Love Me Beauty Box August 2014

Not too long ago the postman arrived with this month's Love Me Beauty box. As always there is three "menu" options to choose from and I picked Menu One. Let's take a look at what this included...

 Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow in "You're Toast" 1.2g - £14.49 (full size)

A 100% natural, mineral based loose powder that is strictly cruelty free. Featuring a creamy texture, these highly pigmented powders are easily blendable and can be used wet or dry, to easily take your look from subtle to dramatic.

This is a new brand to me, which have bases in both England and Australia. The pot is tiny for the price, however the eyeshadow is 100% natural, which unfortunately you tend to pay a premium for! The colour is seriously pigmented so a little goes a very long way and it feels buttery soft. The shade looks quite bronze in the pot, but is more gold toned on the skin. Something I will definitely get use out of.

A La Carte Smudge-Proof Eyebrow Definer in "Blonde" 1.2ml - £23.00 (full size)

Precision, skinny tip pen for painting in individual hairs. Water-based and smudge-proof for eyebrows, eyeliner or semi-permanent body art.

Unfortunately this shade is not going to be suitable for a lot of people, although if you have very light brown hair you may be able to make it work. Again another pricey product, but this brow ink did not budge from my hand when I swatched it and tried it to rub it off (without water).

Oriflame Ecocollagen Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream 15ml - £16.95 (full size)

Powerful, lightweight Ecollagen eye care, the first to be enriched with Plant Stem Cell extract to help stimulate collagen production and re-plump wrinkles from within. Also addresses dark circles and puffiness.

My current eye cream is nearly at its end so I was glad to see this in the box. However calling it a "cream" is a little deceiving I think; well I was surprised to open it and find it has a rollerball application anyway! It claims to do some powerful things, so I look forward to trying it.

Mirabella Lip Luster Liner in "Bashful" - £10.50 (full size)

Easy to blend and layer, with Aloe Vera to keep lips soft and application comfortable. The long wearing shiny finish creates the perfect base for lip gloss formulas.

Another previously unknown brand to me, Mirabella are an American brand. Bashful is a pretty, lilac toned pink with a faint hint of shimmer and a very pigmented, creamy formula. I don't really wear lip liner but Gemma from Miss Makeup Magpie said that this works really well under MAC Creme Cup, so I will be keeping it to pair with my favourite lippie.

I do admit I wasn't too excited about this month's box initially, but Love Me Beauty have treated us with four full size, high end products that ooze quality, so I'm more pleased with it than I thought I would be! The products are worth a massive £64.94 in total, with the box only costing £10.00 plus p&p, so a very worthwhile buy.

To find out more about Love Me Beauty or to order your own box, you can visit their website here.

What do you think of this box? Have you tried any of the brands included?

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

Beauty Things I Don't Do...

I was inspired to do this post after reading a similar one by Kia from MAKE me UP. I can often be a creature of habit when it comes to beauty; I stick to what I know or feel comfortable with and as a result am not often that adventurous. Here's a few beauty things that I just don't do...

1. Bronzer

I just haven't yet gotten into bronzer and the whole contouring thing; I apply my beloved blush and some highlighter and I'm good to go cheek wise. I think what puts me off is that bronzers are often either too dark or too orange, which isn't a good look for a super pale gal like me. I also can't buy one off the high street because generally high street powders contain talc and for me talc equals breakouts. (This means I miss out on The Body Shop Honeycomb Bronzer, which looks like the ideal shade - sob.) If you can recommend an affordable bronzer for pale skin from a natural brand, please let me know in the comments!

2. The Red Lip

I have zero red lip confidence. I do have a couple of red lippies that I've used for fancy dress outfits (it's not the same when you're dressed up as someone else - right?), but I'm not even sure that they're the right shade for me! I'm also a little paranoid that a bold lip makes my thin lips look even smaller, so I just to tend to avoid.

3. Bright Eyeshadow

I don't think bright eyeshadow will ever be "me". All my single eyeshadows and palettes are neutrals in varying shades, formulas and finishes. I once won a Technic eyeshadow palette full of bright neon shades and I ended up passing it onto a friend - after 6 months of having it I'd hadn't even swatched it!!

4. Fake Tanning

By this I mean proper tan as opposed to gradual tanning lotions, which I will use. This is partly me being lazy - I really can't be bothered with it. Plus I won't use fake tan on my face as I'm too worried about breaking out from it. I've basically come to the conclusion that for me being pale and proud is the way forward - I'll just take the edge off it with a gradual tanner in the summer when I need to get the milk bottle legs out!

5. Waxing

I have to be honest - waxing SCARES me. I'm sure it's not really that bad... but hand me a pain-free razor any day. Maybe if I had it professionally done by someone trained I would be converted, but I'd rather use the money it would cost on something else... You can tell I'm not really convinced here!!

What beauty things do you avoid? Are you with me on any of the above?

Beauty Bird xx

3 Natural Products for Blemished Skin from Green People

I was initially introduced to the brand Green People by the lovely Ana from Ana Goes Green - they're a natural skincare and makeup brand that pride themselves on creating products that contain a large percentage of active natural and organic ingredients. I already use their Pressed Powder and Gentle Cleanse and Makeup Remover (review to come), so I was really excited to try 3 products from their anti-blemish range.

  
Green People Foaming Face Wash 100ml - £10.95

"An anti-blemish face wash for daily use that gently cleanses skin without drying and helps to prevent and reduce blemishes."

Containing no SLS or alcohol, natural ingredients in this cleanser include Witch Hazel, Clary Sage, Green Tea and Aloe Vera. With a pump dispenser, this is different to any other foaming cleanser I've tried as it actually dispenses as a foam, when usually you add water to create a lather. The foam is very light and turns to a clear liquid as you massage it into the skin. For this reason I find the Green People Foaming Face Wash works best for me as a morning cleanse; it's not heavy or thick enough to remove a day's worth of makeup or impurities. It feels fresh and clarifying without being stripping, giving me a good start to my skincare routine. To be honest, I haven't really noticed any significant improvement to my breakouts, however when you wash it off I think the effect that a cleanser can have is minimal.

Green People Day Solution 50ml - £14.95

"A light moisturiser to support healthy skin flora and balance oil."

Key ingredients in this moisturiser include Willow Bark, Rose Geranium, Shea Butter, Pineapple, Chamomile and Aloe Vera, which together hydrate skin and tackle breakouts at the same time. I use this in the morning after toning, using the pump to dispense a small amount of moisturiser; being of a medium consistency you don't need to use a lot otherwise it can feel a bit heavy. Being suitable for all skin types, I love this works equally well on my oily t-zone and on my normal to dry cheeks. It's very hydrating yet I notice a definite reduction in oiliness at the same time, which I think is the key to the anti-blemish aspect of this - it's helping to prevent them in the first place rather than reducing them. Instead I find it does help to calm and soothe my breakouts and overall leaves my skin super soft.

Green People Zap and Clear Serum 10ml - £10.95

"An instant spot clearing serum with strong anti-bacterial action."

To zap spots, the Zap and Clear Serum contains ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Black Willow Bark, Rosehip, Chamomile and Tea Tree. I apply this clear gel directly onto my congested areas as needed; usually after toning and before using any other products, so I get the full benefits of the ingredients directly onto my spots. As it's free from alcohol or any other harsh ingredients, it doesn't dry out my spots (and the skin around them) like traditional treatments; it works much more gently. Of course this does mean that the improvement to breakouts is much more subtle and gradual, however whenever I use this there is a noticeable difference to redness and inflammation. I think the Zap and Clear Serum would be a great product for sensitive skins as it does really seem to calm the skin without irritating whatsoever. 

In summary, these three anti-blemish products from Green People won't perform miracles if you add them to your skincare routine, but they will make subtle but noticeable differences. (Please note that I have extremely troublesome skin, so the differences may be more pronounced if yours isn't so unstable!) I would especially recommend them if you have easily irritated skin, because the natural ingredients work much gentler and in harmony with the skin. You can take a look at the full range on Green People's website here.

Have you tried any of Green People's anti-blemish range? Are you a fan of natural products for targeting skincare concerns?

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains PR samples. This does not affect my opinion of the products.

The British Tag

I saw this tag on Lily Pebbles' YouTube channel - it seems to be more of a YouTube tag, but I loved it, so I've decided it to do it on a blog post. I have a cup of tea in hand, so without further ado...

1. How many cups of tea do you have a day? How many sugars?

I try not to drink too much tea, but I have one or two cups every day. I have half a sugar, which is very specific I know, but I just can't make the step to no sugar. It just doesn't taste right! I absolutely love a good cup of tea.

2. Favourite part of your roast?

It probably depends where I'm having the roast, but usually it's either the yorkshire pudding or the roast potatoes. My other half's Mum makes the nicest, fluffiest yorkshire puddings, but my friend in Cornwall makes the best, crispiest roasties ever. I also love roast parnsips and courgettes. Ok I'm seriously craving a roast now...

3. Favourite dunking biscuit?

Ooh that's difficult, but I think it would have to be Malted Milks. Followed closely by Custard Creams and Bourbons!

4. Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

I'm not sure about this one... I do like a nice afternoon/cream tea, you know where you have scones and those little finger sandwiches, though I don't do that very often. Does a cider down the pub count?!

5. Favourite word?

Again this is something that didn't instantly come to mind, because I don't really think about where the words I say come from. I quite like "the bees knees". I say "bugger" quite a lot, which I think is very British!

6. Cockney rhyme slang?

I don't use or know much cockney rhyming slang, but the one I do is "Jack Jones", which means "alone" - as in "I've been sat on my Jack Jones for an hour!".

7. Favourite sweet?
To be honest I'm not too fussed on sweets (I'd rather have biscuits!) but I do like fruit pastilles!

8. What would your pub be called?

It would have to be named after my dog - she's a Springer Spaniel called Daisy, so perhaps The Daisy Inn or something more traditional sounding like the The Springers Arms.

9. No.1 British person?
One famous person that came to mind instantly was David Jason. I grew up watching Open All Hours and Only Fools and Horses with my family and later on A Touch of Frost. I still watch Only Fools and Horses repeats on Sky now and they never get old! He's a great actor. Also I have to mention Ant and Dec - my favourite TV duo!

10. Favourite shop?

Well shop wise it has to be Boots for everything beauty! For affordable clothing and accessories I love Primark and New Look.

11. What British song pops into your head?

It may be obvious and cheesy, but The Spice Girls! Every time I read or hear this question all I can think is, "I tell you what I want, what I really, really want..."!

12. Marmite.

I'm guessing the question here is do you love it or hate it... and I hate it! It smells horrible and looks like tar. Yuck.

I hope you enjoyed reading this tag - if you decide to do this, whether you live in Britain or just love all things British, then let me know and leave your link below!

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your answer to my favourite question in this tag - what would you call your pub??

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Organic Surge Sweet Blossom Body Cream

Many of you will already know that I'm a fan of Organic Surge products - they contain lots of natural ingredients, they're seriously affordable, the scents are unusual but delicious and everything I've tried does the job effectively. 

The latest product in my Organic Surge stash is the Sweet Blossom Body Cream, which is 99% natural and costs £7.50 for a 150ml tub. It contains super nourishing ingredients like Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter, as well as Aloe Vera to improve skin condition and tone. Orange and Cedarwood Essential Oils also feature to be soothing to the skin whilst providing a really unique scent.

The Sweet Blossom Body Cream is not as thick and heavy as a body butter, but isn't too light either. The medium consistency means it absorbs quickly but at the same time hydrates and softens my skin. I think super dry skin would possibly need something more intensive, but it would suit really well as a general, every day moisturiser. Organic Surge have another winning scent on their hands here too - it's citrusy but with an earthy tone, which really gives the scent some depth and stops it being overly sweet. It lingers for ages too.

You can find out more about the Organic Surge Sweet Blossom Body Cream here. The shower gel from the same range is now on my wishlist!

Are you a fan of Organic Surge? Have you tried their Sweet Blossom Body Cream?

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

Review: No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter

The No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter caused a bit of a stir in the blogging world when it was released and as a result it was always out of stock when I went to purchase it. I finally got my hands on it not too long ago - but was it worth it?

The No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter comes in a round, compact tube, housing the cream highlighting stick inside, which also has a rounded end for direct application. It is designed to create "the illusion of younger, dewy skin" on the cheeks, brow bones, centre of the nose and cupid's bow. The highlighter is a shimmery nude with a very subtle pink tone to it, which should make it suitable for a range of skintones. It retails at £9.95 but can be bought cheaper if No7 have one of their money off makeup and skincare vouchers available.

I get on really well with the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter, mainly because it is so easy, quick and simple to use. The stick is for me the perfect size for bringing radiance to the cheekbones, which is the only place I tend to use it; it's not too thick nor too thin. I simply swipe it lightly across my cheekbones for a subtle glow, which is especially lovely on those bright, sunny days, then soften out the edges a little with my finger. The formula isn't the creamiest I've come across, which may be due to the fact it comes in stick form, so I would advise doing any blending straight away as it does dry fairly quickly. I get around 6 hours wear out of this on the average day.

In summary, I would definitely recommend picking up the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter if you're on the lookout for a cream formulation for summer. If you prefer a bit of bronze on your skin, there is also now a Instant Radiance Bronzing Highlighter too. You can check them out here.

Have you tried the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter? What are your favourite highlighting products?

Beauty Bird xx

Sundays Are For... Reading

I absolutely love reading and have done ever since I was little with my Peter and Jane books (anyone else remember them?). These days I'm so busy that I don't tend to give myself as much time to read as I used to, but there are times I just want to bury my head in my book and take myself away from everything else. In my opinion there's nothing better than making time to stay in bed on a Sunday morning with a book and a cup of tea after a long, busy week. It makes me feel relaxed and de-stressed. I've been reading quite a few books recently, so I thought I'd do a post away from beauty and share the books I'm loving right now.

The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Over 100 Vegan Recipes to Glow from the Inside Out by Angela Liddon - £14.98 from Amazon

I've been trying to improve my diet recently and although I don't intend to fully go vegan, I've been taking inspiration from vegan recipes and websites to help me with cleaner eating (a diet based on whole foods rather than processed foods). I'm also trying to significantly reduce the amount of dairy and gluten in my diet.

The writer, Angela Liddon, started off with a blog to document her journey into a vegan diet and now has over a million visits to her blog every month and her own book! Going vegan was her own choice and one that developed gradually, so I like how she appreciates and acknowledges the difficulty in making the change - she isn't preaching, she just wants to inspire her readers and share healthy but tasty recipes.

The first chapter covers "My Natural Foods Pantry" so I now have a list of ingredients to buy for an impending trip to Wholefoods, so this is really useful. Each recipe has a gorgeous photo of the finished result and Angela tells you what the recipe is free from e.g. gluten, nuts, soy. Angela also suggests ingredient substitutions where possible and the recipes are easy to read and clearly laid out. I haven't looked through the whole book yet, but I am already inspired by recipes such as the Effortless Vegan Overnight Oats, the Classic Green Monster (smoothie), Grilled Portobello Burger with Sun-Dried Tomato Kale-Hemp Pesto and the 15 Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta. 

Allegiant by Veronica Roth - £7.00 from Amazon

Now to a fiction book, Allegiant, which is the third book in the Divergent trilogy (following Divergent and Insurgent). I really don't want to give away much about what happens, but I really recommend this trilogy if you want a series of books to get swept away with. It's a bit of a generalisation, but if you liked The Hunger Games trilogy, then it's likely you'll like this too. (Though I don't think it's quite as good as The Hunger Games.) It's a dystopian, post-apocalyptic novel set in the future in Chicago, America, where society is divided into five different factions, which is based around five different sets of values and aptitudes. It is told from the view of the main character, Tris. The first book Divergent has been made into a film, which is now out on DVD. I watched it Friday night and it was really good!

Aromatherapy in Practice by Ben Orr and Zoe Green* - £8.95 from Amphora Retail

I'm a big believer in the power of scents and the notable difference they make on your mental state, so I found this introductory book into aromatherapy really interesting. According to the book, aromatherapy is "the use of natural ingredients, such as essentials oils and herbal extracts, to create treatments which promote mental and physical well-being". 

The book goes into detail about all the different essential oils from geranium to lemongrass to tea tree, covering the history of the essential oil, the suggested usage and application, the toxicity of each oil and whether it needs to be blended with a carrier oil due to its strength. One of the ones I want to purchase now is Eucalyptus - it can help clear congestion, boost the immune system, be used as an antiseptic treatment, banish feelings of mental tiredness, be added to laundry for a fresh feeling and can ease oily skin and acne when added to a base cream or lotion. How amazing does that sound?! I've also learnt facts like if you add essential oils to your bath, a tablespoon of milk will help the oil disperse. So interesting!

The back of the book suggests some blends for physical aromatherapy e.g. treating headaches and reducing dandruff and pyschological aromatherapy e.g. relieving feelings of disappointment and promoting feelings of confidence. The glossary is also useful, as is the space for notes at the back of the book, which I actually made use out of!

Have you read any of these books? What books are you reading right now? I'd love some suggestions!

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

5 Budget Skincare Picks Under £15.00

I have to admit that I do have a bit of a penchant for high end skincare, however there is some fantastic budget skincare out there too, which work just as effectively without breaking the bank. Obviously the word "budget" means different things to different people, but in this case for me it's around £15.00 and under.

The Cleanser - The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil 200ml - £10.00
I have only recently added this to my skincare stash, but I am a big fan of this cleansing oil. I use it as my first cleanse to rid my skin of the makeup and dirt from the day. Just massage into dry skin and your makeup basically dissolves in front of your eyes; it's amazing. Mascara isn't a problem for it either. The formula is silky, soft and not at all greasy - add water and it emulisifies into a thin, milky liquid for easy rinsing. Full review here.

The Hydrating Toner - Organic Surge Orange Flower Toner 200ml - £6.50
I still can't believe that this toner is just £6.50 considering it's 98.89% natural and free from alcohol, parabens and SLS. I use this to hydrate my skin after using Pixi Glow Tonic, which is an exfoliating toner. As well as being hydrating, this is really soothing and refreshing on my skin and preps it ready for the next step in my skincare routine. You can read my full review here.

The Moisturiser - Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Mattifying Moisturiser 75ml - £12.99
This is my highest priced budget pick. I have an oily t-zone and when if it goes through a super oily stage I replace my normal moisturiser for this mattifying one by Una Brennan. It re-balances my t-zone and keeps the oil under control using watercress, horsetail and nettle extracts. It also contains Salicylic Acid, which doesn't prevent breakouts but does seem to keep existing ones in check. Full review here.

The Face Mask - Laidbare For Richer For Porer Facial Masque 50ml* - £6.99
I love a good triple threat facial, but if I'm in a rush I'll use this Laidbare one, which seems to do it all. It contains Kaolin Clay and Liquorice to draw out impurities and reduce inflammation, little Corn Granules to exfoliate as you apply and remove and Shea Butter to hydrate. I especially love this if my skin is feeling oily and problematic as it leaves it calmed and re-balanced.

The Micellar Water - L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution 200ml - £4.99
If you prefer to remove your makeup before cleansing, this L'Oreal micellar water is a great budget buy. It doesn't contain alcohol or perfume but contains Glycerin for hydration. Little molecules of oil suspended in the water makes this fantastic at lifting the makeup and dirt off your skin rather than just moving it around your face. 

Which budget skincare products do you love? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher in Cherub

The Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher was 100% a blogger influenced purchase. I can't remember where I first came across it, but I added it to my wishlist straight away and it stayed on there for quite a long time. However there's only so many times a girl can see it on blog posts before she ends up whipping out her bank card!! 

The Watercolour Fluid Blusher is a liquid blusher in a 15ml tube, which comes in a wide range of shades. It contains Vitamin E and Jojoba, which is meant to enhance application and nourish the skin. The formula is oil free and silicone based; according to the website, Daniel Sandler chose this formulation so it would suit all skin types, not clog pores and be water resistant and rub-off proof. I went for the shade Cherub, which is Daniel Sandler's best selling shade and I can see why - it's a gorgeous, light but dusky toned pink, advertised for fair to medium skintones. The Watercolour Fluid Blusher retails at £15.50, but I picked it up from Escentual for around £12.00/13.00 when they had a site wide sale and using some of my Pretty Pennies too (basically like Boots Advantage Card Points).

After giving the bottle a good shake as advised, I dot a small drop or two of Cherub onto the back of my hand and then using my Real Techniques Stippling Blush, I apply the Watercolour Fluid Blusher to my cheeks and blend. I use one drop if I want a sheer flush of colour, but a lot of the time I use two drops for a brighter pop of pink. It is a little messier than applying straight from a pot, but oh is it worth it for the finish. I thought cream blusher looked natural on the skin, but liquid blusher takes it to the next level; it looks seamless, like the colour is glowing from within my skin rather than sat on top of it. Cherub is such a perfect natural looking colour too and really suits my pale skin. I would add that although the formula is silicone based, it thankfully doesn't have that silicone feel to it, which generally I'm not keen on. 

The wear time on me is around 7-8 hours maximum; if I was going out straight from work to something in the evening, I would definitely need to top up. A number of reviews I read said they got around 2-3 hours extra wear from the Watercolour Fluid Blusher, so I was hoping for a little more, though of course I appreciate that beauty products will always work differently on different people. However I think it was worth mentioning here and otherwise I am completely in love with Cherub.

Have you tried the Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher? Are you fan of a liquid blusher formulations?

Beauty Bird xx

Life: A Favourite Place

I have been intending do some more life themed posts on this blog for awhile now, so hopefully this is the start of something I keep up with! I wanted to share with you today one of my favourite places and no, you don't have to go abroad for the gorgeous sights in the photos (well if you live in the U.K. anyway!). If you follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram you may have already guessed where this is, as a couple of times a year I tend to spam photos of the place! This is beautiful Cornwall.

Cornwall obviously covers a large area, but to be more specific, when me and my other half go we stay with friends in New Polzeath. New Polzeath is on the north coast around 40 minutes drive from Newquay, which is further south. It is quite a small village, but it has a lovely beach and some stunning coastline to walk around, which is perfect for a chilled stay with our dog, who loves exploring it all! When we visit New Polzeath we always take a short drive to the village of Rock and catch the ferry across the estuary to the town of Padstow. Padstow is also a fishing port and is quite popular with tourists, so it can get quite busy in the summer. It has some charming little shops and boutiques, Rick Stein's Fish and Chips (possibly the best fish and chips ever) and of course, a beach! A lot of boat trips also go from Padstow, which we have done in the past - speedboat trips, sea safaris and the Jubilee Queen, which is more of a "coastal cruise" (it has a bar and toilets on board!). When we went we were lucky enough to see some seals and puffins, but the friends we stay with have been even luckier and seen dolphins. Amazing. We went down for 5 days recently and this is basically how we spent our days, also popping to a Cornish festival that happened to be on that weekend.

There is just something so relaxing and calming about going to Cornwall - you really can't beat waking up to sea views and going out for a morning walk with the dog on the beach, taking in the fresh sea air and listening to the sound of the waves. Staying in a more rural place like New Polzeath it's nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of big town/city life too. I honestly can see me and my other half living somewhere like Cornwall in the future when we're older (plus he's really into boats, so it's right up his street). If you're looking to go away for a long weekend or a week or two in the U.K., I highly recommend checking out Cornwall as a place to stay. 

Have you visited any places in Cornwall? Can you recommend anywhere to visit on our next trip?

Beauty Bird xx

A Little (But Exciting) Haul

After my very recent wishlist post themed around hyped beauty products (here), a sort of determination came over me that I was going to buy something on it, especially as I'd been lusting after most of them for quite awhile.

At the weekend my fiancé and I travelled to Cheltenham to book the suits for our wedding. Cheltenham has a very small Space N.K.. This small Space N.K. has a small NARS makeup counter. Can you see where this is going?? Yes I finally bought the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer!!! The sales assistant matched me up to the shade Vanilla, so now it is in my very excited hands and I have taken photos of it in all it's shiny new glory, I am giving it a thorough road test and will be reporting back soon! The Radiant Creamy Concealer costs £22.00 so I'm really hoping it's worth the price!

I also asked the sales assistant to colour match me with the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. She tried both Mont Blanc and Deauville on my jawline and Mont Blanc came up as the better match. As I was buying the concealer, I decided to be brave and ask for a sample of the foundation so I could try it at home. Thankfully she said yes with no hesitation and I'm hoping I can get at least two or three uses out of the pot, which should give me a fairly good idea on whether Sheer Glow will be suitable for my skin. I'm so, so happy about this as I was nearly going to buy a sample pot from eBay for £4.00 plus postage, so it just goes to show that it's worth asking! If you would be interested in seeing a first impressions post on the Sheer Glow Foundation then please let me know in the comments.

Lastly I went to the department store Cavendish House to buy the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Extra Light Bisque. This is actually a re-purchase, but a very worthy one! Although the tiny pot is £19.00, my previous one lasted a whole year with using it daily, so it is actually very good value for money. I couldn't be without it as it is so effective at neutralising under-eye darkness and provides a great base for a heavier coverage concealer. You can read my full review of it with swatches here.

What beauty bits have you bought recently?

Beauty Bird xx

Review: Hi Impact Brows Eye and Brow Palette

Left to Right: Blonde, Auburn, Brown, Black

Isn't this just a gorgeous looking palette? It's by High Impact Brows and is designed to be a complete eye and eyebrow kit. In black, sleek packaging, the palette contains four mineral powders, a mirror in the inside of the lid and a mid-size angled brush. Each of the four colours (Blonde, Auburn, Brown and Black) can be used alone or mixed together, which means it's easier to match your brows to your hair colour. For eyeshadow, it also means you can create natural, daytime looks and smokey, nighttime looks.

I have to be honest, I've been lazy with my brows for awhile now, just popping some lightly tinted brow gel over them. However this Hi Impact Brows palette has really got me back into filling in my brows and creating a more defined look. The colours are seriously pigmented and the formula is definitely high quality, with barely any fallout. I find that Blonde is a little too light and Brown a bit too dark, so I use a mixture of the two. As the colours are so pigmented you really don't need to apply much on the brush at all. Once applied, I run the Maybelline Brow Drama over my brows, which is the tinted brow gel I referred to earlier; it sets the hairs in place and provides a light seal over the powder. The wear time is very impressive too, about 7-8 hours, with it having mostly faded by the 9 hour mark. I haven't used the Hi Impact Brows palette for eyeshadow at all as the colours are a little strong (I tend to go for lighter toned neutrals), however it would definitely work great for eyeshadow too.

If you're looking for a multi-tasking palette for brows and eyes then I highly recommend the Hi Impact Brows Eye and Brow Palette. Even though I've only really been using it for brows, I think it's fantastic in terms of pigmentation and longevity, plus it's nice to have the option! It retails at £19.95 but can be bought from Beauty Chamber for just £11.97.

Have you tried the Hi Impact Brows Eye and Brow Palette? Which brow palettes do you love?

Beauty Bird xx

P.S. This post contains a PR sample. This does not affect my opinion of the product.

July Empties #2

I seem to be working my way quite well through products recently, though this doesn't bode well for my purse! Here's what I used up this month and whether I'd re-purchase.

Organic Surge Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel 250ml* - £4.35

If you're looking for a new summery scented shower gel then I highly recommend checking this one out! It's fruity, but the bergamot gives it some warmth. It's SLS free but lathers up really well, so the bottle lasts just as long as a SLS formula. Full review here.

Re-purchase? Yes I would, but I've bought the Ocean Fresh scent to try instead.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Oil Free 30ml - £19.00

I love this primer - the formula is creamy, which means it looks and feels just like a moisturiser. It is designed to help with oil control but help combat surface dehydration at the same time, which works really well on my oily/combo skin. Plus it gives me about 7-8 hours foundation wear. Full review here.

Re-purchase? Yes I already have.

The Body Shop Chocomania Body Scrub 50ml - worth £3.25

This 50ml pot came in a set so is not available to purchase separately, but can be bought in a 200ml size. I enjoyed using this - it has a sweet chocolate scent and the grains are concentrated enough to make me feel like my skin was getting a decent scrub.

Re-purchase? Maybe. I'm now using Flake Away by Soap and Glory.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm 2ml - FREE (worth approx. £0.29)

I managed to get two or three uses out of this balm after wanting to try it for ages! The formula feels more like a gel than a balm, which then emulsifies when you add water. It removed my makeup so effectively and left my skin soft and hydrated.

Purchase full size? Yes.

Suti Cleanse Balm 4ml* - worth approx. £1.12

This came in a recent Love Me Beauty box. It was nice, but the formula is more oil based and it took longer to remove it all from my skin, so I prefer the Merumaya one.

Purchase full size? No.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Extra Light Bisque 1.4g - £19.00

I used this product every day and the tiny pot lasted a whole year - so it's a really good value purchase. I use it under my eyes before a heavier duty concealer to neutralise darkness and it works fabulously. I love it. Full review here.

Re-purchase? 100%!

Organic Surge Orange Flower Toner 200ml* - £6.50

There are skincare products that are simple and fuss free but just work and this is one of them. It refreshes, soothes, hydrates, re-balances and preps my skin for a serum or facial oil, all with 98.89% natural ingredients. I can't believe it's so cheap! Full review here.

Re-purchase? Yes I already have.

Pixi Glow Tonic 250ml - £16.00

If you've read my blog for awhile you'll know I love this exfoliating toner. I find best results come with using it daily - the regular exfoliation means it helps with breakouts and scarring, which is fantastic. I use it after cleansing and follow with the Organic Surge toner mentioned above. Full review here.

Re-purchase? Of course!

What products have you used up this month ? Do you use any of the makeup/skincare mentioned above?

Beauty Bird xx