very shiny compared to normal. She has already gone out and purchased the full size for her and her daughter as she really did enjoy using them and liked the condition of her hair afterwards.

I will be doing my review on this product shortly. I have used I don't have my before picture to hand at the moment but it will be put up shortly. I will say I am so impressed with this product and its currently my favourite. I can't wait to share my own opinions on this product and show you the before and after shots which I think show just how good this product is.

Blog Sale

I have just added a new tab with my blog sale. Please feel free to take a look, if there are any items you are interested in or would like to make me an offer on please comment on the post and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

You can find the blog sale here

Sunday Shopping Spree Haul

I decided that this month I would put myself on a shopping ban, with only October and Novembers wage before Christmas I need all the money I can get for Christmas presents. Unfortunately 4 days into the ban I seem to have failed. I did get some good bargains though so I think I can be excused.

The first item I picked up was from Superdrug and its the MUA Artiste Collection Palette. I saw this online yesterday, MUA posted some swatched on their Facebook page and I really wanted to try it for myself. Superdrug currently have 3 for 2 across all cosmetics and considering I can't pass up a bargain I picked this up. I have swatched the colours below.

This is just one swipe of each of the colours so as you can see they are pretty pigmented for £6.00. Pistachio, Cookie and Shimmer Kiss are all absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to use them. I have had MUA eyeshadows before and have always thought that the colours were great and really pigmented but I have had an issue with getting them to stay on my lids all day and them creasing really badly on my oily lids. Since the last time I tried them I have discovered Mac Paint Pots which have massively helped with the staying power of my eyeshadows so I am hoping that it will help with these.

On the 3 for 2 I also picked up this Gosh Nail Polish which I have been lusting over for a while but never managed to find in stores. Its in the shade 549 Holographic Hero and it costs £4.99. I have this on my nails now and I am loving it. 

I also picked up a Rimmel lipstick in in 128 Starry Eyed, its a lovely berry colour but it has a slightly browny/plummish tone to it which I am really loving at the moment for Autumn/Winter.I really do like Rimmel lipsticks and I do think that they are the best high street lipsticks available. They go on really smoothly and last a  while. I put mine on just after I got back from shopping and it lasted a good four hours before needing to top it up. This cost £4.99 and in my opinion stands up to my Mac lipsticks in terms or quality and pigmentation.

Next up was a little trip to Boots. I went in specifically for these mascaras. I have had them in the past and they are amazing mascaras. I would happily pay three times the price for them because they are that good. They are the Natural Collection by Boots and cost £1.99 each, however Boots have buy 1 get 1 half price across all cosmetics so I got both of these for under £3.

 

I will do some photos shortly with these on my lashes so you can see just how good they are.


I found these Models Own polishes in TK Maxx, they were on clearance at £4.00 for all three. I only wanted the gold and the peach colour but I'm sure I will get use out of the blue. Not much to say about these as I haven't used them yet but I have used Models Own polishes before and I do really like them.

On the way home I popped into the Superdrug right around the corner from me I only picked up three things, two quite boring and one thing I just wanted to try.

I bought these cotton pads for removing make up and nail polish. I usually buy the big packs of cosmetic ones but these had teddy bears printed on them so I couldn't resist. How sad am I?

Look at the teddy bears, too cute right?

I picked up this, its a serum and moisturizer in one. I have tried the Garnier Ultra Lift cream before and really liked it so I thought I would give this one a go. I believe it cost either £7.49 or £7.99and I'm really looking to trying it after learning that the Oriflame cream and serum I have been using it not working for my skin.

Lastly just a nail polish remover, £1.09 and it removed nail polish funnily enough. It works fine for me, it may not be the best thing for my nails with it containing acetone but they haven't fallen off yet so I think I'm good.

Well do much for my spending ban, most of these items were on some sort of special offer though so it really doesn't count.

Have you done any shopping this weekend or are you on a spending ban for Christmas?

Winter Beauty Wishlist

I've put together my wish list of beauty items that I want so badly this winter. I will be leaving my list lying around the house just so my other half accidentally spots it and decides to buy me one or two (or all) for Christmas.

1. Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation. I've never used an Illamasqua foundation before, but after watching some Youtube videos with people using this I really want to try it. This is £27 and can be purchased from here.

2. Philosophy Hand and Cuticle Cream Ornament. I do like Philosophy product and this looks so cute and its only £9. I'm desperately trying to find a hand cream that I'm happy with so I would quite like to give this a try. It can be purchased from here and would make a great little stocking filler.

3. Bobbi Brown Caviar and Oyster Palette. I love Bobbi Brown Eyeshadows, I find them to be the nicest eyeshadows to use. They blend really nicely and have really good pigmentation and this palette is just too gorgeous. It costs £59 and can be purchased from here. I don't know if I will be able to wait until Christmas for this one and may just have to buy it myself.

4. Clinique Whole Lotta Colour Gift Set. This is just such a cute little set, it contains 5 chubby moisturising lip balms in Richer Raisin, Bulky Blossom, Chunky Cherry, Over sized Orange and Super Strawberry. Its only £30 and they are all colours that I would wear. You can purchase this from here. I think this one would be another great option for a stocking filler or gift.

5. Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum. I am wanting this after using a couple of sachets from a Glossybox recently. I fell in love with it and I need the full size in my life. I did almost die when I saw the price but I still need this in my life. It cost £127 for 25ml and can be purchased here.

6. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. I have 4 MSF and I love them, I've been wanting this for a while but because I do have a lot of similar products I've been pretty good in resisting. However whilst Christmas is coming up I think me being sensible should go right out the window and I should buy it anyway just for the sheer beautifulness of it. It costs £21.50 and can be purchased here.

Nars Blush in Sin. I'm loving plummy coloured blushes at the moment and would like another brand to add to my collection. I've seen plenty of swatches of this and have decided that, yes this definitely deserves a place in my make up collection so I want it and I shall have it. It costs £21 and can be purchased from here.

Ok so here it is, my winter wish list. I'll be honest and say that there are alot more items that I do really want but these were the top ones that I want a little bit more!

Is there anything on here that's on your wish list?